EllaLeonard’s surprise was palpable. His usually stoic face now registered a mix of confusion and, was that disbelief?The bustling restaurant patio, filled with the scent of seafood and the ocean air, seemed to fade into the background. All that remained in focus was the tense standoff that had unwittingly begun our corner, all thanks to Harry.
Ella“...Or do I need to prove myself?” Logan asked, his voice dropping to a husky tone.I stifled a laugh. “Prove yourself? How?” I asked.Logan sighed, his blue eyes flashing with something that I had o
EllaLeonard’s face was a tapestry of smug delight, every wrinkle and crease accentuating his satisfaction.“Well, well, Miss Ella. I must say, I’m delighted,” he drawled, leaning casually against the tall table behind him. “I look forward to the grand occasion of meeting my soon-to-be in-laws.”
LoganThe thrum of music and the ripples of conversations were deafening, but all I could focus on was Ella, standing defiantly across the patio.Her impromptu declaration of the engagement party had left me stunned. It felt like something she had concocted on a whim, yet her performance suggested otherwise. Was Ella this good an actress or had she been mulling this over for a while?
EllaThe atmosphere of the restaurant was alive with a cacophony of murmurs and a symphony of glassware clinking, but my focus was narrowed to the drink that I was nursing in the wake of Marina’s presence. I wasn’t alone for long, though, before I glanced over to see that Logan had silently appeared beside me.“I have something to show you,” he insisted, his eyes shrouded in
EllaOur breaths intertwined in the small room, mixing with the scent of moth balls and old memories, as we quickly smoothed down our clothes and stepped apart. Logan looked as if he had something to say, but quickly shut his mouth after a glare from me.Then, just as we had managed to create a facade of innocence, the door swung open, revealing the intruders: Marina and Harry.
EllaLogan’s blue eyes finally met mine, filled with an emotion that I couldn’t fully read. Remorse, maybe. And pain.“Ella, it’s not—”“Save it,” I cut him off, a sudden surge of anger bursting through my veins. “Just save your breath, Logan.”
EllaA charged silence fell between us as we finally reached the safety of the car. Somehow, we had managed to make our way out of the party with little trouble, although Leonard had asked questions; a quick “My stomach hurts” on my part, however, was enough to make the man leave us be.Logan slid behind the wheel as I climbed into the passenger seat. As the engine hummed to life, he tu
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—”