Chapter 81

Emily

I wake up the next morning, feeling lighter than air. It feels as if a weight has been lifted up and off of my shoulders, the paperwork that was anonymously delivered to me providing me the comfort in security I need to push forward against my old family.

There is a new ignited hope inside of my chest. It fills the void in which formed after my mother passed, a feeling that I'm finally avenging her and what was once taken from me. Finally, I will be able to live my life the way I want an icy fit with no worries or attachments to my old family to hold me back.

But what about Logan?

I sit up in bed, my back stiffening while my eyes explore the room, trying to see if he is still inside my bedroom. He isn't and my posture loosens. My heart, thunders and side of my chest, slowly calming down as I grip the sheets of the bed beside me.

Logan showed a different side of himself to me last night, a side that I have never seen before in all of my days with him so far. He was there for me when I needed him the most, such as last night when I felt so emotionally overwhelmed with the weight of the papers and documents that have been mailed to me.

Logan was there through it all. The alpha male stayed by my side and cemented himself as someone who is there to help me in my time of need. It means so much more to me than he probably realizes.

I am very aware, though, that it is bad luck to celebrate too early. Despite me feeling so light, I can still feel a way attached to my body, keeping me down, as I know that this is not the final battle of the war that I am currently waging against my old family. I know that there is still a lot of ground that I need to cover and catch up on, and I cannot allow myself to let my guard down in a time such as this.

At least, though, I have Logan by my side to help me through it every step of the way. He is there for me no matter what. He has proved that last night while he took in and read every single document that was given to me, acting as if his own inheritance is at stake in on the line.

I get out of bed and get changed for the day, putting on a more relaxed and casual outfit for the office. I step outside of my bedroom and into the main section of logan's home, making my way down the hallway and into the kitchen where he stands.

Logan is not in his usual suit. Instead, he wears gray sweatpants and a white T-shirt, his hair, disheveled, and messy from his sleep. I raise an eyebrow and circle around the kitchen counter, approaching him from behind, placing my hand on the back of his shoulder, catching his attention.

“Logan?” I quietly ask. He turns around and looks at me, the corners of his lips perking up when our eyes meet. “Why aren’t you dressed? We have to be at work soon.”

Logan sets down the spatula in his hand. He turns around and leans against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at me. I can't help but feel a shiver run down my spine from our close proximity with one another, having to divert my gaze, even just for a few seconds before I turned to look at him again.

“We’re staying home today,” he says it in such a simple tone as if we haven’t been putting out constant fires in his pack ever since we got engaged.

“Staying home?” I repeat his words, blinking at him. “Why, exactly?”

“We deserve a day for ourselves,” he nods his head and turns back around, continuing to cook. He flips a pancake, revealing a burnt side. He slightly recoils at the sight, his eyes darting between me and the not-so fluffy pancake.

“Do you have something planned for us?” I ask. My curiosity is piqued, that’s for sure.

I gently bump my hip into his, pushing him out of the way. The spatula is slipped from his hand and is moved into mine as I pour a fresh new scoop of pancake batter into the pan.

“I was thinking that we could stay inside today. You can go put your pajamas back on. We can watch movies or a television show, or we can just simply exist in each other's presence,” Logan says, his voice, tender, with an underlying sweetness to it.

I flip the pancake and turn to look at him. He leans down and pushes a few strands of my hair out of my face. He takes the spatula back from me and shoos me away with a hand, turning his attention to the stovetop.

“Go, get changed. I’ll be here waiting for you,” Logan says.

I nod and turn away, going back into my bedroom. I change into fresh pajamas, wearing a pair of shorts and fuzzy socks, and exit the bedroom, going back to the table that Logan has set up for us. We eat breakfast and make the move into the living room, placing ourselves in front of the television.

While Logan goes to the kitchen to get us drinks and snacks, I remain on the couch, staring at the blank screen of the television. Just a few days ago, our faces were plastered on various news stations, the news of our engagement having been released to the public. I remember the way the public reacted to me, how they gave into the lies and deception of news articles that Chloe and her parents fed to the media.

My mind goes back to the papers that are tapped away inside of my bedroom. I remember my grandfather's handwriting and close my eyes, trying to push away the negative thoughts that seep into my consciousness. The possibility of having this new evidence and plan backfire against me, has me feeling so shallow on the inside.

What if everything goes wrong? What if I am unable to get back what is rightfully mine?

I have Logan by my side, yes, but it does not guarantee the outcome that will be decided by a judge in just a short time. I know that I should be happy and grateful for his help and support, but the feeling of dreads still remains deep inside of my chest, taking root in my lungs and heart.

I should be happy to have a day off, too, take a break from life and spend my time with the man that I will be marrying. I know that I should not take this for granted and use it to the best of my ability, but the thought of Chloe and my stepmother winning sends chills down my spine.

“Are you ready?” Logan comes back with a tray of snacks, placing it on the coffee table in front of us.

He sits down beside me, his body dangerously close to mine. The oxygen is sucked out from my lungs, my cheeks heating up from a small blush. I turn and nod at him, quickly diverting my gaze as I pull a blanket over my body, his arm resting behind me on the headrest.

I stare at the screen as Logan puts on whatever he wants. I try my best to force out the lingering negative thoughts about possible future failures, and instead turn my focus fully on logan and the day that we are about to spend with one another.