Page 111 of Code of Heart

“Was I not enough?” His voice dropped to a pleading whisper, broken and raw.

“Levi,please—please let me explain,” Aurelia choked out, shivering on unsteady legs, tears streaming down her face.

But it was too late.

“Ican’t.” His voice was barely a rasp, and yet it carried the weight of finality.

He took a stumbling step back, retreating like her very presence burned him. “I can’t do this.”

Isaac’s hand landed on his shoulder, but Levi shrugged it off in agitation. He was vaguely aware of Isac speaking, but his words sounded distant, muffled, like they were coming from underwater.

None of it mattered anymore. His voice was hollow and devoid of emotion when he spoke again.

“I’ll just…let you get back to whatever you’ve been doing.” His devastated gaze flicked back to the room, his chest tightening painfully. “He can have you.”

He grabbed the car keys still dangling from Owen’s hand. Without another word, Levi disappeared down the corridor—his pace quick, desperate to outrun the destruction behind him.

He had to get out of there. He had to get away fromher.

Isaac called after him, his voice growing fainter with every step.

Levi didn’t hear him. He didn’t hear anything anymore except for the deafening sound of his hope shattering into pieces.

Aurelia

Levi broke his promise…and with it, he brokeher.

He didn’t even try to listen.

Didn’t give her the chance to explain, to fight for what little hope still existed between them.

The moment he turned his back and walked away, he wasn’t simply leaving a hotel room—he was leavingher, destroying the fragile trust she had so carefully begun to build.

Aurelia had wanted to believe she could trust Levi so badly. She couldn’t believe how blind and stupid she was to think things would be different this time. That Levi was different.

Isaac chased after him, but Owen stayed behind.

He stood in the doorway like a silent sentinel, his sharp eyes scanning the room, cataloging every horrifying detail.

Cold rage took hold of his features as he pieced together what Kyle unconscious on the bed, the twisted sheets, and the bruises already darkening her exposed skin signified.

When his gaze finally found hers, something inside her broke completely.

The tears she had fought so hard to hold back spilled free, mingling with the raw tremble of her lips. She sagged under the unbearable stress of it all, unable to hold herself together any longer as despair overwhelmed her.

“I…I hit Kyle with the lamp,” she choked out between sobs, her voice barely a whisper, brittle and frayed at the edges.

Owen’s eyes widened, comprehension smashing into him like a freight train.

“Please…” Her voice cracked on that one desperate word, her body trembling violently. “I think…I need an ambulance, I—”

But she couldn’t finish.

The darkness closed in, stealing her away just as the last word spoken left her lips. Her knees buckled, and Owen rushed forward.

She collapsed into his arms, like a broken, bloodied angel wrapped in nothing but a sheet and sorrow.

Owen