Chapter 168
When I got back to the company, I ran into Ava downstairs.
She said she couldn't understand it, and she still blamed me for hiding from her that I was Levi's wife.
I didn't talk with her in detail. There was no point in us going back and forth - it would only draw the attention of other employees.
Whenever she mentioned Levi's name, it would make people stop and stare. Last time it was Jessa who came and made a scene, blurting out that I was Levi's wife.
If Ava said it again, it would cause another round of gossip.
I was in a bad mood all afternoon.
It felt like a dream. I never expected that Levi would do these things for me. Nola's casual comment caught John's attention, and Levi went straight to solving the problem.
I had originally planned to come to the office less often once I built an excellent team, but now the budget constraints were reminding me to design and produce in a timely manner.
Michael had been pretty quiet lately. They'd clearly cut back on advertising expenses. He'd made such a big show of things that once he cut costs, it became obvious.
The sales figures for his "Moon" series hadn't been looking good lately either. I just had the sales department do a simple survey, and it showed they were in decline.
Elliot might not even get his investment back, and Michael was bearing even more of the burden. If they didn't get enough follow-up funding, they'd probably have to declare bankruptcy.
The evening sunset was quite intense. I didn't find it sad - actually, I found it warm.
Indigo called to ask about tonight's menu. I told her to prepare some dishes Levi liked. It seemed like since he got back from his business trip, we'd hardly eaten out at all.
As soon as I got out of the car, I saw Faye.
She was walking around the yard with her head down, looking dejected.
"Faye, why aren't you eating dinner in the dining room?"
"Blair, you're back."
She greeted me weakly.
"Yeah."
Faye had a bitter expression. "Blair, Joseph is so devoted to you. I even told him about my relationship with you, and he still said he's willing to wait for you."
"You told him?"
"Yeah."
Unexpected things kept happening in my world. I'd just gotten my emotions stable, and now another person knew about my relationship with Levi.
"Well, since you told him, you told him."
I felt helpless. I had to accept this outcome.
Faye frowned. "Why won't he give up when he knows you're married? I don't get it. What do I lack? I'm younger than you. Looks-wise, maybe I'm a tiny bit less attractive, but not that much, right?"
"Sigh..."
I didn't know if I looked like this when I was devoted to Levi back then. I felt like Faye was hopeless. She and Joseph were impossible, even without my existence.
She was still too young. Joseph was such an outgoing person - what kind of woman hadn't he seen?
"By the way, why hasn't Sophia been coming around lately?"
"My brother came back. She's scared to death and doesn't dare come anymore. She told me she's being super careful at the company every day."
She made me laugh.
"She doesn't need to worry at all. Your brother hasn't even noticed her."
When Sophia tipped me off before, Levi didn't even realize it was her.
Faye looked at a message and jumped up excitedly.
"Blair, I just got news that Joseph is drinking at a bar. I'm going to find him."
"Faye, you..."
"Don't worry about me."
Faye ran out without even having the driver take her. I stood at the door and watched. A car picked her up.
I didn't know whether to tell Levi about this. After all, if I hadn't let her and Sophia go that time, she wouldn't have met Joseph.
I was responsible for how things turned out.
"Mrs. Morgan, why aren't you coming inside? Mr. Morgan is waiting for you in the dining room."
Indigo called out to me. I adjusted my mood and replied, "Coming."
The dining room was filled with the scent of lilies. I hadn't noticed when I came in that the living room arrangement had changed.
"Indigo, did you buy flowers?"
"Oh, no, Mr. Morgan brought them back. He bought many different kinds. I just helped arrange them in vases. Oh, and there are some in your bedroom too."
"The bedroom?"
Indigo smiled. "Yes, it's all fixed up."
"That was fast."
It had only been two or three days, and it was already done.
I didn't know what got into Levi - he actually bought flowers on his own. This was the first time in all our years of marriage.
"Mrs. Morgan, let's eat first, or it'll get cold."
"Okay."
Levi was already seated. He'd come home on time.
When I walked over, he even stood up and smiled at me.
"Is something wrong?"
I didn't understand what he was doing.
"Nothing."
He sat back down and didn't say anything. Was he welcoming me just now?
All the dishes were ready, and Indigo had left.
I sat down and ate slowly.
"You two met?"
"Yeah."
When I went to his office today, I forgot to mention this.
"She didn't give you a hard time, did she?"
I was pretty happy that he cared about me.
"No. You heard what I said to Grandpa, right? She'll keep it secret."
Levi put a piece of pork rib in my bowl. I stared at the bowl, unable to look away for a long time.
"Actually, her father has no intention of arranging a marriage alliance with me. He'd rather she marry local nobility," Levi explained.
"Her family doesn't lack money. Maybe they need some prestige?"
"Yeah."
"Her father wants resources in many areas, and he doesn't like dealing with people from other countries. This time it was only because of Grandpa's influence, otherwise he might not have even met with me."
So it was difficult for Levi to get this shipment. Ava's father wasn't willing to do business with him.
"So, besides letting Ava come experience working at the company, did you agree to any other conditions?"
I felt like things weren't simple because Levi had never talked about anything he found difficult before.
"Yes."
Levi took a sip of wine.
"I promised her father I'd try to convince her to marry a local nobleman and go back for the arranged marriage sooner."
I didn't expect they had such conditions between them.
"Forcing her won't work. You're the most opposed to arranged marriages."
I was being honest. That was how it was with him and me. Back then, Aiden kept insisting that Levi marry me, so he was kind of forced into it, too.
Levi looked at me seriously and said, "Arranged marriages can be happy too."
"What?"
I was shocked by his words.
"Let's eat."
"Do you feel happy?"
I couldn't help but ask if he was happy, if he'd felt happy at all during these years of being married to me.
"Yeah."
Levi gave a definite answer. I looked at the ring on his ring finger, and suddenly my nose stung, and tears burst out.
I immediately picked up my bowl and held it in front of my face. I couldn't let Levi see me crying - it would make me look kind of silly.
I never expected that after he admitted our marriage was happy, my feelings would be both painful and joyful at the same time.