Chapter 42
Levi and Evie
Evie woke up slowly, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains casting a gentle glow over the room. Her eyes fluttered open, landing on the unfamiliar ceiling above her, before a warm weight beside her brought everything rushing back. Panic surged through her chest as she turned her head, finding Levi still fast asleep, his dark hair tousled against the pillow, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.
Her heart pounded as fragments of last night's confessions replayed in her mindâthe things she had told him, the raw honesty that she hadn't meant to let slip. She couldn't stay here. Not after that. She needed to get out as fast as she could.
Evie slid silently out from under the covers, carefully lifting the blanket to avoid waking Levi. Her bare feet touched the cool floor, her eyes darting around for her clothes. The events of last night swirled in her mindâevery confession, every vulnerable word she had let slip. She needed to leave before he woke up, beforeâ
A firm hand wrapped around her wrist, halting her in her tracks.
"Where are you going?" Levi's voice was soft, still heavy with sleep, but his eyes were clear and locked onto hers.
Evie's breath caught, her pulse quickening. She turned slowly, summoning every ounce of composure to mask the panic rising in her chest. "Did I... how did I get here?" she asked, forcing confusion into her voice.
Levi lifted his head, his brows furrowing. "You don't remember?" There was concern in his eyes.
Evie looked down, tugging at the hem of the t-shirt she wore. Its familiar scent wrapped around her, unmistakably his.
"Whose shirt is this? Who changed my clothes?" Her voice wavered just enough to sound convincing, though her heart hammered.
"You did," Levi sat up, his eyes narrowing. "Evelyn, what's going on?"
She crossed her arms defensively, avoiding his gaze. "You tell me!" she shot back, her voice tight. "What am I doing here?"
Levi's jaw clenched, frustration flickering across his face. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing up.
"You really want to play this game? Pretend you don't remember everything from last night?"
Evie's eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Levi stepped closer, his voice low but firm. "You told me the truth. You told me you love me." His eyes searched hers, the intensity of his gaze making it hard to breathe. "Not Harry. Me."
Evie's heart twisted. Memories flooding back like a damn braking.
"What?" she whispered, shaking her head. "I don't... I didn't..."
Levi scoffed softly, running a hand through his hair.
"This isn't funny, my love." His voice broke slightly, the rawness cutting through her defenses. "I know what I heard. I know you meant every word."
Tears stung at the back of Evie's eyes. She could feel the air in her lungs burn as she bit down on the inside of her cheeks.
"Of course, I love you, levi," she said. "But as a friend."
Levi's eyes darkened, the weight of her words sinking in, but his grip on her wrist didn't loosen.
"As a friend?" he echoed, his voice a mix of disbelief and frustration. "That's not what you said last night."
Evie swallowed hard, her heart pounding like a drum in her chest. "IâI must've been confused," she stammered, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "I was drunk out of my mind."
Levi's lips pressed into a thin line, his jaw tightening. "Stop it," he said softly, the edge in his voice making her flinch. "Don't do this. Please."
Evie pulled her wrist free, wrapping her arms around herself as if to shield against the words hanging heavy between them. Tears threatened to spill, but she blinked them away, clenching her jaw.
"I don't know what you expect me to say," she whispered. "Whatever I said last night... it was a mistake."
Levi took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers.
"A mistake?" The hurt in his voice was palpable. "You looked me in the eye and told me you love me."
Evie's breath caught. The memories were sharp, each word she had spoken etched in her mind. She remembered the vulnerability, the way his presence had made the walls she'd built crumble. But now, standing in the harsh light of morning, fear took over.
"I didn't mean it," she lied, her voice barely steady. "You're... reading too much into it."
Levi's eyes searched hers, the silence stretching between them. "You're lying," he said, his voice soft but certain. "I know you. I know what we have. I know you remember everything."
Evie's chest ached, the truth she wanted to bury clawing at her insides, "I don't."
"Then let me remind you," Levi stepped closer and grabbed her arm. He pulled her toward him and pinned her wrist to her back. "I love you, Evelyn Summers. I always have and I always will. You're my girl."
Evie's eyes widened, her breath hitching as Levi's words crashed over her. Her wrist, pinned gently but firmly behind her back, sent a jolt through her, the closeness of his body igniting a storm of emotions she had fought so hard to suppress.
"Levi..." she whispered, her voice shaky, eyes searching his face. "This... this isn't fair."
He held her gaze, his eyes fierce yet tender, the raw intensity in them making it hard for her to breathe.
