His world. Her fire

Chapter 2 Call me Leo

The wind howled through the dead of night, cold and merciless, rattling the panes of glass as if to remind the world it was alive. Leonardo lay on the sofa bed, pulling the blanket over himself in a futile attempt at sleep. For eighteen years he had known only four hours of rest each night-first haunted by nightmares of his mother's murder, then consumed by the relentless demands of the empire he built. Insomnia was no longer his affliction; it was his companion.

Above, the sky stretched vast and empty, neither star nor cloud to pierce its black expanse. The icy gusts swept across the night, erasing its silence but not his thoughts. Tonight, for reasons he couldn't name, he found sleep even further from reach. His mind kept circling back to Amanda-what kind of life she had lived, what cruelties she had endured, and who had tried to destroy her.

Rising from the bed, he crossed to the floor-to-ceiling window, its glass cool against his fingertips. He stared into the distance, lost in a haze that blurred both time and space.

"Where am I?"

The voice startled him. Amanda had been awake for some time, but only now did she speak. Her eyes, roaming the unfamiliar surroundings, caught sight of the man at the window. For a moment she thought he was a statue-so still, so poised, so impossibly striking.

His silhouette was sculpted and tall, a figure of quiet strength, his features both magnetic and severe. He looked like someone carved from marble and breathed into life. Even from across the room she felt his presence like a pulse.

"Hello... where am I?"

Leonardo wondered if he was imagining her voice. He hadn't wanted her to wake yet-not like this. Turning, he met her gaze. She was indeed awake, and the reality of her was even more arresting than his thoughts. He crossed to her bedside, his footsteps slow, deliberate.

"You're awake," he murmured.

"Where am I?" she asked again.

Her voice was a melody-soft, delicate, almost luminous. It resonated in his chest, a sound he could listen to for a lifetime, a sound that might heal what had long been broken inside him. He couldn't look away from her eyes-those deep, endless eyes framed by lashes like dark silk. The more he stared, the stronger the flicker of familiarity grew.

Amanda shifted, uncomfortable beneath his gaze. Seeing this, Leonardo broke eye contact and reached for the glass of warm water at the bedside. Sliding in a straw, he offered it to her.

Her throat burned with dryness. Awkward as it felt to accept a stranger's help, thirst overpowered hesitation. She drank slowly, the water cool against her parched mouth.

"You're in a hospital," Leonardo said softly. "You're not dead."

She swallowed two mouthfuls and lowered the glass. "Who are you?"

For a moment she looked like a lost child, confused and wary in the alien quiet of the room.

"I'm Leonardo Ferguson," he said, his voice a shade gentler than before.

"What happened?" she whispered.

"I found you by the roadside. You were beaten almost to death." His eyes betrayed the worry he tried to hide. "Do you remember?"

Amanda shook her head. Something flickered behind her eyes-memory, or the shadow of it-but she said nothing.

"Don't worry," he murmured. "I'll call the doctor."

She turned pale, her lips trembling as tears welled but refused to fall.

"Why did you do it?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Why did you save me?"

Leonardo didn't answer. Instead, he called Terrance. Within minutes Dr. Brown appeared, summoned out of the night like a figure from a dream.

"It will be all right," Leonardo said. "I promise."

"You don't even know me," she whispered bitterly. "You shouldn't have saved me."

Her mother's voice echoed in her mind-once promising that things would get better. But since she had left, nothing had improved. Everything had only grown darker. Death had seemed the only way out. Now what? Was life still hers to live, or had she lost the right to it? Did she deserve a second chance?

Her gaze hardened as she looked at him. Anger swelled, overtaking the fear.

"You!" she spat, pointing a trembling finger at him. "This is all your fault. Get out! I don't want to see you. Why did you save me?"

She was scolding him now, her voice sharp, desperate.

Leonardo's brow furrowed. He stood still, watching the woman who lay before him-a storm of pain and fury in fragile human form.

Where did she find the audacity-the qualification-to raise her voice at him, to jab her finger in his direction? Everyone feared him. No one dared to speak to him like that. Yet he did not move. He merely studied this wild, fearless woman.

