Chapter 0324
I hadn’t considered that, though it made sense. If Senior wanted us t
split, he would want to keep our marriage a secret. He likely had a full plan to con me out of any potential money I would win from a divorce without a prenuptial agreement.
He didn’t realize or believe that I married Logan for more than money, and I had no intention of stealing any of it.
“Shortly after, we will release the photos we took the other day, of you two and your rings, all happily married like,” Mabel said. “It will be a one–two punch, especially when we show you’ve been married for some time now.”
I was worried. We’d kept our relationship a secret for so long, I didn’t know what to think now that it was coming to light.
Beside me. Logan was frowning, a sign he was worried as well. He’d been unnerved a lot lately. This entire war with his grandfather had been taking its toll on him.
“Then we’ll need to give our interview,” Logan said, glancing at me. “The one we talked about. Where we explain the truth about everything. Else they will believe I cheated on you by trying to date other women at the same time.”
Logan’s dating exploits were well–documented in the tabloids and social sites. If anyone sat down and lined up the dates, they would see the discrepancies.
“We’re on the same page. I already have something lined up,” Mabel said. “You will need to be brutally honest about everything. It will be embarrassing. But honestly, embarrassment is good. It will humanize you. Right now, you are enigmas, larger than life figures who aren’t real people. When they see your flaws, the public will relate with you and just like that, you’ll be human to them.”
From Mabel and Logan’s reasoning, I knew this was the right thing to do. But it was also a lot. Logan and I Our past wasn’t always a pretty one. We’d made mistakes and misunderstandings. We’d accidentally hurt each other and others on our way to discovering our marriage and our feelings for one another.
When the truth would be revealed, it might not be just embarrassing. It was likely to be utterly humiliating.
As Mabel and Logan continued to make arrangements pushed my chair back and stood.
Logan stopped talking immediately. “Hazel?”
“I’m just going to stand out back for a second. I need some air,” I said.
He watched me for a moment, but eventually nodded.
Alone, I walked to the sliding glass door on the other side of the living room and stepped out onto the back patio
I
The morning was chill and I was still in my pajamas. I shivered in the cold, but was also grateful for it. It helped grounded me in the moment, in the present.
No matter what happened today, I would still be alive in this moment. I would still have Logan and my marriage, the Christopher’s, Rosa, and the memories of my real mom.
There was comfort in that. So I closed my eyes, and relaxed in that good feeling.
Chapter 0324
+25 BONUS
Nearby, a twig cracked.
I
snapped my eyes open, only to find two figures in dark suits suddenly closing in beside me.
I turned back toward the door, but one of the men snatched my wrist before I could move to open it again.
“Mr. Hatfield Senior requests your presence,” one of the men said. His face was a blank slate, all business. and no nonsense. They were bigger and stronger than me. I didn’t really have any hope of escaping.
“I need to tell Logan where I’m going.” I said. 2
“He’ll figure it out,” the man snapped and pressed tape over my mouth. 1