"Not fair?" he echoed, his voice low, almost a whisper. "What's not fair is you pretending like last night didn't happen."
Evie's heart pounded against her ribs, a mixture of fear and longing swirling inside her. She tried to twist away, but his grip held steady, his presence overwhelming.
"I can'tâ" she started, tears welling in her eyes.
"You can," Levi interrupted, his voice softer now, a plea hidden beneath the steel. "Tell me what you meant last night. Who's making you do this?"
The tears in Evie's eyes spilled over, hot and relentless. "You don't understand," she choked out. "If I let this happen, everything could fall apart."
Levi's grip on her wrist loosened, his free hand cupping her face, his thumb brushing away a tear. "The only thing that'll fall apart is me..... without you."
Evie closed her eyes, the weight of his words pressing down on her, cracking the walls she had so carefully built.
"I can't do this" she whispered, her voice breaking. "Leave it alone."
Levi's brow furrowed, his eyes searching hers, his expression softening. "Leave it alone?" he murmured. "How?"
A sob escaped Evie, and she shook her head, every defense she'd ever built crumbling. "Levi, please.....please stop."
Levi shook his head, "Why New York?"
"What?"
"You always said you wanted to get married in Del Mare," Levi reminded her. "But you came to New York. Why?"
"I...." Evie shook her head. "What are you talking about?"
"You knew I wound't let you marry him," Levi said. "You wanted me to stop you from doing this. That's why you picked New York."
Evie shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "That doesn't mean anything," she choked out. "I didn'tâ"
Levi reached out, his hand cupping her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear. "Look at me," he whispered. "Tell me you don't love me. Tell me what you said last night was a lie."
Evie's eyes met his, wide with emotion. "Levi..." Her voice broke, her defenses crumbling like sand slipping through her fingers.
"Tell me," he repeated, his voice soft but relentless. "Because I know. I saw it in your eyes. I felt it in every word you said."
Evie closed her eyes, a sob escaping her lips. "I can't," she whispered. "I can't do this."
Levi's hand moved to her neck, his thumb tracing her jawline. "Please, baby..... Tell me you didn't lie."
Evie's eyes opened, searching his, desperation and longing mingling in her gaze. "Why do you keep pushing?" she whispered. "Why can't you just leave it alone?"
"Because I love you," Levi said, his voice raw and filled with conviction. "I've always loved you, and I know you love me too."
Evie's shoulders shook, tears falling freely. "I... I don't know how to love you without... without breaking everything."
He leaned in, his forehead resting against hers, his breath mingling with hers. "Then break it," he whispered. "Break it all and I will fix it."
Evie's sobs quieted, her walls shattered beyond repair. Her voice trembled, barely a whisper. "I love you," she finally confessed, the weight of the words lifting a burden she didn't know she carried. "I love you."
Levi's eyes filled with tears, a soft smile breaking across his face. "I love you too, my love. I love you so much."
In that moment, the room felt smaller, the air thicker with emotion. Their shared truth hung between them, fragile but unbreakable, the first step toward something realâsomething they could no longer deny.
_________________________
Theo and Daphne
Theo descended the stairs, the soft creak of the wood barely registering over the sound of Daphne's light, melodic laugh. It echoed through the house, drawing him like a siren's call. As he entered the kitchen, the scent of coffee and sweet pancakes filled the air, mixing with the warmth of morning light filtering through the windows.
He paused, taking in the scene before him. Daphne and Mason were at the stove, flipping pancakes with exaggerated movements and playful nudges. Flour dusted Daphne's cheek, and Mason's laughter joined hers, creating chaos.
Wendy stood by the coffee maker, her focus intent as she poured herself a cup, casting amused glances at the duo. Across the kitchen island, Lily sat slumped with her head resting on her folded arms, a blanket cocooned around her shoulders. Her eyes were barely open, a soft scowl etched on her face as if the morning had personally offended her.
Theo moved silently, sliding onto a stool at the island. He rested his elbows on the counter, watching Daphne with a small smile. His eyes softened as they followed her movements, the gentle chaos grounding him in a way he couldn't quite explain.
"Good morning!" Mason greeted his brother, his voice obnoxiously loud.
Lily groaned, clicking her tongue and drawing the blanket over her head.
"Hungry?" Mason grinned at Theo. "I'm sure you worked up an apatite last night."
Theo's eyes narrowed, but the corner of his mouth quirked upward in response to Mason's grin. He leaned back in his seat, one eyebrow raised, his calm exterior betraying nothing.
