Chapter 199

Chapter 199
ISABELLA

When I woke, I found myself alone in a stiff hospital bed, connected to a tangle of machines that beeped and hummed like anxious whispers. And yet, by my side, Levi was already there. He had been sitting beside me when I opened my eyes, gripping my hand with a terrifying tenderness, kissing every knuckle as if he thought he’d almost lost me.
The moment he saw my eyes flicker open, he called for the doctor. They came rushing in, and I lay motionless on the bed, mouth dry, my body trembling. My head throbbed, but the doctor reassured me. It was just a concussion from the accident; the airbag had done its job. Mild, they said. They would keep me under observation for a while, but I would recover easily.
I exhaled a shaky sigh—not just for myself, but for Levi. He looked fine. That was what mattered. Only his hand was bandaged, and a small plaster marked his cheek, a faint reminder of the collision.
The memory of the accident hit me like a punch to the chest, and fear enveloped me. I scanned the room—the beeping machines, the sterile white walls, the blinds half-open—but no Matt, no Caroline. I tried to sit up, but weakness anchored me to the bed. Levi held me down gently, steadying me.
He stood sentinel as the doctors examined me. Once they left, he leaned in, pressing gentle kisses to my forehead and cheeks, wrapping his head around mine. My chest tightened; I could barely breathe—but I let him. I felt safe.
“My siblings… Caroline, Matt?” I asked, voice trembling.
“They’re home, safe. They’ve been here all night. I asked them to rest. They’ll be back soon,” Levi replied.
“So no one else… no one else was hurt?” I managed to ask, heart hammering as memories of the crash flickered across my mind. I drew in a deep breath to push the fear back.
“Everyone is safe. Just focus on getting better,” Levi said, brushing my hair back. “How do you feel?”
I blinked at him, trying to steady myself. “I’m fine… but for how long, before your dad tries to kill me again?” My voice barely rose above a whisper.
He hesitated, then reached for my hands, but I held him back.
“Levi… you have to believe me,” I whispered, words trembling. “Your father is not who you think he is.”
He shook his head, jaw tightening. “You think I don’t know what he is? He’s done terrible things, Isabella. I know that. But he’s not a killer. Don’t you see things from my perspective? I am not trying to protect him. I am not doubting your stories. But he would not send men to kill you. And what about me? You think he wants me dead just because I want to marry you?”
I fell silent, drained from trying to make him see what he refused to.
“What about the men who tried to kill us?” I pushed again, voice thin and trembling. “Have they been caught? They can give us the answers we need.”
“They’re still on the run,” Levi said softly, squeezing my arms, steadying me. “But we will find them. I’ve put others on it too. I would never let anything happen to you, Isabella.”
“I don’t think we should get married until they’re found,” I said. “Until we know who wanted us dead… until we know the truth. I think we should go our separate ways for now…”
And that was when everything exploded. Levi’s face hardened, his voice rose, and the argument spiraled until the walls of the hospital room seemed to close in. Then the threat came. His father.
I blinked, and suddenly I was back in the cathedral, standing at the aisle. The memory still pressed against me, but the present was undeniable.
I turned to the only other family I had present—Caroline. She sat next to Charlotte, dressed beautifully in the gown Levi had chosen for her, hands knotted in front of her, eyes soft and steady on mine. She looked happy and proud for me. Then I caught Charlotte’s gaze; she gave a barely-there nod, as if to say: You can survive this. You always do.
The hymn swelled through the hall, lifting under the high ceilings, mingling with the warmth of Caroline’s smile. Levi stood at the altar with his usual calm, almost serene expression—even though I knew how desperately he wanted this marriage. And somehow, the contrast between my life just months ago—working at Ford’s, scraping by, enduring the daily grind—and this lavish, glittering ceremony hit me like a dizzying wave.
The hall was enormous. Walking to the altar felt like moving through a dream—or a nightmare—I wasn’t sure which. Ten long minutes passed before I finally reached the front.
And then, my heart stopped.
Levi had never looked so breathtaking.