Page 9 of Farmer's Elegant Bride

“Hey, sis! How’s it going over there with the poor farmer?” Emily’s voice comes through the line, laced with amusement.

I hesitate for a moment, unsure how to respond. “Actually, he’s not poor,” I reply, my voice firm as I defend Levi.

“Not poor? Really?” Emily sounds genuinely surprised. “So I take it you ran off to him because of his money then?”

My heart sinks at her accusation, and I feel a surge of frustration. “No, Em, it’s not like that,” I insist, my voice tinged with frustration. “I came here because I wanted to, because I felt a connection with him. His wealth has nothing to do with it.”

There’s a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and I can almost hear Emily processing my words. “Well, if you say so,” she finally concedes, though her tone is still skeptical. “But honestly, Aurora, I think you’re wasting your time there. You should come back home to where you belong. Let’s face it: You just packed up your things to go be with a total stranger, hoping that he will fall in love with you. It’s high time you told yourself the truth. You know I care about you; you’re my sister, and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, confirming the doubts swirling in my mind since I woke up. Maybe I am making a mistake. Maybe I’m just fooling myself into believing this could work out.

Chapter Eight

Levi

I never knew how it felt to be in love until now. This feeling is new and amazing. I can’t believe I’m falling in love for the first time at thirty.

This is my first time meeting someone who likes me the way I am. At first, I thought Aurora was opposed to my scars, but last night, the way she touched them with admiration in her eyes and traced her tongue along them proved otherwise.

Aurora brings me so much joy, and a smile curls up my lips whenever I think of her. Just like right now, my hands are paused mid-air, forgetting the fence I’m mending, as I smile sheepishly just thinking about her.

The image of Aurora fills my mind, her radiant smile and the warmth of her touch igniting a fire within me that refuses to be extinguished. It’s a strange sensation, this feeling of love that courses through my veins, unfamiliar yet exhilarating in its intensity. I never thought I would find myself falling for someone so quickly, so completely, yet here I am, head over heels for a woman whose presence fills my days with joy and light.

With a shake of my head, I force myself to focus on the task at hand, pushing aside the thoughts of Aurora that threaten to consume me. But even as I work, my mind wanders back to her. Is she still in my bed, curled up beneath the covers? Has she had the breakfast I made for her?

I try to rush up my task so I can quickly go back to being with her. I can’t wait to spend the whole day by her side. In her presence, I feel alive, truly alive. With each swing of the hammer and each nail driven into place, I find myself growing more restless, the desire to be by Aurora’s side overwhelming my senses.

Finishing up with the animals, I hurry back to the house, grabbing a single rose from my garden along the way. I chuckle as I realize what I’m doing, feeling like a kid with a crush. With a grin, I dash up the steps to the house. The rose clutched tightly in my hand.

As I hurry back to the house, Bruno and Billy greet me with solemn eyes. They’re lying outside, heads drooping. I kneel to give them a comforting pat, furrowing my brow at their unusual behavior. “Hey buddies, what’s wrong?” I murmur. Bruno and Billy both whimper softly, their eyes filled with sadness. It’s unusual for them to be so subdued.

Shaking my head, I push myself back onto my feet and enter the house. Since Aurora arrived, my loyal companions have shifted their allegiance to her. They used to follow me faithfully, but now they hardly spare me a glance.

I catch a whiff of the scent of Aurora’s perfume, and a smile tugs the corner of my lips. I walk through the house, and the untouched breakfast on the dining table catches my eye. Is she still asleep? I go to our bedroom, half-hoping to find Aurora still fast asleep in bed. But I find the bed empty, the covers neatly arranged as if she never slept there at all.

Maybe she is taking a shower? I head over to her bedroom. Entering her room, I’m met with the same empty bed, freshly made with military precision. “Aurora? Babe, are you in the bathroom?” I head deeper into the room, walking over to the bathroom door, but no sound comes from there. I open the door to find it empty.

Her bag is gone. The closet is empty. It’s as if she never occupied the space, except for the lingering traces of her perfume that hang in the air. I pause for a moment, my mind racing with a thousand questions. Where could she have gone? And why would she leave without a word?

My heart sinks as I spot the folded paper on the nightstand. With trembling hands, I reach out and pick up the note.

Dear Levi

I want to start by saying how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. From the moment we met, you’ve been nothing but kind, understanding, and supportive. You welcomed me into your home with open arms; I will always be grateful for that.

But as much as I’ve tried to make this work, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not enough. I look at you–strong, capable, and confident–and I can’t help but feel like I fall short in comparison.

The truth is, I can’t seem to silence the voice in my head that tells me I’ll never be good enough for you. No matter how hard I try, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m not worthy of your love.

I know you deserve someone who can stand by your side with confidence and strength and match your unwavering loyalty and devotion. And try as I might, I fear that person will never be me.

So, I’ve made the difficult decision to walk away, not because I don’t care about you– far from it–but because I believe it’s what’s best for both of us.

I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for leaving so suddenly, and I pray that you find someone who can love you the way you deserve to be loved.

Take care of yourself, Levi. You deserve nothing but happiness and love.

With all my heart,

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