Chapter 176

Ella

As Sarah and I walked towards my apartment building, I tried my best to keep a facade of normalcy. The outing had been a welcome distraction, but the weight of my secret and the fear of being overheard hung heavily in my mind.

The whole walk home, I had been checking over my shoulder. I still felt that nagging sensation of being watched; the hairs on the back of my neck were raised and my wolf was on edge, but neither of us could sense anything else. Every time I turned around, there was nothing.

Sarah must have noticed my unease—how could she not—because when my apartment building came into view, she turned toward me with a furrowed brow.

“Are you sure everything is okay?” she asked, touching my shoulder gently.

I glanced at her, offering a small smile. “I’m fine,” I lied, even though it couldn’t have been further from the truth. “I’m just… going through a lot right now, you know?”

Sarah looked at me for a moment, and I could tell that she knew it was more than just that. I wished I could tell her everything, but I couldn’t. For all I knew, I was being watched right this second.

Finally, she nodded understandingly. “I get it. The city can be overwhelming, and this job isn’t exactly a walk in the park, either.” She paused, then chuckled wryly. “Plus, dealing with Mr. Henderson can be a real challenge.”

I let out a sigh, grateful for the opportunity to vent a little. “Tell me about it. I hope he won’t look down on me after today's meeting. I can’t afford to make any more bad impressions.”

Sarah patted my shoulder reassuringly. “Mr. Henderson is a hard man to please, but as long as you keep your head down and focus on your work, you’ll be fine,” she said. “Just stay dedicated, and he’ll recognize your efforts.”

I forced a smile, even though I knew it was easier said than done. The Marina situation had me on edge, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to concentrate on work.

“Thanks Sarah,” I said. “I appreciate the support.”

She gave me an encouraging grin. “Of course. And don’t forget what I said about partnering up; I think we could work well together.”

Her offer did sound appealing. Sarah was a good lawyer, and I could use the help. Maybe if we partnered up, we could actually make a difference, too.

“I think I might take you up on that,” I said with a smile. “Thanks, Sarah.”

As we reached my apartment building, we exchanged a friendly goodbye, and I watched as Sarah walked away. Having a friend in this city, especially one as kind and understanding as Sarah, was a comfort I couldn’t overlook.

But as I stood alone outside my apartment building, that nagging feeling of being watched crept over me once again. I glanced around, paranoia causing goosebumps to raise along my skin, but once again…

There was no one there.

“I’m being silly,” I murmured as I punched in the code and stepped inside. “Marina’s just getting in my head. That’s all.”

With a sigh, I closed the door behind me and made my way up to my floor. My legs felt heavy from all of the walking and I couldn’t wait to get my dress off, but other than that, my outing with Sarah had been—despite my own anxiety—a much-needed reprieve.

I unlocked my apartment door and stepped inside a few moments later, dropping my bag on the floor. The dim light from the hallway spilled into my living room, casting eerie shadows across the furniture. I had left a small lamp on, but it didn't provide much illumination.

But then, as I took a cautious step forward, my heart jolted in my chest.

A figure sat in the corner of the room, shrouded in darkness, and the sudden presence startled me. Instinctively, I reached for my purse and retrieved the pepper spray I always carried with me.

“Who’s there?” I demanded, my voice trembling with fear.

The figure in the corner didn’t move right away, and I couldn’t make out any details in the darkness. Panic began to set in, and I raised the pepper spray, ready to defend myself.

But then, a familiar voice broke the silence, and the figure spoke. “Ella, it’s me.”

I froze, the pepper spray still in my hand.

“Logan?” I whispered, my voice wavering.

A soft sigh of relief escaped his lips. “Yeah, it’s me, Ella. I’m sorry for scaring you.”

I lowered the pepper spray, my body trembling from the adrenaline rush. My eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and I could see Logan’s silhouette more clearly now. He sat on the couch, his shoulders hunched, and his presence felt heavy in the room.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice still shaky as I tried to regain my composure.

Logan hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I needed to talk to you.”

With an uneasy sigh, I crossed the room and flicked on the standing lamp to see him sitting there. His face looked drawn, and he looked tired.

“What is it?” I asked cautiously.

He took a deep breath, as if he was trying to find the right words. “I had a strange conversation with Marina today,” he finally said.

My heart sank as he mentioned Marina’s name. “What did she say?” I muttered, sinking down onto the armchair across from him. My mind whirled; did she tell him about our agreement? Did she twist it around so I looked like the bad guy? Was it all just meant to throw a wrench into everything, just for the fun of it?

Logan’s gaze bore into mine. “She hinted at things, Ella. Things that didn’t make sense. She mentioned your family, your little sister. Do you know anything about this?”

My mind raced as I tried to process what he was saying. So Marina had mentioned the situation; or at least part of it. But why? It didn’t make any sense. Was it a test? A way to make sure I would still be obedient to her?

It had to be, right?

I struggled to find the right words, my voice caught in my throat. “I... I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His frustration was evident as he spoke. “Ella, if we can’t share these things with each other, how can I trust you to be my lawyer in this huge case? I need to know that I can rely on you, that you’re not hiding anything from me.”

Tears welled up in my eyes as I met his gaze. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He stood up abruptly, and it was obvious that he didn’t believe me for a moment.

“Fine,” he hissed. “If that’s how it’s going to be, then maybe I should find a new lawyer. Someone I can trust.”

“Wait, Logan—” I began, standing, but it was already too late.

“No, Ella,” he interrupted. “I don’t know who I can trust right now. I’m sorry, but I need to think.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and painful. Logan turned and headed towards the door, leaving me standing there, my heart aching with the weight of his words.

As the door closed behind him, I sank down onto the couch, tears streaming down my face. The fear of losing Logan’s trust was overwhelming, but I couldn’t risk revealing the secrets that I had kept hidden for this long.

I had no choice but to protect my little sister. And if this was a test, then I needed to pass it… for Daisy’s sake.