I Married My Ex's Billionaire Father
Chapter 186: A Crime He Did Not Commit

Chapter 186: A Crime He Did Not Commit

Lyse walked into her apartment, exhausted and emotionally drained. The visit to Mr. Black’s office had left her feeling more confused and worried than ever. The evidence against Levi was mounting, and his refusal to explain himself was only making things worse. She didn’t know what to believe anymore. Doubt gnawed at her, whispering insidious questions in her ear.

She closed the door behind her, sighing deeply. She just wanted to be alone, to process everything that had happened. But as she turned to go to her bedroom, she felt that someone was in the house. The curtains were open and she was sure that she had not touched them before leaving.

A wave of terror washed over her as she wondered who could be in the apartment, and what they wanted. Lyse was not willing to stay around and find out, so she started to back out of the apartment.

Then Laurie stepped out of the guest room and Lyse almost fainted from the fright of her sudden appearance.

"Oh gosh! Laurie, you scared me." Lyse said as she put a hand on her chest and felt her heart racing.

She was very surprised. She had not seen Laurie in months. Not since...well, not since the soirée that was held in honor of hers and Levi’s marriage. She was the last person she expected to see.

"What are you doing here?" Lyse asked, her voice filled with surprise.

Laurie stood up, her expression a mixture of anxiety and determination. "Lyse," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "We need to talk. It’s about Levi."

Lyse’s heart sank. "I know it’s about Levi," she said. "Everyone is talking about it."

"No," Laurie said, shaking her head. "I mean...I know why he’s in jail."

Lyse’s eyes widened. "You do?"

Laurie nodded. "It’s...it’s because of me."

Lyse stared at her, speechless. "What are you talking about, Laurie?"

"Last night, I overheard mother speak to the lawyer, about Levi’s picture taken around Sutton’s apartment." Laurie took a deep breath, her hands shaking. "The day Sutton died," she began, her voice barely a whisper, "I was in trouble. Big trouble."

Lyse frowned. "What kind of trouble?"

"I...I had left school for a couple of weeks," Laurie confessed. "I was living with my boyfriend. He...he was abusive. He locked me up in his apartment. He threatened to...to leak provocative pictures of me online because I wasn’t giving him any more money."

Lyse gasped. "Laurie! Why didn’t you tell anyone?"

"I was ashamed," Laurie said, tears welling up in her eyes. "I was so stupid. I thought I was in love. I didn’t want anyone to know. Especially my mother, and Levi would be so disappointed."

"But...how does this involve Sutton’s death?" Lyse asked, her mind racing.

"I managed to get a phone," Laurie explained. "I called Levi. He came and got me out of there. He saved me."

Lyse stared at her, her mind struggling to process this information. "Levi...he rescued you?"

Laurie nodded. "He did. He didn’t judge me like o thought he would. He didn’t lecture me. He just got me out of there. He told me to go home, to get some rest, and that he would handle everything."

"But... if that was all, why didn’t he tell the police?" Lyse asked. "Why is he keeping quiet?"

"He’s protecting me," Laurie said, her voice choked with emotion. "He’s worried about my reputation. He doesn’t want anyone to know what happened because he is worried it will ruin me."

Lyse felt a wave of understanding wash over her. Levi’s silence, his refusal to explain himself – it all made sense now. He was protecting his little sister, shielding her from the scandal that would inevitably follow if the truth came out.

"He’s being so noble," Laurie continued, her tears flowing freely now. "He’s willing to go to jail for me. For something he didn’t do."

Lyse felt a lump in her throat. Levi’s selflessness was both admirable and infuriating. He was willing to sacrifice his own freedom to protect Laurie, but he was also making it impossible for them to defend him.

"We have to tell someone," Lyse said, her voice firm. "We have to tell the police the truth. If we don’t, Levi will go to jail for a crime he didn’t commit."

Lily shook her head, her face filled with fear. "No, Lyse! We can’t! If anyone finds out...my life will be ruined. My mother... she will never forgive me."

"But what about Levi?" Lyse argued. "He’s facing murder charges! He could spend the rest of his life in prison!"

"I know," Laurie sobbed. "I feel terrible. But I can’t...I can’t do it."

Lyse felt a surge of frustration and impatience. She understood Laurie’s fear, but she could not let Levi take the fall for something he didn’t do.

"Laurie," she said, her voice gentle but firm, "we have to do what’s right. We have to tell the truth, even if it’s difficult. Levi wouldn’t want you to live with this guilt for the rest of your life. And he wouldn’t want to spend his life in prison for something he didn’t do."

Laurie remained silent, her face buried in her hands.

"Think about it, Laurie," Lyse continued. "Think about what’s at stake. Levi’s life, your future...we have to be brave. We have to do the right thing."

After a long silence, Laurie finally looked up, her eyes filled with tears but also a flicker of resolve.

"Okay," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Okay, we’ll tell them. We have to."

Lyse felt a wave of relief wash over her. "Thank you, Laurie," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "You are doing the right thing."

They decided to go to Mr. Black’s office first thing in the morning. They knew it wouldn’t be easy, but they were determined to tell the truth, no matter the consequences. They owed it to Levi, and they owed it to themselves.

The truth, however painful, was the only way to set him free. And as they sat there, planning their next move, they couldn’t shake the feeling that they were walking a tightrope, one wrong step could send them both tumbling into the abyss. But they had to try. For Levi, for Laurie, and for the truth.