Loving Him

Chapter 14

When they arrived at the mansion, Levi asked Mike if he could carry her again. Still inside the car, she made the request. Mike felt a sense of pride, thinking that her weight must have increased significantly because she still winced whenever she moved her legs.

"No problem, I'm more than happy to carry my bride-to-be," he responded to her with a playful smile on his lips.

"Can you please stop smiling like that? Your face is so annoying! Ugh!" Levi exclaimed in frustration. And once again, she winced in pain.

"Ouch! It really hurts. Is this normal? It feels like something's not right," she complained, gripping her legs.

Mike helped her adjust her position and slowly lifted her out of the car. Mr. and Mrs. Montenegro, along with Micah, were waiting for them by the mansion entrance, all wearing concerned expressions.

"Is there something wrong, son? Why are you carrying Levi? Did something happen that you're not telling us?" Mrs. Montenegro asked, filled with worry.

Levi took it upon herself to answer Mrs. Montenegro's question. "Um... well... I tripped on the stairs, Tita. Yes, I tripped and twisted my ankle, so I can't walk properly," Levi explained, her voice slightly trembling. Thankfully, she was able to convince Mrs. Montenegro, as well as Mr. Montenegro and Micah.

"Have you already treated that, Michael Angelo?" Mrs. Montenegro raised an eyebrow as she inquired about her son's actions.

"Yes, Mama. She's fine now. I think I should take her to her room so she can rest," Mike politely requested permission from the three of them.

They observed that Mike and Levi made their way to the room.

Levi was filled with a mix of nerves and anticipation.

With great care, Mike gently placed her on the soft bed. And there, the two of them let out a sigh of relief. Mike sat on Levi's bed, while Levi squeezed her eyes shut. The pain seemed to have subsided. She glanced at Mike and playfully swatted his arm.

"And what are you doing here inside my room?" she retorted, her tone laced with irritation, but Mike remained unfazed by her snappiness.

"Could you please give me a moment to catch my breath? I'm tired, Levi. I didn't realize you were so heavy. Carrying you all the way from the garage to your room... look at me, I'm still catching my breath," he replied, his words accompanied by a playful smile.

Levi's eyes dropped as she delved into deep thoughts. "What if we actually conceive? Mike, what if I become pregnant? No way!" Levi fretted, her mind filled with worry.

Mike's eyebrows furrowed upon hearing her words, accompanied by the trembling of her lips.

"And what exactly do you mean by that, Ms. Velez?" Mike asked, his tone serious.

Levi couldn't help but notice the intense aura emanating from him. A wave of anxiety washed over her chest. She couldn't find a suitable answer to her own statement. Why did she even bring up such a topic?

"Um? Well..." she faltered in her response.

"What do you mean by 'well'?" Mike suddenly snapped at her, rising from the bed and facing her. His presence exuded authority.

Levi felt like a child being reprimanded by a parent.

"What if I do get pregnant?" she asked directly.

"And what's the problem with that? We're getting married, so what else is there to worry about?" he retorted firmly.

"I mean, Mike, it's complicated. This is not the life I envisioned. I dream of something different, a love-centered family that I long for. Look, we don't even love each other, and do you think what happened between us last night was love? I don't think so. It was just a result of desire, fueled by your attractiveness," Levi softly expressed her thoughts.

"I don't believe in love, Levi. Ever since my heart was broken, I've lost faith in the existence of love. You witnessed the immense pain I went through because of the woman I loved. You saw how I pleaded for her to choose the love I offered. Even now, the pain still lingers," Mike said earnestly, pointing to his heart.

If only she could tell him the truth about her feelings for him, she would have done it already. But she needed to protect herself from him. That's all she had left. You can't ride two boats at once when it comes to love. Levi felt a twinge in her heart as she openly admitted her true emotions to her former lover.

And now, he's confessing this. Just when her heart had learned to love him. Why does fate have to be so unpredictable? She could sense a slight ache in her heart.

