O P H E L I A ' S  P O V

I swung open the door to see Levi on the other side which confused me; after all, it was his house, so why did he knock?

Hands full with a bouquet of flowers, a small teddy and a box of chocolate, he spoke, "I'm an idiot. An idiot that's sorry," He said nervously as he rocked back and forth on the heel of his foot. "Can I come in?" He asked but then shook his head. "Oh wait—" He paused and looked down thoughtfully as if now realising that he was asking if he could enter his own house.

I bit my lip to stifle the giggle that wanted to be released while acknowledging his state. Stepping aside, I allowed him to enter, my fingers working on each other as I wrung them nervously.

"I'm—" He started while he stepped inside but I cut him off.

"No," I shook my head, letting out a harsh breath. "I-I'm sorry. This— This isn't your fault. I guess the first thought that came to my head was that in order for you two to be engaged, that meant that you had to have proposed to her," My breath became a bit shaky. "The thought just left my stomach in knots," I admitted.

I didn't see the point in going through that entire process that Levi and I went through again. Surely it brought us closer together, but it was one of the hardest weeks of my life.

Levi stared at me for a while, processing my confession before gently placing all of the items he bought for me on the coffee table.

"Believe when I tell you that that spot is only reserved for you," He swallowed. "I didn't propose to her— it just all sort of happened, I guess, and I wish that I could take it back but I can't," He admitted, inching closer to me.

I looked up at him through my eyelashes, my breathing evening out. "You forgive me?" I mumbled. "For not listening to you. This can't work unless I do. I'll work on it, I promise." I wrapped my arms around his firm waist.

He sighed contentedly, resting his chin on top of my forehead as he returned the gesture with his arms, slightly swaying us to an imaginary beat.

"Ophelia?" He whispered after a while. My eyes fluttered close at the soothing vibration of his chest and the deep, velvety sound of his voice.

"Hm?" I hummed as I tightened my grip around his waist. His arms felt heavenly.

"I—" Levi got cut off by the sound of frantic knocking on the door.

The noise made Levi and I pull apart, startled by who would be knocking at this early hour in the morning. Still with a hand tightly around my waist, he led us to the door, both of our eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

I was not prepared for what or who I saw at the door.

Looking down at the ground with a torn nightdress adorned on her fragile body, she stood with her hair a dishevelled mess, hands resting on the doorframe to balance her exhausted body.

The sight of Levi's mother standing on the other side of the door made a gasp leave my lips, especially when she looked up with bloodshot red eyes and a large handprint on her left cheek.

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I tried to get Angela, Levi's mother, to drink the tea that I made for her knowing that it would warm her up and make her feel better from being in the cold all night.

However, it was truly a difficult task with her uncontrollable sobbing and breathing.

"Just take a few sips, Mrs. Morterez. It'll make you feel better," I tried as I draped the blanket together around her shoulders.

She paused before looking up at me through blurry eyes, before reaching out to grab my hand. "I'm so sorry, dear. For the t-the way that I treated you. You're kind and good for my Levi," Her voice shook as she spoke to me, her eyes holding nothing but instant regret.

I smiled sadly, "It's all in the past." I reassured. "Now, drink up, I'll heat up some food for you," I said softly as I turned away.

Angela gave my hand a tight squeeze once more in gratitude before using her trembling hands to take up the mug.

I made my way to the kitchen and scooped out a handful of food before popping it in the microwave. Afterward, I made my way to Levi's study, hearing his loud shouts through the closed door.

I had changed out of my school attire and now my body was only covered in a thin robe.

I pushed open the door to his office and listened as his loud, booming voice slapped me in the face. I cringed at my thoughts. Maybe those weren't the right words to use right now.

"Your fucking bastard of a father hit my mother," He seethed as he paced the floor, listening to what the other person on the line of the phone had to say.

"I don't goddamn care, Elijah. Deal with it, or I fucking will," He fumed before slamming the phone on the hook.

I jumped a little at the sound, tightening the robe around my body as I pushed off of the doorframe with my body.

I reluctantly walked further into his study, watching with a weary gaze as I ran my hands across her tense shoulders, feeling his shoulders slump in exhaustion at my touch. He raised his head to look at me rather than holding his head in his hands.

"It's going to be okay, Levi," I mumbled reassuringly as I worked my hands on his shoulders.

He sighed, his eyes looking extremely tired. "Will it be, Ophelia? Because I feel like everything isn't turning out in my favour these days." He lied down on his desk. "I-I'm just tired." He mumbled softly to himself.

I frowned to myself. I wasn't used to seeing Levi like this. He always looked so calm and collected, and even if he wasn't feeling that way internally, he still managed to keep a stoic expression.

So with him having a sort of breakdown in front of me, left me feeling incredibly helpless.

"Levi?" I ran my hand softly through his hair. "Come on, let's get you to bed," I suggested.

He slowly sat up, "No, I um, I still have some work to do, and I have to deal with my mother. You get some sleep though. Don't forget to set an alarm for school tomorrow." He reminded me.

My frown deepened, "You've been working since the crack of dawn and it's soon the crack of dawn again. Please just get some sleep." I said as I lifted his head in my hands, my eyes zooming in on the dark bags beneath his eyes.

"But—"

"I'll fix a guest bedroom for your mother and bring her some clean clothes. Now can you please just listen to me?" I begged.

I watched as he stared at me for a while before standing up and towering over my height. I wasn't short, but that didn't stop my head from being a little over Levi's chest.

His hand gently reached up to caress my cheek. I hummed and smiled lightly with my eyes closed, leaning into his comforting touch. "You're perfect, you know this right?" He whispered.

I smile, feeling a blush coat my cheeks, "You've told me once— or twice," I giggled. "Now go, shoo shoo." I tried to push him to the door with all of my might, however, he doesn't move a muscle.

"Okay, I'm going," He chuckled with a look of amusement on his face.

His face contorted to seriousness and gratitude soon after, "Thank you, baby." He said and gave me a soft, slow kiss on my cheek.

"You're welcome," I said softly in a daze. I watched as he looked at me one final time, before leaving his study and shutting the door softly behind him.

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I peeked into Levi and I's bedroom, the door creaking lightly as I pushed it open.

Levi still wore his dress shirt— with the exception of his blazer. His lips were slightly parted as his forearm rested over his eyes, his chest heaving slightly with each breath that he took.

I had set up Angela's bedroom a few moments ago, ensuring that she was properly tucked into bed with a glass of hot milk on her bedside table.

I decided that I would come in to see if Levi was already asleep afterward, which he was. Softly walking up to him, I unbuttoned the buttons to his dress shirt, finding it a large struggle to get his shirt off but still successfully succeeding after a little while.

I soon decided that I'd leave his slacks on, seeing that they didn't seem uncomfortable even though the muscles of his thighs looked to be forcing through the material any minute based on the position that he was in.

I averted my eyes from his thighs, exiting the bedroom quietly. I walked down the dark hallway which was slightly illuminated by the moonlight that shone through the louvres of the windows.

The dinging of my phone caught my attention and I quickly looked at it.

Can we meet tomorrow for lunch?

I read the message, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise and my heart drumming rapidly against my ribcage. How did she get my number? I never gave her it.

My fingers hovered over the keyboard, contemplating what to type.

It was Trinity.