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It started with a mild headache, a slight chill running down Isla’s spine as she sat on the couch watching Leo and Amara bicker over the television remote. She brushed it off at first, assuming it was just exhaustion from the long day. But as the evening progressed, the aches grew, her skin burned with fever, and she could barely keep her eyes open.
Dante noticed the moment her shoulders slumped, and she leaned against the couch, rubbing her temples. His sharp eyes caught the way she wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to fight off an invisible cold.
“Isla?” he called, frowning as he moved closer. “Are you feeling okay?”
She looked up at him with tired eyes. “I think I just need some rest.”
Dante didn’t look convinced. He reached out, cupping her face, and his frown deepened when he felt the unnatural warmth of her skin. “You have a fever,” he stated firmly.
“I’m fine,” she murmured. “It’s probably nothing.”
Dante wasn’t having it. “You’re burning up. You should be in bed.”
Before Isla could argue, he was already barking orders at the maids, the house staff, and even Amara, who looked slightly startled by her father’s sudden shift in demeanor.
“Get the bedroom ready,” he instructed the housekeeper. “Change the sheets, disinfect everything. I don’t want a single speck of dust in that room.”
“Dad, you’re overreacting-” Amara started, but Dante shot her a sharp look, and she quickly shut her mouth.
“Bring fresh blankets, warm water, and a cold compress,” he continued. “And someone call the doctor.”
Leo, watching everything with wide eyes, turned to Amara and whispered, “Is Mama going to be okay?”
“She’s just sick, Leo. Nothing serious,” Amara reassured him, though even she looked a little worried at how panicked Dante had become.
Isla sighed, letting her husband take over. There was no point in arguing with Dante when he switched into this mode. He had always been overprotective, but when it came to her and their kids, he became an absolute tyrant.
Within minutes, the house was in chaos. Helpers scrambled around, making sure everything was spotless, air purifiers were turned on, and Dante personally supervised the maids as they wiped down every surface with disinfectant.
When Isla was finally tucked into bed, Dante sat beside her, dabbing a cool cloth against her forehead. His brows were furrowed in concentration, his eyes dark with concern.
“You should sleep,” she murmured weakly.
He scoffed. “I’m not leaving you alone like this.”
Isla’s heart warmed despite how miserable she felt. “You’re too much sometimes.”
He pressed a kiss to her damp forehead. “And you’re my whole world.”
As she drifted off to sleep, she knew one thing for sure-she was in the safest hands.
Isla’s breathing was soft and steady, her fevered skin glistening under the dim glow of the bedside lamp. Dante sat beside her, his fingers tracing small, soothing circles on the back of her hand. His wife rarely fell ill, but when she did, it sent a ripple of anxiety through him that he couldn’t shake.
As much as he was a composed businessman, when it came to Isla and their children, he was anything but calm. His overprotectiveness wasn’t just an instinct-it was a deeply rooted need to shield them from anything that could harm them.
A small yawn caught his attention. He looked up to see Leo standing near the bed, clutching his stuffed lion, his tiny feet barely making a sound on the carpet. The little boy’s curls were tousled from sleep, his sleepy eyes blinking up at Dante with worry.
“Daddy?” Leo’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Dante opened his arms, and without hesitation, Leo climbed into his lap, snuggling into his father’s warmth. “What’s wrong, buddy?” Dante asked, rubbing his back.
“Is Mama going to be okay?”
Dante pressed a kiss to the top of his son’s head. “Of course. She just needs rest.”
Leo pouted. “She didn’t kiss me goodnight.”
Dante’s heart clenched at the innocent sadness in his son’s voice. He gently turned Leo toward Isla’s sleeping form. “She will when she wakes up, I promise. Right now, we have to let her sleep so she can get better.”
Leo nodded, but his little fingers gripped Dante’s shirt, reluctant to leave.
“Do you want to stay with me?” Dante asked, already knowing the answer.
Leo nodded, and Dante carefully positioned him so the little boy could rest against his chest. As he did, he caught movement near the door. Amara stood there, watching with a quiet, worried expression.
“Come here, sweetheart,” Dante beckoned.
Amara hesitated for only a second before padding into the room, her long hair tied in a loose braid. She climbed onto the bed on the other side of Isla, resting her hand gently on her mother’s arm.
“She was fine this morning,” Amara murmured.
“She probably overworked herself,” Dante replied.
“She always does,” Amara sighed.
Dante knew his wife too well-Isla took care of everyone but rarely let anyone take care of her. She would power through headaches, exhaustion, and stress without a word, thinking she had to handle everything on her own. But she wasn’t alone. She had him.
As if on cue, Isla stirred slightly, her eyelashes fluttering open. Her tired eyes met Amara’s first, then Dante’s. She smiled weakly. “Hey, you two. Why are you awake?”
“Because you’re sick, and Dad is acting like the world is ending,” Amara answered bluntly.
Isla let out a raspy chuckle, though it quickly turned into a cough. Dante immediately reached for a glass of water, helping her sit up just enough to take a few sips.
“Do you need anything?” Dante asked, his voice thick with concern.
Isla shook her head. “Just rest.”
Leo, still half-asleep, reached out to grab her hand. “Love you, Mama.”
A tired but affectionate smile spread across Isla’s face. “I love you too, baby.”
Dante watched the exchange, his heart swelling with emotions he couldn’t put into words. This-this was his life. His world. And he would protect it with everything he had.
As Isla drifted back to sleep, Dante sat there with Leo in his arms, Amara curled beside her mother, and the steady sound of Isla’s breathing calming his nerves.
He wasn’t leaving their side tonight. Not until he was sure Isla was completely fine.