"I understand, but you still have feelings for her. Why are you reluctant to get back together with her if you still love her?" she suggested to him, despite the pain it caused her to say it.

"I can't, especially considering what has already happened between us. What if it results in something more, an obligation to take care of you and our potential child," Mike responded seriously to Levi.

"What if I'm not actually pregnant? Maybe we just jumped to conclusions," Levi countered with her own response.

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Everyone was busy with the preparations for the engagement party. Everything was in place, and only selected guests were invited by Mr. and Mrs. Montenegro.

Levi felt elated that their engagement celebration would take place right in Montenegro's garden. She could say that there was nothing more relaxed and joyous than gathering in the intimate setting of a home. She considered herself lucky to live in a space with a beautiful garden, and she believed that their guests would appreciate the garden-themed festivities.

Montenegro's garden was expansive, adorned with various types of lights illuminating the stunning flowers. Ten tables were set up, catering services were arranged, and there was even a photoshoot for the couple.

Levi found herself in her room, gazing at her reflection. The make-up artist was diligently applying makeup to enhance her delicate features. She had already slipped into her Mermaid Long Gown, which hugged her body perfectly, showcasing her curves that would undoubtedly capture the attention of anyone present. She paired it with a white Louis Vuitton purse and her usual white flat sandals.

As soon as her makeup was finished, she let out a deep breath, almost not recognizing herself. She looked absolutely radiant. It would have been ideal if everything wasn't just an arrangement, and if it were a genuine expression of their love.

She silently hoped that their intimate night together with Mike wouldn't result in any unintended consequences. She wasn't prepared for that yet, and she didn't want her future child to suffer if things didn't work out.

"Oh my goodness, girl! You look so much like my idol Marian Rivera, but you surpass her with your eyes, they're brown, and that beauty mark on the side of your nose, I'm sure your groom-to-be will be head over heels for you, girl!" The enthusiastic makeup artist exclaimed. She couldn't help but smile at his words.

Despite that, she still couldn't shake off her nerves for tonight. This is it, they will announce their impending union with Mike. Suddenly, her hands grew cold.

"Relax, Ms. Velez, this is just an engagement. All you have to do is enjoy this night. Just a reminder, take care of your man, girl, there are so many women out there vying for his attention. But I must say, he's lucky to have you. You're so stunning, you could be a model or even a beauty queen, girl!" The makeup artist exclaimed once again.

"Thank you, I'm not so sure about that," she replied with a smile to the makeup artist who still admired her beauty.

"Oh, she's being humble now," he remarked before bidding her farewell.

Once again, she let out a deep sigh.

"Oh my gosh! Ate Levi, you look stunning," Micah exclaimed, taking hold of her hands and twirling her around, her face filled with awe. She smiled at her words.

"Ate Levi, is my outfit okay?" Micah asked.

She smiled as she saw her attire, knowing that anything would suit her perfectly. She was truly handsome. Micah inherited his mom's beautiful features.

"Of course, it suits you, Micah. There's no outfit that wouldn't look good on you," she replied with a smile.

"Thanks, Ate Levi. But honestly, I didn't recognize you right away. You look so perfect, by the way, congratulations!" Micah said, giving her a tight hug.

"Really, Micah? We all know that we did this because of Tita Thalia's request. Please don't take it too seriously. I don't want you to get your hopes up. I know you wanted me to be your brother's fiancee. But we can't change the fact that he's still in love with his ex," Levi said to Micah, trying to maintain a steady voice. Fortunately, it didn't falter.

Micah's expression turned into a frown upon hearing her words.

Levi simply took her hand and led her to the living room, where Mr. and Mrs. Montenegro and Mike were engaged in conversation. Mike and Micah's cousin Royce was also present, each of them holding a glass as they chatted away.

She descended the staircase ahead of her Ate Levi, and she couldn't help but almost burst into laughter at the sight of her sister's soon-to-be-bride.

