His phone is now on speaker, and I recognize the voice. I can't be mistaken about who Logan is talking to, but I wonder who the other person is on the line. I hold my breath, making sure nothing gives away my location."What the fuck is wrong with you?" Logan says, his voice booming with anger. "I don't know how your picture got out with Ethan; I swear I'm not responsible for it." His voice booms with such intensity that it makes me shiver where I'm hiding. I almost let out an exclamation, forgetting that I was supposed to be hiding, but I quickly covered my mouth with my hand, holding it tightly to keep silent."That picture isn't me! I've never met Ethan in my entire life, so however you did that Photoshop, I don't care. You better fix this mess because it's caused a rift between Jack and me. And if you don't, I'll expose you to Nadine—you know how obsessed you are with her," the voice on the other end of the line says, filled with fury. I’m not mistaken by the voice I hear; it
But she looks at me with disdain. I wonder what she is doing in my room. Then it occurred to me that she must have been watching me when I rushed in, panicking.I'm grateful I didn't say anything out loud, or she would have known the reason for my haste.“I wonder where Logan found a rabid dog like her as his wife. She is no match for him at all. I thought he could do better, but I can see that leaving him cold at the altar made him settle for someone less. I once believed in his potential to find someone who truly matches him. Instead, he seems to have settled for someone who doesn’t deserve his attention. It’s disappointing to see him compromise on what could have been a better future.” Samantha seethes in anger coming close to me.Everything in my room turns red as I hear her calling me a rabid dog and wondering where Logan found me. She gloats about leaving Logan cold at the altar on their wedding day. I want to lunge at her in fury, but I hold back. I need to give her a piece of
He is rooted to the spot. He looks at me with an emotion I can’t quite put into words. Logan is strange, and I can’t seem to fit him into any single category. Thoughts about the conversation I overheard flood back, and it occurs to me that it’s high time I address the elephant in the room.Before I can speak, his voice booms in anger, staring down at me. "What the hell did you say to Samantha?”"Say to Samantha?" I ask again, just to make sure I haven’t heard him wrong. "Why the hell are you asking me this question? What exactly are you expecting me to do to her?"He moves closer, towering over me, and I feel myself cowering in fear. "Don't play dumb with me, woman," he growls. "She came crying, telling me about the shit you said to her.”"What I said to her is none of your concern, but if you must know, I told her exactly what she needed to hear."His eyes narrow. "You had no right to speak to her like that," he snaps, his voice cold."And she had no right to barge into my room,
"What the fuck were you doing in my office? I made it clear that you would not interfere in my affairs, and I wouldn’t interfere in yours. So what the hell were you snooping around in my office for?""Don't you dare turn this around on me, you manipulative scum of a man! You don't care about anyone except yourself.""Yes, it's true. So why the fuck are you acting like I put a gun to your head to sign the contract? You wanted something, I gave you what you wanted. I wanted something, and you’re yet to give me a fucking heir. And now you’re here calling me scum?”I feel a surge of anger boiling within me, but I force myself to stay calm. "You think this is just about signing a contract? You think this is just about an heir?" My voice shakes with the effort to control my emotions. "This isn’t about what we agreed to. This is about how you twisted everything, how you used me to get what you wanted."Logan’s face hardens, with a cold expression."You knew what you were getting into, Nad
My mind races as I stare at Logan lying on the floor, blood pooling around him. It’s like a nightmare. The room spins, and I grab onto the edge of the table for support, trying to steady myself. I should do something—call for help, scream, anything—but my body won’t move. I’m frozen, watching helplessly as the man I just told I hated clings to life."Logan..." I whisper, my voice trembling. He doesn’t respond; his eyes are barely open, and his breath is shallow. Panic sets in as I realize how dire the situation is. I drop to my knees beside him, my hands hovering over his chest, unsure of what to do. The blood is everywhere, staining my hands as I press down, trying to stop the bleeding. But it’s too much, too fast."Stay with me, Logan. Please," I plead, tears streaming down my face. My anger, my hatred—all of it fades away in the face of this brutal reality. All I want is for him to live. "Don’t you dare die on me. Not like this."His eyes flicker as if he’s trying to say somet
She strides right in front of me, not wasting any time.“I knew from the day I set my eyes on you that you were trouble, but I never imagined the trouble you would bring would almost cost him his life.”I stare at her. "This isn't the time for accusations, Samantha. Logan is fighting for his life. If you have something to say, now isn’t the moment. And I didn’t do anything. We were just arguing," I say, trying to defend myself.She mimics me. "Just having an argument that cost him being shot three times? If anything happens to Logan, I’ll hunt you down wherever you try to hide and gun you down," she says, moving past me.I don’t know how to handle this situation. Samantha thinks I’m responsible, and God knows what she will tell Logan’s family when they eventually hear about this. I need to find a way to contact them.I’m about to rush out of the hospital when I see Florence walking toward us. "Thank goodness," I mutter silently.I look at her and notice that her eyes are puffy; she ha
