Hilary woke up to silence.
Not the gentle kind—the kind that hummed with danger.
She lay still in bed, eyes open, listening. The room smelled faintly of detergent and early morning light. Clean. Neutral. Empty.
Gerard wasn't beside her.
Her chest tightened.
She sat up slowly, fingers brushing the sheets where his warmth should have been. Nothing. Cold.
Panic rose sharp and fast, but she forced herself to breathe.
Rule one, she reminded herself. Never assume.
She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, grounding herself in the texture of the carpet beneath her feet.
"Gerard?" she called.
No answer.
Her pulse spiked.
She moved through the suite carefully, hand trailing along the wall. The living room smelled like coffee—fresh, strong.
Relief flickered.
She followed the scent.
Gerard stood by the counter, back to her, phone pressed to his ear.
"…I don't care how it looks," he was saying, voice low and controlled. "Do not release anything without my approval."
She stopped.
Something in his tone made her hesitate.
"Yes," he continued. "I'm aware of the implications."
A pause.
"No. She doesn't know."
Hilary froze.
Her heart began to pound.
Gerard ended the call and turned.
"There you are," he said gently. "Did I wake you?"
She forced a smile. "No."
He crossed the room—but stopped himself, remembering the rule.
"May I?" he asked.
She nodded.
He stepped close, careful, announcing every movement with his voice. She breathed him in—cedar, amber, familiar.
Her heartbeat slowed.
But the words echoed anyway.
She doesn't know.
"What were you talking about?" she asked quietly.
He hesitated.
Just for a second.
Her stomach dropped.
"PR," he said. "Containment."
She swallowed. "Containment of what?"
"Yesterday," he replied. "The hallway incident."
Her fingers curled at her sides.
"People saw," she said.
"Yes."
"And filmed."
"Yes."
Silence stretched between them.
"You're hiding something," she said.
He inhaled slowly. "I'm protecting you."
Her chest tightened painfully.
"That's not the same thing."
Before he could answer, the doorbell rang.
Once.
Sharp.
They both turned toward the sound.
Gerard stiffened. "Stay here."
"I won't," she said. "I'm done staying."
She followed him to the door.
When it opened, Bianca stood there.
Perfect posture.
Soft smile.
Concern worn like perfume.
"Good morning," Bianca said gently. "I hope I'm not intruding."
"You are," Gerard replied flatly.
Bianca's eyes flicked toward Hilary.
"I heard there was… confusion yesterday," Bianca continued softly. "I thought I should check on Mrs. Laurent."
Hilary inhaled.
Bianca smelled normal today.
Too normal.
"I'm fine," Hilary said.
Bianca nodded sympathetically. "Of course. But the staff is… worried."
"You're dismissed," Gerard said.
Bianca didn't move.
"There's something you should know," Bianca said calmly, eyes never leaving Hilary. "Before rumors decide it for you."
Hilary's pulse quickened. "Know what?"
"The board has requested a private review."
Gerard snapped, "That's confidential."
"Not anymore," Bianca replied.
Hilary turned toward Gerard. "You said this was contained."
"It is," he said quickly.
"Contained doesn't mean harmless," Bianca said smoothly.
Hilary felt dizzy.
"What kind of review?" she asked.
"A capacity assessment," Bianca answered.
The words felt like a slap.
"They want to know," Bianca continued, "if certain decisions have been made for you… rather than with you."
Hilary's breath caught.
She turned sharply to Gerard. "What does that mean?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Her stomach twisted.
"It means," Bianca said gently, "they're concerned your husband might be… overstepping."
Hilary's world tilted.
"You think I'm being controlled?" she asked, voice shaking.
Bianca shrugged delicately. "I think they're asking whether you're still able to consent to major decisions."
"Enough," Gerard said sharply.
Hilary flinched.
The sound was too sudden.
Too sharp.
Bianca took a subtle step back, eyes widening just enough to look alarmed.
"There," Bianca said softly. "That tone. That's what worries them."
Hilary's chest burned.
"Gerard," she whispered. "Did you speak for me?"
He closed his eyes briefly.
"I spoke to protect you."
"Did you answer questions as me?"
Silence.
Her heart shattered quietly.
"You did," she said.
"I had to," he replied. "They were threatening—"
"You took my voice," she said hoarsely.
Bianca stepped in smoothly. "No one is blaming you, Mrs. Laurent. You're ill. Vulnerable."
"Stop," Hilary said.
She turned back to Gerard.
"You promised," she whispered. "You promised I wouldn't disappear."
"I won't let them erase you," he said urgently.
"You already did," she replied. "You erased me for me."
The room felt too small.
"I need air," Hilary said.
Gerard moved instinctively to follow.
She stepped back.
"Don't."
The word cut deeper than any accusation.
Hilary walked to the balcony and pushed the door open, cold morning air hitting her face.
She gripped the railing, breathing hard.
They think I'm a problem.
Footsteps approached slowly.
Not Gerard's.
Bianca's.
"You should be careful," Bianca said gently. "He's very convincing."
"Don't talk about my husband."
"I'm not," Bianca replied softly. "I'm talking about power."
"You enjoy this," Hilary said.
Bianca smiled faintly. "I enjoy order."
"You enjoy control."
"Same thing, in the right light."
"Get out," Hilary said.
Bianca inclined her head. "Of course."
She paused at the door.
"One more thing. The board meeting is tonight."
Hilary's breath caught.
"You'll be there," Bianca said. "Won't you?"
The door closed.
Hilary stood shaking.
Behind her, Gerard stopped a careful distance away.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I thought I was helping."
She nodded slowly.
"I believe you."
That hurt him more than anger.
"But believing you doesn't mean trusting you."
Silence fell like ash.
"I need to walk into that meeting," Hilary said, "with my own voice."
"You will," he said.
"And if I fail?"
He didn't answer.
As the sun climbed higher, Hilary stared out at the city.
For the first time, the enemy wasn't just the woman mimicking her husband's scent.
It was the fear that the man she loved might decide who she was… before she could.
Behind her, unseen, Gerard stood very still.
For the first time, he understood the truth he had been avoiding:
Protection without permission was just another way to erase someone.
And if Hilary needed to stand alone tonight,
he would let her—
and be ready to follow only when she asked.