Page 105 of Code of Heart
“Even in death, Eleanor’s drama still haunts us all,” Charles muttered.
Levi didn’t waste time. “Have you seen Aurelia?” His voice was tight, his nerves fraying. “I haven’t seen her since she left the stage hours ago.”
Charles’s brows knit together. “No…I haven’t either.”
Levi’s stomach dropped. He cast a quick, worried glance at Owen, who was also frowning.
“She mentioned needing some air after she stepped off stage,” Charles said after a moment, brow still furrowed. “Selene offered to take her out to the patio. Then I was instantly pulled aside by a guest, and by the time the bedlam started, I hadn’t seen either of them again.”
Charles scanned the crowd and pointed. “There’s Selene now. She must know where Aurelia went.”
“Thanks, Charles,” Owen said, already moving. Levi was right behind him.
They covered the distance fast, their long, determined strides cutting through the mass of people remaining.
Selene didn’t see them approach, too busy barking orders at the staff to begin breaking down the ballroom. Owen cleared his throat loudly, making her jump.
For a brief second—a quick flash—Levi swore he saw something dark in her expression. Contempt? But it was gone before he could be sure, the same weariness and fatigue they all felt replacing it.
Selene pressed her hand to her chest, her eyes wide. “You startled me!”
“Apologies,” Owen said smoothly, flashing his trademark disarming smile.
Selene gave a tight, polite smile in return.
“Have you seen Aurelia?” Owen asked directly.
There was a flicker in Selene’s eyes—one Levi missed…but Owen didn’t.
“Charles told us she wasn’t feeling well,” Owen added. “Said you escorted her outside for some air.”
Selene nodded, her expression carefully neutral. “She was nervous about the speech. Had a few drinks for courage but no food, and she started feeling woozy. I helped her outside to get some fresh air, and she nearly tripped again. Luckily, a young man caught her before she fell and helped her into a chair.”
Levi’s blood pressure soared.
“They started…talking, and then I came back in here to get her some water. I got pulled into an issue in the kitchen, and the next thing I knew, everything here had…escalated.”
Her casual shrug made Levi’s gut twist.
“Do you know who the man was?” Owen pressed.
Selene shook her head. “No, but I assumed he was a guest she already knew…Although it wouldn’t be the first time she’s had a few drinks and left a party with someone—”
She abruptly stopped, her eyes going wide when she realized what she had implied.
“I-I didn’t mean that,” she stammered, her voice rising. “I’m sure she’s still here. Maybe she’s in the study, waiting for the alcohol to wear off.”
Levi stood frozen, his mind racing.
Would she do something like that?
The harsh reality hit him like a sack of bricks—he didn’t know. It felt like he had gotten to know her pretty well, but the truth was, they’d barely scratched the surface of each other’s lives.
Doubt crept in. That old, familiar fear of betrayal resurfaced, fueled by memories of past relationships gone wrong.
But if anyone knows the truth…it’d be her best friend, right?
And her best friend didn’t make it seem like everything was fine.
