novelraw Chapter 164: So You Knew All That Time
Chapter 164: So You Knew All That Time
Chapter 164: So You Knew All That Time
The exit from the station had been utter chaos but the drive back to the penthouse was slow and subdued, Levi had suggested they stay away from the house as it would probably be packed full with paparazzi.
The earlier urgency that had propelled Lyse from the women’s shelter to the police station had dissipated, leaving behind it a heavy awkwardness. The realization that she had thrown everything away immediately she discovered that Levi had been in trouble made her reflect on her feelings. The weight of the day’s revelations, the accusations against Levi, the shocking truth about Brandon’s parentage, hung heavy in the air between them.
Levi drove carefully, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He could feel Lyse’s gaze on him, but he avoided looking at her, afraid of what he might see in her eyes. Disappointment? Anger? Disgust? He didn’t know if he could bear it. Even though she said that she believed him, he wondered if she had said it because there had been people there.
When they finally arrived at the penthouse, the familiar opulence of the lobby felt strangely oppressive. Lyse stepped out of the car, her movements slow and deliberate. She walked towards the elevator, her gaze fixed on the polished marble floor.
Levi followed her, his heart heavy. He knew that this conversation was inevitable and he dreaded it, he would rather fight a bear. He just didn’t know if he was ready for it.
They rode the elevator in silence, the only sound the faint hum of the machinery. When they reached his floor, Lyse stepped into the apartment and walked towards the bedroom. Levi followed her, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway.
When Lyse reached the door, her hand hovering over the handle. She paused, her back still to Levi. Then, she turned abruptly, her eyes meeting his.
"Did you kill her?"
Levi took two quick steps forward and said earnestly, "I had no reason to do that." He insisted, "she called my phone, that’s all. I did not even go to see her."
Lyse kept quiet and turned away, "Levi," she said, her voice low and steady. "Did you know?"
Levi’s heart sank. He knew exactly what she was talking about. He had known this question was coming sooner or later.
He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the inevitable fallout. "Yes," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper. "I knew."
Lyse’s expression did not change. She simply stared at him, her eyes searching his face.
"How long?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"For a while," Levi replied, his gaze dropping to the floor in embarrassment. "I found out few years ago."
A moment of silence hung between them, the air thick with unspoken emotions. Then, Lyse’s voice broke the silence, laced with a mixture of pain and anger.
"So you knew all that time, so why?" she asked, her voice rising. "Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you keep it a secret, don’t you realize what that did to us?"
Levi looked up at her, his eyes filled with regret. He had known even then that he was making a mistake, a terrible mistake. But he had done it for what he believed were the right reasons.
"It is all so complicated, Lyse," he said, his voice low and weary. "It involved my mother. I did not want to hurt her. I did not want to cause a scandal."
"A scandal?" Lyse repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. "You kept the truth about an innocent child’s parentage a secret to avoid a scandal? You put your family’s reputation above the truth? And you let me think..."
Her voice faded away and she turned her head sharply as she remembered how disgusted she had been when she learned that he was Brandon’s father.
"It was not just about reputation," Levi explained, his voice pleading. "It was about protecting Brandon. I did not want him to find out the truth in such a public and messy way. I wanted to tell him myself, when the time was right."
"And when was that supposed to be?" Lyse asked, her voice rising. "When you were on your deathbed? When it was too late for him to know the truth about his own life? When Sutton had entirely damaged him?"
Levi remained silent, his gaze dropping to the floor. He knew he had no good answer.
"We could have avoided all of this," Lyse said, her voice trembling. "All the misunderstandings, all the pain. If you had just told me the truth, we could have faced this together, like partners."
"I know," Levi admitted, his voice filled with regret. "And I am so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I never meant for things to turn out this way."
He paused, taking a deep breath. "I never intended to reveal the truth about Brandon’s paternity," he continued. "It was forced out of me. Brett and plan to steal the company forced my hand. He was going to use Brandon’s name to gain control. I had no choice but to expose the truth to protect the company, to protect my family."
Lyse stared at him, her mind reeling. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the genuine regret in his voice. She wanted to believe him, to forgive him, but the pain of his betrayal was still too fresh.
"So you are saying you only told the truth because you were forced to?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "Not because it was the right thing to do?"
"That is not what I meant," Levi replied, his voice pleading. "I realize that I should have told you sooner. I know I made a mistake. But I was trying to protect everyone involved."
He paused, taking a step closer to her. "Lyse," he said, his voice soft, "I love you. I never wanted to hurt you. Please believe me."
Lyse looked at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and longing. She wanted so much to believe him, she wanted to forgive him, but she didn’t know if she could. The trust between them had been shattered, and she did not know if it could ever be fully restored. Who knew what other wolf secret he had in his closet of skeletons, the next time might even be worse.
"I don’t know what to believe anymore, Levi," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I need time. I need time to think, to process everything that has happened."
Levi nodded understandingly. "I understand," he said. "I will give you all the time you need."
He turned and walked away, leaving Lyse standing there, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She watched him go, her heart aching with a mixture of love, anger, and confusion.
The revelation of Brandon’s paternity had changed everything, adding another layer of complexity to their already strained relationship. Levi’s explanation, his admission of his long-held secret, had opened old wounds, bringing back the pain of his past betrayals.
Lyse knew she needed time to heal, time to decide if she could ever forgive Levi, time to figure out what she wanted for her future. But one thing was certain: the truth, however painful, had finally been revealed, and now they both had to deal with the consequences. The path ahead was uncertain, filled with challenges and uncertainties, but they would have to face it, together or apart, with the weight of the truth hanging heavy between them.
As she stepped into the bedroom, she was enveloped by the essence of Levi. The room smelled like him in a comforting way and she sat down with a tired sigh.
She knew that she needed to tell herself the truth and that was that, despite the strange circumstances behind their meeting, she wanted Levi. She wanted to try on a new page and see where it would lead them. She was just afraid of letting go of her fears of disappointment and hyper independence.
As Levi walked to the guest bedroom, he stepped out into the balcony and looked out the window at the impressive layout of the city. He had always loved his apartment, it felt like standing on the pulse of the city. Like he was watching over his territory.
His phone’s shrill ringing broke the peaceful silence. He pulled out the phone and glanced at the caller ID before placing it against his ear and said.
"I want you to make sure that you get the video, if there are any other such videos, destroy it all. I can’t afford to let that video be seen by anyone, do you understand me?"
After the call was ended, Levi placed the phone back in his pocket and looked out at the city while a vein ticked in his neck, his face hardened by calculating coldness.
Levi Van Doren was willing to do anything to protect his family, he had no thoughts for himself. Only to protect the ones he cared for.