Chapter 75: Chapter 75

- Won't you say hi, hottie? I missed you.

With a smirk, Suzan glared at him, crossing her arms over her chest to emphasize the bikini that surely should be banned for indecent exposure in a ward full of children like this one. More than ever feeling protective instincts flooding through him, Logan did his best to hide Hope in her arms, keeping his little face resting against her shoulder as he glared at Foster with barely contained fury. Newton might be a complete idiot, but at least he was harmless. As for Foster... From experience, he knew how treacherous she was.

- I don't know what you're doing here, Foster... - he growled low and dangerously at her, in an obvious warning - But you better get out of my way right now.

- So quickly? But we haven't seen each other for so long... We have a lot to tell each other. - she sat down calmly on the deckchair next to his, crossing her legs shamelessly - You know, thanks to you, my career as a model is over. But I'm still here. - she smiled maliciously and victoriously - Impressed?

- Coming from you? Of course not. I know well what you are capable of doing to get what you want. - he growled back, disgusted - And we both know very well what I am capable of when challenged, Foster. So I advise you to turn around and never speak to me again.

- Oh, and you think you can boss me around? - Suzan laughed avidly - That time is long gone, handsome. You're not my boss anymore and I'm just as important a guest in this hotel as you are. In fact, at this very moment, my fiancé is closing a million-dollar deal with a big tech world figure who is an honored guest at the hotel. - Foster stuck her nose in the air, proud and showing off like a peacock, but it was her words that made Logan stop for a moment.

Guest of honor...? She was talking about Missy and she didn't even know it? Her boyfriend was beneath Missy and she was proudly bragging about it without knowing it? There was actually a sweet irony to it that he would certainly have appreciated, if not for something she'd said: contracts. He knew very well that Missy wasn't there to close any deals. In fact, that was one of the requirements for her to agree to come there. Of course, there was always the possibility that Foster was just lying of course, which wouldn't be new, but... Apparently all that feeling of superiority came from the fact that she was telling the truth. Thus...

Why did her fiancé lie about signing a contract with Missy? And, above all, why hadn't he told her that the "big shot" was a woman? Or even mention her last name?

But, to be honest, it just didn't matter. As well as anything that could come from Suzan Foster.

- I don't care what you're doing here, Foster. - he growled coldly at her - Just get out, before I call hotel security. Like I said, I'm a guest just like you are and I doubt they'd want me to make a scene. - he narrowed his eyes furiously at her and Suzan looked ready to retort, when a small excited voice interrupted them.

- Daddy, Daddy... - Gwyneth came running to him, looking euphoric, with the big floaties around her arms and waist making her walk in an admirably star-like position - Jonathan and Tristan taught me how to... – as soon as her sparkling green eyes landed on Suzan, however, the smile on Gwyneth's face immediately faded.

- Oh, how cute... - Suzan praised Gwyneth falsely - It's good that they are all a copy of you, isn't it? I mean, not that I think you haven't gotten rid of the ugly paw by now, but...

- Measure your words... - he growled dangerously, getting up from the lounger slowly - When talking about my wife.

- Oh, so you mean the rumor I heard about the little girl giving you a stomach blow is true? – Suzan laughed in that malicious way again – What a situation, huh, Logan? Well, I hope all that theater you did years ago was worth it... But what am I saying? It's clear that Melissa Knight is the best prize a man could win...

- What are you talking about my mom? - Annoyed, Gwyneth puffed out her cheeks and closed her little hands in fists on either side of her body, leaving her neck practically straight so she could look Suzan in the eyes.

- Own, look at that cutie, defending mommy... - Disdainfully, Foster crouched down, apparently with the intention of squeezing Gwyneth's cheeks, but her little girl was faster, running to hide behind his legs quickly.

- Stay away from my daughter! – Logan snarled, furious, as he bent down to also take Gwyneth in his arms protectively – I'm warned you, Foster: stay away from all my family, or I will finally do to you what I should have done from the moment you dared to hurt the woman I loved so many years ago. And remember: now you have nothing left to blackmail or stop me. He stared at her hard as Hope began to shift uncomfortably in her arm, looking disturbed by the atmosphere around her.