Daphne, flipping a pancake, caught the tease immediately. She smirked, glancing over her shoulder. "Careful, Mason. Jealousy isn't a good look on you."
Mason clutched his chest dramatically, eyes wide with mock hurt. "Jealous? Of what? The thin walls or oh, Theo....oh, theo, OH, THEO?"
Daphne's cheeks turned a soft pink, but she didn't miss a beat. "Maybe you should invest in noise-canceling headphones." She shot him a playful wink.
Mason laughed, his voice bouncing through the room. He poured more batter onto the pan, shaking his head. "You might wanna hydrate, Theo. Gotta keep up the performance."
Theo's smile deepened, a quiet challenge sparking in his eyes. He said nothing, his silence louder than words. His gaze shifted to Daphne, and for a moment, the room faded away. The tension was subtle, like a thread of electricity between them.
Lily groaned again, her voice muffled under the blanket. "Can you all stop talking? It's too early this is."
"You're awfully invested in our night, Mason," Daphne placed a stack of hot pancakes on a plate and walked over to Theo. "Should we be worried about your social life?"
Mason chuckled, leaning against the counter. "I'm just glad I can take a break from keeping things living around here."
Lily groaned again, louder this time, her annoyance palpable even under the cocoon of her blanket. "Please. Some of us value our sleep more than your... extracurricular activities," she grumbled, her voice muffled but laced with frustration. She tugged the blanket tighter around her head as if trying to block out the worldâand her siblings.
Theo arched an eyebrow, leaning slightly to lift the edge of the blanket and peer underneath. "Why are you so cranky this morning?" he asked, his voice both amused and curious. "You didn't drink last night, did you?"
Lily swatted at him weakly, her hand emerging from the blanket only to retreat just as quickly. "No," she muttered, burrowing even deeper into her protective shell. "I couldn't sleep."
"Probably because of these two," Mason chimed in, his grin devilish as he gestured toward Theo and Daphne with the spatula.
"We were asleep!" Daphne protested, her cheeks flushing slightly as she handed Theo a fork and the bottle of syrup. "Keep us out of this." Her voice carried an edge of indignation, though the small smile playing on her lips betrayed her amusement.
Theo chuckled, his laughter low and warm as he pulled Daphne closer with a gentle tug at her waist.
"Ignore him," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her cheek. She leaned into his touch for just a moment, her defenses melting against his easy affection.
Meanwhile, Mason returned to flipping pancakes with exaggerated nonchalance, his grin never fading. Wendy quietly stepped in beside him. She grabbed the bowl of batter and expertly poured a fresh round onto the sizzling pan.
Across the island, Theo poured syrup onto his plate with one arm securely wrapped around Daphne's waist. His movements were unhurried, deliberate, as if savoring every second of the moment. She stood close, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear before swiping at a streak of flour on her cheek.
"Did you have breakfast?" Theo asked softly, his attention shifting entirely to her.
"No." Daphne shook her head, her eyes meeting his. "I was waiting for you."
Theo's smile spread, slow and genuine, lighting up his features with an unmistakable warmth. Without a word, he shifted, opening his legs to let her settle comfortably on his lap. Daphne moved with ease, looping one arm around his neck as if she belonged thereâand to him.
Theo picked up a piece of pancake from his plate, holding it out to her with deliberate care. "Here," he said, his voice soft and intimate. Daphne leaned in, her lips brushing against the fork as she took the bite, her expression brightening with playful satisfaction.
"That's really good," Daphne nodded, licking the syrup on her lips. "You make breakfast taste better."
Theo's smile widened, his thumb brushing a stray crumb from the corner of her mouth. "It's not the pancakes," he whispered, his gaze fixed on hers, the world fading around them.
She blushed, her arm tightening around his neck as she played with a strand of his dark hair. "You're insufferably smug sometimes, you know that?"
He chuckled, leaning closer until their noses nearly touched. "And yet, you waited for me."
Daphne's heart fluttered. "Only because you make better company than Mason."
Across the kitchen, Mason rolled his eyes dramatically. "I'm right here, you know."
Daphne, still caught in the soft moment with Theo, threw Mason a mock glare over her shoulder. "You're always here, Mason. It's the problem," she retorted with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Mason, never one to miss an opportunity, grinned wider. "Give me one shot, baby girl," he said, his voice playful and full of innocent charm as he winked. "I'll fix your problem."
