Sitting pensively on the bed, that's what Logan was doing. He repeatedly ignored incoming calls from Soraya and Mark until his mother suddenly appeared and sat beside him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.
"You know, I'm very proud of your achievements," Lisa said softly.
"But it feels meaningless to Dad," Logan replied, still looking down at his phone. "He doesn't appreciate my hard work... He always thinks I'd be better off accepting his help, but that would only make me constantly viewed as incapable and dependent," he continued.
Lisa let out a deep sigh.
"Well... He doesn't think of it that way... Don't misinterpret his intentions."
"But that's the truth!" Logan interrupted, turning to her with raised eyebrows. "He thinks I can't be happy, that I can't make my woman happy... as if he knows everything!"
"But you can't deny that what he says might have some truth, right?" Lisa asked, raising an eyebrow. "Think about it... if you start focusing on the business world now, in a year or two, you could relax and focus on your partner. You know she's not in her twenties anymore—she's almost thirty. Don't make her wait too long... She's a grown woman, and I'm sure she's with you because she loves you and has faith in you." Lisa's tone was firm yet encouraging.
Logan lowered his head again.
"I don't mind if you take your relationship seriously, even though she's older than you. It's not a problem... In fact, I'm proud, because maybe she can teach you to be more mature. But you must also understand that she's at an age where she's ready to settle down. This means you need to prepare everything—financially and time-wise. Don't let her wait too long to get married, only to end up as a lonely wife because her husband is always busy. Especially in the modeling world, where you'll constantly meet other women..." Lisa sighed deeply. "I can't imagine being in her position. I couldn't bear seeing the man I love constantly surrounded by other women."
Logan frowned at his mother. "You think that way, yet you're the second wife."
"Hey, that's a different case!" Lisa tapped Logan's thigh.
Logan smiled faintly and looked away.
"Don't compare this to my relationship with your father—it's entirely different... and perhaps you wouldn't understand!" Lisa clarified.
"Then don't worry about me..." Logan stood up.
"Where are you going?" Lisa asked, her tone sharp.
"I need to get back to work. I won't let my career fall apart over this," Logan said, heading to the door.
Lisa hurried to block his way, stopping him at the doorway.
"Logan, please!"
Logan exhaled heavily, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"I'll talk to your father... for your future... Okay? Just tell him you'll accept the company assets he's offering. I'll handle everything," Lisa said nervously.
"That means you'll have to work, move to New York?" Logan guessed.
Lisa nodded. "Yes... It's better than you missing the chance to own a company. Maybe you feel you don't need it now because your modeling career is going well. But someday, you might get tired or bored. That's why I'll manage it for you until you're ready to take over," she explained.
Logan sighed and placed his hands on his mother's shoulders. "Mom... There's no need for that. Trust me, I'll prepare for my future. I know I won't always shine in modeling... I know the time will come to retire. I'll handle everything my way, not with Dad's help."
"Alright..." Lisa smiled, gently removing Logan's hands from her shoulders. "If you don't want to accept it, that's fine. But I'll still do it... maybe for the sake of your future children," she said calmly before leaving.
Logan stood still, watching his mother walk away. "My children? She's thinking too far ahead..."
"Um..." He furrowed his brows, suddenly remembering Grace, who loved children but doubted she'd have any. "She's almost 30... She's ready to be a mom... but would she want to have kids with me? Can I even be a good father?" he wondered aloud.
Drrrttt...
Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Logan quickly grabbed it and saw an incoming call from Soraya, then answered.
"Soraya?"
"Are you crazy? Where have you been? I've been looking for you! Why haven't you finished your task?" Soraya's voice was angry. "Do you know the consequences? Your reputation will be ruined for being unprofessional, and you'll have to pay a fine if the designer doesn't accept your excuse!"
"Are you done?" Logan asked calmly.
"Logan... This is serious!"
"I know... But I couldn't stay there because I had to deal with something equally serious. If I need to pay a fine, just tell me how much. And the money from this contract will be yours," Logan said flatly before ending the call. He sighed, staring at his phone and imagining the scene at the fashion week venue. "Okay... I won't lose opportunities. There are plenty of others interested in me," he muttered before pocketing his phone again.