"You know, I saw you the last time you were at the bar," he says with a smile on his face.I gasped, not expecting anyone who knew me to have seen me there. "You did?" I ask, my eyes wide with surprise."Yes, I did," he replies. "And I saw Logan too. I could tell he was trying to keep it together when he saw that guy dancing with you. He was so jealous. You should have seen the way he looked at you when you weren’t looking. Logan is smitten, and if I may say so, he can’t do without you.”I give him a sharp look. "Can’t do without me?" I ask, recalling the conversation Nathalie had with Logan on the phone while I was hiding in his office."Umm, hmm, but he doesn’t know," Lucas replies, with a smile playing on his lips.I shake my head, dismissing the thought. "No, Logan just cares about me, that’s all.""Believe that at your own risk," he says with a shrug as we make our way inside. I feel my cheeks flush at his words. The idea of Logan being jealous or even obsessed with me is some
I've been spending a lot of time at the hospital, checking on Logan. It's been tiring and starting to wear me down. I've tried my best to stay strong and not let anyone notice my pregnancy, but sometimes I feel like I'm not doing a good job of hiding it.Logan's recovery has been slow because the bullet hit an important part of his arm. Most of the time, I avoid looking him in the eye because I’m afraid of what I might see. We haven’t talked much about where we stand or our agreement. I don’t know if I’m ready to let go of the contract like I said I would before the incident or if I should stay a little longer to see how things turn out between us.I keep replaying everything in my mind, trying to figure out what I want. Part of me feels like I should walk away and stick to what I planned, but another part of me isn’t so sure anymore. The way Logan looks at me sometimes makes me wonder if there’s something more between us, something worth holding on to.But then I’m scared. I'm sc
Logan's POV As Nadine exclaims in joy, "I could kiss you right now!" I feel a surge of desire. I have to restrain myself from giving in to her simple request. My cock twitches in my trousers, responding to her proximity, but I know I must resist.Instead, I slowly lean in and kiss her hair, trying to play it cool. I make my way outside, taking a deep breath to calm myself down. I don't want to compromise our budding cordial relationship.The fact that she accepted the gift is a positive sign, but my mind is elsewhere. I'm worried about the impending danger lurking in the shadows. Ethan is nowhere to be seen, and I don't know what he's planning. I need to be prepared, nothing can go wrong with Nadine and Shawn, not while I'm still alive.I pull out my phone to call Asher, eager to share the good news that Nadine accepted the necklace. But as I walk into my home, my mind starts to wander. I can't shake off the feeling that something is off, but I can't quite put my finger on it.I t
"Ethan," I mutter, my voice shaking with relief as he approaches me. But his face is stone cold, devoid of emotions. "Ethan, thank God you're here. Please, tell Sydney I'm not Isabelle. She's got the wrong person."But instead of helping me, Ethan takes a step closer, with a file in his hand. His voice is laced with anger, making my heart quiver. "Do you think I give a fuck what she does to you?" he growls.I'm taken aback, shocked by his words. "But...but I thought you were here to help me," I stutter."Do you think I'm here to exchange talks with you? I'm here to make sure she finishes you, just like planned."Ethan's words are like a death sentence. I'm trapped, with no escape from Sydney's wrath. "Oh, so you mean to tell me that this was a plan worked out between you two?" I ask, trying to process the betrayal.Sydney's face twists in a snarl. "You still have the mouth to say rubbish? Many authorities want you dead. And it will be with great pleasure to end your life.""Imagine
I struggle to break free, but their grip is like a vice. My heart races like a wild animal, and my mind spins with questions. Who are these people? Why are they doing this?I'm manhandled and pushed into the cab I had stopped to hail, my body flailing wildly as I try to break free. I try to shout, "Leave me the fuck alone!" but my voice is muffled by the cloth covering my face.I attempt to move my hand to pull it off, but I'm shocked to find my wrist bound by a cold metal cuff.My mind races with thoughts of my life being threatened. Fear grips me. I think about all the milestones my son will reach without me. His first day of school, his graduation, his wedding day... I'll never get to see them.Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I think about my mom. She'll think I'm fine, but how long will it take her to realize something's wrong? Will she ever find out what happened to me?Ethan's face flashes in my mind. How will he feel when he finds out I've been taken? Will he be scared
