Chapter 8
Get 5*
Menu
Although I wasn’t so aroused that I couldn’t control myself, I knew I’d be humiliated if he answered the phone or left at this moment.
Logan‘ Adam’s apple bobbed as he ignored the call, leaning down to resume his kisses along my neck and collarbone.
But the phone rang again. I knew neither of us would find peace unless he answered it. Turning my face away, I whispered, “You should take it.”
His expression darkened, but he pulled the blanket over me before stepping onto the balcony with his phone. Even with the sliding door closed, I could still hear his deep voice.
“I can’t come right now. Ask the nurse to help you. I didn’t say I wouldn’t take care of you. I know it’s because of me that… Okay, stop crying. I’ll
come over now…”
A long pause followed. Then, I heard the click of a lighter. Logan was smoking–for the first time at home.
Ten minutes later, he returned, the faint scent of tobacco trailing behind him. His gaze was uneasy as he looked at me.
“Um, I have to go out for a while. Selene’s alone at the hospital. There’s no one there to take care of her,” he said, surprisingly straightforward.
My body felt cold beneath the covers. “Do you think it’s appropriate for a
man to take care of her?”
“I–I’m going to find her a nurse,” he stammered, straightening the clothes I
had disheveled.
I knew I couldn’t stop him. Embarrassment and sadness surged within me, threatening to spill over. “Logan.”
“Hm?” He looked at me, worried, probably afraid I’d cling to him. The business magnate of Judgeton, always calm and decisive, now stood before me, unsure and hesitant.
09:11
2.76%
< Chapter 8
The words caught in my throat. I forced a bitter smile. “Be careful on the
road.”
Logan hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. The warmth of his b reath brushed my forehead as his lips pressed gently against my skin.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
He knew his actions would hurt me, yet he still chose to leave. Maybe my tolerance had taught him that hurting me now and then wasn’t a big deal.
After he left, the fire he’d ignited in me remained. I threw myself into the bathtub, trying to cool down.
When Nora called, the passion had subsided, leaving only exhaustion as ! lay in the tub, lost in thought.
“Why is Logan at the ob–gyn? Who’s this Selene woman to him?” Nora ask
- ed.
I wasn’t surprised she’d found out. I told her everything.
Nora exploded. “A man taking care of a widow? What is he thinking? Doe sn’t he know there’s always gossip about widows? Why get involved in this
mess?”
Even Nora thought it was inappropriate. Feeling humiliated, I revealed what had just happened.
“What would you think,” I began, “if I told you he left me halfway through?”
Nora paused. “You mean you two…?”
“No. We only got halfway undressed.” I felt ridiculous saying it out loud.
“Fucking hell!” Nora swore, uncharacteristically blunt. “If he could stop h alfway, it’s either because he’s incapable or-”
She didn’t finish, but I knew what she meant: ‘He doesn’t love you enough.‘
If Logan loved me, he wouldn’t have left me like that. And if he loved me, he wouldn’t rush to another woman in the middle of the night.
09:11
2.63%
! Chapter &
Sympathizing with Selene was one thing, but he’d crossed a line.
Get 50
Menu
“You said you were thinking about giving up on him, right? Just do it. Find someone better,” Nora said.
I stayed silent. Leaving Logan might be easy, but what about Mercer
Estate?
It was my home now. Ethan and Tessa treated me like their own daughter. Tessa, especially, had been like a mother to me–teaching me how to deal with my first period, even doing my laundry when I was younger.
Nora picked up on my silence.
“Elaine, babe, maybe we’re overthinking. Think about how good Logan has been to you all these years. He always tells people you’re his wife. Maybe he’s just helping Selene out of loyalty to his best friend. He wouldn’t get involved with her, especially since she’s pregnant. He wouldn’t want to become a dad out of nowhere, right?”
I thought about the way Selene looked at Logan. “What if it’s a case of unrequited love?”
“What?” Nora sounded surprised, then sighed. “That’s possible. Your man is every woman’s dream husband–especially for a widow.”
“That’s why Logan needs to keep his distance,” Nora continued.
“Vulnerable women cling to any kindness like a lifeline. I’ll keep an eye on things tonight. Nothing will happen.”
I suddenly remembered Nora’s hospital shift. “It’s fine. Just go home after work. You can’t watch them forever. If something’s going on…” I hesitated, thinking of Logan‘ recent behavior. “It probably started a long time ago.”
Nora snorted. “True. But don’t stress too much. If he betrays you, just break it off cleanly. You’re single and gorgeous–you can still snag yourself a hot guy.”
I chuckled faintly. If that happened, should I be grateful Logan and I never went beyond the point of no return?
9 09:11
2.72
< Chapter 8
Get 5
= Menu
I yawned deliberately, ending the call. There was no w
Chapter 8
Get 5*
Menu
Although I wasn’t so aroused that I couldn’t control myself, I knew I’d be humiliated if he answered the phone or left at this moment.
Logan‘ Adam’s apple bobbed as he ignored the call, leaning down to resume his kisses along my neck and collarbone.
But the phone rang again. I knew neither of us would find peace unless he answered it. Turning my face away, I whispered, “You should take it.”
His expression darkened, but he pulled the blanket over me before stepping onto the balcony with his phone. Even with the sliding door closed, I could still hear his deep voice.
