Chapter 143

Logan

The room was a blend of laughter, chatter, and the soft notes of a violin. Dressed in a tailored tuxedo, I mingled among our guests, pausing to speak with business associates and family friends alike.

My mind, however, kept driving back to Ella. She had run from the room so suddenly when our dance ended. Something about it was jarring and rather unlike her.

“Did I offend her somehow?” I asked my wolf.

My wolf was silent for a moment before responding. “You were awfully casual about the end of your arrangement. I think it hurt her.”

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. “But she didn’t want to be with me. I don’t understand how…”

“Don’t be dense, Logan,” my wolf hissed. “She clearly likes you; she’s just scared of your future, of your life. And for good reason.”

I was just about to respond when I was suddenly pulled from my internal conversation as my father, seemingly out of nowhere, materialized at my side. With his salt-and-pepper hair neatly combed and a glass of whiskey in hand, he looked every bit the patriarch he was.

“Logan, this is a fantastic event,” he said, his eyes sweeping over the scenery; the black, gold, and white balloons, the white flower centerpieces, the meticulously arranged hors d'oeuvres. “Very well put together, I must say. I’m pleasantly surprised.”

“Thank you, dad,” I said, choosing to ignore the backhanded compliment at the end of his statement. “Ella and her family were a huge help putting it together.”

That was a lie. I had arranged the entire party by myself—or rather, tasked my employees with it—because I didn’t want to see Ella. Not after our fateful one night stand.

Leonard took a sip of his drink, nodding thoughtfully. “Yes, the Morgan family has been nothing short of gracious. Especially that young lady of yours. Ellie is quite the stunner.”

“Ella is extraordinary,” I said, careful to keep my tone neutral. My father always had a knack for making people feel small. It was always little gestures, like mispronouncing someone’s name or forgetting whether they had met before, but my father was a master at it.

“And her father, Edrick,” Leonard continued, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Very impressive man. Smart, savvy—a true businessman. I’ll be looking forward to becoming his partner.”

“Indeed he is rather impressive,” I agreed, although a surge of panic was now coursing through my veins. I had hoped this ‘union’ with Ella would serve as a catalyst for my father to pass on the family business to me, to prove I was more than just a potential heir but a man of substance. Not only that, but I had hoped to prove that I could accomplish more than Harry once and for all.

But I wasn’t expecting my father to plan on becoming Edrick’s partner. I had thought that he would retire and go someplace warm, not strike up more business.

“You’ve done well, Logan,” my father said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “This alliance will be beneficial on multiple fronts. I plan on discussing some strategic partnerships with Edrick later this evening.”

That wasn't what I had in mind. Not at all. But I couldn’t let my father know that.

“That… sounds promising,” I said, forcing a smile.

Leonard’s grip tightened on my shoulder, and he turned to face me squarely. “Do you think so? This isn’t just a marriage, son. This is a merger of two powerful families. You’ve set the stage for something incredible, more so than I had originally thought.”

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. “I’m glad you see it that way, dad.”

Leonard looked deep into my eyes, as if trying to unravel the thoughts swirling in my mind. “In fact, it makes me believe you might be ready, Logan. Ready to embrace bigger responsibilities, to continue building this empire I’ve worked so hard for.”

My heart raced at his words, but I was hesitant to let my guard down entirely. “So, does that mean you’re ready to entrust me with the family business? Not Harry?”

The change in his expression was almost imperceptible, but I caught it. His face darkened, like storm clouds gathering in a blue sky.

“Entrust you with the family business? After today? Are you insane?” Leonard’s laughter, abrasive and mocking, sliced through the air.

The room seemed to dim, and for a moment, all noise faded. I felt as if I was in a void, and it was all I could do to keep my composure.

“Dad, I’ve done everything you’ve asked of me,” I found myself saying, my voice sounding far away even to me. “I’ve… I’ve met my fated mate, who is, by no mere coincidence, the daughter of the biggest CEO in the country, Edrick Morgan. Not to mention, I’ve also secured promising business deals with him on my own.”

“And you think that’s enough?” Leonard snorted, swirling the remaining whiskey in his glass all too casually for my liking. “Oh, Logan. You’re a fool if you believe that an engagement party is enough to convince me to hand over the reins to our family legacy.”

“Then what more could I possibly do?” The words shot out before I could rein them in. “What will it take for you to see that I am a serious businessman? That I could take over our family legacy and make you proud?”

Leonard locked eyes with me. “Marry her,” he said flatly. “Marry Ella. Legally. Only then will I even consider retiring and passing on the family fortune to you.”

I felt as if someone had just poured a bucket of ice-cold water over me.

Marry her?

My eyes darted across the room to where Ella was emerging from the bathroom. She caught my gaze and her cheeks flushed red. She instantly looked away, busying herself with a conversation with her mother, blissfully unaware of the bombshell my father had just dropped.

A pang shot through my chest, complicated and undeniable. I did have feelings for her, but the concept of marriage seemed absurdly escalated. I never expected it to get this far. Even a fake engagement party was crossing lines that I never wanted to cross.

“Marriage?” I asked, holding in a wry chuckle. “But, dad, I’m serious now. Why is marriage necessary to show you that?”

“I don’t care how ‘serious’ you think you are,” Leonard interrupted, his tone icy. “You say you’re in a genuine relationship with her, but how do I know you’re not staging all this for the sake of inheritance? How do I know you’re not only trying to one-up Harry?”

“Harry has never shown that he’s capable of taking over the family business,” I argued. “And as for Ella and me—”

“Prove it,” Leonard cut in. “Unless this relationship is another one of your schemes, you shouldn’t have any problem tying the knot. It’s the ultimate proof of your commitment—both to this family and its business.”

“That’s not fair, dad. And you know it. What would mom—”

“Don’t you dare bring up your mother,” Leonard hissed, taking a final sip of his whiskey before setting the glass down with an air of finality. “Your mother isn’t here anymore. She can’t protect you, can’t keep you soft like she always wanted. It’s time to grow up and be a man.”

I looked back towards Ella; she was chatting animatedly with her mother, her eyes sparkling in a way that made my heart both swell and sink simultaneously.

A fake wedding would be a ludicrous idea; she would be devastated. She’d be angry. But if it was the only way to convince my father of my capabilities, of my worth, then what choice did I have?

Leonard stepped closer, his voice low. “Don’t disappoint me, Logan. You wanted to prove yourself? Here’s your chance. Marry her, legally, and I will consider giving you the family name.”

As he walked away, leaving me feeling like I was adrift at sea, all I could think about was how crushing this would be to Ella.

Our fake relationship would go further than either of us ever bargained for. It would no longer just be a delicate ruse, but rather a legal battle. We’d have to get divorced, and what then?

Marry her.

The thought reverberated through my mind, drowning out the laughter, the music, the ambiance of the party. Suddenly, it was just me and Ella in a dark room, our eyes locking from across the dance floor.