Chapter 47
Levi and Evie
Levi's room in the cabin was bathed in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun, the light filtering through the trees outside casting gentle patterns across the floor. His suitcase lay open on the bed, half-filled with neatly folded clothes, as he carefully packed each item. His movements were precise but subdued, weighed down by the unspoken tension in the air.
He reached for a shirt when a soft knock broke his focus. The door creaked open, and Evie stepped in, her silhouette framed by the warm light behind her. Levi's breath caught for a moment. She looked... different. Familiar.
Her hair, no longer meticulously straightened, fell in soft waves around her shoulders. The sunlight played through the strands, highlighting the natural golden hues he hadn't seen in what felt like a long time. It was like seeing a glimpse of the Evie he remembered, the one who used to laugh freely and scrunch her nose when teasing him.
"Harry is headed to London. He's not coming to New York with us," she said, her voice softer than he expected.
Levi nodded, unable to hide the small smile forming on his lips. "Good riddance."
As Evie shook her head and laughed quietly, Levi couldn't take his eyes off her. There was something about the way she stood there, relaxed yet hesitant, that made his chest tightenânot with the unbearable pressure he'd felt lately, but with something gentler. Hopeful, maybe.
"You look..." he paused, searching for the right words, "...like you."
Evie stepped farther into the room. She paused beside the bed and took a seat on the edge.
"That's because it is me," she said, nudging him with her foot.
Levi reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of her wavy hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
"I missed this," he murmured, his voice low and tender. "Missed seeing you like this."
Evie felt her cheeks heat up, a flutter in her chest she couldn't quite control. She glanced away, suddenly feeling shy, her fingers fiddling with the hem of her sweater. She wasn't used to this side of him.
"What?" Levi arched his brow seeing the flush on Evie's face.
"Nothing," Evie lied.
Levi's eyes softened as he watched her, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It's not nothing," he murmured, his voice teasing yet gentle. He leaned in just a little closer, enough to make Evie's heart race. "I know you."
Evie's fingers twisted more tightly around the hem of her sweater. She tried to look anywhere but at him, but the intensity in his gaze pulled her back in. "You're just... different," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Levi tilted his head, his smile growing. "Different how?" He reached out, his fingertips tracing a light path down her arm, leaving a trail of warmth in their wake.
She swallowed hard, her cheeks burning even more. "You're being... nice," she blurted out, instantly regretting how it sounded.
Levi laughed softly, the sound deep and genuine. "I've always been nice," he teased, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Maybe you just never noticed."
Evie rolled her eyes, but her smile betrayed her. "No, you haven't," she shot back, nudging him with her foot again.
"You make it easy," Levi said, his voice quiet, almost a confession.
Evie's breath caught, her eyes widening as she met his. For a moment, the world outside the room seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in the golden, late-afternoon light.
Levi's eyes softened, his gaze fixed on Evie as if she were the only thing in the world. Slowly, almost hesitantly, Levi leaned in, his hand lifting to gently cradle her face. His thumb traced a soft path across her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine.
Evie's breath caught, her heart racing as the distance between them closed. She could feel the warmth of his breath, her eyes fluttering shut just as his lips met hers. The kiss was soft at firstâtentative, like testing the waters of something fragile and new. But as the seconds stretched, it deepened, a mixture of familiarity and discovery. Her hands found their way to his chest, clutching the fabric of his shirt as if anchoring herself to the moment. Levi's hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer, his touch gentle but sure. He smiled as a soft moan slipped Evie's lips. She parted her lips and he ran his tongue over her soft flesh. They both shuddered, feeling their emotions overwhelm them as they pulled at one another, wanting more.
Suddenly, the door creaked open.
Evie and Levi pulled apart quickly, breathless and wide-eyed, as Theo stepped into the room. He froze in the doorway, his eyes widening in shock and disbelief. The light from the hallway cast long shadows, emphasizing the stunned expression on his face.
"What the fuck?" Theo managed to say, his voice filled with surprise, his gaze flicking between them. "What the fuck is this?"
"Theoâ-" Levi straightened up at once. "I can explain."
"She's engaged, you moron!" Theo hissed, his voice sharp and cutting. He glanced over his shoulder, making sure no one had followed him, before slamming the door shut and striding into the room. His eyes burned with a mixture of fury and disbelief as he advanced on his brother. "What the hell, Levi? Evie?" His voice softened slightly as he addressed her, though the anger was still palpable.
Evie opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She looked to Levi, searching for the right thing to say.
Levi stepped forward, placing himself protectively between Theo and Evie. "It's not what you think," he started, his voice steady but edged with tension. "She doesn't want to marry Harry. Thisâ" He gestured between them, his eyes pleading with Theo to understand. "This isn't wrong."
Theo's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched. "Not wrong?" he repeated, his voice barely more than a growl. "Do you have any idea what you're doing? What this means?"