- All right, all right. I understand that you still have terrible taste in women. – she threw her reddish blonde hair back, giving him one more perverse smile, before taking her sunglasses off her head and lowering them to her eyes – But, if you ever regain your sight, know that you can always help me. Search for. – Turning in the opposite direction, she gave him a last casual wave – See you around, handsome.

- Hag. – Gwyneth cursed her, sticking her tongue out as Suzan walked away, which normally would have made Logan laugh, if he wasn't so tense – Has that evil woman ever hurt mommy, daddy? – His daughter asked, showing a murderous fury that he never thought he would ever see in a little girl of just 3 years old.

- Don't worry about it, sweetie. – With a sigh, Logan sat down again on the deckchair, in order to calm his two little girls – I promise that we will tell this story to you and your brothers someday. Now, let's just try to have fun in the pool, okay? - Rocking Hope in her lap, he sat Gwyneth beside her, giving her a calming smile, while he watched her remove the floaties in a clumsy irritated way - Why don't you go back to playing with your brothers?

- Not! – She immediately denied, snuggling into her lap, still angry – I'll stay here to protect you, in case the evil woman returns!

- Oh, dear... - He started to laugh, but, seeing the pure determination on his little princess's face, Logan could only give her a warm smile and kiss her forehead lovingly - Thank you very much. I will definitely feel much safer if you stay here with me and Hope.

Looking proud of herself, Gwyneth began to make jokes for her little sister to laugh, while Jonathan and Tristan, completely oblivious to what had happened there, continued playing in the farther pool. Taking a deep breath and taking advantage of the contagious joy of his children to try to calm down, Logan slowly let the tension dissipate, although seeing Foster after 6 years had revived, even more than the sight of Newton, a resentment from the past that he had struggled hard to overcome. Because it wasn't just about Liam and Suzan, it was about himself as well.

Looking back, maybe he should have just given in to the first instinct he'd had when he'd found out about Liam and Missy dating and kicked the fucker out. In fact, the minute he'd dashed into his office after seeing the two of them kissing for the first time, still with the bouquet of flowers he'd brought Missy crumpled between his hands, he'd almost done it. The phone was already being crushed between his hands as he prepared to call the agency's HR, to ensure that Liam was fired, that he never touched Missy's lips again, that he never got close to her or breathed again the same air as her. He wouldn't allow Missy to be taken from him like that. Not by a man who obviously didn't deserve her. Not after all he had gone through to accept his love for her. Not after he'd finally decided to give himself a chance to be happy with her. They were soulmates. It was inevitable. It was Relentless. Was...

The destiny.

That's when he realized. Since he was a child, when he started going to the hospital, watching his grandfather convalescing in a bed, while he prayed that they would not have to be separated due to the death of a person as evil as Ruth, he had always imagined the personification of destiny, legacy or family curse, in that exact way: a selfish and ruthless being, concerned only with satisfying his own desires and ambitions, even if that meant disrespecting other people's choices. For years, he had feared and resented the day when his decision-making power would be taken away. The moment when the life he had built would have to change just because of what an old sorceress had done centuries ago. However, in the end, he was the only one acting that way. His life wouldn't have to change for him to have Missy in it. Loving Missy did not mean giving up his power of choice or everything he had built for himself, as it had meant for his grandfather. Yet here he was: planning to do all this to her. Planning to separate her from her boyfriend, ignore the choices she'd made for herself, and change her life… Just so he could have her for himself.

Yes, that was the worst punishment that fate could give him: turning him into that what he most feared and despised.

Giving him the option to do with Missy what he always wanted to prevent from happening to himself.

And it was realizing what had stopped him. Or, to put it bluntly, he had completely drained his strength when he realized that, in fact, his actions, his fears and his stubbornness had caused him to lose the only woman he would ever be able to love in his life. After all, he had barely recovered from the realization that he had actually nearly tried to sabotage Missy's relationship out of sheer selfishness, when he'd overheard her talking to Simon nearby, gleefully recounting how Liam had proposed to her and she'd accepted. And as he listened to her say how glad she was to have entered into her first relationship, Logan just slumped against his office door, heartbroken, as he felt his heart break inside his chest.