“I can’t come right now. Ask the nurse to help you. I didn’t say I wouldn’t take care of you. I know it’s because of me that… Okay, stop crying. I’ll
come over now…”
A long pause followed. Then, I heard the click of a lighter. Logan was smoking–for the first time at home.
Ten minutes later, he returned, the faint scent of tobacco trailing behind him. His gaze was uneasy as he looked at me.
“Um, I have to go out for a while. Selene’s alone at the hospital. There’s no one there to take care of her,” he said, surprisingly straightforward.
My body felt cold beneath the covers. “Do you think it’s appropriate for a
man to take care of her?”
“I–I’m going to find her a nurse,” he stammered, straightening the clothes I
had disheveled.
I knew I couldn’t stop him. Embarrassment and sadness surged within me, threatening to spill over. “Logan.”
“Hm?” He looked at me, worried, probably afraid I’d cling to him. The business magnate of Judgeton, always calm and decisive, now stood before me, unsure and hesitant.
09:11
2.76%
< Chapter 8
The words caught in my throat. I forced a bitter smile. “Be careful on the
road.”
Logan hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. The warmth of his b reath brushed my forehead as his lips pressed gently against my skin.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
He knew his actions would hurt me, yet he still chose to leave. Maybe my tolerance had taught him that hurting me now and then wasn’t a big deal.
After he left, the fire he’d ignited in me remained. I threw myself into the bathtub, trying to cool down.
When Nora called, the passion had subsided, leaving only exhaustion as ! lay in the tub, lost in thought.
“Why is Logan at the ob–gyn? Who’s this Selene woman to him?” Nora ask
- ed.
I wasn’t surprised she’d found out. I told her everything.
Nora exploded. “A man taking care of a widow? What is he thinking? Doe sn’t he know there’s always gossip about widows? Why get involved in this
mess?”
Even Nora thought it was inappropriate. Feeling humiliated, I revealed what had just happened.
“What would you think,” I began, “if I told you he left me halfway through?”
Nora paused. “You mean you two…?”
“No. We only got halfway undressed.” I felt ridiculous saying it out loud.
“Fucking hell!” Nora swore, uncharacteristically blunt. “If he could stop h alfway, it’s either because he’s incapable or-”
She didn’t finish, but I knew what she meant: ‘He doesn’t love you enough.‘
If Logan loved me, he wouldn’t have left me like that. And if he loved me, he wouldn’t rush to another woman in the middle of the night.
09:11
2.63%
! Chapter &
Sympathizing with Selene was one thing, but he’d crossed a line.
Get 50
Menu
“You said you were thinking about giving up on him, right? Just do it. Find someone better,” Nora said.
I stayed silent. Leaving Logan might be easy, but what about Mercer
Estate?
It was my home now. Ethan and Tessa treated me like their own daughter. Tessa, especially, had been like a mother to me–teaching me how to deal with my first period, even doing my laundry when I was younger.
Nora picked up on my silence.
“Elaine, babe, maybe we’re overthinking. Think about how good Logan has been to you all these years. He always tells people you’re his wife. Maybe he’s just helping Selene out of loyalty to his best friend. He wouldn’t get involved with her, especially since she’s pregnant. He wouldn’t want to become a dad out of nowhere, right?”
I thought about the way Selene looked at Logan. “What if it’s a case of unrequited love?”
“What?” Nora sounded surprised, then sighed. “That’s possible. Your man is every woman’s dream husband–especially for a widow.”
“That’s why Logan needs to keep his distance,” Nora continued.
“Vulnerable women cling to any kindness like a lifeline. I’ll keep an eye on things tonight. Nothing will happen.”
I suddenly remembered Nora’s hospital shift. “It’s fine. Just go home after work. You can’t watch them forever. If something’s going on…” I hesitated, thinking of Logan‘ recent behavior. “It probably started a long time ago.”
Nora snorted. “True. But don’t stress too much. If he betrays you, just break it off cleanly. You’re single and gorgeous–you can still snag yourself a hot guy.”
I chuckled faintly. If that happened, should I be grateful Logan and I never went beyond the point of no return?
9 09:11
2.72
< Chapter 8
Get 5
= Menu
I yawned deliberately, ending the call. There was no way I’d sleep tonight.
Logan didn’t come back until almost dawn.
Since I had fieldwork today, I got up early and left before Ethan and Tessa woke. I didn’t want to face their questions, especially since Tessa had clearly hoped Logan and I would share a room sooner.
Their plans had failed, which only made my situation more humiliating.
Sometimes, it felt like a failure to be a woman who couldn’t even get her fiancé to undress her.
At 8:00 a.m., just as I arrived at my work partner’s office, Logan called. I stared at his name on the screen for a long moment, then let it ring. I didn’t
answer.
Since I had fieldwork today, I got up early and left before Ethan and Tessa woke. I didn’t want to face their questions, especially since Tessa had clearly hoped Logan and I would share a room sooner.
Their plans had failed, which only made my situation more humiliating.
Sometimes, it felt like a failure to be a woman who couldn’t even get her fiancé to undress her.
At 8:00 a.m., just as I arrived at my work partner’s office, Logan called. I stared at his name on the screen for a long moment, then let it ring. I didn’t
answer.