Theo's expression darkened slightly, his eyes sharpening as he sat down the fork. His voice, though calm, suddenly had an edge to it.
"Mason, that's enough," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. He wasn't a fan of Mason's flirtation, especially when it involved Daphne, even if it was lighthearted.
Mason's grin faltered for a split second, but he quickly recovered, holding his hands up in mock surrender.
"No need to go all big brother on me," he teased, stepping back with exaggerated indifference. He flashed a look at Theo, one eyebrow raised, as if daring him to do something more.
Daphne couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange. "You both are impossible," she said with a smile, rolling her eyes.
Theo's posture relaxed as he returned his attention to Daphne, his earlier annoyance fading. He looked down at her with a soft smile, pulling her in closer again. "Just so we're clear," Theo murmured, pressing a quick kiss to her temple. "You're mine, princess."
Daphne smiled, her heart warm with affection. "I know," she whispered back, leaning into him, feeling the subtle weight of his possessiveness in the best way.
__________________________
Mason and Wendy
Wendy moved around the kitchen, quietly assisting Mason with the pancakes, her movements deliberate but her mind elsewhere. She kept glancing over at him as she added another dollop of batter to the hot griddle, trying to keep her focus on the task at hand. She noticed how easily Mason bantered with Daphne and Theo, the way his easy grin never quite left his face. It was a sharp contrast to the tension between them after the night before.
She had snapped at himâtoo harshly, too quicklyâwhen all he'd done was try to lake sure she was okay. In the heat of the moment, her frustration had poured out in a sharp tone, and now, as she watched him interact with his siblings, Wendy couldn't help but feel guilty.
Mason was playful, a little cocky even, but not malicious. And yet, when he tried to make her feel better, when he cracked a joke or teased her, she'd bitten back, frustrated with herself and the situation. Her cold response had stung him, and now, as he stood beside her flipping pancakes with his usual ease, the silence between them felt thicker than it should have.
Mason moved with fluidity as he flipped the pancakes, his demeanor unchanged on the outside. But Wendy could see it in his eyesâhe was keeping his distance, refusing to let her in. He wasn't rude, not exactly, but there was a coolness to him that hadn't been there before.
Trying to break the silence, Wendy casually cleared her throat. "So, um, pancakes look good," she said, her voice light, almost too light. She smiled at him, trying to keep things normal, but he didn't respond with the usual grin or playful jab. Instead, Mason just gave her a quick, neutral glance before focusing on the pancakes again.
"Yeah," he replied, his voice lacking the usual warmth. "They do."
Wendy bit her lip, watching him for a moment, unsure of what to say next. She reached for a plate to stack the pancakes, her fingers brushing against his, but Mason pulled his hand back a little too quickly, the motion subtle but enough to make her heart sink.
"Look, Mason," Wendy started, trying again, her voice softer this time. "I'm sorry for snapping last night."
Mason didn't meet her eyes, focusing on the pancakes in front of him as if they were the most important thing in the world. His jaw tightened for a moment, but he said nothing, the coldness still hanging between them.
Wendy sighed, feeling a knot tighten in her chest. She wanted to reach out, to apologize properly, but the silence between them felt like a wall she couldn't climb over.
Theo and Daphne were laughing at something, the sound of their voices in the background reminding her that the rest of the group seemed unaffected by the tension. But for Wendy, the distance with Mason felt impossible to ignore. She couldn't shake the feeling that she'd messed up.
Mason let out a quiet breath and flipped another pancake, still avoiding her gaze.
"No need to apologize," he muttered, but it felt more like an obligation than a reassurance.
The words didn't carry the usual playful tone. But Wendy didn't push any further. There was nothing more she could do at the moment except wait for the silence to break, hoping Mason would eventually come around. She slowly turned away as Levi entered the kitchen.
"Morning," he muttered, his movements rushed as he poured himself two cups of coffee and left the kitchen just as fast as he had appeared.
__________________________
Levi and Wendy
Levi walked down the hall, his fingers gripping the two cups of coffee, the rich aroma filling the air as he made his way to his room. His mind was consumed with the events of the morning. He could feel the stirrings of anger deep in his chest, and though he tried to shake it off, his thoughts kept returning to Evie, to the things he still hadn't figured out.
As he rounded the corner, Harry appeared from nowhere, stepping into the hallway with an air of casual arrogance. The two men locked eyes immediately, the unspoken animosity between them thick in the air. Harry's eyes flicked over to the cups of coffee in Levi's hands, a smirk forming on his lips.