And, impossibly, he was torn even more each day as he was compelled to watch the two of them together, forcing himself to keep his distance from her most of the time, for fear of doing something silly like touching her or begging to beg her. Let her give him a chance. However, even that fear hadn't been able to stop him from finding more and more excuses to have her around, like all those unnecessary overtime or the fake problems on his computer. Because where crumbs like that used to be a placebo to get him through keeping away from her, now they were the only things that still held him together. And with minimal sanity.

Until the day when, after nine long months of living in half, like a ghost who didn't do much but suffer and feel jealous and angry, he had walked unassumingly into that room, trying in vain to center his thoughts on anything that wasn't thinking that Missy was in love with a man he considered terribly inferior to her... When he saw that Newton, Missy's boyfriend, the man who should respect her, love her, protect her and, above all, thank the heavens for someone as extraordinary as her to have chosen him...

He was completely bent over one of the desks in the studio, in the middle of work, with Suzan Foster beneath him.

Before that day, Logan thought he'd felt hatred before: at Ruth and everything she'd done to his family; the company whose safety equipment failures had nearly claimed his father's life; of people who scoffed at the idea that he might be able to make his agency a successful company... But nothing could have prepared him for the fury that gripped him at that moment. And that certainly would have made him throttle Newton right then and there, if he hadn't jumped back as soon as he saw him, hiding behind Foster as soon as she got to her feet, like the coward that she was.

- H-Hello, Mr. Knight... - he had stammered nervously, giving her a wry smile while Suzan shamelessly straightened her neckline, seeming to want to show off even more, instead of being decent – we d-didn't know you'd come to this studio h-today ... II was just showing Suzan how to do one of the poses the client requested for the new lingerie campaign and...

- You think I'm stupid, you piece of shit? - he had spat, angrily, advancing towards him, but stopping when he reached the table, squeezing the wood between his hands to stop himself from doing something crazy, while Newton started to shake ridiculously - You two better go tell them right now the truth to Missy and ask her forgiveness, before I myself...

- Sorry for what? - Foster had the audacity to ask, shrugging, seeming unaffected by her anger - Because we're good friends? We weren't doing too much. Right, Liam? She turned to give him a reassuring smile, making Liam nod frantically.

- That's right. There's no point in hurting my girl over something that hasn't even happened...

- Not hurt her?! - Logan had roared, seriously considering throwing that table on top of that big son of a bitch - And how do you think she's going to feel when she finds out you're cheating on her, you...

- Betrayal? But who spoke of treason? - Suzan gasped, falsely amazed - Frankly, Mr. Knight, I didn't expect someone like you to enjoy making up lies like that. Are you really going to risk destroying a relationship just because you caught two good friends doing something completely professional? Oh, how horrible... You really don't like your sister-in-law's sister to the point of not only avoiding her at all costs, but also wanting to see her suffer for something that never happened? How cruel of you, Mr. Knight... - she sighed theatrically, feigning disappointment.

- I-That's right. N-no, it's because you don't like Missy that you have to tell her lies like that about me. - even though he was still shaking, Newton's face outlined a victorious expression – After all, it wouldn't do any good. Who do you think she would believe? In the boyfriend she loves or in the guy she doesn't can't you look at her without looking like you just got out of a funeral?

As much as a large part of Logan wanted to throw the punch he deserved at that very moment, that sentence still left him paralyzed. Because, in fact, it was true. He didn't have Missy's trust, much less her sympathy, or anything else that might make her believe him if she told him what she'd seen. She was sweet and kind, it was true... But if someone had spent months ignoring him and acting strangely around him, just like he had with her, would he be able to believe that person, if she suddenly came to tell him that he was being betrayed?

And the answer to that question made his blood run cold.

- Well, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. - Stealthy as the disgusting rat of the era, Newton had circled the length of the room quickly, staying as far away from him as possible as he ran out the door.

And Logan was about to pull him by the collar and kick his ass until he acted like a man and told Missy the truth... When Foster's hand on his chest stopped him. More furious than ever to see Liam escape, Logan jerked away from her touch, furious, while Suzan remained unshakable, a seductive smile on her lips.

