Chapter 144

Ella

Emerging from the bathroom with Moana, my shoulders felt a little lighter after our chat. Talking to my mom had always been therapeutic, and I was glad to finally get the truth off of my chest, especially to someone who had experience in the realm of fake relationships for publicity.

We made our way to the bar, weaving through the sea of ostentatiously-dressed mobsters and businessmen. I felt like a lamb amongst wolves, like prey waiting to be devoured.

“Come on, let’s get a couple of martinis,” my mom suggested. “One for you, one for me. It always helps at events like this.”

My mom put in our orders, to which the bartender nodded and began preparing our drinks with swift expertise. While we waited, my mom turned toward me, her eyes twinkling as she scanned the crowd.

My father was standing off somewhere, having an animated conversation with someone who I didn’t recognize. One would have thought that they were old friends, though, judging from how my father laughed and gestured with his hands.

But my eyes were really only on Logan, who was apparently having a conversation with Leonard. And Logan looked like a deer in headlights. Whatever they were talking about was heavy, I was sure of it.

“You know,” my mom said, drawing my attention away from Logan and Leonard, “Edrick seems to be getting along well here, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah,” I chuckled. "Who would’ve thought? A room full of mobsters, and my dad, Mr. Clean CEO, fits right in.”

Moana laughed softly. “Your dad can be incredibly charming when he needs to be. He’s always the life of the party at these types of events.”

“You used to be glued to his side, right?” I aksed. “What happened?”

Moana took a sip of her martini. “Oh, after a while, I gained some confidence. Some of those business conversations can bore you to death. I think I’ll swoop in soon, though, drag him to the dance floor before he delves too deep into mergers and acquisitions.”

“That’s dad, alright. Always about business.”

Just then, Logan appeared out of nowhere, gracing us with his sudden presence. “Ah, my beautiful love, and the ever-radiant Moana,” he announced, lifting my hand to his lips for a kiss. I blinked, completely taken aback by Logan’s sudden gentlemanliness. Where on earth did that come from?

“Logan,” my mother said, raising her glass. “Drink?”

“Later, yes,” Logan said, his eyes meeting mine in a way that screamed attention. “But first, I need to steal Ella away. Is that alright?”

Moana gave me a cheeky wink. “Well, it seems like your fiance needs you. Go on, go.”

Before I could resist, Logan was taking my arm and guiding me away with practiced ease, although there was something stiff in his movements. His strides were long and quick, and it was difficult for me to keep up in my dress and high heels with a martini glass in my hand.

Once we were far enough away, obscured by a decorative arch and a towering vase of orchids, I rounded on him. “Okay, spill. What’s so important? And what was going on with you and Leonard? You look like you saw a ghost.”

He sighed, visibly struggling with his words. “Ella, there’s no easy way to put this…”

“Just spit it out,” I said, taking a sip of my martini.

Logan sighed again. “Listen, we… we need to have a fake wedding.”

I almost spit out my drink, and the room felt like it was spinning. “A what now? You’re joking, Logan. It’s not funny.”

“I wish I were. My father isn’t going to hand over the family name and the fortune unless we prove that we’re legitimately together. Legally.”

I felt like the ground beneath me was tilting, and I was hanging on for deer life. It was all I could do not to drop my martini all over the floor. A fake wedding? This was beyond absurd. This was... I couldn’t even find the words.

“Logan, you can’t be serious,” I finally managed to breathe.

“I’m dead serious, Ella.”

My eyes were as wide as saucers. “But... a wedding is sacred. It’s for love, not for a ridiculous contract or for pleasing your family.”

“We don’t have a choice.”

“Oh, we have a choice, all right,” I hissed. “And my choice is no. Absolutely not.”

He sighed again, looking defeated. “Listen, if you say no, it complicates everything. My inheritance, the business—”

“I don’t care, Logan. I can’t believe you’d even suggest something like this. It’s outrageous.”

“Ella, just think about it—”

“No! Absolutely not! You’re out of your mind,” I shot back. “A wedding? Like with vows and rings? That sacred institution is meant for people who are in love, Logan. Something we are clearly not.”

Logan sighed. “But Ella, it would be a fake marriage. We don’t have to be in love.”

But I was already shaking my head, taking a shaky step back. The thought of marrying Logan, of having a fake wedding, only to get divorced later… the thought of it made me sick. “A fake marriage is still a marriage, Logan. The legality of it doesn’t give a damn about your intentions. And neither do I.”

Logan stared at me for a moment, his eyes wide. I could tell that this wasn’t a route he had planned on taking either, but here we were. “Look, Ella,” he said softly. “All we’d have to do is sign the papers, have the ceremony for the show of it, and then we could divorce. We’d get an annulment as soon as possible. It would be nothing.”

I scoffed. “Divorce. Annulment. God, are you even listening to yourself? This is my life you’re playing with. Marriage isn’t some trifling matter you just slide into a business deal.”

He sighed, rubbing his forehead exasperatedly. “Look, I get it, it’s an insane ask,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. “But we’re already in a fake relationship. How is this all that different, you know?”

I almost laughed out loud. “Are you serious? A relationship is one thing; a legal binding that requires witnesses and governmental approval is an entirely different beast. You’re crossing a line, Logan.”

“You have to understand, Ella,” he retorted. “Trust me, I don’t want this either. But it’s my father’s final stipulation for the inheritance and—”

“I don’t give a damn about your inheritance,” I found myself snarling, my voice harsher than I intended. “I don’t care about your wealth, your family drama, or any other problems you’ve got. I’m not going to be your pawn in some messed-up family power play. This was never in the contract.”

He looked defeated, his posture caving as if he had just realized that I wasn’t going to back down from this. “Fine,” he said, leaning against the wall. “We’ll have to find another way. But just so we’re clear, the contract between us still stands. I have no intention of nullifying it.”

Suddenly, before I could respond, Harry appeared, materializing like a shadow out of nowhere.

And trailing behind him was Marina, who had that strange look in her eyes, a mix of mischief and something darker. I had grown all too used to that look.

“Ah, Logan. Ella. What an interesting spot for a discussion,” Harry said, his voice oozing with fake politeness as his eyes scanned the spot we had chosen to hide. I could see Logan’s face fall ever so slightly, like a twitch that he was trying to hide. He turned toward his brother, a plastic grin stretching across his lips.

“Hello, Harry. Need something?”

“Actually,” Harry said, “I’d like to talk to you, Logan. Privately. Do you have a moment?”

Logan opened his mouth to reply, but my eyes were glued to Marina. That inexplicable glint in her eyes had only intensified, causing a shiver to crawl down my spine.

Did she know something—perhaps something that I didn’t?