Chapter 273


    Chapter 273 Family Ties


    E


    The grandeur of Logan’s family estate was unmatched, the chandeliers glistening with thousands of


    crystals, reflecting the light in the room. I hesitated for a moment on the threshold, taking in thevish


    spread of food and guests buzzing with conversation.


    My previous assumption had been sorely inurate. This was not a mere family dinner. It was a


    statement, a spectacle. And I was the trophy on his arm, the daughter of the CEO of WereCorp. An


    essory.


    I put on a smile, though, if only to y my part- just as Logan had requested. It was part of our n,


    after all. And after what happened with the billboard, Logan’s motives behind wanting to take down the


    Mafia were bing more clear to me.


    Logan was ever themanding presence. Every move he made, every word he uttered, seemed to


    draw attention. Tonight was no exception. His sharp gaze traveled the room, making sure to make


    contact with every important person in attendance. It was difficult to find any hint of the mncholy I


    had glimpsed earlier, maybe I had been mistaken.


    But when he was with his father and brother, there was an unmistakable tension. Their discussions,


    filled with veiled jabs and curt nods, were strictly about business, the sort of gritty dealings that made


    up the underworld.


    “Leonard,” Logan’s brother, Harry, his voice dripping with honeyed venom, said, “how do you feel about


    this new alliance with the Morgans?”


    Their father, Leonard, turned to me with a measured smile. “I am delighted to connect with the Morgan


    family. The union of our families will strengthen us, wouldn’t you say, E?” Before I could respond,


    Logan jumped in. “Father is right. This partnership is crucial.”


    I recalled my own family gatherings. They were always filled with warmth,ughter, and genuine


    connection.


    Tonight, though, there was an undercurrent of something more sinister. I shifted my attention from


    Logan and his father, searching for a maternal figure that might bring some semnce of warmth to


    this icy affair.


    But as the night wore on, I couldn’t spot her. The question of her whereabouts burned in my mind, but I


    hesitated to ask Logan directly. Then, a voice, sugary with a hint of mockery, cut through my thoughts


    as I perused the hors d’oeuvres on my own.


    “Oh, E, it’s so nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much. I’m Marina.” Logan’s brother’s fiancée stepped


    forward, her extravagant red dress shimmering with every move.


    “I don’t like her already.” Ema’s voice dripped with disdain inside my head, nearly causing me to choke


    on the martini that I was sipping on.


    “Give her a chance, Ema,” I replied. And yet, this woman’s demeanor was nothing like mine. She was


    proud, poised, and, in a word, regal. But Ema was right, there was something off about her… The way


    that her eyes shifted around when she stepped up to me.


    On the outside, she was a pretty princess. On the inside, there was something smarter, more


    calcting. She was out of Harry’s league by leaps and bounds, and she was an Alpha, too. I doubted


    that money was at the forefront of her needs.


    “It’s nice to meet you,” I said, taking her delicate, outstretched hand. Almost immediately, Marina


    jumped into the typical conversation of a snarky woman at a fancy ball.


    “You certainly have made an entrance tonight,” she said, gesturing to my dress with the hand. that I just


    shook while her other hand gently held a martini ss. “Though, I must say, I’m rather surprised you


    wore that dress. Surely someone of your stature could afford something more… fitting.”


    I looked down at my dress, a simple yet elegant piece that I had felt proud to wear. It was the white


    dress from the shop, right before the billboard…


    I took a deep breath, reminding myself to remainposed. “I believe in wearing what I feel represents


    me, not just what’s in fashion or expected.”


    She smirked, circling me like a shark with its prey. “Hmm, how quaint. And here I was thinking Logan


    would want someone a bit more refined. But I’ve heard he’s always had a penchant for… unique


    choices.”


    “Well, you look stunning,” I said, forcing a tense smile. “That color looks nice on you.” Marina’s lips


    twitched, a clear sign that my kindness took her off guard. Just then, a familiar voice cleared the fog.


    “Is everything alright here?” Logan appeared beside me, his presence immediatelymanding


    Marina’s attention.


    She straightened up, her demeanor changing in a heartbeat. “Just getting to know your lovely partner,


    Logan. It’s been enlightening.”


    He slid an arm around my waist, pulling me closer, his protective stance unmistakable. He said nothing.


    Marina, not one to be easily subdued, lifted her chin defiantly. “Anyway… Enjoy the evening.”


    With a final, lingering look at me, she walked away, leaving a trail of whispered conversations in her


    wake. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.


    “Thank you,” I whispered to Logan. He pressed a soft kiss on my temple. An act for the onlookers,


    really, but intimate enough to cause a heat to climb into my cheeks. I quickly leaned away once there


    weren’t so many eyes on us, and shot Logan a look. He didn’t seem to notice, too distracted by the stiff


    atmosphere of the party.


    The dinner bell rang shortly after that, and the guests made their way to the long banquet tableden


    with a fabulous array of different dishes. Glistening oysters, juicy cuts of steak, handmade pastas, fresh


    bread, and more wereid out across the table. I slid into a seat next to Logan, taking note of the fact


    that Marina didn’t seem to be eating. I immediately dug into my steak, relishing in the rich vors and


    buttery texture.


    Leonard, keen on directing the conversation, mentioned my father. “Edrick is a good man,” he said,


    leaning toward me from the head of the table. “It would be an honor if you and Logan were to get


    married.”


    I stiffened. Our rtionship was a facade. Logan and I both knew it. And now, it was being thrown into


    the spotlight.


    Before I could utter a word, Logan’s brother stepped in. “Logan has had his fair share of rtionships,


    hasn’t he? Who’s to say this one willst?”


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    I felt a sting at his words. Even if our rtionship was built on lies, the bond we shared felt genuine. We


    were fated mates, after all. I had no intention of staying with him beyond this year, but… still.


    The look Logan gave me was filled with understanding and defiance. Logan squared his shoulders,


    looking his brother directly in the eye. “E is different.”


    “Oh? How so?” His brother’s tone dripped with skepticism. “Because we are Fated mates,” Logan


    responded, his voice firm. There was an audible gasp in the room. Fated mates were a rarity, an


    extraordinary bond that was said tost an eternity. To dere such a thing, especially in this setting,


    was a bold move. But it was true, even though I had previously decided that I would deny our bond.


    Logan’s brother looked momentarily taken aback. His surprise, however, morphed into a sinister smirk.


    “Interesting, considering E isn’t even the biological daughter of the Golden Wolf Moana, isn’t that


    right? She’s the bastard child of her father and… Who is your mother, E?”


    I could feel the rage bubbling up inside me. The implication behind his words was clear: that my lineage


    somehow made me less deserving.


    It took everything in me to maintain myposure.