- As sexy as you get when you're so angry... - she purred, trying to get closer to him again - You didn't need to be jealous of me, you know? Liam and I were just having fun. He's a mama's boy and that bitch would never allow him to break up with that weirdo Sutton, or it could cost her a place in high society. Besides, why would I want a jerk like him when I can have a man like you...? But be careful, yes? If you take too long, I might end up choosing Liam and then that little sleepy girl will have to worry about losing her boyfriend. You're not going to risk me wasting my time with a man like him, are you...? - she had bitten her lip, reaching out to try to touch her chest again, when he grabbed her wrist, enraged.

- You two have one day to tell Missy the truth, Foster. - he had growled, enraged - Or I'll make you suffer the consequences. - Rudely letting go of her wrist, Logan walked hard to the door, with the hatred still boiling inside him to the point of dyeing his vision in red.

- And since when are you the moral inspector of your employees? - Foster growled behind him, obviously offended by his rejection - You don't even like that girl!

Stifling a snarl, he just turned his head enough to shoot her a murderous glare that finally seemed to make her feel how serious he was.

- One day. he growled angrily, before leaving, seriously considering whether or not she should hunt Newton around the agency and rip his face in half.

However, he hadn't, preferring to keep an eye out for whether or not he or Suzan had obeyed her threat. And, of course, they didn't, which culminated in Newton running off with Missy halfway through the experience, inventing an imaginary pain so that she could take him home so he could escape Logan's fury.

That night, Logan had once again found himself petrified in his office, but this time he was as enraged as he had ever been in his life, instead of as desolate as he had been the day he found out that Missy was dating. And, for hours on end, he planned how he could make those two pay: firing them, taking them away from Missy, making sure they never got another job in that country, or just exposing to everyone at the agency what two goddamn traitors they were. ... Which of those options was the best? All of them together? And, more importantly, which one would hurt Missy the least, if that was even possible? But if Newton and Foster hadn't put an end to this charade even when he threatened them, what would they do when they were fired, out of his sight and control? After all, Suzan had said that Newton would never risk disobeying his own mother and breaking up with Missy. Which, by implication, meant he intended to betray her forever.

Something Logan would never allow.

Hell, he'd always known Newton was an inconvenient idiot, but if he'd even guessed that he was that kind of idiot, then he would never have allowed him to breathe the same air as Missy. And now he was stuck in that situation: knowing he couldn't allow Missy to continue being deceived like this, yet knowing that information would surely hurt her terribly when he told her. Or worse: would she even believe him without proof?

And it was that last word that gave him the idea for what would soon prove to be the biggest mistake of his life: exams.

Of course, he had always known that Paul was a skilled detective, but he had never imagined that one day he would hire his services. And even less that, just two days later, he would already be handing over those photos and the damn video.

- That son of a bitch... - Squeezing his hands into fists to try to contain his anger, Logan had snarled that early evening, after watching the video that his brother-in-law had recorded, in which Newton spoke all kinds of atrocities about Missy, while Foster's lines made it clear that she had been his lover for practically all of their dating time - I should make him swallow a tooth for every word he dared say about her... - Logan only realized that he had become He got up from his desk, unconsciously preparing to go over to Liam, when his brother-in-law suddenly put a hand on his shoulder, holding him back.

- Hey, calm down, man - Paul had stopped him, looking really worried about the intensity of hate in his expression - I'm really sorry that Missy got involved with an idiot like that. - he sighed - She is the last person in the world who deserved to have her heart broken like that. And... I know it must not be easy for you either. - scratching the back of his neck, awkwardly, Paul looked at him in a way that could not be described as anything but pious; after all, the only people within her family who didn't know about her repressed feelings for Missy were herself and Megan, although he knew she certainly suspected, as Devon could hardly hide anything from his wife – But, listen, do something stupid now it won't help either of you at all. The best thing you can do now is show this to Missy and reveal the truth to her. That way, that son of a bitch won't be able to invent any kind of lie and she won't be being deceived or betrayed anymore.

- You... Do you want me to show her all this? - Logan had asked, with a hoarse voice than usual, feeling his blood run cold just with the mere possibility - But... She's going to be so devastated... - Fearful, he had looked at his computer screen, where there were the files that Paul had sent him - I... I don't know if I can...

- Oh, yes, of course, I understand. – Paul had scratched the back of his neck again, dismayed – If I were in her place, I certainly wouldn't want to be the one to give that kind of news to Diana and have to see her heart break…

- What if she hates me for it? – Logan interrupted him unintentionally, without being able to stop himself from reflecting desolately – How am I going to explain that I asked you to do this, when she doesn't even know that I care about her? What if she thinks I did it on purpose, to hurt her? And... - he swallowed hard, with a lump forming in his throat - And if that just takes me further away from her?