"I don't love Harry," Evie finally spoke, her voice soft but firm. "I never did."
Theo paused, his eyes narrowing as he took in her words, "Then why the fuck are you marrying him?"
Evie's eyes flickered toward Levi. her heart hammered inside her chest as Levi gave her a small nod and stepped forward.
"We need to tell you something," he began.
Theo's eyes moved from Levi to Evie.
"Please, Teddy," Evie said softly. "Hear us out first."
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Mason and Wendy
Mason shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the tension in the car thick and oppressive. Wendy sat behind him, staring out the window, her silence more cutting than any argument they'd ever had. She hadn't said a word since they left, her arms crossed tightly, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery as if she could will herself anywhere but here. Every attempt he made to break the silence had been met with a cold wall of indifference.
Unlike before, when Lily had always tried to smooth things over, she now looked at Mason with an unfamiliar hardness in her eyes.
"Just leave her alone," she said bluntly from the front beside Wendy, her voice low but firm. "Don't bother her, Mace. I mean it."
Her words stung more than he expected. There was no sympathy, no attempt to bridge the gap. For once, Lily wasn't on his side.
Mason clenched his jaw, the restless energy buzzing through him. His fingers drummed on his knee, his mind racing with unspoken words. Wendy didn't even glance his way. When they finally reached the airport, Mason couldn't help but pull Lily aside.
"What?" She asked, her eyes ice cold. She reminded him so much of their mother when she had that feisty attitude, like she could shoot up the entire city.
"I want to apologize," Masons said. "But I don't know what to apologize for."
Lily's scowl deepened. She tried to walk away but Mason stopped her again.
"Come on, Lil'," he said impatiently. "I hardly know her. I'm trying. Don't I get some credit for that? How can you blame me for not noting knowing how I've upset her?"
Lily shook her head, her brows furrowed and her lips squeezed tight into a thin line of disapproval.
"You know Grandma Patty will tell you to stop that before you get wrinkles," Mason teased, running his finger under his sister's nose. Lily's scowle deepened as she pushed his hand away.
"Come on," Mason urged with sincerity in his eyes. "Who knows when I will see her again? I don't want her to leave like this."
Lily thought over his words. Her gaze flickered toward Wendy at the security line before coming back to her brother. With a short exhale, her eyes softening just a fraction.
"It's not my story to share," she said quietly, the words sharp and controlled. "And I don't want to violate her privacy and trust but......all you need to know is that Wendy doesn't like violence."
Mason slowly nodded, listening to each and every word Lily said with the utmost seriousness.
"At all, Mason," Lily added as if a personal reminder and warning. "It was hard for her to see you and Theo like that this morning."
Mason felt a wave of shame and guilt come over him. His gaze flickered toward Wendy and then back to his sister.
"And it upset me too," Lily said, shifting her weight. "How could you.....even think about Daphneâ"
"No, no!" Mason shook his head. "God, no! I was trying to poke Theo. He's being an idiot. I would never seriously think that way about Daphne."
"You are an idiot," Lily said. "A really big stupid idiot. Why would you do that?"
"You know how possessive he is of her," Mason said. "I thought maybe if he thought I was serious, he would go back to her."
"I still can't believe they broke up," Lily frowned. "She's not picking up my calls and I'm too scared to go talk to Theo. What the hell happened?"
Mason shrugged.
"You know what happened," Lily narrowed her eyes.
Mason tried to hide a grin, "It's not my story to share."
"Are you serious right now?" Lily snapped, hitting his chest with her wallet and phone. "Tell me."
"No," Mason laughed. "I don't want to violate their privacy."
"Mason!" Lily groaned, grabbing his arm and pulling him closer before he could talk away. "Tell me or I'll tell Wendy you were serious about Daphne and she will never speak to you again."
"Seriously?" Mason stopped.
"Yeah," Lily nodded. "After she calmed down, she said something about you turning out to be just like every other guy or something like that."
"Woah, woah, woah," Mason gasped. "She thinks I'm a common bitch?"
"Don't give yourself too much credit," Wendy's voice suddenly spoke up from behind them. Lily and Mason turned to find the girl staring at them with her eyes blank and expression unreadable. "I don't bother myself thinking about you."
"Ouch," Mason mocked a frown as he placed a hand over his heart. "Ater everything we've been through this weekend?"
Wendy rolled her eyes. She turned toward Lily, completely ignoring Mason.
"Let's go," she said. "Our flight is boarding."
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Theo and Daphne
Theo stepped through the towering glass doors of the office, his polished shoes clicking rhythmically against the marble floor. The familiar scent of coffee and faint traces of cologne greeted him, yet everything felt strangely distant. Each step was purposeful, every movement calculatedâa performance perfected over the years. On the surface, Theo was the picture of composed authority: sharp suit, unwavering gaze, and neutral expression.
