Strangers To Lovers

Chapter Thirty-Five

The moment I laid eyes on Levi Connor, my breath hitched. He was striking, a picture of unassuming confidence wrapped in a cool, collected demeanor. His dark hair was slick with rain, the wet strands framing his chiseled face, and his piercing green eyes seemed to glow under the dim streetlight. It was like staring at a vision. He looked like Luke, yet so different. More refined, more poised, more... intimidating.

The rain cascaded down around us, blurring the edges of reality, but Levi stood out—sharp, defined, and entirely out of place in the chaos I found myself in. He glanced at me, his expression unreadable, and I could feel the heat rise in my chest, mixing with the cold sting of rejection still clinging to my heart.

"Are you okay?" His voice was low, smooth like velvet, but with an edge to it, as if he already knew the answer but needed to ask.

I didn’t know how to respond. Was I okay? Of course not. My world had crumbled at my feet, and the man I thought I loved stood mere feet away, watching the wreckage without a hint of emotion. I blinked back the tears that were threatening to spill over again, feeling the burn behind my eyes.

“I—” My voice cracked, and I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I’ll be fine.”

Levi’s gaze softened slightly, but the intensity behind his eyes didn’t waver. "You don’t look fine."

I tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a broken sob. “Thanks for the observation,” I muttered, my voice barely audible over the rain.

He didn’t laugh or smile, just kept watching me as if he were assessing whether or not to push further. I was a mess, drenched, shivering, and barely holding it together, and here he was—calm, composed, and utterly unaffected by the storm raging around us.

"Come on, get in the car," Levi said, opening the passenger door of his sleek black Maserati with a gesture so smooth it was almost hypnotic. "You’ll catch a cold standing out here."

I glanced back at Luke. He was still standing in the doorway, watching us but not moving, his expression blank, like a statue. He hadn’t said a word, hadn’t come after me, hadn’t even tried to stop me from walking away. The realization of his indifference hit me like a punch to the gut.

I turned back to Levi, unsure. The offer to get into his car felt like a lifeline, but I wasn’t sure if I should take it.

Levi seemed to sense my hesitation and gave me a small, reassuring smile. “Ella, I’m not going to bite. Just… let me help you. Please.”

His words held a sincerity that was hard to ignore, and before I knew it, I was sliding into the leather seat, the warmth of the car enveloping me as he closed the door behind me. I watched through the window as he circled around the front of the car, his movements smooth, deliberate. He got into the driver’s seat and started the engine, the low hum of the car blending with the steady patter of rain.

We sat in silence for a moment, the only sound the windshield wipers swishing back and forth. I glanced at Levi out of the corner of my eye, trying to make sense of him. He was so different from Luke. Where Luke was guarded, Levi seemed open. Where Luke was distant, Levi seemed present. It was strange to feel a sense of comfort around someone I barely knew, but somehow, I did.

Levi finally broke the silence. “So,” he said, glancing over at me with a teasing smile, “you’re Ella.”

I nodded, unsure what to say. “I guess Luke told you about me?”

“He did.” Levi chuckled softly. “Not nearly enough, though. My brother’s always been tight-lipped when it comes to his personal life.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, my voice bitter. “I’ve noticed.”

Levi’s smile faded, and he shot me a sympathetic look. “Look, I know you’re probably angry with him—”

“Angry?” I cut him off, my voice rising. “I’m beyond angry, Levi. I’m hurt. I’m confused. And I have no idea why he’s pushing me away like this. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Levi’s grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white. “It’s complicated,” he said after a moment. “Our mother… she has a way of getting into his head. She’s done it to both of us.”

"Why?" I asked, my frustration boiling over. "Why does she care so much about controlling him? About controlling your lives? Doesn’t she want you both to be happy?"

Levi sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She does, in her own twisted way. But her idea of happiness is tied to power. Control. She wants Luke to follow the path she’s set for him, and you… well, you don’t fit into that plan."

I felt a lump form in my throat. “But why can’t Luke just… fight back? Why can’t he stand up to her?”

“He’s afraid,” Levi said softly. “Afraid of losing everything she’s promised him. Afraid of losing the company, the money, the security. She’s made him feel like he can’t survive without her.”

I bit my lip, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill again. “I don’t want him to lose anything. I don’t want him to choose between me and his family. But I can’t keep doing this. I can’t keep fighting for someone who won’t fight for me.”

Levi’s expression softened, and he reached over to place a comforting hand on mine. His touch was warm, grounding, and for a brief moment, I felt like I could breathe again.

“You don’t have to fight alone,” Levi said gently. “I can help you. We can figure this out together.”

I looked at him, startled by his offer. “Why?” I asked. “Why would you want to help me?”

“Because,” he said with a small smile, “I’ve been where Luke is. I know what it’s like to be trapped under our mother’s thumb. And I don’t want him to make the same mistakes I did.”

My heart clenched at his words. Levi had been trapped, too. He understood in a way that no one else could. And he was offering me a lifeline, a chance to fight back.

“I don’t know what to do,” I whispered. “I don’t know how to fight her.”

Levi’s smile widened, and there was a spark of mischief in his eyes. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve got a few ideas.”

We pulled up to my apartment complex, the rain still pouring down in thick sheets. Levi parked the car and turned to face me, his expression serious.

“You’re going to have to be strong, Ella,” he said. “If you want to save your relationship with Luke, you’re going to have to stand up to my mother. She won’t go down easily.”

I nodded, though my stomach twisted with nerves. “I know.”

“And one more thing,” Levi added, his eyes darkening slightly. “You’re going to have to make Luke see that he’s worth fighting for. Because right now, he doesn’t believe it.”

The weight of his words settled over me like a heavy blanket, but I nodded again. I couldn’t give up on Luke, not yet. Not when there was still a chance.

“Thank you, Levi,” I said softly. “For everything.”

He smiled, the warmth returning to his eyes. “Anytime. Now go get some rest. Tomorrow, we start planning.”

I climbed out of the car, the rain immediately soaking through my clothes again, but I didn’t care. For the first time in days, I felt like I had a purpose. A direction.

As I watched Levi drive away, disappearing into the night, I knew that this fight wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.