"Where's Evie?" Harry asked, his tone laced with impatience, as though he had a right to know. His gaze shifted over Levi's face, looking for a reaction, but Levi stood perfectly still, his jaw clenched tightly.
For a moment, Levi considered walking past him, ignoring the question entirely. But the anger simmering beneath the surface pushed him to speak. He forced his voice to remain steady, though every muscle in his body screamed to lash out.
"Go to hell," Levi muttered, his words sharp, venomous.
Harry's smirk faltered for the briefest moment, his brows furrowing, but Levi didn't wait for him to respond. He pushed past Harry without another word, his pace quickening as he made his way down the hallway. The weight of Harry's presence was suffocating, but Levi wouldn't let it affect him. Not today.
As he entered his room, he closed the door behind him, the sound of it clicking shut louder than it should have been. The moment the door closed, a deep sense of relief washed over Levi.
Evie, sitting on his bed, wearing nothing but his t-shirt, looked up and turned her head toward him. The sight of her, so effortlessly beautiful, made the anger inside Levi dissolve into a warm rush of tenderness. She looked up as he entered, and a soft, quiet smile spread across her face.
Levi stood frozen for a moment, his breath catching in his throat. His gaze softened as it traced the way the fabric of his shirt hung loosely on her frame, the way her hair fell messily around her face, and the quiet serenity she seemed to radiate even in the midst of everything.
His heart, which had been hardened by the anger he'd held moments before, melted at the sight of her.
Without saying a word, he walked over to her, his steps slow and deliberate, as though he was savoring the moment of simply being near her. He held out the cup of coffee, his hand steady despite the fluttering sensation in his chest. Evie reached up and took it from him, her fingers brushing his in a touch that sent a jolt through him.
Levi leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath his lips. It was a simple gesture, but it grounded him in a way nothing else could.
Then, without thinking, he cupped her face, his thumb gently tracing the curve of her cheek before he leaned in and kissed her deeply. It was slow and lingering, his lips brushing against hers as if he was trying to express everything he couldn't put into words. His hand moved to her neck, pulling her closer, his breath mingling with hers as he kissed her with the kind of intensity that made the rest of the world fade into the background.
For those few seconds, there was only her and him, the quiet connection they shared, the warmth between them that melted away all the tension from the outside world.
Finally, he pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his forehead resting against hers, the echo of the kiss still humming between them.
"I love you," he whispered softly, his voice barely audible, but it carried everything he needed to say.
"I love you too," Evie smiled gently.
"I hate seing him with you," Levi confessed. "I hate who you are with him, around him. That's not you."
"No," Evie shook her head and looked down at the coffe. "It's not."
"Why are you doing this?" Levi asked, tucking her hair back. "What did you mean last night?"
A shaky, almost imperceptible sigh that escaped Evie's lips. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment, but when she opened them again, tears were beginning to form, shimmering on her lashes.
"Evie..." Levi whispered, his voice soft, hesitant. He moved closer, reaching out as if he could physically hold her together.
"I have to marry him, Levi," Evie whispered, her voice strained, fragile. "I don't have a choice. My dad... he's in trouble. A lot of trouble."
Levi's pulse quickened, his mind racing as he tried to piece together the words she was saying. "What do you mean?"
Evie took a deep breath, her hands trembling. "He was embezzling money. Unthinkable amount of money and .... all these things have come to light. The charges against him, against my family are serious. He could go to jail for the rest of his life. We could lose everything. Everything's falling apart."
Levi's stomach dropped. His mind was spinning with the implications of what she was saying, but he didn't speak. He just listened.
"But..." Her voice cracked, and she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, clearly trying to regain some control. "Harry's family... his father, Edward, is a part of England's government. He made a deal with my dad." Evie choked on the words. "If I marry Harry, and my dad funds Harry and his family's political campaignâeverything they need, all of itâEdward will make sure the charges against my family disappear."
Levi's chest tightened, his stomach turning as the full weight of what she was saying settled in. Every words Evie spoke hit him like a physical blow. He felt the room constrict around him, his heart pounding in his chest.
Levi stared at her, his voice coming out tight, almost a demand. "But why do you have to marry Harry?" The words slipped from him, desperate for some kind of clarity. "There has to be another way. You don't deserve to be forced into this."
Evie's face crumpled for a moment, and the sorrow in her eyes made his chest ache. She wiped away another tear, her hands trembling. She looked down, unable to meet his gaze for a moment, as though the truth she was about to share was too heavy even for her.
