Chapter 193

Ella

I stared down at the midnight blue dress in my hands with my brow furrowed.

Why was Logan going to such lengths for a networking event? This dress and jewelry was expensive, I could tell; but why? Why buy it for me? He knew I wasn’t the type to expect gifts, and we were not together, so what was his deal?

“Just try it on,” Ema said, sounding a bit amused herself. “It looks nice.”

I sighed as I turned around to face the mirror and held the dress up to myself. “Yeah,” I murmured under my breath. “It does.”

…

A couple of hours later, after a hot shower and way too long spent styling my hair, I stood in front of the mirror with the dress on. Much to my surprise, it fit perfectly. The delicate beading and sink hung perfectly on my frame, and it fell to just the right length around my ankles. I paired it with some shimmery high heels, which matched the jewelry perfectly.

In short, I looked… stunning.

“Wow,” I mumbled to myself, turning this way and that in the mirror to take in the full effect of the outfit. “Logan really got this right.”

“Looks like Logan really is doting on you today, Ella,” Ema teased.

I frowned at my reflection in the mirror. “Don’t be ridiculous, Ema,” I retorted out loud. “He just wants me to look good for the party. That’s all.”

Ema chuckled softly, her voice echoing in my mind. “Oh, come on, Ella. You can’t deny that he’s seemingly gone to great lengths to make tonight special for you.”

I huffed in response, the memory of the kiss we had shared the other night flashing in my mind. “And so what if he has?” I muttered. “Besides, it’s just a networking event, right? It’s probably just for appearances. He’s probably got a trick up his sleeve and having a pretty ‘fiancee’ on his arm will just help to further that goal.”

But Ema was relentless, her words laced with amusement as she spoke. “You didn’t want that kiss to end the other night, did you?” she asked.

My face flushed with embarrassment, and I averted my gaze from the mirror. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Ema’s tone turned contemplative. “Ella, I’m just saying that maybe it’s time you start considering your options. What if this fake relationship turns into a real one once he helps you take Harry and Marina down?”

I gasped in surprise. “That can’t happen,” I insisted, although the thought had crossed my mind more than once.

But Ema persisted, her voice soft and encouraging. “Why not? You two clearly have feelings for each other. Once Harry and Marina are out of the way, it’ll be smooth sailing, won’t it?”

“No,” I muttered, shaking my head. “It won’t be. At the end of the day, he’s still a mobster and there’s no telling whether he’ll ever fully escape the mafia. I can’t fall in love with a guy like that.”

“But, my dear, you already have.”

My face burned with embarrassment and frustration at Ema’s words. Without another word, I turned on my heel and made for the door. It was time for the party, not for speculating.

As I descended the grand staircase toward the party, which had already begun, the sound of lively chatter and laughter filled the air. The guests had already started arriving, and the mansion looked even more enchanting, bathed in the warm glow of countless twinkling lights.

But as I was halfway down the steps, I found myself stopping. The sounds of the party were lively and it all should have been exciting, but that wasn’t the case now. I took in a deep breath, my hand shaking slightly as I held onto the railing, my free hand fondling the necklace that Logan had given me. Why was I so nervous? I had been to countless parties like this before.

And yet, somehow, wearing the dress that Logan had bought me, this felt different.

When I finally reached the bottom of the stairs, I couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious. People looked my way, halting their conversations. I swallowed, scanning the room for logan—and there he was, in the middle of a conversation with two well-dressed people.

He stopped when I entered, though, and I felt a pang in my chest as his blue-eyed gaze settled on me.

My cheeks flushed crimson, and I tried to regain my composure. With a small, hesitant smile, I walked toward him. Logan extended his hand towards me, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Ella,” he said, his voice soft, “you look stunning.”

I took his hand, feeling a rush of emotions that I couldn’t quite put into words. His compliment made my heart flutter, and for a brief moment, I allowed myself to believe that we really were a couple, even if it was all part of an elaborate ruse.

“Thank you,” I replied, trying to sound confident despite my racing heart. “You have good taste. Thank you for the gown.”

Logan’s fingers curled around mine, and he shot me a warm smile. “I’m glad you like it. I just wanted to treat you to a little something. I hope you don’t mind.”

I shook my head. “No. I don’t mind at all.”

With that, led me through the crowd, speaking as he did. “I’ll introduce you to some people,” he said, leaning close so I could hear over the din of the party. “There are some people who you probably haven’t met yet.”

“No Harry and Marina, right?” I asked.

Logan chuckled. “No. No family tonight.”

His words were a slight comfort, and I nodded at him, following obediently. It was a comfort to stand so close to him, feeling his warmth and the sturdy muscles beneath his tuxedo as I held onto his arm. I hated these events, hated the implications.

And yet, tonight felt oddly different. There was a different light about the party, almost as though it wasn’t only mobsters. It made me wonder just who these people were, and what Logan had to do with them.

But then I saw her.

A woman up ahead, wearing a black gown. She was tall and slender with pitch black hair that cascaded over her shoulders and striking gray eyes that stood out from the rest of her features. She had an elegant, long nose and beautifully tanned skin, creating an image of Eastern European descent.

She was nothing short of gorgeous… and she was headed straight for us.

“Logan,” she purred as she approached, her voice as sultry as her appearance, “who is this lovely lady you have here?”

Logan turned to face her, and I watched in astonishment as his expression softened. He offered her a warm smile.

“Lyra,” he said, his voice laced with familiarity, “this is Ella… my fiancee.”

“Fiancee?” Lyra raised an elegant eyebrow, her eyes flicking between us. “My, Logan, you move quickly.”

My heart pounded in my chest, but Logan only offered this beautiful woman a warm smile. “It’s been years, Lyra,” he chided. He then turned to me, and his gaze softened slightly.

But what he said next made my heart almost stop in its tracks.

“Ella,” he said, “this is Lyra. My ex-girlfriend.”