09.
❝bruno says, "it looks like rain"
why did he tell us?
in doing so, he floods my brain❞
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Your soulmate doesn't have to be your sole mate was something Levar Harding passed onto his sons, Lev and Florent and Julius.
He loved the three equally.
He loved their mothers too, Camilla and Amelie, the Parker twins he wedded.
For media, this was a hot topic for many, many years. Headlines were printed: "Young CEO Digs a Gold Mine, Twice!" & "Parker sisters Marry The Same Man", not to mention the special feature — as the top twenty men, most likely to be a gold digger.
"Shut the curtains, Flore."
"Hide the newspaper, Jules."
"Butt out, Lev. This isn't child's play. Let me handle it."
The wildfire was a blackhole. When Lev was ten, he had an obnoxious habit; he'd stare into the void and the void would stare back. It wasn't completely a mess, the situation with his father, and there was a silvery lining — the boys were wanted everywhere — Chris Fallon's grand party, Lola Kennedy's sleepover, Sweet Teenage awards... Although Lev never went.
It was all consuming — eruption of volcanoes in his throat, he clammed in a shell, only interacting when necessary with Camilla Harding. Which is why, Lev is a bit thrown off by her sudden visit. To the hospital room itself.
"Mum," he acknowledged her.
"Levi," she's her brows creased as she inspects Willow's condition. "How come you didn't call? So much has happened. Shouldn't you have?"
Thank goodness I stopped by. Willa called me the other day... Said something of fence painting. She also spoke about Director Seon, you know him? And yet she was asking me for his contact info!" She laughs to herself like she's the red stars of her galaxy. Makes a beeline around him. Tentatively, he chooses his next words, "I-I am sorry you had to see this"
"Pardon?" Her voice is cutting, much unlike her camisole and waist-wound skirt, "You're sorry you couldn't inform me sooner? Well, try Espin sometime. She's bags of time and I'm sure she can fit you right in for my schedule," Willow clearly chose the wrong time to sleep, for he knew his mother was source of noise pollution to the world, and he struggled with his words so often that it'd be a while til Mrs Harding chooses to shut up.
"Besides, I love Willa."
Of course. Everyone did. She was everyone's darling. For Camilla, she was nothing but blue stars. "Come closer to me so I needn't shout."
"Yes, mum"
"I'll be in Paris for as long as you need," codewords : for as long as no greater leaps in business are made.
"I must take care of this," codewords : it's her job as the modelling agency's managing director to sniff around — for insecurities. In her son, she found plenty.
"Willa will be in my care —"
"— y-you need not trouble yourself..!"
"Oh Levi," Lev is stricken with horror when he witnesses something similar to wonder in her lifted brow, and patronizing wording, "It's my job to make sure she doesn't exhaust herself... And you don't do anything stupid while she's bedridden."
Lev gulped. A fearful response.
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a longer chapter! xx
who loves me?
i think eliana might get in trouble soon. that's a promise.
do you like having your folks around (if you're moved out adult) / would you move out as soon as you turn 18? just curious
