Chapter 71: Betrayed
Lyse waited till she heard Levi leave her door before finally taking a deep breath, she was too enraged to cry. She was mad at herself for thinking that she could make it work with Levi, she was mad at herself for throwing herself at him just because he was kind to her.
When the house had settled and everyone had seemed to have retired to their rooms. Lyse crept out of her room and snuck out of the room, taking great care to not make noise. She slipped out of the house through the garden door, her heart heavy with sorrow.
She could not bear to stay in the same house as Levi, not after what she had seen. She got out and walked down the street where she got into the taxi she had ordered.
She leaned back in the seat and looked out the window, her eyes dull and unhappy, her thoughts going back to the picture of Levi with that supermodel in his arms, kissing. As distracted as she was, she did not catch the driver who kept glancing at her through the mirror.
And when they got to her stop and she got down, she did not notice that the car did not drive off immediately but waited until she disappeared into the apartment building.
Lyse went up to James’ apartment which was a haven that was so familiar, that she immediately felt some respite when James came to the door and pulled her in. It was the one place where she could be herself, without any pretense or judgment.
He immediately positioned her on a sofa and disappeared into the kitchen, before coming back with tea for them both. Lyse poured her heart out to him and at last the tears came, streaming down her face like a waterfall. While he listened patiently, offering her tissues, comfort and understanding.
"I can’t believe that I thought that he was a good guy, James," she sobbed. "I thought he was different from the perception that people had of him. I thought he actually cared."
James pulled her into a tight hug. "I know, Lyse. I know. It feels like a terrible betrayal."