Ashes Between Us

Lies And Deals

Levi walked up the stairs, his hands folded across his chest, the broken pendant clutched tightly in his grip. The small piece of jewelry dug into his palm, but he didn’t loosen his hold.

Behind him, Rose followed step by step. Her gaze never left him, her worry growing with every movement. The silence between them was thick, and neither spoke as they made their way down the long hallway.

When they finally stopped at the doors to their rooms, Rose broke the silence.

“I know someone who can fix that.”

Levi turned, surprise flashing in his eyes.

“Really?”

Rose gave a firm nod. She reached out her hand, waiting. After a short pause, Levi placed the pendant carefully in her palm, his fingers brushing hers.

“I’ll get it back to you before tomorrow ends,” she promised.

Levi nodded once.

“Thank you.” His voice was quiet, polite, but his face stayed heavy with gloom.

Rose frowned. She studied him closely, bothered by the weight on his expression. Something deeper than the broken pendant was eating at him. She hesitated, then spoke softly.

“What’s wrong?”

Levi shook his head, brushing off the question.

“It’s nothing.”

Rose didn’t believe him. She could already guess what it was. But saying it aloud would hurt her as much as it hurt him. Still, she knew Levi needed to face it. She gathered her courage.

“Was it about what the boy said? About a brother-in-law?”

Levi froze. His shoulders went stiff, and his fist tightened around nothing. His silence was all the answer she needed.

Rose sighed quietly.

“I thought so. Don’t dwell on it. He was only spouting nonsense.”

She hoped her words would give him doubt, something to lean on. If Levi believed there was even a chance Parker had lied, maybe his spirit would lift. Truthfully, a part of her wished the boy’s words weren’t lies. If they were true, Levi would finally be free from Audrey. Free, and hers alone. But she pushed the thought aside. She couldn’t bear to see him in pain.

“You know what?” Rose said suddenly, her tone brighter.

“I think I can cheer you up. Remember I told you I had an event to attend? That wasn’t the full truth. I’m hosting the event myself. And I want you to come.”

Levi stared at her, his thoughts torn. On one hand, attending could help him gather information. On the other, his mind was still clouded with doubts.

“Thanks, but I don’t think—”

Before he could finish, Rose jumped onto his lap. Her arms wrapped tight around his neck. She leaned close, her lips forming a soft smile, her eyes wide with playful insistence.

“Please,” she begged, her voice light, almost childlike.

“This is my first event. I need someone by my side. Someone to comfort me. Someone to support me. And right now, you’re the only person I trust for that.”

Her grin widened with determination as she pouted and batted her eyes, doing everything she could to sway him.

Levi couldn’t help but laugh under his breath. Her behavior reminded him of a stubborn little sister—spoiled and hard to refuse.

“Fine,” he said with a smile.

“I’ll come. But only this once.”

Rose jumped to her feet, twirling around in excitement.

“Thank you, Levi!”

He didn’t notice it, but the heaviness that had weighed him down since leaving the prison gates was gone. For the first time that day, he smiled without force. The memories of his divorce, the bitterness from the lobby fight—all of it slipped quietly into the background.

VALENTINE MANSION

Audrey sat on the velvet couch beside the fireplace, one leg crossed neatly over the other. The flames painted her in soft light, shadows dancing across her face. She wore a long red dress that clung to her figure, and in her hand was a tall glass of red wine.

Beside her sat Barry. He wore a black blazer and trousers with a crisp white shirt. A glass of wine rested in his hand as well.

“So, you want our companies to merge? Why?” Audrey’s voice was sharp and direct. She didn’t have patience for games.

Barry smiled smoothly.

“Simple. The top tech company and the top navigation company together. Imagine the possibilities. Planes flying through the strongest storms without losing their path. Machines that drill into the earth’s crust to bring back samples. We could even solve the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle.”

Audrey scoffed at him.

“Pipe dreams? That’s your reason?”

Barry froze at her words. His jaw tightened, his teeth grinding before he caught himself and forced his calm expression back.

“No. My real reason is this: together, we can bring the world into a new age. An age of travel without limits. An age of power. And most importantly, an age of wealth—for us.”

Audrey arched a brow, unimpressed.

“That’s the only part that matters to me. As long as my company earns more and the family name stays untarnished, I don’t care. And merging with you will improve our reputation anyway.”

Barry’s smile widened. That was the opening he wanted.

“So tell me,” Audrey asked suddenly, leaning toward him, “how do you and my brother know each other?”

Barry’s lips parted to answer—

Ring! Ring!

The phone on the table beside Audrey lit up. She glanced down at the screen and frowned. It was her mother.

“Sorry, I have to take this,” she said. She picked it up, switching on the loudspeaker as was her habit.

“Hello, Mom. Are you okay?”

Her mother’s voice blasted through the speaker, loud and dramatic. Savannah ignored the greeting.

“No, I’m not. I’m in the hospital with your brother.” Her voice carried fake fear, almost theatrical.

“What? What happened?” Audrey shot up from her seat, her wine forgotten.

“It’s Levi,” Savannah cried.

“He was released today. We ran into him, only to greet him, when he turned on us. He held us down and beat us.”

Audrey froze, shocked. Levi was out? She had seen him that very morning, yet he said nothing about being released. Could he really have attacked them? No, she didn’t believe it. Not fully.

“He also has a younger woman with him,” Savannah added quickly.

“A rich powerhouse.”

Audrey bit her finger in thought.

“Where are you both?”

Parker’s voice suddenly came through the line as he snatched the phone.

“South Central Hospital.”

Audrey steadied herself.

“Fine. But I don’t believe Levi would do something like that, even if he’s free now.”

“Listen to yourself!” Parker snapped back.

“You trust that criminal over your own family?”

“Watch your tongue!” Audrey snarled.

Before she could say more, Barry cut in smoothly.

“No need to argue. Let’s go to the hospital and see for ourselves. From there we can—”

“Brother-in-law!” Parker shouted suddenly.

Audrey’s temper snapped.

“What did you just say? Have you lost your mind?” Her voice thundered through the speaker.

Barry let out a nervous laugh.

“I don’t mind that,” he said quickly, though his tone was unsure.

Audrey ignored him, still furious with her brother.

“Stay there, both of you. I’ll be there soon.”

She ended the call, her mind racing.