novelraw Chapter 151: Talk About Creepy
Chapter 151: Talk About Creepy
Chapter 151: Talk About Creepy
Lily turned Levi around so that they were facing each other, her face etched with concern and a hint of disapproval. The abrupt dismissal of Brandon from his interim CEO position had been necessary, yet she felt compelled to intervene because of how coldly Levi had treated Brandon. She could not stand to see her son treating his own flesh and blood with such coldness.
"Levi," she said, her voice laced with a mixture of concern and admonishment, "I really need to talk to you about Brandon and you can’t keep avoiding it."
Levi sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew what this conversation was going to be about.
"Mother," he said, his voice weary, "I don’t have time for this."
"You need to make time," Lily insisted, her voice firm. "This is about your son."
Levi’s brow furrowed. "Brandon is a grown man," he said. "He can take care of himself."
"That is not the point," Lily countered. "You are being so dismissive of him. You’re treating him like he is nothing to you. And i know it’s all because of that girl."
Levi’s jaw tightened. He knew that she was referring to Lyse. "Lyse has nothing to do with this," he said, his voice low and controlled.
"Don’t be ridiculous," Lily retorted. "Ever since she came into your life, you have been different. You’ve been distant, preoccupied. And now, you’re taking it out on Brandon."
She paused, her expression softening slightly. "Levi," she said, her voice laced with a plea, "you need to let her go. She is not worth it. You have a legacy to think about, a family to carry on. And that legacy is Brandon."
Levi remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on his mother’s face. He could see the genuine concern in her eyes, the deep-seated belief that she was doing what was best for him.
He looked at his mother, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Mother," he said, his voice low and steady, "why are you so certain that Brandon is my son?"
Lily’s expression changed, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "What are you insinuating, Levi?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of defensiveness.
"I am simply asking a question," Levi replied, his voice calm but firm. "Brandon looks nothing like me. He has none of my features. And given everything that’s happened... with Sutton... don’t you ever just wonder..."
He paused, his eyes meeting his mother’s. "What if Sutton pinned the pregnancy on me because it was the best thing for her?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "What if she used me to secure her position in the family, to gain access to the Van Doren fortune?"
Lily’s face flushed with anger. "How dare you!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "How dare you question Brandon’s parentage! He is your son! I won’t hear another word of this nonsense!"
"It’s not nonsense, Mother," Levi countered, his voice firm. "It is a legitimate question. One that you should have thought of."
It was his mother’s desperation for the continuity of her family’s legacy that had led them to this point. He did not want to disappoint or disillusion her but she needed to wake up and open her eyes.
He stood up from his desk, his gaze unwavering. "Think about it, Mother," he said, his voice low and steady. "Sutton was always ambitious, always seeking a way to elevate her social standing. What better way to secure her future than to attach herself to the Van Doren family?"
"I was so young then and vulnerable after father passed." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "And you were so eager to have a grandson, so desperate to secure the family line. It was the perfect opportunity for her."
Lily stared at him, her face a mixture of anger and disbelief. She could not believe what she was hearing. Her own son was questioning the legitimacy of his own child.
"This is absurd, Levi," she said, her voice trembling. "I won’t listen to these ridiculous accusations."
"It’s not an accusation, Mother," Levi said, his voice calm but firm. "It’s simply a question, you should consider the possibility."
He turned and walked towards the door, leaving his mother standing there, her face a mask of shock and confusion.
Lily watched him leave his own office, her mind reeling. She had never considered the possibility that Brandon might not be Levi’s son. The thought was abhorrent to her, a direct challenge to everything she believed in.
She thought back to Sutton, her ambition, her determination to climb the social ladder. She had always been a shrewd and calculating woman ever since she was young. But could she have been capable of such a deception?
The thought sent a chill down Lily’s spine. She had always believed that the Van Doren family was built on a foundation of honor and integrity. But now, that foundation seemed to be crumbling beneath her feet. She feared challenging what she had believed, the repercussions could be dire for her family.
She stood there, alone in Levi’s office, her mind a whirlwind of doubt and uncertainty. Levi’s words had planted a seed of suspicion, a seed that was now beginning to take root, threatening to unravel the carefully constructed fabric of her family’s safett. She knew she had to find out the truth, to either confirm her son’s suspicions or to put them to rest once and for all. The stability of her family, the legacy of the Van Doren name, depended on it.
At the hospital, The crisp white sheets felt cool against Lyse’s skin as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed, a small bag containing her belongings at her feet. The doctor had just finished his final check-up, declaring her fit to leave. The medication had done its work, restoring her memories with a clarity that was both a blessing and a curse.
A bittersweet feeling washed over her. She was free to go, free to return to her life, or what was left of it. But the hospital room, with its sterile atmosphere and quiet solitude, felt oddly comforting compared to the uncertain world that awaited her outside.
A part of her had hoped, perhaps foolishly, that Levi would visit. That he would be there to offer an explanation, a plea for forgiveness, or even just a simple goodbye. But he had not come. Not once since she had declared their contract relationship over.
She had made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him, that she could not forgive his betrayal. His absence was, in essence, what she had demanded. She should be relieved, even triumphant, that he was respecting her wishes.
But the reality was far different. A dull ache settled in her chest, a hollow feeling that no amount of logic could dispel. She missed him. She missed the man she had unfortunately fallen in love with, the man she had believed him to be. The memories of their shared life, now so vividly restored, were a constant reminder of what she had lost.
She tried to shake off the melancholy, reminding herself of the reasons for her decision. Levi had lied to her, had kept a devastating secret from her. How could she ever trust him again? How could she ever reconcile the man she loved with the man who had betrayed her?
It honestly felt too weird, she had already gotten out of her comfort zone by being with an older man. It was a different kettle of fish to discover that he was also her ex’s father, and he had known all along, talk about creepy.
The heavy silence of the room was broken only by the faint beeping of medical equipment in the distance. The loneliness pressed in on her, amplifying her sense of isolation. Even her best friend, James, was not around. He would have been all abuzz about her, fussing over her like a mother hen, he would have a lifeline in a sea of sadness.
But now that she had gotten back her memories, she remembered that he had left on singles cruise, a trip that had been planned long before her accident and recent hospitalization. It was a no phones allowed cruise so she would not be able to reach him.
She longed for his familiar presence, his easygoing humor, his unwavering loyalty. He would know what to say, how to comfort her, how to make her feel less alone. But he was thousands of miles away, unreachable in her moment of need.
Lyse sighed, picking up her bag. She could not hide out in the hospital room forever. She had to face the world, to start rebuilding her life, even if it meant doing so alone.
As she prepared to walk out of the hospital room, the door suddenly opened and Lyse took a step back. Stunned at the person at the door.
"What... why are you here?" She asked awkwardly as she looked over his shoulder at the hallway.