Strangers To Lovers

Chapter Fourty-Eight

When my phone buzzed with a picture notification, I blinked through the grogginess, trying to make sense of the image on the screen. Luke had sent a selfie from his new car, flashing that classic smug grin that could melt hearts but also drive you insane. The caption read, "How do I look?"

I rolled my eyes, letting out a small laugh, and started typing a snarky response. But before I could hit send, another message popped up on my screen, this time from Channing.

Help. I’m outside. 30 seconds.

My heart raced. What could possibly be going on now? The urgency in the message had me scrambling out of bed, throwing on the closest pair of shoes I could find. As I dashed down the stairs, I passed Troy, who was in the kitchen making lunch. He gave me a puzzled look, but I ignored it and rushed out the door.

The sight of Channing standing by Levi’s Maserati hit me like a punch to the gut. My eyes immediately locked on Levi, slumped in the passenger seat. His face was pale, his usually sharp eyes dull with pain. Something was seriously wrong.

“What happened?” I demanded, my voice shaky.

Channing rushed to the car, his movements tense as he tried to pull Levi out. “He’s hurt.”

Before I could process it, Troy appeared by my side, his eyes narrowing as he saw Levi. Without a word, he scooped Levi into his arms, easily carrying him into the house. Levi clung to Troy’s neck, his grip weak but desperate. It was a sight that made my heart ache and my stomach churn with a mix of anger and worry.

As soon as Troy laid Levi on the couch, I knelt beside him, brushing a lock of hair from his forehead. His skin felt clammy under my touch.

“What happened, Channing?” I asked again, this time with more insistence.

Channing hesitated, his face a mask of frustration and guilt. “It’s Mrs. Connor…”

A chill ran down my spine. “What did she do to him?”

Levi groaned from the couch, his voice barely audible. “It’s not her fault.”

Channing’s fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight as he glared at Levi. “Stop defending her.”

Levi shook his head, refusing to meet anyone’s gaze. “She didn’t mean to—she just lost her temper.”

Troy let out a low growl of frustration. “Levi, that doesn’t make it okay. What did she do?”

Levi’s breath hitched, and he winced as he tried to sit up. “She… shoved me. Hard.”

“Shoved you?” Troy echoed, his voice rising. “Levi, she assaulted you.”

Levi bit his lip, his eyes welling with tears. “She didn’t mean to—she was upset. I wouldn’t let her leave, and I just… pushed too hard.”

My heart shattered at the sight of Levi, so broken, trying to excuse his mother’s actions. I wanted to wrap him in my arms, to protect him from everything, but I knew this was bigger than just comfort. This was dangerous.

Channing’s temper snapped. He slammed his fist against the wall, the sound reverberating through the room. “We’re going to the police.”

“No!” Levi cried, sitting up too fast and immediately regretting it. He grabbed at his ribs, wincing in pain. “Please don’t. She’s still my mother.”

Channing paced back and forth, his eyes blazing with fury. “She’s dangerous. You’re not safe with her, Levi.”

Levi’s face crumpled, and his shoulders shook as he tried to hold back tears. “I don’t know what to do.”

Troy crouched beside him, his voice soft but firm. “You start by letting us help you. You can’t keep covering for her.”

Levi looked between us, torn between fear and loyalty, his lips quivering as he fought to speak. “But what if she… What if it gets worse?”

I reached out and took his hand, squeezing it gently. “We won’t let it get worse. But you need to trust us.”

Channing stopped pacing and knelt in front of Levi, his anger replaced by a quiet, steady determination. “Levi, we love you. We’re not going to let her hurt you again.”

Levi’s tear-filled eyes met Channing’s, and after a long, agonizing moment, he finally whispered, “Okay.”

We drove Levi to the hospital, Channing gripping the steering wheel so tightly I thought it might snap. The tension in the car was unbearable, the silence broken only by Levi’s soft, shaky breaths. When we arrived, the doctors took Levi in for X-rays, leaving us in the waiting room.

Channing couldn’t sit still. He paced the floor, running his hands through his hair, his frustration and worry palpable. I sat in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs, my mind racing.

“This isn’t the first time, is it?” Channing finally muttered, breaking the silence.

I looked up at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

Channing stopped pacing, turning to face me, his eyes dark with guilt. “I think Mrs. Connor has been hurting Levi for a while.”

My stomach lurched. “What are you saying?”

He took a deep breath, his hands trembling slightly. “I think… she might have been the one who caused Levi’s accident.”

The blood drained from my face. “No… that can’t be right.”

“Think about it,” Channing insisted, his voice tight. “She was the first one on the scene. She knew about the accident before anyone else did. And Levi… he doesn’t remember what happened.”

I shook my head, refusing to believe it. “No, she wouldn’t do that.”

But even as I said the words, doubt crept in. Mrs. Connor had always been controlling, manipulative… but to hurt her own son? It was unthinkable. And yet, the pieces of the puzzle started to come together in my mind—the accident, Levi’s confusion, Mrs. Connor’s strange behavior. It was all starting to make a sick kind of sense.

“What if she did it to keep him quiet?” Channing asked, his voice hoarse.

The thought made my stomach churn. “But why?”

Channing’s eyes darkened. “Maybe Levi knows something… something she doesn’t want anyone else to find out.”

After the hospital, we brought Levi back to my place, where he collapsed onto the couch, exhausted and in pain. His ankle was sprained, and there were bruises forming on his wrists, but thankfully, nothing was broken.

Troy knelt beside him, handing him an ice pack and some painkillers. “You’re staying here tonight.”

Levi looked up at him, his voice small. “I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re not a burden,” Troy replied firmly. “You’re family.”

Channing stood nearby, arms crossed, his jaw clenched. “We need to talk about what happens next, Levi. You can’t go back there.”

Levi’s eyes filled with fresh tears. “But she’s my mom…”

Channing’s voice softened, though his frustration was still evident. “She may be your mom, but she’s not acting like one. You deserve better.”

Levi was silent for a long time, staring at the ice pack in his hands. “I just don’t know what to do.”

I sat down next to him, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. “We’ll figure it out together.”

Levi looked at me, a flicker of hope in his eyes. “Promise?”

I nodded, squeezing him gently. “Promise.”