Chapter 184
The midnight bell rang out, and firecrackers echoed through heaven and earth. Both Levi and I woke up while Celestia slept soundly.
I sat up and looked out the window.
In previous years, Aiden would go out to set off firecrackers himself. This year, with so many incidents happening, he must be feeling down even if he's awake now.
At times like this, having family members becomes especially important. The Morgan family is small - Levi's father was an only child, then came Levi and Cleo.
Next would be Celestia and Hayden. Strictly speaking, Hayden does carry a different surname.
I touched my belly. It would be great if they were two boys - that way, I'd be adding sons to the Morgan family.
We live in modern times now. If they're not boys, I probably won't have more children. Pregnancy carries big risks for women, and those risks increase after thirty.
"Do you want to go set off fireworks?"
Levi sat up. He looked at me gently, and in the dim yellow light, looking at his handsome face, my heart fluttered.
Since he offered, of course, I was happy.
"In the courtyard? Won't we disturb everyone's rest?"
"The firecrackers haven't stopped yet. Want to go?"
"Yes!"
I put on my shoes and walked to his side. He took a coat from the rack and draped it over me. "It's cold outside, just make do with this."
His clothes carried a faint lily of the valley scent. I remembered giving him a bottle of perfume with this scent. Did he actually use it?
"Is that lily of the valley?"
"Yeah."
Levi took my hand and led me through the hallway to the courtyard.
Jasper saw us come out and approached to ask.
"Mr. Morgan, do you need anything this late?"
"Fireworks. Jasper, do we still have fireworks at home?"
"Yes, we prepared a lot this year. Since the family dinner wasn't very pleasant and Mr. Aiden Morgan went to rest early, I didn't have them set any off."
"Bring them out. We'll set them off now."
I pulled the coat tighter and waited to watch the fireworks.
Levi rubbed his hands together and covered my ears to warm them.
"I should have brought you a hat."
"I don't like wearing hats. Even if you brought one, it would be pointless."
I've never liked wearing hats since I was little. I always find them cumbersome.
Soon, everyone had the fireworks set up. Jasper walked forward with a lighter, but Levi snatched it from his hand.
"Jasper, let me do it."
"Ah, alright. The last time you set off fireworks yourself was when you were little."
Jasper showed a kind smile. He had watched Levi grow up.
Levi reached out to light the fuse, then quickly ran back. In an instant, beautiful fireworks shot across the sky and bloomed.
I looked up at the brilliant fireworks, my nose tingling, and my eyes grew moist. I hadn't seen such beautiful fireworks in so long.
Tonight was especially wonderful.
"Mom, can you see this? These are fireworks he set off for me himself. Are you doing well in heaven? Do you miss me..."
I thought of my mother. She had been gone for a long time, but her face and smile seemed like yesterday. I still remember when I was little, the three of us setting off fireworks together.
Levi pulled me into his arms. He lowered his head and kissed away the tears at the corners of my eyes.
"Is being with me really that bad?"
I shook my head, unable to speak.
He said softly, "I won't make you sad anymore."
The moment he kissed me, I couldn't speak. His sincere promise moved me so much that I couldn't find words.
I looked into his eyes and fell deeper. I, Blair, probably will never escape my love for him in this lifetime.
From the day we met until now, I had finally received his response.
Everything felt unreal. It felt like just a second ago I was depressed and thinking about divorce, and the next second, Levi completely changed and became incredibly good to me.
"There's something in the pocket."
"Hm?"
Levi's words temporarily broke the tender moment.
I pulled away from his embrace and felt around in the pocket.
Something like an envelope. I instantly guessed what it was.
When I pulled out a thick red envelope, Levi held his hand out in front of me.
"Happy New Year. I wonder if I get a red envelope?"
I laughed awkwardly. If I gave this red envelope back to him, that would be really boring.
But I really hadn't prepared anything. This was also the first time Levi had given me a red envelope. He had never deliberately given me one for the New Year before.
"Wait here. I'll set off a firework for you, too."
I pulled the lighter from his pants pocket and, amid Jasper's worried voice, lit the first firework of the new year.
Bang!
As the fireworks opened up, I covered my ears and ran backward. Levi caught me steadily, and I laughed in his arms, watching the fireworks. This scene was from my dreams, the beautiful image I had fantasized about during sleepless nights.
"You're actually quite brave."
Levi muttered quietly.
But I heard every word clearly. I'm no longer that little girl who cried when she lost her shoes. I'm now a brave wife and mother.
"How can I not be brave? Otherwise, how would I have the strength to deal with the women you attract?"
Levi pinched my earlobe. "It's a new year. Should we turn the page?"
"My little notebook is getting anxious."
"Then I'll keep one on you, too."
I pried his hand away and glared at him. "What do you have to write about me? I've always been proper."
"Gifts delivered to the house, marriage proposals made all the way to Grandpa - shouldn't I write that down?"
I suddenly realized that Levi wasn't a man of few words. He had just been holding back. If he wanted to talk to someone, he could be quite chatty.
"Got you, didn't I?"
He even challenged me back.
I poked his shoulder. "You're worse. Before the family dinner, those two women even came to the house together, and they never avoided me."
"I said I wanted to go public, but you didn't want to."
"Now you're turning it around on me?" I still glared at him.
Levi immediately broke into a smile. "Alright, alright, don't ruin the mood."
Jasper, who had been on edge thinking we were about to fight, breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that we were fine, he quietly went back to his room to rest.
Only the two of us were left in the courtyard.
The fireworks faded, dissolving into happiness in the sky and falling into my heart.
There were so many moments when I wanted to tell the whole world I was Levi's wife. But now that he's willing, I have many concerns.
Actually, going public would solve a lot of problems and help my work too. But suddenly I'm being difficult, and my insecurities are acting up again.
Do I really deserve the dazzling Levi?
"There's a lot to do tomorrow. Let's go back."
I can still be timid sometimes. Like right now - our relationship has warmed up, I clearly want to hold him more, but I convince myself to keep my distance.
This conflicted emotion left me unsure whether to laugh or cry.
But tonight, we each set off fireworks for each other. That moment is frozen forever.