All Chapters of Forced To The Billionaire: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Levi's hand touched my arm as he reached for me, and it was enough to shatter me. I put a hand to my mouth in an attempt to stop the sob that threatened to break out as the tears I had been suppressing overflowed. I said in a barely audible murmur, "I can't do this." "Never again." "You can," I said. His hand moved to rest on my shoulder as he took a step closer. "Eliana, you're stronger than this. more powerful than she is. I should have been reassured by his comments, but they didn't. I didn't feel strong, so they merely made my chest hurt more. I had the impression that I was disintegrating completely. I said in a shaky voice, "I don't know if I can keep losing people." Levi's hold on my shoulder tightened just slightly, and he tilted his head, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You’re not going to lose him,” he said, his voice firm. “I won’t let that happen.” I stopped when I heard the confidence in his voice, allowing a glimmer of hope to cut through the haze of fear and despair. Ho

The tenuous silence between us was broken by the buzzing of the phone on his desk. Levi quickly grabbed it as his concentration returned. He said, "Talk to me," in a brisk, businesslike voice. I was aware of the seriousness of the issue without having to listen to the other person. As the other guy spoke, his eyes hardened, and I felt sick to my stomach. Levi glanced in my direction. "It is taking place. Right now. The words sank into my veins like frost. We were running out of time, and my father's life was in shambles. Levi stated, "There is no more time for second-guessing," and he started to head for the door.“Let’s go. We’ll deal with this head-on.” I didn’t hesitate. I couldn’t. As I followed him out of the room, I realized something else, something I hadn’t fully processed before. I was no longer just fighting for my father, or for Levi. I was fighting for the future, whatever that might be. And I was doing it with him. Whatever that meant, whatever it cost us. No mor

The car smelled like leather and paranoia. Levi had insisted on a security escort, though I’d argued until my voice cracked. The man barely had his strength back, and already he was trying to reassert control over me. Or maybe that was just Levi’s way of showing love, trying to dominate every situation so no one else could.I leaned my forehead against the cold window, watching the city blur past in streaks of light and shadow. Negotiating with Aurora. Meeting the woman who had managed to dismantle every piece of stability I’d ever known. It was absurd. Dangerous. And yet, I couldn’t think of another way to save my father.The ledger sat heavy in my lap, its leather cover worn and slightly cracked. I hadn’t told Levi about it. He’d asked …no… practically demanded but I’d danced around the truth with all the grace of a drunk ballerina. That wasn’t a betrayal, was it? Keeping something back until I had a clearer picture? But as the silence in the car stretched, I wondered if Levi alread

For a long time, Levi held me in his strong, protecting arms, as if to protect me from the storm that was brewing outside and the one that was tearing at my insides. Considering what I had concealed from him, I didn't deserve his consolation. I didn't push him away, though. I allowed myself to lean into him for the first time in days, finding strength in the one person who appeared to be able to withstand all that was collapsing around us. I'm not sure how long we stood there before Levi eventually drew away and looked into my eyes. Softly but firmly, he pointed to the ledger that was still in my grip and said, "Let me see it." I reluctantly gave it to them. He turned the pages over, his jaw tightening with every new piece of damning evidence. When he reached the list of targe s, his lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes darkened with a rage I rarely saw him let loose.“She’s not just playing games,” he muttered, his voice low and lethal. “She’s building a war.”“And my father’s

I stayed in Levi’s arms longer than I should have. The warmth and steadiness of him dulled the edges of my panic, but not for long. I could feel his heartbeat under my cheek, steady and calm in a way mine would never be again. Levi, ever the unshakable force, pulled back first, his hands firm but gentle as they slid down to my arms. His gray eyes searched mine. “We’ll handle this,” he said, low and sure. “You don’t understand,” I whispered, the weight of Aurora’s ultimatum pressing down on me like a lead blanket. “She’s not bluffing. My father’s her ace. She doesn’t care about him she’ll kill him without a second thought if we don’t give her what she wants.” “Then we outmaneuver her,” Levi said, his voice sharper now. His confidence bordered on arrogance, but that was Levi. He couldn’t see defeat, wouldn’t even entertain it. I wanted to believe him. God, how I wanted to believe him. But Aurora was a different kind of monster one who thrived on chaos and always stayed three mov