Logan walked into the living room, where his father immediately got up from the sofa and approached him, followed by his mother.
"Are you leaving now?" Lisa asked with a sad look.
Logan bit his lower lip, staring at his mother.
"Stay... for your mom," William said with a flat gaze before walking away.
"At least until tomorrow morning... I want to make breakfast for you," Lisa pleaded.
Logan slowly nodded and smiled. "Of course... It's been a while since I've had your cooking. It'll be special," he said, hugging his mother.
Manhattan, New York, 4 PM
Grace walked out of the daycare center, carrying a medium-sized gray bag. She glanced around before deciding to enter a classic-style café, where she ordered coffee and toast with chocolate spread.
Drrrtt... Drrrtt...
She quickly took out her phone and saw an incoming call from Stella, then answered.
"Sis, where are you?"
"I'm at a café, not far from our apartment," Grace replied, gazing out the glass wall.
"Oh good, I'll be there!" Stella said abruptly before ending the call.
Grace smiled as she saw Stella walking hurriedly toward the café entrance.
"I have some news for you. I hope it doesn't upset you!" Stella said, sitting across from Grace and showing her phone. "Look... Logan didn't participate in the closing show of fashion week tonight..."
Frowning, Grace took the phone and read the attached post.
"He didn't finish the fashion show properly and disappeared. Paparazzi even caught him entering a luxury car with a mysterious man... But some say that man is William Hart's trusted aide," Stella explained while watching Grace's reaction to the post. "You know... William Hart is a billionaire. He has two wives and four sons—two from the first wife and two from the second. But the two sons from the second wife have never been seen. No one knows who they are... It's like their identities are hidden."
Grace handed the phone back to Stella and calmly picked up her own phone. She dialed Logan's number, and he answered almost immediately.
"Logan," she whispered anxiously.
"Hi, sweetheart... You must've missed me," Logan replied, his tone teasing.
Grace smiled faintly. "Um... I just wanted to check if you're okay. Did everything go well?"
"No... Honey. I suddenly got a stomachache, so I decided to go to a friend's mansion."
Grace frowned. "Really? Did you see a doctor?"
"Yes... I've been treated by a doctor. Everything's fine; it was just something I ate. Don't worry."
Grace let out a long sigh, glancing at Stella, who raised an eyebrow at her.
"What happened?" Stella whispered.
Grace turned away and refocused on the call. "Please don't rush back if you're not fully recovered," she said.
"Don't you miss me?"
"Logan... You don't need to ask that. You already know the answer. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you. Please, take your time," she pleaded.
"Alright... I'm feeling sleepy now. Must be the medicine kicking in. Uhmmm," Logan yawned.
"Okay... Sleep well."
"Emmuuahhh!"
Grace smiled faintly and ended the call before looking back at Stella.
"He has a stomachache and is staying at a friend's mansion," she explained.
Stella frowned. "That's strange... He has a manager and an assistant. Why would he stay with a friend when he's sick? Shouldn't his team be taking care of him?"
Grace shrugged.
"But paparazzi saw him entering a car with William Hart's trusted aide... Okay, what if that 'friend' is actually that aide or a member of William Hart's family? Or maybe he's..." Stella suddenly stopped, her eyes wide.
Grace frowned at her. "What?"
"What if he's one of William Hart's sons who's kept out of the public eye?" Stella asked excitedly.
Grace chuckled immediately.
"Hey… That makes sense!" Stella tried to convince her again. "Maybe he told you he was at his friend's mansion because he didn't want his true identity revealed... He's…"
"Stella, enough!" Grace interrupted. "I know him... He's from the Maverick family. Okay... I even know his brother and sister-in-law. He has nothing to do with William Hart," she explained, raising her eyebrows.
Stella let out a sharp breath. "That could still be part of his lie," she said with a pout.
"Getting into William Hart's car doesn't make someone part of his family. There could be plenty of reasons," Grace said calmly, then greeted the waiter who brought her coffee and biscuits. "Thank you..."