Mike's jaw dropped, and it seemed like everyone, including himself, was mesmerized Levi's stunning beauty.

Micah frowned upon seeing an unexpected guest. She rolled her eyes and made her way towards where her parents were. Vince greeted her with a mischievous smile.

Vince had been her arch-nemesis at school. Throughout their time in college, they constantly teased each other, as they attended the same university.

Micah had recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, just like her Kuya Mike and Ate Levi.

The only difference was that Mike had also completed a degree in Agricultural Business-Major in Economics.

It was their parents who suggested that Micah pursue the same course, and it aligned with her own aspirations. She also dreamed of assisting her parents in expanding the Montenegro Industries Corp.

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Levi's smile faded when she saw Yuna.

Yuna looked incredibly elegant in her red cocktail dress. She never expected that Yuna would be invited to the engagement party. She stole another glance at Mike, his gaze intense, causing her heart to flutter. Despite wanting to feel happy, there was a constant reminder that everything was temporary. It was a contract marriage, after all.

"I can't find the words to express how beautiful you are, Levi," Mike replied to her.

She smiled at his words. Mike took her hand and led her to the center of the dance floor. They danced with energy, and when other couples noticed them, they joined in, moving to the enchanting music.

Levi couldn't bring herself to meet Mike's blue eyes, afraid that he might see her true feelings. She didn't understand why she suddenly felt pained. Could it be because of Yuna? She couldn't deny it. What if Mike sees Yuna now? Would she be disregarded?

"You seem lost in thought. Care to share, my lovely fiance?" he asked tenderly, causing Levi to almost startle as his lips brushed against her ear, sending shivers down her neck and arms.

"Nothing, I'm just tired, I guess," she lied to him.

"How are you? Does it still hurt?" he asked her, and her ears buzzed with the memory of what had transpired between them. She had almost forgotten about it, but he quickly reminded her.

"I'm fine," she replied, keeping her response curt.

After a few minutes, they heard the clinking of glasses, a signal that their imminent union was about to be announced. All the guests took their seats at their respective tables. Each person wore a smile, eagerly awaiting Mr. and Mrs. Montenegro's speech.

Soon enough, their upcoming wedding was announced. Levi and Mike made their way to the center for the customary photo-taking. Congratulations poured in from all the guests.

Levi's cheeks began to ache from the strain of constant smiling. She hadn't realized how challenging and exhausting such an event could be.

Once again, she spotted Yuna approaching them. Gasps could be heard from the guests. It seemed that Yuna's presence was unexpected, especially as Mike's ex-girlfriend. Levi couldn't help but overhear the whispers circulating around.

"Well, congratulations to both of you," Yuna greeted them.

Levi's grip on Mike's arm tightened. When she glanced at him, she felt a pang of pain. His gaze towards Yuna was different. She wasn't numb enough to not be affected by it.

"What are you doing here? I guess you weren't invited to this engagement party," Micah retorted, her tone laced with annoyance.

"Oh dear Micah, I won't cause any trouble here, relax. I just wanted to congratulate them," Yuna replied in a tender tone, glancing at Mike who was now gazing intently at her.

"Oh really, then you can leave now," Micah retorted sarcastically, pulling her out of the mansion.

"Mike, Levi, why was that woman able to enter here?" Thalia asked angrily. Mr. Montenegro was currently trying to calm her down.

"Mama, please, calm down. Yuna was here only to congratulate us, please, Ma," Mike pleaded with his mother and approached her. He kissed her and gently rubbed her back. His father and the private nurse were there to support her.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Please enjoy the evening!" the host announced cheerfully, and the party returned to its normal flow.

After the party, Levi quickly removed her gown. The sight from earlier, Mike's unexpected reaction, remained in her mind. His defense of his ex-girlfriend. Why did she feel this strange twinge of emotion? Why did she feel the need to experience this pang?