Chapter 271


    Chapter 271 White Knight


    E


    We didn’t just stop at one store. No, Logan wouldn’t have it. The shopping center was enormous, and


    Logan clearly had a penchant for spending money. We spent hours in there, perusing each store.


    Normally, I didn’t enjoy shopping trips. My dad never really took me on them, maybe once or twice a


    year we would go out on a shopping day, but Moana was the type to instill in me that money wasn’t


    everything, and so we didn’t splurge too much. I didn’t mind, though. Her precautions made sure that I


    never got spoiled, despite the fact that my dad was one of the richest men in the world.


    However, I couldn’t deny the enjoyment of shopping with Logan. I hated to say it, but he was… fun.


    Maybe it was the mate bond surreptitiously slipping rose-colored sses onto my face, but I liked


    seeing him smile as we perused the stores. I liked hearing his jokes about silly outfits, ridiculously high


    heels, and hats with all sorts of bizarre decorations on them. He made meugh.


    At one point, we found ourselves in an even fancier store than the others. The golden gleam of the


    chandeliers reflected off the cream marble floors, giving the luxury boutique an air of opulence. Logan


    and I wandered from aisle to aisle, picking out pieces and discussing our preferences. I couldn’t help


    but notice that our tastes were eerily simr.


    “I’ve always thought garish colors were overrated,” Logan mused, holding up a ssic navy tie. “It’s


    much more about the quality and cut of the fabric for me.”


    “I couldn’t agree more,” I responded, genuinely surprised. “Bright colors might be eye-catching, but


    there’s something so refined about muted tones.”


    Before Logan could respond, a saleswoman approached us, her eyes immediately sizing me up.


    “Miss,” she started, her voice dripping with enthusiasm, “I think this would look absolutely ravishing on


    you.”


    She held out a fiery red dress, the fabric shimmering under the store lights. The cut was low, the slit up


    the side particrly high, and the entire ensemble screamed ‘look at me.’


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    “I don’t know…” I hesitated, unsure.


    “Please, do try it on!” she implored, her eyes alight with excitement. “With your fairplexion, you’d


    be the talk of any event.”


    Logan’s eyes met mine. “Try it,” he said, smirking. “Please?”


    Not wanting to disappoint their fervor, I took the dress into the changing room. As I pulled it over my


    head and adjusted the straps, a sense of unease washed over me. It was undeniably sexy, but it felt


    too ostentatious, too exposed.


    Yet, I decided to step out and show Logan, if only for a second opinion.


    The moment I emerged from behind the curtain, Logan’s eyes widened, and an amused chuckle


    escaped him. He gave a yful whistle, clearly enjoying the moment.


    “Logan!” I eximed, my face heating up as | covered my chest with my hands.


    “Sorry, couldn’t help myself,” he teased, his eyes dancing with mischief. “But honestly, it’s not you. Too


    much… red.”


    I crossed my arms defensively. “Well, I didn’t pick it out!”


    Logan approached a nearby rack, selecting a moonlight white dress that cascaded gracefully to the


    floor. He paired it with a sparkling diamond ne, its beauty in its simplicity..


    “This,” he dered, “is you.”


    My eyes widened at the sight of the dress. It was indeed beautiful, but…


    “But I already have a dress,” I said, pointing to the bag from the first store in Logan’s hands. There


    were several other bags in his grasp, too. He was a bit of a shopaholic, particrly for watches and


    Italian leather loafers.


    Logan simply shrugged. “You could use more than one,” he said, lowering his voice. “This is gonna be


    a year, after all. There will be plenty of events. And who knows, maybe you’ll like this one… better.”


    I sighed, but obliged. After a quick change, I had to admit Logan was right. The dress entuated my


    features without making me feel overly exposed. And the ne, it was a masterpiece in its own


    right.


    The moonlight white dress was, in every sense, magical. It draped over my figure like a second skin,


    hugging me in all the right ces and ring out gracefully at the hips. Made of a luxurious silk, the


    fabric had a softness that was almost ethereal, making me feel as though I was enveloped in a cloud.


    I admired myself in the full-length mirror, noting how the dress perfectlyplemented my fair


    complexion. The subtle, intricate patterns embroidered near the waist added just the right touch of


    elegance without being over the top. It was a stark contrast to the emerald dress that I had tried on


    earlier which, while captivating in its own right, suddenly paled inparison to this one.


    Lost in my thoughts, I instinctively twirled, watching the fabric re out and then settle around my legs


    in a soft cascade. The movement was mesmerizing. It was only then that I caught Logan’s blue eyes


    watching me in the mirror, and I felt a heat creep into my cheeks.


    “Beautiful,” he murmured. I turned to face Logan, his attireplimenting mine perfectly. The thought


    crossed my mind: We looked like the perfect couple. A dangerous thought given his… affiliations.


    It’s a pity he’s one of the Mafia, I thought, pushing away the budding warmth in my chest.


    Eventually, I returned to the fitting room to remove the dress. Logan had already paid for it before I


    could have the chance to protest, and the saleswoman now waited patiently to wrap it up and receive


    hermission.


    However, as I tried to immerse myself back into the world of shopping, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of


    being watched. My eyes flitted around the store, searching for any sign of a threat.


    Just then, I caught sight of him. A man skulking around in the background, partially hidden by some


    shelves. He wore all ck, and had a gruff look about him. Upon realizing that I had noticed him, he


    quickly picked up an item off of a shelf and turned his back to me, pretending to be just another


    shopper. But I knew better.


    “Logan,” I whispered, leaning closer. “I think we’re being followed.” His eyes darkened as he took a


    quick survey of our surroundings. “Stay close,” he murmured, reaching for his phone.


    We continued shopping, albeit with heightened alertness. When Logan went to the counter to pay for


    some things that he was buying for himself, my eyesnded on a quaint cake shop next door. I quickly


    realized that I was hungry.


    “I’ll be right back,” I called over to him. He didn’t react, maybe he didn’t notice. I thought nothing of it,


    and walked out of the store.


    The sweet aroma of baked goods enveloped me as I stepped out of the clothing store, momentarily


    distracting me from the unease I felt earlier. Just as I was deciding whether I felt in the mood for a


    raspberry tart or a chocte éir, a loud shout pierced the air..


    “ELLA!”


    I spun around, just in time to see a billboard detaching from its fixture high above, plummeting straight


    towards me. Panic surged through me, and everything moved in slow motion.