Lately, the tension in the mansion was suffocating. Everyone seemed to be hiding something, and I had no idea who I could trust. **Derek** was as cryptic as ever, always appearing at critical moments with vague warnings about the future. And **Sophia**—although she maintained her usual polite demeanor—couldn't fully disguise the jealousy and hostility in her eyes.
But the person who confused me the most was **Logan**. He was my fiancé, a key player in this family's arrangements, yet I knew so little about him. He was quiet, distant, and his actions were shrouded in mystery. I couldn't help but wonder what role he truly played in this power struggle. Was he just another pawn, or did he have his own hidden agenda?
That evening, I decided it was time to confront him. I needed to know where he stood. After searching for a while, I finally found him on a secluded balcony at the far end of the mansion, gazing out into the night. His broad back was turned to me, and the tension in his posture mirrored the weight I felt in my chest.
"**Logan**," I called softly as I approached him.
He didn't turn around, but his voice was low and calm when he spoke. "You should be inside, **Emma**. This isn't a place for you."
I frowned at his words. "Isn't a place for me? This is my family, my life, too. And you, **Logan**—what do you want from this marriage? What do you want from me?"
Finally, he turned to face me, his dark eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. For a moment, I saw something behind that cold, impenetrable exterior—something that hinted at deeper emotions buried beneath.
"What do you think I want?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with an emotion I couldn't quite place—anger, regret, or something else entirely.
"I don't know," I admitted honestly, my frustration rising. "I don't know where you stand, Logan. I don't know if you even care about me or if this marriage is just a business arrangement."
He held my gaze for a long moment, then sighed softly, his expression unreadable. "This marriage was arranged by our families. I had no choice in the matter, just as you didn't. But that doesn't mean I don't care about you, **Emma**."
I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by his admission. He had always been so distant, so controlled, that I never expected him to say something so... vulnerable.
"I've never wanted to be a part of this family's power games," he continued, his voice low but steady. "But none of us can escape it. The least I can do is protect you, whether you believe it or not."
"Protect me?" My heart skipped a beat. It wasn't the first time I'd noticed him acting as a shield, but I had never understood why. "Why would you want to protect me, Logan? You don't have to."
His expression softened, just for a moment, and I saw a flicker of something in his eyes—something I hadn't seen before. "Maybe it's because you're stronger than I thought," he said quietly, "and more fragile than you realize. And I... can't just stand by and watch you get hurt."
His words sent a wave of emotion through me. I didn't fully understand his feelings, but I could sense the sincerity in what he was saying. Maybe I had been wrong to judge him so harshly.
"But you're still hiding things, aren't you?" I asked, my voice soft but firm. The doubt in my mind was still there, no matter what he said.
He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes. There are things I can't tell you, not yet. It's not just for my sake, **Emma**. It's to protect you, too."
"Protect me?" I repeated, confused. "From what?"
He didn't answer directly, his eyes clouding with the weight of whatever he was hiding. "There are dangers you don't know about. Things that are still unfolding. But I promise you this—I'll make sure you're not caught in the crossfire."
I stood there, torn. On one hand, I still didn't know if I could fully trust him. On the other, there was something about the way he spoke, the way he looked at me, that made me want to believe him. For the first time, I felt like maybe he wasn't my enemy in all this.
"All right," I said at last, my tone softening. "I'll trust you, for now. But if there's something I need to know, I expect you to be honest with me."
He nodded, his gaze steady. "I will. When the time is right, I'll tell you everything."
We stood there in the cool night air, the tension between us still present, but something had shifted. I still didn't fully understand **Logan**, but I knew now that he wasn't just a cold, distant figure in my life. He was more complicated than that, and his place in this family's battle was deeper than I had realized.
As I stared at him, I couldn't help but feel that there was much more to come—secrets that were still waiting to be revealed, alliances that were yet to be tested. But for now, I had to take a leap of faith. **Logan** might not be the enemy, but that didn't mean the path ahead would be any less treacherous.