I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 133: A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement

Chapter 133: A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement

The next day, Levi arrived at the Chadwick House, his heart heavy with a mixture of hope and dread. He had fought the urge to go to see Lyse immediately he found out she had been taken home, Chris had reasoned with him that he could scare Lyse off if he came on too hard. So he had waited exactly one day. But he could not stand it, he had to see Lyse, and after being unable to resist, he had come.

He rang the doorbell, his hand trembling slightly.

The door was opened by the stern-looking housekeeper, who ushered him into the grand foyer, then she left him standing there and disappeared through the doors. Briefly after, Lottie appeared at the head of the sweeping staircase, her expression cool and composed.

"Mr. Van Doren," she greeted him as she descended down the stairs, her voice a veneer of politeness under her snide smile.

"Lottie," Levi replied, his gaze searching the hallway behind her. "I need to see Lyse, now."

Lottie’s lips curved into a tight, almost imperceptible smile. "I’m afraid that will not possible," she said, her voice smooth as silk.

Levi’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice laced with confusion. "I am her husband, you cannot stop me."

Lottie’s smile widened, a glint of something cold and calculating entering her eyes. "Not anymore," she said, her voice dropping to a low, almost conspiratorial whisper. "At least, not in her mind."

Levi stared at her, his heart sinking. He knew what she was implying. He had prepared himself for it, but hearing it from her, hearing it spoken aloud, was like a physical blow. He had been hoping for a miracle, for her to remember him.

"She doesn’t remember me." he said, his voice barely a whisper.

Lottie nodded, her expression turning almost triumphant. "That’s right," she said. "She remembers her family. She remembers... other things, she even remembers Brandon but not his betrayal. What she doesn’t remember, is you."

Levi felt a wave of despair wash over him. He had held unto the belief that the amnesia was temporary, the doctors were not even sure because they had been unable to properly check her before she left the hospital. Hearing that she still did not know him, hurt.

Then a thought occurred to him, what if Lottie was lying, what if she was purposely keeping Lyse away from him?

"I still need to see her," he repeated, his voice firm, trying to mask the pain that was tearing him apart. "I need to talk to her."

Lottie shook her head, her smile turning into a smirk. "I’m afraid you no longer have the right to make demands, Mr. Van Doren," she said, her voice laced with a newfound power. "Lyse is under my care now. And whether or not you see her... well, that depends entirely on you."

Levi stared at her, his mind reeling. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Lottie was using Lyse’s amnesia as leverage, as a weapon against him.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice tight with anger.

Lottie stepped closer, her eyes meeting his. "Lyse remembers her family," she repeated, her voice low and menacing. "She remembers Brooke. She remembers me. And she trusts us. She believes that we care about her."

She paused, her gaze hardening. "And because of that, I have a certain... influence over her. I can encourage her to reconnect with some people... or I can discourage her, make her see a certain someone as a villain."

Levi’s anger boiled over. He knew exactly what Lottie was implying. She was using Lyse’s vulnerability to manipulate him, to force him into doing her bidding.

"You are using her," he said, his voice laced with disgust. "You’re using her amnesia to get what you want, have you no shame? You are her mother."

Lottie shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "I am simply looking out for my daughter," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "And what’s best for her right now is to be surrounded by family."

She paused, her eyes narrowing. "And what’s also best for her is to help her family in return. Specifically, to help me get my husband, Jeff, out of prison."

Levi stared at her, his disbelief turning into a cold, hard anger. He couldn’t believe the depths of Lottie’s manipulation.

"You are blackmailing me," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

Lottie’s smile widened. "I prefer to think of it as... a mutually beneficial arrangement," she said. "You want to see Lyse? You want to have a chance to rebuild your relationship with her? Then you will do exactly as I ask. You will use your influence, your resources, to get Jeff released. And if you don’t..." She trailed off, her eyes meeting his. The unspoken threat hung heavy in the air.

"Your husband is a criminal, he caused people’s deaths!" Levi said angrily as he gritted his teeth.

Lottie shrugged indifferently. "Leave all this moralizing for the morality police, give me what I want and Lyse will be yours." She turned away to leave them stopped and turned to look at him.

"I must remind you that your son is also relentless about Lyse, he wants her back. And he has memories on his side, you better move fast Mr, Van Doren."

Levi stood there, his mind reeling. He was trapped. He was caught in Lottie’s web of deceit, forced to make an impossible choice. He could refuse, and risk losing Lyse forever. Or he could comply, and become complicit in Lottie’s manipulative scheme.

He felt a wave of despair wash over him. He had never felt so helpless, so utterly defeated. He knew that he had to find a way out of this, a way to protect Lyse from Lottie and Brandon’s clutches, but he didn’t know how. He was caught between a rock and a hard place, his love for Lyse held hostage by a ruthless and manipulative woman who was willing to do anything to get her way.