CHAPTER 88

“Love,” someone called me outside our room.

I looked at the door of the room when I heard that. I'm sure Levi is the one calling me from outside because I already know his voice by heart. Also, no one else calls me that but him.

"Are you awake?" he called again, but I was unable to answer because my throat was so sore and I had no strength.

I think I'll get sick now!

It’s been two days since we got back from the Tierra Fima twins. Right after we returned, I felt bad for no apparent reason. I feel the weight of my body.

Later, the door opened and Levi was spit out with a tray of food. His wide smile greeted me immediately, which made me smile as well.

"Breakfast in bed?" he asked me with a smile before sitting down next to me.

He suddenly leaned towards me and gave me a soft kiss on my forehead so my smile widened even more.

When I looked up at him, his forehead was furrowed and that smile was no longer on his lips. Before I could speak, he touched the back of his palm to my forehead and neck.

“You’re burning. You have a fever, why didn't you tell me?” he asked me hysterically, traces of concern is evident on his expression.

I bit my lower lip so hard and hugged the comforter that covered my entire body even more. "Please turn off the aircon, please..." I almost whispered to him.

He acted quickly when he took the aircon remote and turned it off before turning to me, there was still concern on his face.

"What do you feel? Should we go to the hospital? When do you still have a fever?” panicking he told me so I almost laughed.

I even heard him repeatedly releasing some curses so I reached for his hand. He suddenly look at me while frowning.

I just gave him a half smile, “Calm down. I'm fine. I just have a headache. I just need a break.”

"Are you sure?" He was making sure of it, really.

“I'm fine. Where’s Ria?” I asked him and hugged his arm. “Please, stay,” I whispered before I felt his lips against me.

It was afternoon when Levi woke me up again to eat. I was in the room with the two of us all day so he was also watching over me all day. He also did not let our daughter in because she might get infected.

This afternoon, Levi sent a doctor here to check on me. The doctor said it was just over-fatigue but that doctor looked at me differently. When Levi left for a while and the two of us were left behind, she asked me if there is something happened between me and Levi because if there was that was the only reason I was feeling it now. Fortunately, that doctor was a woman, so I was not ashamed to tell the truth.

“You still need to be careful, Astraea. You already have a child, but you still need to be careful especially since your next pregnancy will be difficult if you ever get pregnant based on what I see of you.”

That was the last thing she told me before she left. I felt a little anxious and still feel it to this day but I didn’t think of that at first.

-

My eyes almost dropped when I felt Levi slowly leave my side. I waited for him to get away a bit before I opened my eyes completely. I was exposed to the still-on TV.

"What?"

I turned my gaze to the noise I heard from the terrace. It is Levi’s voice and I’m sure he is talking to someone unknown so I also slowly got up and walked towards it. I peeked at him from the side of the curtain blocking it and saw that his cellphone was placed in his ear.

“I’m sorry, Anne. I haven't been able to go earlier because Rae is sick. I don’t want to leave her here,” I heard he said, trying to low down his voice so as not to draw anyone.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I hope you understand. And one more thing, I want you out of the project regarding our house. Yeah, thank you. I’ll see you later.”

That was the last thing he said before ending the call. He was still standing there before I decided to walk towards him and hug him from the back. I felt him stunned but also immediately grabbed my arms wrapped around his waist.

"Did I wake you up?" I heard him ask before he separated me from him and brought me before him.

I even felt him kiss my head before he hugged me tightly from behind me. “It’s Anne. He invited me to his friend’s house blessing in town earlier but I don’t want to go. I don’t want to leave you,” he said with his raspy voice.

I smiled a half while looking at the sky. Cold wind starting to filled my whole body but that wasn’t enough to overwhelm the warmth I felt because of Levi’s warmth hug.

“She likes you, Lev,” I mockingly said to him.

I heard he laughed.

"No, she's not," he denied. I grabbed his arm.

"I am a woman and I know why she is like that to you. Maybe she still wanted you. And maybe you just don't notice,” I told him simply and kept my eyes on the sky.

I could hear and feel his heavy and slow breathing on my neck as he rested his chin on my shoulder.

“I replaced her already. Don’t be mad, please. I don't want us to be like that, Lumiere. Besides, stop talking to Noah. You don’t know him yet and you don’t know what his true intentions are to you," he told me directly so I turned to him.

"Are you insulting him to me?" I ask him.

I saw him stare at the emptiness so my mouth fell open. What?

“I’m not. Of course, I know. He’s my friend before. Just don’t talk to him anymore. You don’t know that person very well yet.”

I can already feel my heart pounding because of him. I don’t know but I feel like I am slowly drowning with this love I’m feeling for him. I feel like he is slowly taking over my heart as well as my whole being.

-

"Are you alright? I heard you are sick,” Noah told me immediately when he came to the barn.

I didn't look at it. I kept looking around as my eyes searched for Levi but I could no longer see him.

When I felt well, I asked to go with him. Avery took Ria again so I wanted to go with Levi because I don't have anyone at home.

“I am fine. What are you doing here?” none of my own question to him.

The sky is starting to get dark because it is getting dark. I could also feel the cold slowly enveloping my body due to the strange fear I suddenly felt when Levi disappeared from my sight.

I don’t know where it went. He just said goodbye to someone coming back to their hut Dad Henry but until now he still can't come back.

“I saw you walking that’s why I approached you. Where have you been? It’s late,” he asked me.

I averted my eyes from him as I smelled the wine on his breath. I hugged myself and started walking back to the town house.

"I'm waiting for Levi," I replied sparingly and left him there.

But before I could get away, I was stunned when he suddenly grabbed my arm.

“Wait, Rae,” he called me. I feel a strange fear inside me.

“H-ha? I'm going home, Noah,” I stammered to him and forcibly withdrew my arm from him but he held it tightly.

When I looked at it, I was surprised to see his expression. In a flash, his expression suddenly hardened and he grinned like a demon. Suddenly he lost his gentle and kind look.

"Let me take you somewhere first while your fiancee is away," he told me deeply and terribly.

Before I could refuse, he suddenly covered my nose and mouth with something and soon after, darkness engulfed me. Levi, help—