Finally, she spoke, her voice small, barely audible. "Harry..." She took in a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. "Harry is... he's gay. His family doesn't approve of it." She paused, as if gathering the strength to continue. "They've got these plans for him, for his future. His father wants him to run for Prime Minister one day. But they need him to be perfect. A straight, married man, with a wife who fits the image they've made for him."
Levi blinked, his eyes filling with confusion and anger.
Evie's voice broke as she spoke, the words coming out in a rush. "Harry's family want him to be their candidate, their golden boy. And they want him to run for PM. But to do that, to get the votes, they need a woman by his side. Someone respectable, someone they can parade in front of the public."
Levi's heart sank. The weight of her words crashed over him, making his mind race. He could feel his anger rising, the unfairness of it all, but he tried to stay calm, to understand her pain instead of reacting in frustration. "So... you're just supposed to be the woman by his side? The face of their campaign?"
Evie nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks once more. "Yes. They need him to be this perfect image, and they have my dad under their thumb. If I marry him and my dad funds their campaignâeverything they need, all of itâthen Edward will make sure my dad's not sent to prison, that our lives don't fall apart."
Levi's stomach turned. "And what about you? What about your life?"
She shook her head softly, her hand pressing against her forehead. Her voice cracked, her words coming out slow and heavy as if they had been buried deep inside her for far too long. She looked at Levi, her eyes filled with so much pain, yet determination as she spoke the truth she'd never shared with him before.
"All my life, my father wanted a son." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight of her admission hung in the air between them. "He always wanted a son to carry on the family name, to be strong, to be like you and your brothers." Her eyes closed briefly as if shutting out the memories, but they were thereâher father's expectations, the years spent trying to be something she wasn't.
Levi's brow furrowed, a wave of sympathy washing over him, but he stayed silent, letting her speak, his heart aching for the pain she was trying to bury. He wanted to say somethingâanythingâbut there was nothing to say that would make this any easier.
Evie took a deep breath, as if gathering the strength to continue, and when she spoke again, her words were strained, raw.
"I always tried to be what he wanted. I always tried to be my father's son." she said, her voice shaking. "I tried to be the one who would never disappoint him. I did everything he asked, tried to be strong, independent, and prove I could handle anything. And now, I have to do this to prove to him I'm a weakness"
Tears slid down her face, but she didn't bother wiping them away. Instead, she looked at Levi, her voice softening with the weight of everything she was carrying.
"When everything first came up with the legal messâwhen the embezzlement came to light, and we all thought our world was going to crash down around usâmy father said something to me," Evie bit down on her bottom lip. "He said, 'If I had sons like the Silvanos', I wouldn't be in this mess.'"
Levi's chest tightened at her words, a surge of anger rising inside him for her father, for the way he had dismissed her all her life, and for the pain he had caused her. But he didn't say anything. He knew this wasn't about him; it was about her and her need to be seen. To be enough.
Evie's voice trembled as she continued. "I need to show him that I can save my family, Levi. That I'm not just a weak, helpless girl. That I can set aside my needs and put my family first. If I marry Harry, if I follow through with what his family wants, I can make sure my father isn't ruined. I can fix this. I can prove that I'm strong enough to do this for him."
Levi's stomach twisted at the thought. His heart clenched for her, seeing how deeply she had internalized that need to meet her father's impossible standards. He had always admired Evie's resilience, her strength, but hearing thisâhe realized how much of that strength had been forged in the fire of her father's expectations.
"They're all wrong" Levi said his voice trembling with unspoken emotions.
"If I don't do this, if I don't make this sacrifice, everythingâeverythingâwill fall apart."
Levi moved closer, his chest tight with frustration, his mind racing. He hated this. He hated that she felt like she had no other choice. He wanted to scream, to tear apart everything that had led her to this moment, but instead, he reached out, his fingers gently brushing her cheek, wiping away the tears.
"You're more than what he wants you to be, Evie," he said softly. "You're worth so much more than this. You don't have to prove anything to him."
Evie closed her eyes at his touch, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "I wish I could believe that, Levi. I really do."
Levi's hand lingered on her cheek, but his heart was breaking as he realized the depth of her sacrifice. "You're not a weakness. Not to me. Not to anyone who sees you for who you really are."
But even as he said the words, he knew they weren't enough to erase the burden she carried. She was trapped in a web of her family's expectations, in a situation where the choices were far too heavy for anyone to make alone.
"We're going to fix this," Levi promised her. "Together."
Poor Evie :(