Chapter 278


    Chapter 278 Warning Signs


    E


    I arrived home that night, the weight of the evening still heavy on my shoulders. The glittering


    chandeliers, the fancy gowns, theughter and chatter of the party all seemed like a distant


    dream as I stood in my dimly lit apartment, still wearing my beautiful white dress.


    The words Logan had spoken to me on the drive home lingered in my mind, a soothing balm to


    the chaos of emotions I felt. His promise that no one would get hurt, the determination in his


    eyes, it somehow made me feel a little better. But could I really trust him?


    I unzipped my beautiful white dress and let it fall to the floor, my reflection in the mirror looking


    pale and lost.


    Logan was a part of a world I knew nothing about, a world that seemed both thrilling and


    terrifying. What would my parents think if they ever found out? What would they say if they


    knew I was pretending to be involved with a Mafia boss?


    I shuddered at the thought, realizing with a sickening feeling that I could never tell them the


    truth. I was alone in this,pletely and utterly alone. Even my wolf wouldn’t talk to me after


    ourst conversation.


    The next morning, I made my way to work, my heart heavy with dread. The moment I walked through


    the doors, I could feel the eyes on me, the whispers and nces following me down the hallway.


    They were judging me for walking in with a Mafia boss the other day. He had his arm around my


    shoulders… It still made me feel sick.


    What did they think? That I had used my ‘boyfriend’ to intimidate Mr. Henderson into giving me my old


    job back? Because that was true, to a certain extent. I didn’t ask for it, but Logan had threatened my


    boss. He could lie about it all he wanted, but I knew the truth..


    In the breakroom, I ran into a colleague, Sarah, who greeted me with a knowing smirk. “So, E,” she


    said, her voice dripping with malice, “wee back to the firm.”


    I forced a weak smile. “Thanks, Sarah. I’m d to be back.” Now is your chance to redeem yourself, I


    thought. “I… um… I’m d that Mr. Henderson agreed to give me a second chance here. I didn’t


    expect him to be so willing when I asked him if I could prove myself.”


    “Mhm.” Sarah clenched her coffee cup a little tighter, her knowing smirk growing on her face. “Sure. By


    the way, is it true that you’re from that ‘Morgan’ family? And that you’re dating a Mafia guy?”


    I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest. How did everyone know? Was my private life really so


    public?


    “It’s… private business, Sarah,” I said, my voice as cold as I could make it. “I don’t see why it’s any


    concern of yours.”


    She justughed, leaning against the counter as she stirred her coffee with a spoon and tapped it


    loudly against the side of the mug. “Oh, E, you always were so secretive. But you know, you should


    be careful. I’ve known women who get involved with the Mafia and can’t get out. It’s not a game, you


    know.”


    “It’s not like that at all,” I snapped, my voice rising slightly. “You don’t know anything about me or my


    rtionship with… anyone. So maybe you should just keep your opinions to yourself.”


    Sarah just shook her head, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite ce. Pity? Understanding? I


    watched as she wandered over to the door, pausing for a moment.


    “You must be lucky then, E,” she said. “Youe from affluence. You’re not like those poor sex


    workers or poverty-stricken women who are used and abused. You have choices.”


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Her words hit me like a p in the face. Was that really what she thought of me? That I was just some


    spoiled rich girl, ying games with people’s lives?


    Before I coulde up with a response, she left. I watched her walk away, a cold feeling settling in my


    stomach. Was she right? Was I just ying with fire, too blind to see the danger I was putting myself


    in?


    Was I really so different from those women she had mentioned, the ones who had no choice but to do


    what they were told?


    I sat down, my mind spinning, my heart aching with guilt. What had I gotten myself into? What had I


    done? Was I really so naive, so careless, so selfish?


    I buried my face in my hands, tears welling in my eyes. The reality of my situation was starting to sink


    in, and I felt overwhelmed, lost, and utterly alone. A pawn in a game that I stupidly got myself involved


    in, all because of… what? Workingte one night?


    If only I had just listened to my parents that night and called an Uber. Maybe then I would have avoided


    all of this. I never would have met Logan.


    But, no. He nned to meet me all along. If it hadn’t been that night, it would have been the next


    day, or maybe the next. But we still would have met, and I would still be here in this whole


    mess.


    “Are you okay, E?” a gentle voice asked, and I looked up to see a coworker, a kind woman


    named Mary, looking at me with concern. I shook my head, wiping my tears away. “I’m fine,


    Mary. Just… just a lot on my mind.”


    She nodded, her eyes filled with sympathy. “I understand. The people around here love to


    gossip, but don’t pay them much mind. If you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”


    I smiled, grateful for her kindness. At least there was one person in this ce who didn’t see


    me as a threat or a spoiled little brat. “Thank you, Mary. I appreciate that.”


    But as I went about my day, the whispers and stares continued to follow me everywhere I went. I


    knew that no amount of kindness or sympathy could erase the reality of my situation. I was


    trapped in a web of my own making, and I had no idea how to get out.


    Logan’s words echoed in my mind, his promise to keep me safe, to protect me. But could I


    really trust him? Could I trust anyone anymore?


    As the day wore on, the weight of my decisions, the guilt and fear, the uncertainty, it all weighed


    heavily on me, and I knew that my life would never be the same again.


    More than once, I wondered if I should leave this city and go home. I could tell my parents


    everything. My dad would protect me. He… He would make this all go away.


    But I had too much pride for that. I had entered a world I knew nothing about, and I was in over


    my head. And no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise, I


    knew that I was lost, and there was no turning back.


    And I had to deal with the consequences on my own.