We spend the night at my condo. I could not sleep while he was sound asleep next to me. It still clung to me and didn't seem to want to let go because it was so tight. It was two in the morning when I checked the time. I can already feel my hunger and the excessive noise of my stomach.
I moved a little bit so he wouldn't wake up. When I got out of his embrace, I quickly left there and went straight to the kitchen while typing a message for Acel.
To Acel Acuzar
AJ, I’m sorry to bother you at this hour. I just want to know how’s my daughter doing and if she’s safe there.
When I sent it, I started preparing the food I was going to cook. I decided to cook some pasta and I just made a chocolate drink. Right after I was there, my cellphone rang because of a text message.
Acel Acuzar
She’s asleep, Rae. Don’t worry about her, she’s safe here
Before I could type a reply to her, another message came in from her.
Acel Acuzar
Talk to each other properly. Include him with your decision, Rae. My cousin needs you more than you think.
I stared at her message for a while before I decided not to reply. I just sighed and continued eating.
I honestly don’t want that to really affect everything that happens. I don't want it to hurt me again, especially since we really shouldn't be involved in this issue. It seems that everyone is still living with the past and in so much misery, they will include everyone who comes in the present. But every time I think that if it wasn’t for my parents, they wouldn’t have suffered like this. Uncle Saldy lost his memories until now, remembering my mom as his wife while his real wife is taking care of him. Aunt Criselda is secretly suffering but she couldn’t do anything about it because I know, I feel how much she loves her husband. I am the daughter of the people who have ruined their ability to love and understand, why would they accept me? But it's a different story about my daughter. I can’t miss that.
When I finished eating, I washed the plate. While I was washing the plate that I used, I heard the loud crash of something not far away from here and soon after, Levi suddenly appears beside me. His eyes were full of fear when I looked at it.
"Why?" I asked him.
It scratched its head and violently let out a sigh.
"I thought you left me," he almost whispered in his hoarse voice.
“I only ate because I was hungry,” was my simple reply.
It looked at me again. His eyes were still widening as he searched my whole being.
"Even if you leave, I will look for you wherever you go, Rae," he said seriously to me.
Before I could speak, he turned his back on me so I just laughed. He’s crazy. I still can’t believe how crazy he is towards me. The Levi Emmanuel Acuzar, a young billionaire, and the successor of Acuzar Empire is crazy in love with a woman like me, who is even poorer than a rat.
When I finished washing, I went to the living room. I found him sitting there. His two arms rested on the back of the sofa as if he were resting it. It just clung so I sat down next to him.
"What are you thinking?" I was the one who asked him because he was the one who always asked me this.
"You," he replied shortly to me. I can feel his heavy breathing.
"Aside from me," I moaned and leaned on his chest.
I felt him sit up straight and hugged me completely. He even showered me with kisses so I just smiled.
“I was thinking about what I would do if you really left me. I will not allow it but you know me, Rae, I will always respect you and your decision,” he told me softly.
My chest ached when I heard that. I bit my lower lip while still leaning against his chest.
“I won’t do that anymore,” I almost whispered. “But every time I think about that I am the daughter of people who ruined your family, I can't stand it, Levi.”
He shook his head at that but I continued.
"That I am the daughter of the people who have hurt and continue to hurt your parents—"
“You are innocent. You have nothing to do with everything, Rae,” he said firmly.
I closed my eyes tightly and brought my hand to his cheek to feel his tense jaw. His rough and hard jaw is very opposite with my soft and gentle hands, and yet they fit so perfectly.
He half-heartedly avoided my touch. He stubbornly avoided holding me out of anger at what I said. I chased his face again and felt it.
“Your mom and dad are hurting and destroyed until now, Levi, and I couldn’t do anything about it. I add to that every time they see me. If it were me, I would die because of the pain."
His grip tightened. I can sense his anger just thinking about what I said.