Yet beneath the facade, a quiet unease gnawed at him. The weight of his title pressed heavily on his shoulders, a constant reminder of the truth had just learned.
Not Luca's real son.
The thought echoed through his mind, relentless and corrosive. Did they see it too? The cracks in his foundation?
He greeted colleagues with a firm handshake, his tone even and commanding, effortlessly slipping into the role expected of him. Meetings flowed seamlessly, and decisions were made with a confidence that belied the turmoil beneath. No one noticed the flicker of doubt in his eyes, the brief hesitation before signing a contract or giving an order. To them, he was Theo Silvanoâpowerful, assured, untouchable.
But as he sat behind the heavy mahogany desk, the room quiet and still, the silence pressed in. The walls seemed to close around him, and the carefully constructed mask felt fragile. He clenched his fists, grounding himself.
Theo's eyes skimmed the data on his computer screen, but the numbers blurred together, his focus slipping. He exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose, willing his mind to clear. The office around him was quiet, the hum of distant conversations barely registering.
Focus. Stay sharp.
Yet, the unease clung to him, a shadow in the corners of his thoughts.
Then, the glass partition before him caught a flash of movement. Theo looked up, and the world seemed to narrow to a single point.
Daphne.
She walked alongside the HR director, her steps confident yet graceful, her presence effortlessly commanding the space. The light from the corridor danced across her hair, casting a soft glow around her face. She wore a fitted blouse, the color accentuating her eyes, and a tailored skirt that highlighted her natural elegance. There was a quiet intensity in her expression, focused yet distant as if she held secrets he would never understand.
Theo's breath hitched. For a moment, everything else fadedâthe weight of his doubts, the walls of his office, the world outside. All that remained was her.
Daphne seemed both a part of this place and above it, an enigma he couldn't quite grasp. The way she moved, the soft sway of her hair, the determined set of her jawâit mesmerized him. His chest tightened with a sense of longing.
He forced his eyes back to the screen, but the numbers held no meaning now. Her presence lingered, pulling at the carefully constructed calm he wore like armor.
Get a grip.
But the image of her remained burned into his mind.
The HR director said something, and Daphne nodded, a faint, polite smile on her lips. She glanced toward his officeâjust a flicker of her eyes and a split second of holding his gazeâbut it felt like a tether tightening around his heart. Daphne quickly turned away.
Theo sat rigidly at his desk, his fingers resting on the keyboard, but the words on the screen blurred as his focus shattered completely. His mind, once sharp and meticulous, now wandered. His gaze flickered back to the glass partition, where Daphne moved around her new office, the HR director beside her, speaking with a quiet but animated tone. Daphne seemed absorbed in the conversation, nodding politely, her eyes bright and attentive. The smile she offered was warm but distant, a professional mask that barely concealed the beauty beneath.
He couldn't tear his eyes away.
Daphne moved with an ease that spoke of someone already comfortable in her new environment, her hands delicately adjusting a stack of papers, her body language calm but purposeful. She seemed to own the space, every subtle movement more captivating than the last. His chest tightened, the steady rhythm of his breath disrupted by the way she simply existed, so effortlessly magnetic.
Focus, Theo. You're supposed to be working. But the pull of her was overwhelming.
He watched as she met her new assistant, Tineâa bright young woman with wide eyes and a nervous smile. Theo had handpicked Tine for the role, knowing she would be perfect for Daphne: efficient, and driven, but with enough humility to respect Daphne's boundaries. Seeing them together now, he couldn't help but feel a strange pang in his chest. Daphne had her new assistant at her side, someone who would see her more than he ever could, someone who would be closer to her than he would ever allow himself to be.
Tine smiled warmly, handing Daphne a few folders, clearly eager to make a good impression. Daphne accepted them with a polite nod, her eyes flicking to the papers briefly before meeting Tine's gaze again. Theo caught the softest of smiles crossing Daphne's lips, the expression so subtle, so genuine, and it hit him like a wave. She looked happy, settling into this new role with ease.
But the thought that clawed at him was one he couldn't silence: Why didn't I ask her to stay? Why had he let her walk away from everything they could have shared?
No, Theo's jaw clenched. Don't go there.
Theo's fingers hovered uselessly over his keyboard as the silent tension in his chest grew tighter, and stronger. Every glance Daphne cast toward him, every motion she made in her new office, seemed to deepen the ache that spread through him. He told himself he was being foolish. That he had no right to feel this way. But none of his usual defenses could block the rush of feelings that had taken root in him long ago.
He tried to focus on the screen again, forcing his attention back to the numbers, but every shift of Daphne's figure in her office, every word exchanged between her and Tine, kept drawing him back into her orbit.
She's here, he reminded himself, and yet it didn't feel like enough.
What do you think will happen at work now? ;)