CHAPTER 63AureliaLeviAurelia
Aurelia
Aurelia sped through the streets of Joia City, mentally rehearsing what she would say to Levi the moment she walked through the door. She was done worrying, done waiting, and done with the distance Levi insisted on keeping between them.
She had never been shy about initiating physical contact before, mistaking it for genuine affection, so why should she hesitate now to initiate a conversation about what she wanted? About what she needed? About how much it hurt that he hadn’t even asked if she wanted her wedding ring back.
It was a regular conversation. How hard could it be?
She had rushed into asking for a divorce out of fear and self-preservation, regretting it ever since.
But stubborn, aggravating Levi still slept upstairs like they were polite strangers instead of two people bound by marriage.
A marriage neither of them had wanted to end…
unless she had read him completely wrong.
No . She wasn’t going to overthink this. She wasn’t going to fall back to believing she wasn’t enough. She wasn’t that caged bird anymore. She was done with self-imposed confinement.
It was time to be fierce and fight for herself, for him, and their future together. Time to spread her wings and fly .
The moment she pulled into the driveway, she flew out of her car and through the front door, determined to demand the conversation they had both been avoiding.
But before she could even get a word out, Levi appeared in the hallway, relaxed and looking absolutely mouthwatering. His dark green eyes locked on hers with something unreadable burning behind them.
“You’re coming with me,” he said, taking her hand without hesitation.
“Levi, I—”
“No arguments, Aurelia.” His fingers tightened gently. “Come with me.”
Levi gently tugged her forward and led her right back out the door.
Aurelia’s hard-earned courage sputtered and died the moment Levi laced his fingers through hers and guided her into his SUV. The engine rumbled to life, and Levi drove in comfortable silence, his fingers drumming against the steering wheel in a slow, rhythmic beat that felt almost…nervous.
She studied his profile, trying to decipher whatever secret he was hiding, but he gave nothing away.
The silence stretched too long. Her resolve snapped back into place as she turned toward him, determined to say what needed to be said. If he thought he could avoid this conversation, he had no idea who he was dealing with.
“Levi, we need to talk,” she blurted, before he could deflect.
He cast her a sidelong glance, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. “I know. We will. Once we get there.”
She blinked. What?
“Listen, I—wait, what?”
“I said I agree,” he repeated calmly. “We do need to talk, and we will. But after we arrive.”
Confusion flickered through her, quickly followed by curiosity.
“Great. Awesome.” She crossed her arms but couldn’t hold the tension. “Where exactly are we going?”
Without answering, Levi reached across the console, lifted her hand to his lips, and pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles. His eyes gleamed with mischief as he whispered, “It’s a surprise.”
Aurelia narrowed her gaze but let him have this one…for now. She took in his outfit of worn jeans, sneakers, and a soft, long-sleeved crewneck. Simple and casual, ruling out anything formal, at least.
She thanked the universe for that small mercy, considering she was dressed equally as casually.
Comfortable in skinny jeans, sneakers, and a lightweight Henley.
Her hair was thrown up haphazardly and out of the way.
Not exactly the kind of look she wanted for a life-altering conversation, but it would have to do.
They turned off the main road and onto a secluded path leading deep into the woods.
Had she not trusted him implicitly, she might have been somewhat concerned. The towering trees swallowed the sky, their shadows dark and foreboding, making the road ahead barely visible.
Finally, the woods gave way to a quiet clearing, and the sight before her stole every word from her lips.
Nestled against a steaming lagoon was a tiny, rustic cottage straight out of a fairytale. Its sloped wooden roof and natural stone walls were wrapped in delicate vines and glowing string lights. Warm lanterns flickered between the trees, bathing everything in soft, golden light.
A winding dock stretched out over the lagoon, leading to a cozy seating area outfitted with plush cushions and a woven rattan loveseat. A table for two was set under the canopy of lights, a picnic dinner waiting, the scent of roses perfuming the air.
Aurelia’s breath caught, mesmerized by the scene.
