Chapter 19

Note: Hi! This chapter will tell the story of their past. We will be back to the present timeline after some chapters. Thank you.

N O E L L E

“L-Levi,” I uttered as I stood up to face him. Olivia smiles at us while she has no idea that Levi is furious at me.

“You guys are on vacation?” Olivia asked. I couldn’t answer her because I was still processing the thought that she and Levi were here in front of me.

“Yes, we are.” I heard Maxwell answer her. “Are you two here for a vacation too?” He asked Olivia.

“I was calling you since last week, but your phone was off. I went to the coffee shop to check if you were working during school break, but you were not there.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Why are you with Hughes!?” I quickly shut my eyes closed when he shouted.

“Do not shout at her, Levi!” I heard Maxwell’s voice, and I opened my eyes. Levi is panting while looking furiously at me.

“This is not your business, so stay out of it, Hughes!” He shouted once more before grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the restaurant.

I did not utter a single word until he stopped along the seashore, a few meters away from the restaurant. He let go of my arm before brushing his hair through his fingers. He is cursing under his breath, and I can’t help but feel guilty for not informing him about my vacation trip.

I must have shocked him.

“I’m…. I’m sorry.

“Is that all you can do after doing things I don’t like?!” He shouted again while pacing back and forth in front of me. “I was worried about you while you were enjoying your vacation with Hughes?! Did you even think my feelings, Noelle?! How could you spend your time alone with Hughes?! Is he better than me?! Is he that good?! Does he always satisfy your needs?!” My hand automatically moves and hits his face.

My eyes widened in shock when I slapped him. I got angry at his words, and suddenly my hand moved.

What has gotten into him for saying vulgar things about me?!  Is this how he looks at me?!

“You don’t have the right to question my decision of spending time with Maxwell,” I said with greeted teeth. “You don’t have to know everything about me. Maxwell and I know our limit. You should know your boundary as well, Levi.” I said before walking away from him.

Gosh! He’s crazy!

Maxwell and I spend a lot of time together, but it’s because we are having fun and we love each other’s company. I know Maxwell is a guy too, but he respects me.

Levi must feel territorial over me. He knows he has control over me because of the contract, and I hate it. He feels like he owns me. I don’t want him to limit my decisions and actions.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I was stunned when I felt his grip on my arm. “You are coming with me, Noelle.” He added.

I looked over my shoulder, and my eyes widened in surprise when I noticed his eyes darkened in anger. I gulped as I felt his range radiating from him. “I’m going home with Maxwell,” I said, trying to hide my fear.

I’ve never seen him like this before.

“You are not going home with Hughes. You are coming with me.” He said that made me look at him in shock. He dragged me out of the seashore until we reached the parking lot. I tried to break from his tight grip and begged him to let me go, but he did not listen.

“Levi!” Maxwell jogged towards us. “What are you doing!? Let her go!” He shouted. Levi faced him and threw him a death glare.

“I’ve been suppressing my anger towards you, Hughes. But this time, I had enough! Taking Noelle into this vacation, just the two of you is making me insane! You know from the very start that she’s mine!” Levi is not holding back anymore. I did not know this was how he felt.

But why?

“She’s not yours, Levi. She exists in your life just because of that stupid contract! Let her go! She doesn’t want to be with you!” I shut my eyes closed as I heard and saw Maxwell get angry as well.

“I have legal rights on her because of the contract, Hughes. No matter what you say, she’s my fiancée, and I have the right to do anything I want!” He shouted before landing a punch on Maxwell’s face.

“Maxwell!” I shouted in shock. “Why did you do that?!” Maxwell’s lip is bleeding, for Pete’s sake. He’s a singer! It will create a big issue when his fans find out about this! “You don’t have to hurt him, Levi!” I shouted at him while trying to get out of his grasp. “Let me go!” I yelled.

He pulls me closer to him instead of letting me go. “Noelle is mine! She will marry me whether she likes it or not!” He shouted again before pulling me and forcing me to get in his car.

“Maxwell!” I called for his help, but Levi locked the door of his car. Maxwell tried to break the window, but it did not work. “Maxwell, I’m sorry!” I shouted, hoping he could hear me. “Please let me go, Levi! I don’t want to go with you!” I begged.

“I am not leaving you with that fucking guy, Noelle!” He shouted at me while driving. I look over my shoulder, and my heart twinge to see Maxwell running after us. He’s calling my name, and I can’t help but feel bad for him. I feel guilty for dragging him into this mess. “Stop crying, Noelle!” I cover my ears using my hands as I shake my head.

I had enough of his shouting, and my conscience is killing me for leaving Maxwell.

My tears were already dried when we reached a big vacation house. It’s not too far from the beach where we came from, and I can still hear the waves from the sea. So, we are still near the beach. It was dark, and I couldn’t see clearly.

“Follow me.” I didn’t have any choice but follow what he said. The house is quite spacious for two people. It’s quiet, and no one welcomes us, so it means it’s just the two of us?! I got nervous all of a sudden. I never felt this way when I heard from Maxwell that we were going on a vacation.

Levi stops in the living and drops himself on the couch. He massages his temple before letting out a deep sigh. I look around the house, and I figure it’s a two-story modern tropical house.

Now that I remember it, I don’t have my phone or even my wallet! I don’t have spare clothes too! I need to go home to Maxwell first thing in the morning tomorrow.

Yes, Maxwell is also my home. He was warm and comfortable as a home when my mom was still alive.

“Is it true?” I was startled when he spoke. I gulped when he threw me a death glare. He liked looking at me that way since we met earlier at the restaurant. “Is it true that you don’t want to be with me?” He asked.

I never told Maxwell about it, but I guess it’s how I show every time we talk about my plan of getting away from him.

I sigh. “I don’t want to marry you, Levi.” I’ve decided to speak honestly at him. I want him to know how I feel about this whole situation.

“Why? Did you just use me to get the scholarship from dad?!” He shouted in anger.

“No! It wasn’t my intention, Levi. I don’t want to marry you because I don’t think I can support you for the rest of your life.” I explained. “I want to be a surgeon, and it’s a tough profession. Being a doctor demands time, and I don’t think I can be with you, attending parties and staying home to welcome you from a long day of work.”

“I cannot marry you when you reach twenty-eight years old because I am still studying that time. I promise my mom that I am going to be a surgeon, and it’s my priority. I don’t want to choose between you and my chosen career. I don’t want to be unfair with you, Levi.”

“So, it’s the reason why you decided to be with Maxwell instead?” He said before smirking.

I shake my head. “Maxwell and I are good friends. Please, don’t misinterpret our closeness. We are comfortable with each other.”

“He likes you! How could you stay for the whole week with that guy, and the thought that it’s just the two of you in his house is making me crazy!”

“We did not do anything wrong! We have separate rooms, and we are old enough to decide on our own!” I retorted. “You told me that I can still live my life even the contract is in effect, but what are you doing right now?”

“I will marry you, Noelle.” I look at him in surprise. “Your plan of finding me a wife will never happen. You will marry me, and if you refuse, I will put your dad in jail.” He threatened me, and I couldn’t help but get scared for my dad.

“Why are you doing this to me?! I am nobody compared to other girls! I am nothing but a college student!” I cried. “Please find someone else!”

“Are you blind or plain stupid?! Can’t you see I’m in love with you?!”