Strangely, his eyes remained tender, almost gentle, as they lingered on her.

The door creaked open, and Dr. Terrance Brown stepped into the ward, his footsteps calm but purposeful. He moved straight toward Amanda.

"Miss Adams, you're awake," he said softly, before shifting his gaze to Leonardo.

"Give us some privacy, Leo. I need to examine Miss Adams."

Leonardo hesitated, reluctant to leave. But when he considered how uneasy Amanda might feel with him hovering nearby, he finally turned and strode out to the lounge.

"I'm Dr. Brown," Terrance introduced himself gently once Leonardo was gone. "I'll conduct a checkup. Tell me if you feel any discomfort."

His hands were precise and professional as he worked. When he finished, he spoke in a calm but firm voice:

"You'll need to stay here for at least three days."

Amanda did not respond. Her eyes were fixed on a single point, unblinking, as though she hadn't heard a word. Her mind was elsewhere-haunted by the memory of Ivy and Gwen pushing her down the stairs.

"Miss Adams?" Terrance pressed, concern flickering across his face. "Is everything all right? What happened?"

Her lips trembled, then parted, and anger spilled out like fire.

"They wanted me dead. Those bastards wanted me dead."

Her voice shook with fury, her fists tightening as fragments of memory surged back.

"They beat me. Kicked me until I could barely breathe. When I thought it was over-when I thought my last breath had come-they doused me with ice-cold water. Dragged me into a car... I don't know how long they drove. The engine roared, the speed unbearable, and then-" she swallowed hard-"they threw me out. After that... nothing."

Terrance's jaw tightened. "Then I'll call the police. They must answer for this."

Amanda shook her head violently.

"No. I don't want the police. They won't help me."

Unsure how to reach her, Terrance finally gave her medication to ease the pain. When she was settled, he stepped out to the lounge. There he found Leonardo waiting, a porcelain container of steaming soup set on the table by one of the house staff.

"Physically, she's recovering," Terrance reported. "I'll monitor her for a few days, but what worries me... is her refusal to press charges. Whoever did this will..."

Leonardo cut him off, his voice a blade of ice.

"I'll handle it."

His face remained unreadable, carved in stone. He patted the food container in his hand.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to take this to her."

Terrance knew that tone well. This was the Leonardo Ferguson the world feared-unyielding, decisive, merciless. With a nod, the doctor stepped aside.

Inside the ward, Leonardo set the food on the bedside table. He pulled a chair close, his gaze softening as it fell on Amanda.

"This is for you," he said gently. "You must be starving."

Amanda accepted the bowl with both hands. "Thank you." A pause. "How long was I in a coma?"

"Seven days."

She drew in a shaky breath and took a few small spoonfuls. The taste was rich, nourishing-far more than she was used to. Hunger was no stranger to her; she had known nights without food, sometimes entire days. She ate slowly, self-conscious under Leonardo's watchful eyes.

"I'm full," she murmured at last. "Besides, I'm not used to eating while someone stares at me."

"My apologies," Leonardo replied smoothly. A playful curve touched his lips. "Would you like me to help you with that?"

Amanda blinked. "No, thank you. I can eat by my self."

"I meant help you set it aside. But," his eyes glimmered with quiet mischief, "if you'd prefer me to feed you, I'd be more than happy to oblige."

Her cheeks warmed with embarrassment. "Oh... okay-"

Leonardo leaned forward, taking the bowl from her hands. "Open your mouth. I'll feed you."

Flustered, she shook her head. "That's not what I meant! I only meant you can put it away."

His smile deepened, a rare softness in his expression.

"I know. I was teasing."

Amanda fell silent, awkward under his steady presence. He set the bowl aside and returned to her side.

She lowered her gaze. "Mr. Ferguson... I'm sorry about earlier. And... thank you for saving my life."

"Don't mention it," he said, his voice calm but his eyes brimming with affection. "And please-call me Leo."

Her lips parted, but she dared not meet his gaze.

"...Leo."