Levi stepped out of the car, came around, and opened her door. His hand reached for hers, warm and steady.
Heart pounding, she let him help her to her feet, her eyes wide as she continued to take it all in.
“Levi…” Her voice was barely a whisper. “What is this?”
He said nothing at first. Then he took a deep, fortifying breath, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.
Aurelia’s heart stilled, the world around them fading to the background as Levi slowly dropped to one knee.
“I know I’ve made mistakes,” he began, his voice thick with emotion but unwavering.
“I know I’ve hurt you in ways you never deserved.
And for that…I’ll never forgive myself. I let fear and my past dictate my actions.
I didn’t fight for us when it mattered most. But I’m here now and I don’t want to spend another day without you by my side…
not because of a contract, not because of circumstance, but because I love you, Aurelia.
I love you in so many ways I never thought I was capable of. ”
Her vision blurred, tears welling in her eyes as he opened the box to reveal the rings she had once given back in anger.
“I’ve spent these last few months doing what I should have done from the very beginning—getting to know the real you. In doing that, I’ve fallen even more hopelessly in love. So, if you’ll have me…this time, let’s do it right. No obligations. No expectations. Only choice…because I choose you .”
Aurelia pressed her trembling hand to her lips, her heart so full it felt like it might break under the weight of it all. Finally… Finally she let the tension go, her lips curving into a slow, radiant smile.
“Yes,” she whispered. Then louder, stronger. “Yes, Levi. I want to stay married to you.”
Relief and joy collided across Levi’s face. Grinning like a fool who hit the jackpot, he slid the rings back onto her finger where they belonged and pulled her down into his arms, holding her like he never wanted to let go.
The night wrapped around them like a blessing, sealing a promise neither of them would ever break again.
Not just an arranged contractual marriage, but the beginning of something real. It was the beginning of forever.
Levi
After months of waiting and planning, Levi was finally ready to take the next step. He was going to propose to his wife… tonight .
Aurelia had her final doctor’s appointment that morning, and he silently hoped she had been cleared from needing the walking boot and air cast. He had made sure she followed every recovery instruction to the letter, even resigning himself to sleeping in that damn guest bedroom all this time.
While his mansion sat on the market, he had held onto one untouched piece of property, a hidden gem his grandmother had cherished. The idea of proposing there had come to him weeks ago, remembering how his grandfather built that little cottage as a testament of love.
Levi’s father was a bastard in every sense of the word, but he still remembered what a true gentleman his paternal grandfather was. Though his time in Levi’s life was too short, he showered him with the love and attention his parents should have provided.
He shared many stories about Levi’s grandmother and loved her deeply. This secret little getaway was built as a physical testament to his love for her. Now Levi understood what had driven his grandfather to do it. It felt only right to bring Aurelia there.
The place had fallen into disrepair over the years, and both he and his father shared blame for that. Determined to make it right, Levi spent weeks restoring the cottage and transforming it into a romantic hideaway. All those late nights and long hours had been worth it for this moment.
The joy in Aurelia’s eyes was something he would remember long after his memory faded. She was etched into his very soul, and for the rest of his life, he would make sure she never regretted choosing to stay with him.
Remembering how insistent she had been about needing to talk, Levi gently pulled back and brushed away the tears on her cheeks. “Now that we’ve gotten this out of the way…” he teased, voice light but full of love, “what did you need to talk about, Mrs. Lockwood?”
Aurelia blinked at him, startled by the question. The joy on her face dimmed. She sat back on her knees, attempting to gather her thoughts. Levi readied himself for a potential setback.
“I wanted to talk about us ,” she began quietly, “about how much I hated you sleeping in the guest room. How much it hurt that you never mentioned the rings I gave back…or what was happening between us.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand, stopping him.
“And…I’ve been a hypocrite,” she admitted, her eyes shining. “From the start, you’ve been patient with my issues every time they came up. But I never gave your past the same attention or understanding. I’m so sorry, Levi.” Her voice cracked as her eyes met his, full of raw, unguarded vulnerability.