I’m still not. Because all I could think about was the damage. I had just ruined my reputation even more thoroughly than before. Ruined myself, while I was at it.
This wouldn’t look good for the Wentworth family. Especially since my parents have only just learned about my diagnosis.
They wouldn’t blame me. Instead, they’d blame bipolar. And then they’d expect me to feel comforted by that distinction—as though the disorder and I were somehow separate entities.
As though bipolar wasn’t woven into every corner of my brain.
As though it wasn’tme.
‘I don’t want to be tamed.’
My words slam back into me, and I flinch slightly, making Levi’s arms around me tighten further.
“She’s fine.” I hear him answer whoever is on the other end of the line.
I’m not fine. I’m embarrassed.
He pauses, listening. Then responds with a chuckle. “Yeah, man. And I’ll get her however many wigs she wants.”
The person continues the conversation, and I squeeze my eyes, trying my hardest to listen.
“Well, they would’ve had to realize we weren’t puppets of our families anyway… C’mon, Taewon, I’m not worried what they’ll think about us… You really think so?”
Aboutus. Not just me.
That one word starts to warm the cold mortification settled in my chest. And I find myself surprisingly believing him.
The pause is longer this time. But Levi’s chest vibrates under my cheek when he hums every now and then, in agreement with Taewon.
“Oh, by the way,” he says, possibly cutting him off. “You’ve only got one more week. Then I’ll fly to LA and drag you back myself. Got it?”
I hear a muffled laugh on the other end.
“God,” Levi groans softly. “Why is it taking you this long to un-fuck the situation? You and Iris just met. How badly did you mess up, man?”
Taewon messed up with… Iris?
My mind flashes back to the awkward last interaction I saw between the two in the conference room. When she announced that she had handed over the merger to another consultant. And how pissed offTaewon had looked that day, berating her.
Is something going on between them?
I freeze, all my muscles locked, my breath deepening. My focus zeroing in on any jealousy seeping into Levi’s tone. Even though it sounds almost ridiculous that he’d be. He hasn’t given me any indication of missing her after everything fell apart.
But my brain can’t stop weaving toward that absurdity regardless.
He lets out a startled laugh, controlling himself immediately so he doesn’t accidentally wake me up. Then he resorts to whispers. “Christ. Touché, man. Touché. But… I’m trying, you know? And I think tonight was a step in the right direction. I’d been trying to navigate the situation incorrectly. I don’t need to preserve the vain reputation that never aligned with us. I just need to rebuild therealone. From scratch.”
He pauses. Then his voice hardens a fraction, tone unwavering. “Oh, it’ll work. I know it will. What’s better than authenticity?”
“Oh c’mon, Taewon!” he snaps lightly. “Just be honest with her. Don’t try to hide behind Gyuri again.”
I hear Taewon’s raised voice then, finally loud enough for me to make out his words. “…nothing to do with that. The whole thing with Iris was so damn similar, I just…fuck. I lost my temper.”
“Who’s Gyuri?”
Levi’s whole body flinches violently at my calmly posed question. “Fuck—”
They both gasp at the same time. Although I think Taewon may have yelled a little.
