Chapter nine

LOGAN

The investors from the G Island resort project were here, so I had to make an appearance. Mingle. Shake hands. Keep them close. Make sure none of them were slipping over to the rival’s side.

I spotted Keith talking to Mr. Black—the CEO of one of the biggest real estate investment firms in the country. The kind of man who could move a market with a phone call.

I rolled toward them.

“Mr. Black,” I said.

They both turned. He smiled widely, like we were old friends.

“Mr. Grey,” he said, reaching out. I shook his hand.

“Keith was just telling me about your big plans for G Island,” he added.

G Island. Ten trillion dollars on the line. My biggest deal to date. One wrong move and it all burns.

“I’ve got plans, yes,” I said. “But without most of the people in this room, it won’t happen. Everyone’s got a piece in it.”

Keith didn’t say anything, just stood there with his wine.

Mr. Black turned to him. “And Mr. Cross—he’s investing too, right?”

Keith nodded once, slowly. “Of course.”

Mr. Black’s phone buzzed. “Excuse me,” he said with a polite smile. “Need to take this.” He walked off, already answering the call. I took a quick glance among the people in the hall to find her but couldn't see her, she had just one job, one fucking job. Where is she?

I glanced at Keith. “When are you flying out to start the Dubai proposal?”

He sipped his wine before answering. “After the wedding.”

He shrugged. “You asked me to be your best man. I said I would. I’ll head out once we’re done."

I nodded. Everything was going well. Then, suddenly, he turned to face the window.

He didn’t say anything. Didn’t blink. Just stood there, staring. His expression gave nothing away.

I followed his gaze. The pool. He was looking at the pool direction. Weird.

That was the thing about Keith—some days he acted like nothing mattered. Like you could light the world on fire and he wouldn’t blink. Then other days, he’d stare at a sunset like it held all the secrets of the universe. I never understood him. I was about to say something when he suddenly dropped his glass onto a passing waiter’s tray and rushed off, passing the door that led to the pool. 

That wasn’t nothing—he saw something. I scanned the room—guests were still sipping, laughing, distracted. Good. No one noticed. I turned and followed him out. His suit jacket was on the ground. The water in the pool rippled hard.

He jumped in?

Why the hell would—

Then I saw movement. A figure peeking from behind the side wall, just barely visible. A woman.

Dark hair. Thin frame. I didn’t recognize her at first. But then the light shifted just enough and I saw her face.

Isn’t that… Liana’s stepmother?

Her eyes locked with mine. Then she disappeared.

Keith burst out of the pool, holding Liana in his arms. Her head lolled against his chest, hair soaked, face pale. She wasn’t moving. Keith dropped to his knees on the stone deck and lay her down gently. He pressed his fingers to her neck, then tilted her chin, starting CPR immediately. Chest compressions. Then mouth-to-mouth. Again. And again. I stayed where I was, watching them.

Is she dead? 

Keith didn’t stop until she coughed. Her body jerked once as water spilled from her mouth. Her fingers clutched at Keith’s soaked shirt, her lips were moving—muttering something I couldn't hear. 

If she couldn’t swim, why the hell was she near the pool?

My mind drifted to what I saw earlier—Liana’s stepmother.

Could it be that—? No. Not my business. That was between them. Keith carried her back into his arms.

“I’ll take her to one of the guest rooms,” he said without looking at me.

I gave a short nod. “Go.”

He disappeared through the side hall.

I stayed behind, eyes on the water still rippling. Then I turned back toward the ballroom, straightened my sleeves, and went in. 

My mood shifted, and I didn’t know why. A tightness pulled at my chest, not sharp—just… there. Like a seed had been planted, and I wasn’t sure what type of seed it was. 

I was sure my mood didn't drop because she nearly died That wasn’t it. I didn’t care about her.

She should’ve stayed away from the water if she couldn’t swim. That was common sense. But something about the way she looked when she opened her eyes—the way her hands clung to Keith like she was trying to stay alive—it didn’t sit right. And then there was her stepmother.

Peeking around the wall. She disappeared the second she saw me.

Keith must’ve seen something. I’d ask him. But the second I thought that, I stopped myself. What the hell was I doing?

This wasn’t my problem.

I didn’t care what went on between her and her twisted family. I didn’t care if they pushed her or drowned her, buried her. So I did what I always did—I buried it. Swallowed the questions. Shut off the part of me that wanted to dig. Instead, I turned back toward the ballroom, walked in, and called the night.

“My fiancée is feeling a little under the weather,” I told the guest. “We’ll end the evening here.” They nodded and began to leave. I didn’t speak to anyone else. I just sat there in silence until the last glass clinked and the last car rolled away. 

And even then, that seed inside me-whatever the hell it was—was still there.

“Where is she?” My mother’s voice cut through the silence. 

She stepped into the room, heels clicking softly against the marble. “Where’s Liana?"

Before I could answer, I saw two more figures approaching—Raymond and my grandfather.

“Logan,” Raymond said. “What happened?"

I didn’t respond. Not because I didn’t have an answer, but because a familiar voice broke out, screaming. From the poolside. We all turned at once and rushed toward it. Getting outside, I saw Liana on top of her stepmother. She had both hands wrapped around Penelope’s throat, her voice cracking as she yelled, “Where is my daughter?! Where is she?! Tell me where you kept her!”

Daughter? What daughter?

I turned to Raymond, then back to Liana. No, that couldn’t be right. From what I was told, from the research, she was probably a virgin. 

Liana tightened her grip and Penelope started gasping. Mother stepped in, trying to separate them. 

“I swear to God, Penelope, if you don’t tell me where she is, I’ll kill you right here—do you hear me? I’ll kill you!”

A pulse ticked in my jaw. Once. Then twice.

She really has a daughter?!