I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 167: Dinner For Two

Chapter 167: Dinner For Two

The penthouse felt strangely empty as Levi stepped inside. After the tumultuous events of the past couple of days, the quiet was almost deafening. He had expected to return to an empty apartment, a stark reminder of his fractured relationship with Lyse.

After their conversation in the night, Lyse had been very hard to catch. When he got up in the morning she was gone, when he got back from work she was either already asleep or still at her atelier. Her bodyguard kept him updated on her activities, so he knew what she was up to.

At that point, it was clear to Levi that there was no way that Lyse would still be hanging around when she was evidently done with him. But as he walked into the living room, he was met with a surprising sight.

The dining table was set for two, the soft glow of candlelight illuminating the polished surface and the elaborate spread. The aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the air, a comforting scent that tugged at his heartstrings. And there, standing by the table and fidgeting slightly, was Lyse.

She was dressed in a simple but elegant dress, her hair falling softly around her shoulders. She looked up as he entered, a gentle smile gracing her lips.

Levi stopped in his tracks, his heart pounding in his chest. He had not expected this. He had braced himself for coldness, for distance, but this... this was something entirely different. Dinner for two had to be a good sign.

He did not want to be too hopeful for fear that it would be dashed to the floor, but this effort she had hade had to mean something. His heart soared as he looked at her beautiful face.

"Lyse," he said, his voice barely a whisper. His throat felt very dry and he felt like a school boy talking to his crush.

"Welcome home, Levi," she said, her smile widening slightly. "I made dinner."

Levi stared at her, his mind reeling. He could not understand what was happening. When she had come to the station and stated her belief in him, he had been glad. He had taken it as a sign that she had forgiven him, that things between them would get better, but she had stayed away from him and that made him believe that it was just wistful thinking on his part. So this time, was it a sign that she was willing to give them another chance?

He walked towards the table, his gaze fixed on her face. He could see a hint of nervousness in her eyes, but also a warmth that he had not seen in days.

He took a seat at the table, his heart pounding with anticipation. He wanted to ask her what this was all about, but he was afraid of shattering the fragile peace that had settled between them.

"This... this is unexpected," he said, his voice carefully neutral.

"I wanted to thank you," Lyse said, her voice soft. "For everything you did for the women’s shelter. It means a lot to me, and to the women there."

Levi’s heart sank slightly. So, this was not about them then. This was gratitude for what he had done at the shelter. He had hoped... he had hoped for something more.

"It was nothing," he said, his voice laced with a hint of disappointment. "It was the least I could do, they needed help and I could afford it."

Lyse sat down across from him, her gaze meeting his. "It was not nothing, Levi," she said. "You made a real difference. And I wanted to show my appreciation."

Levi nodded slowly, trying to hide his disappointment. He had allowed himself to hope, to believe that this dinner was a sign of reconciliation. But it was clear now that it was simply a gesture of plain old gratitude.

They ate in comfortable silence, the aroma of the food filling the air. Levi tried to focus on the meal, but his mind kept drifting back to Lyse. He watched her as she ate, admiring her grace and her quiet strength. He longed to reach out and touch her, to tell her how much he missed her, but he held back, respecting her need for space.

As they finished their meal, Levi cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "There is something I wanted to talk to you about," he said, his voice low.

Lyse looked up at him, her expression questioning.

"The papers for the termination of our contract," Levi continued and watched as Lyse’s face remained impassive. "They should be ready in a couple of days. I have instructed Chris to expedite the process. I want you to be able to move on with your life."

He paused, his gaze meeting hers. "You deserve to be happy, Lyse," he said, his voice sincere. "And if that means being away me, then I will accept it."

Lyse remained silent for a moment, then she looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of resignation and understanding. Levi was disappointed, he had hoped to see something else that would give him an opening.

"Thank you, Levi," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Levi’s heart sank. He had hoped for a different response. He had hoped that she would tell him she did not want to separate, that she had come running back to him because she was willing to give them another chance. But her simple "thank you" confirmed his worst fears. She was ready to move on from him and he could not blame her.

He stood up from the table, his heart heavy. "I should go to bed," he said, his voice low. "It has been a long day."

Lyse nodded, her gaze dropping to the table.

Levi turned to leave, but as he reached the doorway, he paused and looked back at her.

"Lyse," he said, his voice soft. "I... I want you to know that I will always care about you. No matter what happens between us. And I apologize if I have made your life any harder."

Lyse looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears.

"I know, Levi," she said, her voice trembling.

Levi nodded again, his heart aching. He turned and walked away, leaving Lyse alone in the dining room.

As he walked down the hallway to his bedroom, he could not shake off the feeling of disappointment that weighed heavily on his heart. He had allowed himself to hope, to believe that there was still a chance for them. But now, it was clear that their relationship was truly over.

He entered his bedroom, the familiar surroundings feeling cold and empty. He sat down on the edge of the bed, his mind replaying the events of the evening. He had wanted to tell Lyse how much he truly loved her, how much he regretted his mistakes, but he had held back, respecting her need for space.

He had wanted to ask her if there was any chance for them, any possibility of reconciliation, but he had been afraid of her answer. She had already told him that she was done with him, he did not want to deal with the finality of another rejection. It was best for him to accept what it was and move on.

However, as he sat alone in his bedroom, he wondered if he had made a mistake. He should have told her how he felt. He should have fought for her. He should have done everything in his power to win her back.

But it was too late now, moreover he did not want to be a pushy creep. The hall was in her court, she held the power and decided what would happen to them. The contract termination papers were almost ready. Lyse had thanked him for his consideration. She had accepted the end of their relationship. And he had could have nothing to stop it, he needed to accept her decision.

He lay back on the bed, his gaze fixed on the ceiling. He felt a deep sense of loss, a profound sadness that weighed heavily on his soul. He had lost Lyse, the woman he loved more than anything in the world.

And he knew that he only had himself to blame. The opportunity for reconciliation had been there, in the quiet dinner, in the shared glances, and in the unspoken emotions that had hung in the air. But he had let it slip away, allowing fear and doubt to dictate his actions. Now, he was left with nothing but regret, a constant reminder of what he had lost and what he could have had. The weight of his decision, the finality of the separation, settled upon him, crushing any remaining hope for a future with Lyse.

He wished that he did not have to deal with the chaos happening all around him, he would have taken a trip and gone somewhere remote where he could hide from the world.