Chapter 44: Chapter 44

- I love you.

For a few seconds, Missy could have sworn that phrase echoed around the two of them. Or maybe it was just the work of her horrified mind, as she continued to stare at Logan's completely shocked face above her, as petrified as she herself was after having made the stupidest, most unnecessary confession of her entire life.

However, those first moments of shock were nothing compared to the moment when she finally realized what she had done, causing all the air to immediately rush out of her lungs and her stomach to clench with dread. Taken by the instinct to run away after being carried away by the moment and saying something so thoughtless, Missy threw herself out of his embrace, getting out of his arms relatively easily, due to the shock he was still immersed in. . Rolling naked on the duvet, Missy managed to shakily get to her knees and was ready to gather her clothes and run, when a big warm hand cupped her ankle, making her turn to him again, panicked.

"Missy…" he murmured, clearly still unarmed by bewilderment, his green eyes impressively wide.

- I-I... I shouldn't have had that... I... - Missy panted, anxiously trying to cover her own body with her hands and the edge of the duvet - I'm sorry, Logan... I know that this shouldn't have happened! – she gasped, almost in panic – But I promise I won't bother you just because I fell in love. I know you never asked for this. Love wasn't in the plan we agreed and... - she swallowed hard when she realized that he was still mute, with his jaw open - I swear, Logan... I swear that I will do my best so that this doesn't change our friendship. We can only finish our plan, here and now, and then...

- You… - Logan growled, with a fierce look, almost crazy – You wanted to break up with me… Why are you in love with me?!

- It's the right thing to do... - Missy sighed, desolate, looking away to the wooden floor - Especially... - she needed to take a deep breath, before continuing - Especially too much that I discovered... That the legacy of your family is not just a legend. And that... One day, you will fall head over heels in love with someone. – Missy sniffed, feeling once again her heart break when imagining him loving someone else so deeply – It was then that I knew we had to finish what we have. At least physically. I… I just won't bear it… – she was now sobbing, fighting against the tears that threatened to escape – Bearing seeing you leave me, because you fell in love with someone else. I mean, I know this could take years to finally happen, but... It would just be too much for me, I'm sorry. It's already been hard enough knowing that someday this will happen. And, when the time comes, I... Please understand, I won't be able to help how much this will hurt me... - Missy admitted, shaken - And I feel that it will be even worse, if both of us are still. ..

Her weeping torrent was interrupted by a sudden, masterful kiss, in which he wrapped her in strong arms and pulled her against his chest, taking her lips with a hunger that completely disarmed her. Heaving a sigh of pleasure and surrender, Missy let herself melt against his body, enjoying every little movement of his lips and tongue against hers, until they were finally forced apart for air.

"If you'd only said it sooner…" Logan gasped, breathless, as he brought their foreheads together, green eyes shining brighter than ever.

- I... I couldn't. – Missy swallowed hard, still trying to normalize her own breathing – I just realized that myself a little while ago and… What was the point of having spoken? – Looking down at the floor, Missy asked, her head down – What difference does it make what I feel, when I know you're destined to love someone else?

- Who told you this? – Logan asked slowly, although he didn't seem irritated, but truly curious.

Blushing fiercely, Missy just continued to stare at the floor, refusing to admit that it had been Gwyneth. Especially knowing that if it weren't for Logan's mother, she probably wouldn't have found out that the legend was real until the worst possible moment: when he was already in love and had to suddenly pull away from her. Maybe that wasn't why Gwyneth had told him all that? Maybe she just saw the love in his eyes and preferred to warn her, telling her the truth and then revealing her story, so that she would know that, despite the pain, she could heal her heart even after Logan was no longer with her. ...?

- It was my mother, wasn't it? - Despite that phrase being a question, Logan made it sound like it was a statement, while her tone of voice suggested that he was smiling slightly – Of course it was… Why else would you be so awkward when I entered the kitchen earlier…?

- Don't be mad at her. – Missy begged, anxiously, looking up at him anxiously – She just wanted to help me…

-Of course she wanted to. – Logan nodded, luckily without the slightest bit of irritation in her expression, just… Apprehension? – For the past two years, all she's been doing is trying to help me… But… – his brows furrowed not only with confusion, but also quite sadness – But, if you already know about everything… Then ... Why do you want to end everything between us? – he compressed his lips tightly, before asking – I can't understand… If you love me… Why don't you want to be with me? - Logan seemed to be struggling to say the words, as if the mere sound of them was hurting him deeply.

- Of course I want to be, Logan! But how could I? – she exclaimed, inconsolable – I thought I could be strong enough to be fine when, eventually, the moment came when we wouldn't make love anymore or we wouldn't be… such friends… – Missy sniffed – But… Now that I know I'm in love, I... I know I can't. Not without breaking my heart, more than it already is to know we can never be together... because you will find your true soulmate someday. She sighed, desolate.

-Wait… – Logan blinked, amazed – My mother told you about the family legacy, but she didn't tell you about this detail? Did she really not reveal the most important thing?

-What is she talking about? Missy sniffed, confused.

- Missy... – his face lit up with a loving smile – You don't have to leave me...

- Yes I need! - Missy argued, with a sinking heart - I... I would really like to think that, if the circumstances were different, you could fall in love with me too... In time. Damn, I even feel like fighting to have your love, even knowing everything I know... - she admitted, embarrassed - But, Logan... I saw with my own eyes the depth of the love that you your father has for your mother and your brother for Megan... It's intense, powerful and invincible... - she sighed sadly - And I know, with all my heart, that, the moment you feel that for someone ... There will be no competition for me, because I won't even have a chance. She will become everything to you and... I will have to pick up the pieces of my heart... One more time. Missy blinked back a few tears as she stared at the floor again, unable to look up at him.

- Would you really do that? - Logan's smile was clear in her voice, as he dragged himself closer to her, making her bare skin crawl - Would you try to challenge the legacy? Would I fight for our love, even if it wasn't the one fate chose for me?

- If I could, I would. – she admitted sadly – But I know perfectly well that there would be no way I could win… That magic that runs in your family's blood. This is why I have to step aside, Logan! – Missy gasped, troubled – I may not have the slightest idea of what the woman you will fall in love with will be like, but… I don't think she will like the fact that we are so close and… She will certainly ask that you get away from me. – Missy hugged her own chest even more, almost as if she was trying to hold her own heart, in order to keep it whole – And you… You couldn't deny her anything.

- Yes, you're right... - The charm in his voice made a knot form in her throat - I would never be able to deny her anything she asked of me.

- See? – Missy gasped, clenching her teeth to try to hold back her tears – It's really better if we just become friends from now on. That way, I'll be able to make an effort to get over what I feel for you and... not get in the way between you and her... - She gave some emphasis to the word, not wanting to say that last part. However, after a second, she finally gave in, with a heavy sigh-Her true love. - Missy completed desolately, pulling the comforter even more against her chest, wishing she could get out of there as soon as possible, so she could cry alone for her broken heart ...

-This is going to be a little difficult, love ... - Logan's fingers suddenly touched her chin, bringing her eyes straight to his, making her finally realize that he was staring at her with fascination - Because she is here.

For a few seconds, Missy just remained frozen in place, repeating that last sentence several times inside her mind to try to understand it, although she was not succeeding. He was talking about... Her? She in the sense of... Your soul mate? The woman his family's legacy had bound him to forever? But... So why was he saying that Missy was... her? It didn't make sense... Why...?

- Wh... What? Missy gasped, still in shock.