Chapter 278

Chapter 278 Warning Signs

Ella

I arrived home that night, the weight of the evening still heavy on my shoulders. The glittering

chandeliers, the fancy gowns, the laughter and chatter of the party all seemed like a distant

dream as I stood in my dimly lit apartment, still wearing my beautiful white dress.

The words Logan had spoken to me on the drive home lingered in my mind, a soothing balm to

the chaos of emotions I felt. His promise that no one would get hurt, the determination in his

eyes, it somehow made me feel a little better. But could I really trust him?

I unzipped my beautiful white dress and let it fall to the floor, my reflection in the mirror looking

pale and lost.

Logan was a part of a world I knew nothing about, a world that seemed both thrilling and

terrifying. What would my parents think if they ever found out? What would they say if they

knew I was pretending to be involved with a Mafia boss?

I shuddered at the thought, realizing with a sickening feeling that I could never tell them the

truth. I was alone in this, completely and utterly alone. Even my wolf wouldn’t talk to me after

our last conversation.

The next morning, I made my way to work, my heart heavy with dread. The moment I walked through

the doors, I could feel the eyes on me, the whispers and glances following me down the hallway.

They were judging me for walking in with a Mafia boss the other day. He had his arm around my

shoulders… It still made me feel sick.

What did they think? That I had used my ‘boyfriend’ to intimidate Mr. Henderson into giving me my old

job back? Because that was true, to a certain extent. I didn’t ask for it, but Logan had threatened my

boss. He could lie about it all he wanted, but I knew the truth..

In the breakroom, I ran into a colleague, Sarah, who greeted me with a knowing smirk. “So, Ella,” she

said, her voice dripping with malice, “welcome back to the firm.”

I forced a weak smile. “Thanks, Sarah. I’m glad to be back.” Now is your chance to redeem yourself, I

thought. “I… um… I’m glad that Mr. Henderson agreed to give me a second chance here. I didn’t

expect him to be so willing when I asked him if I could prove myself.”

“Mhm.” Sarah clenched her coffee cup a little tighter, her knowing smirk growing on her face. “Sure. By

the way, is it true that you’re from that ‘Morgan’ family? And that you’re dating a Mafia guy?”

I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest. How did everyone know? Was my private life really so

public?

“It’s… private business, Sarah,” I said, my voice as cold as I could make it. “I don’t see why it’s any

concern of yours.”

She just laughed, leaning against the counter as she stirred her coffee with a spoon and tapped it

loudly against the side of the mug. “Oh, Ella, you always were so secretive. But you know, you should

be careful. I’ve known women who get involved with the Mafia and can’t get out. It’s not a game, you

know.”

“It’s not like that at all,” I snapped, my voice rising slightly. “You don’t know anything about me or my

relationship with… anyone. So maybe you should just keep your opinions to yourself.”

Sarah just shook her head, her eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite place. Pity? Understanding? I

watched as she wandered over to the door, pausing for a moment.

“You must be lucky then, Ella,” she said. “You come from affluence. You’re not like those poor sex

workers or poverty-stricken women who are used and abused. You have choices.”

Her words hit me like a slap in the face. Was that really what she thought of me? That I was just some

spoiled rich girl, playing games with people’s lives?

Before I could come up with a response, she left. I watched her walk away, a cold feeling settling in my

stomach. Was she right? Was I just playing with fire, too blind to see the danger I was putting myself

in?

Was I really so different from those women she had mentioned, the ones who had no choice but to do

what they were told?

I sat down, my mind spinning, my heart aching with guilt. What had I gotten myself into? What had I

done? Was I really so naive, so careless, so selfish?

I buried my face in my hands, tears welling in my eyes. The reality of my situation was starting to sink

in, and I felt overwhelmed, lost, and utterly alone. A pawn in a game that I stupidly got myself involved

in, all because of… what? Working late one night?

If only I had just listened to my parents that night and called an Uber. Maybe then I would have avoided

all of this. I never would have met Logan.

But, no. He planned to meet me all along. If it hadn’t been that night, it would have been the next

day, or maybe the next. But we still would have met, and I would still be here in this whole

mess.

“Are you okay, Ella?” a gentle voice asked, and I looked up to see a coworker, a kind woman

named Mary, looking at me with concern. I shook my head, wiping my tears away. “I’m fine,

Mary. Just… just a lot on my mind.”

She nodded, her eyes filled with sympathy. “I understand. The people around here love to

gossip, but don’t pay them much mind. If you need someone to talk to, I’m here.”

I smiled, grateful for her kindness. At least there was one person in this place who didn’t see

me as a threat or a spoiled little brat. “Thank you, Mary. I appreciate that.”

But as I went about my day, the whispers and stares continued to follow me everywhere I went. I

knew that no amount of kindness or sympathy could erase the reality of my situation. I was

trapped in a web of my own making, and I had no idea how to get out.

Logan’s words echoed in my mind, his promise to keep me safe, to protect me. But could I

really trust him? Could I trust anyone anymore?

As the day wore on, the weight of my decisions, the guilt and fear, the uncertainty, it all weighed

heavily on me, and I knew that my life would never be the same again.

More than once, I wondered if I should leave this city and go home. I could tell my parents

everything. My dad would protect me. He… He would make this all go away.

But I had too much pride for that. I had entered a world I knew nothing about, and I was in over

my head. And no matter what I did, no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise, I

knew that I was lost, and there was no turning back.

And I had to deal with the consequences on my own.