EllaIn the dim lighting of my apartment, with the memory of spilt wine still fresh, Logan’s face wore an expression I hadn’t seen before—gentle persuasion edged with determination.“Ella,” he began, his voice hushed yet demanding attention, “I understand that trust has become a rare commodity for you. But remember when you asked me to trust you? I did. I told you about my mother. Now, I’m asking you to do the same.”
LoganThe air in the room was thick with tension as I strode in, my gaze fixated on the man I had trusted the most—James, my chief bodyguard and the one person who I put in charge of keeping an eye on Ella all those weeks ago when I found out about the men who harassed her in the park.There were moments in life where words weren’t required to convey the depth of one’s anger, and this was one of those moments. My face, I knew, was an open book of seething fury.
EllaThe shadows on the ceiling seemed to sway and dance as I lay on the plush bed, the soft linens providing little comfort to my restless mind. Each tick of the ornate clock on the wall reverberated in my ears, amplifying my rising anxiety.But it was the silence that was the loudest of all, the quiet punctuated only by my shallow breaths.
EllaI lingered in the opulent sitting room, Mrs. Wentworth’s words still fresh in my mind. The soft glow of the chandeliers painted the room in a warm amber hue, casting shadows over the lavish sofas and intricate tapestries that adorned the walls.I couldn’t shake off the growing unease bubbling within me. Logan had been gone for hours, and every tick of the ornate grandfather clock h
EllaAfter cleaning and dressing Logan’s wound, I sat back, studying his face for any sign of discomfort. The room was still, save for the quiet rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. Warm light from the garage lamps washed over us from above, casting a soft glow that etched out the angles and curves of his face.I never thought that I would find a garage comforting, but something about this place made me feel warm and surprisingly safe.
EllaThe morning light streaming through the delicate lace curtains roused me from a surprisingly restful sleep.As my senses fully awoke, I became acutely aware of the unfamiliar surroundings once more. Stretching languidly, my fingertips brushed the lavish silk sheets enveloping me, a sharp contrast to the mundane beddings I was used to. For some reason, my thoughts instantly sought Logan.
EllaA slight heaviness was felt when I lifted the ornate box, hinting at something more substantial than just fabric within.With bated breath, I carefully tugged the ribbon apart and lifted the lid to unveil its contents. Inside lay an intricately crafted dress in a silver hue that perfectly complemented my skin tone. It shimmered as I held it in the light, its sheer beauty leaving me momentarily
EllaStanding by the bar, I tried to calm my racing heart amongst all of the mobsters. Logan was busy with a business partner, and I felt like I was swimming alone in a sea of sharks. But more than anything, Madeleine’s proposition still lingered in my mind, weighing me down.A bartender was preparing my drink, the rhythmic clinking of the glasses providing a small distraction. But as my gaze
EllaThe reception was in full swing, the air filled with the soft sound of music, the clinking of cutlery and champagne glasses, and the pleasant murmur of guests. It was the perfect night, too; the sun had set, and the air outside had cooled to a pleasant temperature as the crickets and cicadas sang.Walking hand in hand with Logan, we approached the multi-tiered wedding cake. It was unbelievably tall, adorned with carefully piped flowers and leaves. There were two little figures at th
EllaThe reception hall was filled with the soft, warm glow of hundreds of candles, and the sound of gentle music filled the space. It really was everything that we had wanted. The wedding planner had outdone herself.“What do you think?” Logan asked, holding my hand as we meandered around the room. “Quite the party, huh?”
EllaThe doors to the chapel opened, and the soft sound of orchestral music filled my ears. This was it; this was the moment. Everything felt like it was moving so fast, and yet somehow it felt as though time was standing completely still at the same moment.I watched as the wedding planner gestured from the sidelines for the bridesmaids and groomsmen to pair up and walk through the doors, preceded by the flower girl—a family friend’s daughter, who looked absolutely precious
Ella“Are you nervous, Ella?” the makeup artist, Jenna, asked as she selected a palette of soft, natural colors that complemented my skin tone.Nervous would have been an understatement. It was the morning of my wedding; the day had finally come, after what had somehow felt like both an eternity and no time at all at the same time.
LoganI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the little silver key in the palm of my hand.“I should just go and do it,” I whispered, more to myself than to my wolf. “Get it over with, right?”“What’s the worst that could happen?” my wolf added. “It’s
EllaAs I walked into the bridal boutique with my entourage, the little bell on the door chimed and I was immediately greeted with the scent of lavender and the smile of a bridal assistant.Daisy, Moana, Clara, and Sarah were with me; it was just a couple of days after the housewarming party, and our new house felt full to the brim with my family and Clara staying for a while. Not that I minded, though. It was fun having them here, and I was glad to have them all by my side as I tried on
LoganI was enjoying the party, watching with a smile on my face as Clara, Ella, and Sarah exchanged stories, when the sound of my phone ringing suddenly cut through the lively atmosphere.Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I felt my heart lurch in my chest. It was Hartman; I hadn’t heard from him in months. After Marina and Harry had taken off and Devon had been caught, I had paid Hartman for his help—even though our plan wound up being foiled—and that was the end of t
EllaThe months following Logan’s and my engagement was a whirlwind of change. We sold Logan’s mansion to a wealthy family from out of the area, and before I knew it, we were moving into our new home.It was a 1920s Spanish-style home, with warm stucco walls and breezy windows. The first floor was open concept, and I could already picture all of the wonderful parties we could have here. I fell in love with it immediately.
Ella“Sit down. Both of you.”Sarah and I exchanged wary glances. Her face was just as pale as mine probably was, and I felt a wrench in my stomach.“But Mr. Henderson, Sarah never—”