- Look, I understand, Logan. I really understand, but... – Paul sighs – There are other possibilities. You can ask Megan or someone else in the family to do that... Of course, surely Megan will want to kill Newton first, but... - her brother-in-law corrected herself, when he gave her a skeptical look - We can't let that happen. that she continues to be deceived.

- I know you don't. – Logan argued vehemently – I'm not saying I'm going to allow those two idiots to continue doing this to her, just because I'm afraid!

- Good. – Paul sighed, relieved – Don't worry. Missy is a nice girl, and even if she's a little upset at first, I'm sure she won't think you did it with bad intentions. Even why, what other alternative do you have?

And that question kept echoing in his mind during every second of the rest of that afternoon, in which he wandered around the agency aimlessly, wondering what to do, at the same time that he was sure that he couldn't bear to allow Missy to spend another day being deceived, just because he feared that that revelation could contribute to his losing her. Would he be cowardly enough to ask Megan or one of her brothers to do this for him, or lie that they were responsible for the evidence he had gathered? How pathetic was that?

And, at the same time, what relevance did that have, next to the fact that maybe Missy wouldn't forgive him for that, no matter how pious and kind she was?

Those fears were still crowding his shoulders when he had opened the door of one of his studios, ready to supervise the rehearsal of one of his photographers... When he had heard Newton's voice.

- And you know how virgins are. I had to do everything but, well, it was worth it just knowing I was the first one in that pussy. - Liam laughed, making Logan's blood freeze on the screens for a second, before starting to hammer with hatred.

Was he talking about...?

- You're lucky, man. – the other photographer had laughed – The quiet ones tend to be the most fiery. Of course, Suzan is also very hot, but I already had a good look at her at Sutton a few times. – From where he was, Logan saw the man elbow Liam with a perverted smile – If sometimes even those clothes are not able to hide the size of her breasts and ass, then surely you must have done well.

- Nothing like having the best of both worlds. – Liam, who was leaning back in one of the armchairs, gave a lewd laugh – Suzan may be a boner, but she's had more dicks inside her than any whore out there. Missy can dress like a 12-year-old who likes superheroes, but it's good to know I'm not walking into a hole wider than a manhole.

- Oh, Mr. Knight, there you are... - Simon's voice sounded in the distance, while Logan was preparing to fly over Newton and stomp on his head until he swallowed each of those words, when his assistant suddenly shouted, horrified – Logan! You're bleeding!

It was only then that, still lost in his almost uncontrollable urge to kill the asshole, Logan realized, very superficially, that the glass full of water he had been holding when he entered the room was now a pile of shards of glass inside his mouth. his fist, causing his blood to spurt out and form a small scarlet puddle on the floor. As he looked up, as Simon ran to him to try to pull him out of the room and tend to his wounds, he caught a glimpse of Liam's face, pale with fear... and it took every ounce of strength in him to not jump on that motherfucker's neck that very minute.

So that same night, with his aching hand wrapped in bandages and still barely able to contain the rage he felt at having heard Newton speak in that disgusting and unforgivable way about Missy, that Logan, unable to trust himself enough to stand before from Foster and especially Newton again without succumbing to the urge to kill them both, he sent a message to both of them, followed by those photos and that fateful video.

Don't think I'm kidding: either you tell Missy the truth or I'm going to show her all this. You have one day, unless you want to become two unemployed. And you better be sure to keep your mouth shut about my interference or you will suffer the consequences.

While Newton probably had a fit when he read that message, Foster responded just a second later with an obviously irritated, “Why do you care so much about a stupid girl who is just your sister-in-law's sister? What difference does it make to you if I'm having sex with her boyfriend?

With a growl that echoed through the entire house, Logan responded with a single sentence: "One day, Foster."

Several minutes passed before she finally responded, “Very well. Tomorrow then. I promise that before your darling Melissa steps foot in Mrs. Newton, she'll know everything about the two of us. Happy?".

You better keep that promise, Foster, he'd replied angrily, or I promise you'll regret it.