The Billionaire's Bridal Chase

Part 2 EP 14: Make it work...?

The night Caly went out, Levi found himself restless. It wasn’t that he missed her presence, but the quietness of the apartment felt unnerving after weeks of tension. For a while, he just flipped through channels, not really focusing on anything. He wondered where Caly had gone. She wasn’t exactly the type to offer details about her life, especially not to him. Still, Levi couldn’t shake a small knot of curiosity. Was she meeting friends? Maybe going on a date?

He tried to push the thought out of his mind, but it lingered in the background. They were technically engaged, but the idea of Caly being with someone else didn’t bother him in the way it should if they were in a normal relationship. What nagged at him instead was the realization that despite living together, he knew next to nothing about her personal life.

After a while, Levi decided to get some fresh air. The apartment felt too stuffy, and his thoughts were swirling in a direction he wasn’t sure he wanted to follow. Grabbing his jacket, he headed out into the cool night, taking a walk around the city blocks. The streets were alive with people—couples holding hands, groups of friends laughing, and others enjoying late-night dinners at sidewalk cafés.

Levi shoved his hands into his pockets as he strolled. As much as he tried to distance himself from the situation with Caly, he couldn’t deny the growing tension between them wasn’t just one-sided. He was starting to care, even if he didn’t fully understand why. Maybe it was because, in some strange way, she reminded him of himself—trapped by expectations, angry at a life that wasn’t entirely of her own choosing.

When he finally returned to the apartment, it was past midnight. The lights were still off, and there was no sign that Caly had come back. Levi sighed, heading to his room. He hoped tomorrow would be less mentally exhausting.

Caly didn’t come home until late the following morning, wearing the same clothes she’d left in. Levi was already in the kitchen, making breakfast, when he heard the door creak open. He glanced up from the stove to see her slipping out of her shoes, her eyes avoiding his.

“Rough night?” he asked, trying to keep his tone light.

Caly shrugged, her back still turned to him. “Just long.”

She headed straight for the bathroom without another word. Levi frowned, watching the door close behind her. Something felt off, but it wasn’t his place to pry. He turned back to his cooking, but his mind stayed on Caly. She was always guarded, but this morning she seemed different—quieter, maybe even vulnerable in a way she hadn’t been before.

When she finally emerged from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed in a loose sweater and jeans, Levi was still at the table, finishing his coffee. He debated whether to say anything or just let it go, but something compelled him to speak up.

“You okay?” he asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

Caly paused for a moment, her hand hovering over the mug. “I’m fine,” she said, though her voice lacked its usual sharpness.

Levi wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t push. Instead, he nodded and took another sip of his coffee, watching her out of the corner of his eye as she moved to sit at the opposite end of the table.

They ate in silence, the only sounds the occasional clink of silverware against plates. For once, the quiet didn’t feel as oppressive as it usually did. Levi could sense that something had shifted between them, though he wasn’t sure what it meant yet.

After a few minutes, Caly spoke again, her voice softer than he’d ever heard it. “Thanks for not asking too many questions.”

Levi looked up, surprised by her sudden openness. “You’re welcome.”

She glanced at him briefly, then back down at her plate. “It’s just… I needed to get out of here for a bit. Clear my head.”

“I get it,” Levi said, trying to sound understanding. “Sometimes being cooped up in here can make everything feel worse.”

Caly nodded, but she didn’t say anything more. Levi could see that she was still holding back, but at least she was talking. It was more than he’d hoped for after weeks of icy silence and tape-lined boundaries.

As the days passed, the atmosphere between them continued to thaw, albeit slowly. The lines of tape disappeared entirely, and while Caly was still distant, she no longer made a point of avoiding Levi whenever they were in the same room.

One evening, they found themselves sitting on the couch together, both pretending to watch some mindless TV show. It had become a strange routine—an unspoken agreement that they would coexist in the same space without making it any more uncomfortable than it already was. Levi appreciated the small moments of peace they’d carved out, even if they were fragile.

“You ever think about just running away?” Caly asked suddenly, her voice low and almost hesitant.

Levi turned to look at her, surprised by the question. Caly’s eyes were fixed on the TV, but he could tell she wasn’t really watching. She was lost in her own thoughts.

“All the time,” Levi replied honestly.

Caly’s lips quirked into a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Where would you go?”

Levi thought for a moment. “Somewhere far away, I guess. Maybe the mountains. Somewhere quiet, where no one expects anything from me.”

Caly nodded, her gaze still distant. “Sounds nice.”

There was a long pause, and Levi could feel the weight of whatever was on her mind pressing down on the silence between them. He wanted to ask, wanted to know what was going on in that head of hers, but he also knew better than to push her when she wasn’t ready.

“I’ve thought about it, too,” Caly admitted after a while, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just… disappearing. Starting over somewhere new.”

Levi’s chest tightened at the vulnerability in her words. This wasn’t the strong, defiant Caly he was used to. This was someone else—someone who was tired, scared, and maybe even a little lost.

“You wouldn’t have to do it alone,” Levi said softly. “You know that, right?”

Caly finally looked at him, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions Levi couldn’t quite decipher. She opened her mouth to respond but seemed to think better of it. Instead, she gave a small nod and turned back to the TV.

Levi didn’t push her to say more. He knew that for Caly, even admitting this much was a huge step. They sat in silence for the rest of the night, the flickering images on the screen forgotten as both of them got lost in their own thoughts.

As the weeks went by, Levi and Caly continued their strange dance of avoidance and tentative connection. They weren’t friends, not exactly, but there was an understanding between them now. A fragile bond that neither of them spoke about but both acknowledged in their own way.

One evening, Levi came home from work later than usual. He’d had a long day, and all he wanted was to crash on the couch and zone out for a while. When he walked through the door, however, he was greeted by the smell of something cooking. It was a pleasant surprise—Caly wasn’t exactly the domestic type, and they rarely shared meals together.

Curious, Levi made his way to the kitchen. Caly was standing at the stove, stirring a pot of what looked like spaghetti sauce. She glanced up when she heard him enter but didn’t say anything.

“Didn’t know you could cook,” Levi remarked, leaning against the doorframe.

Caly shrugged, not looking at him. “I don’t, really. Just thought I’d try something.”

Levi watched her for a moment, sensing the tension in the air. There was something different about tonight—something heavier, more charged. He wasn’t sure what had changed, but he could feel it in the way Caly moved, the way she refused to meet his gaze.

“You want some help?” Levi offered, unsure of how else to bridge the gap between them.

Caly shook her head. “I’ve got it.”

Levi nodded, though he didn’t leave the kitchen. Instead, he leaned against the counter, watching her as she worked. There was something oddly domestic about the scene—Caly stirring the sauce, Levi standing nearby, the quiet hum of the apartment around them. It felt almost… normal. Like they were a real couple.

But they weren’t. And that reality hung between them like a dark cloud.

After a few minutes, Caly turned off the stove and began serving the pasta onto two plates. She handed one to Levi without a word and headed for the table. Levi followed her, taking a seat across from her at the small dining table.

They ate in silence for a while, the clink of silverware the only sound in the room. Levi couldn’t shake the feeling that something was on Caly’s mind, but he wasn’t sure how to bring it up.

Finally, it was Caly who broke the silence.

“I’ve been thinking,” she said slowly, not looking at him.

Levi raised an eyebrow, waiting for her to continue.

“I’ve been thinking that maybe we could… I don’t know. Try to make this work.” Her voice was hesitant, almost uncertain.

Levi blinked, taken aback by her words.