“I was hurt, too, Rae. Believe me. When mom told me everything about their the past, I almost hated the people who did that to her. You know how I love her so much,” he said in his shaking voice.
My eyes widened a bit at that. I knew he was hurt too much. But I didn't expect him to tell me. I'm used to him always harboring to himself what he really feels which is very unhealthy for me. He was always strong in front of me. He never gave me a chance to understand his emotions this way.
He averted his eyes from me as if he was afraid I would find out about his weaknesses.
This is the man I love so much. I can imagine him so broken when he learned about everything. With his mother still suffering up to now and his father lost his will to live!
“I was so angry that I can’t look at you that day but I know it was wrong of me to judge you, and I’m so sorry for that. I love you, you’re the mother of my child and I can’t think of me loathing you. Never, Rae, never,” he said.
His grip on my waist tightened even more. He even hugged me and hugged me tightly. I hugged him tighter as if my embrace could take all his pain away.
“I can do this as long as you’re with me and our daughter so don’t worry about me,” he whispered.
I took a deep breath. He looked up. The profound grief in his eyes made me decide bravely. His bloodshot eyes remained on me.
How can you love me this hard when I am a living memory of your parents’ nightmare?
“I am in love with you, Lumiere. It didn’t change a bit and will never be,” he said huskily. I sighed slowly and caressed his hard jaw. “Baby, you’re only for me,” he whispered gently.
-
The next morning, we both woke up to a series of knocks on the door. Levi opened the door while I was just waiting to see who my guest was at this time. It's too early.
Later, Levi returns with Maxim and Jaxon. My forehead furrowed when I saw them.
"We're sorry about what happened yesterday at Casa de Acuzar," Maxim began.
I smiled for assurance then I shook my head.
"I understand that," I said.
I wonder what might be the reason why they are here. His mom might have sent for Levi and would never come back.
I saw Jaxon glance at me before speaking.
"You're called at home," he told Levi.
I nodded to myself. I told you so.
“I will be home but not today. I still have work to do,” Levi replied coldly.
"Just a quick visit, Lev," Jaxon added.
Levi sighed, I can feel his disapproval.
“Uncle’s memory is back and he’s worried about you. At least assure them, Levi,” Maxim nudged.
I grabbed Levi’s arm to turn his attention to me. He looked at me. I also noticed Maxim and Jaxon turning to me.
“Maxim is right. I'll be the one to pick up Ria. Go home, Levi.”
"And I mean you two," Maxim was quick when I turned to look at them.
She looked at me with pure assurance and kindness in her eyes. She tried to give me a smile so I reciprocated that. I know they’re just making me feel better so I also know it’s not good when I give in to that.
“It's okay for Levi to go. I’ll just wait for him here,” I said to her.
“No, you’re invited, too,” Jaxon said, looking at me when he heard what I said.
I was momentarily surprised by what it said. I don't know who invited me but whoever it was, he's out of his mind. I had a bad effect on Auntie Criselda and Uncle Saldy so it was impossible.
“Thank you but I can’t. I don't want everyone to get into trouble. Levi can go with you. I'm just here,” I told them hesitantly.
Levi pulled me over. His hand snaked on my waist and kissed me hard on the senses.
“You can come with me to our house. I won’t stay long,” he whispered to me.
“How? Will I just wait in the car? It's okay,” I whispered to him.
"Levi, Aunt Criselda is sending you," Maxim said quickly so I quickly turned to her.
I was suddenly nervous. All sorts of things started running through my mind again and one of them was that his parents accepted me but that was too much. I don’t want to hope but I feel that thing in my heart.
I turned my gaze to Levi as he said goodbye to his cousins for a moment. Its aura is light as it stares at me.
This is my Levi Emmanuel Acuzar. He is mine and only mine. I will have his happiness and successes, and right now, I will have and embrace his pain and sorrow. I promise to love him, all of him, until the last drop of me. I would hurt and bleed for him just so he would feel fine for a few moments. I would gladly break myself just to make him happy.