I take a step back, trying to create some distance between us, as Logan’s face inches closer to mine. He notices my movement and hesitates."I'm sorry, I didn't mean to...you know," he trails off, his eyes searching mine for understanding.“I just wanted to say thank you...for choosing to have Shawn, despite everything between us before you left.”“He's my boy too, and I don't regret...any of it," I sayLogan nods, with a small smile on his lips. "Thank you anyway.”I study Logan's face, trying to read his intentions. I kinda like this new, softer side of him, but I wonder if it's just an act for Shawn’s sake. Either way, it's a welcome change."So..." I draw out the word, curious about what he's going to say next.Logan’s hand slips into his pocket, and he pulls out a small box. He holds it out to me, his eyes hopeful.I shake my head, hesitant to accept whatever is inside. "No, Logan, I don't want anything from you."He takes a step closer, his hand still extended. "Just take it, Na
"Wait, sorry, my bad," I say, moving the phone away from my ear to double-check the number. I was expecting Ethan's call, but this number is unfamiliar. Yet, the voice on the other end is unmistakable - Logan.I try to sound civil, for Shawn's sake. "What's up?" attempting to keep the tone light."Nothing much, Nadine. Did you sleep well?" I'm not interested in small talk, so I cut to the chase. "Yes, I did. Why are you calling?" The pause is brief, but I sense he hesitates before Logan speaks again. I wait, wondering what he wants to discuss."I was wondering if I can have my time with Shawn today," I recall Shawn's excitement earlier, asking to see his buddy today."Okay," I say, and I can almost hear Logan's sigh of relief on the other end of the line. I'm taken aback - I know he thinks I'll say no. But I'm done fighting; all I want is what's best for my son."What time are you coming?" I ask."I'm right outside your mom's house," his voice is a little stronger now. I glance out
As I turn to face him, my body stiffens, and my mind races with thoughts of what he might say. I hope it's not something that will break my heart. I try to compose myself, thinking of Shawn's needs first. "Please, I'll need to take care of Shawn, then I'll be back," I say, trying to sound calm."Can I carry him in my arms?" he asks, with emotion in his voice."Yes," I reply, but as I try to hand Shawn over, he clings to me like a lifeline. I couldn't force him to let go."I'm sorry, I'll need to go now, but I'll be back," I tell him, trying to reassure him as I make my way to take care of Shawn. I can feel his gaze on me, but I know I need to prioritize Shawn's needs right now.Part of me wants to turn back and confront whatever it is he wants to tell me.I focus on Shawn's tiny hands wrapped tightly around my finger, his big brown eyes looking up at me. I take a deep breath and push aside my worriesAs I care for Shawn, my mind swirls with a hundred thoughts. After finishing with his
I glance around the room, my heart pounds as I shift my gaze between Mum and Gabriel, trying to make sense of their argument or the secret they’re hiding.“Mum, please,” I say, my voice trembling. “What is going on? Can you just say it?” I gesture toward Gabriel. "I don’t even know this man, but if he can donate a kidney for you, he must mean something. Who is he? What does he want?"Mum meets my eyes for a second, then looks at Gabriel. Her lips press into a thin line as she squeezes her eyes shut. For a long moment, she’s silent, shaking her head slowly, as though wrestling with thoughts she can’t bring herself to say aloud.“Mum, what is this? Can you just say it and get it over with?” my patience wears thin. I can feel she has a secret she’s holding onto tightly.Before she can respond, a sharp, piercing scream echoes through the house. Shawn. He’s awake, and the absence of anyone around has startled him.Without a second thought, I dash to his room. He’s sitting on the bed, his
Nadine’s POVI toss and turn, barely getting a wink of sleep last night. But today is Saturday, and all I want to do is curl up in bed with my boy by my side. The thought of going back to my apartment exhausts me - I don't have the strength to face it. And honestly, I'm scared of unwanted guests showing up unannounced. My mind still reels from the near-attack at my apartment. All I crave is a peaceful day with my son, in the comfort of my mother's home. I need my coffee, so I quietly make my way downstairs to the kitchen, trying not to wake my son or mother, who I'm sure is still sleeping soundly in her room. Just as I'm pouring myself a cup of coffee, a sudden knock on the door startles me. I wonder who it could be, so I cautiously make my way to the door and slowly open it. On the other side, I see a well-dressed man around my dad's age, with a kind face and a warm smile. "Hello," I say nervously. "Hello," he replies, "I'm Gabriel, the kidney donor." His words take me by surp
Logan's POV As I watch, Ethan storms out of the house, his face thunderous. I know exactly what that means - the discussion between Nadine, and him in the backyard didn't go well. My mind starts racing with thoughts, each one tumbling over the other in a jumbled mess. I know I need to act fast, to be there for Nadine and Shawn. I can hear the panic in Nadine's voice, and my heart aches for her. In this moment, I wish we were a family - Nadine, Shawn, and me - united in our love for our child.But I know that's not possible, at least not yet. What I can do is make time for Shawn, to build a connection with him. I'm determined to make co-parenting work, no matter what it takes.I look at Nadine, I know I need to be careful. I shouldn't reveal too much to her, not yet. I'm not sure how well she can take it, and I don't want to add to her stress. So I'll bide my time, waiting for the right moment to share my thoughts and feelings with her. For now, I'll just be here for her, supporting