The moment hung suspended and the air so taut it could have snapped.Damien Blackwell’s gaze fixed on Charlotte as soon as he heard her last word. His sharp eyes finally landed on Logan—plainly dressed, calm, almost indifferent in the sea of fine suits and jewels. The man’s quiet composure seemed to irritate him, though he wouldn’t show it.For a heartbeat, Damien said nothing. Then, with the unhurried precision of someone born to be watched, he adjusted his cufflinks, smoothed the front of his tailored black suit, and began walking toward Charlotte.His polished shoes clicked against the marble floor, each sound echoing through the charged stillness of the Sullivan banquet hall. All eyes in the room followed him. His face remained composed, his chin held high, but his eyes gleamed with something sharper than charm, something that made the crowd’s breath catch.When he stopped directly before Charlotte, the tension was almost unbearable. He gave a faint, practiced smile that didn

“...I have the direct ears of the Iron Man himself,” Damien continued confidently, turning toward Joyce and the rest of the Sullivan family as though he were revealing a state secret. His voice carried easily through the elegant dining hall, commanding attention.“Not many people can say that, believe me,” he went on smoothly, his chest swelling with pride. “The projects I’ve secured through him have already made my network untouchable. No competitor even comes close.”A murmur of admiration swept through the Sullivan table. Heads nodded. The glint of opportunity flashed in several eyes. A few of Charlotte’s cousins exchanged hopeful looks, whispering among themselves, already picturing the doors such a connection could open. If Damien Blackwell truly had ties to the Iron Man, their businesses could soar overnight.But while the others sat enthralled, one man seemed entirely unmoved.Logan.He leaned back in his chair, arms loosely crossed, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of

All eyes were on Logan.He stood tall beside Charlotte. The air seemed frozen in place, thick with disbelief. He had just spoken—clearly and firmly—and his words hung in the hall like an unshakable decree.For a full moment, the room seemed to forget how to breathe. Even the faint clinking of glasses ceased. Joyce's lips parted in quiet disbelief before curling into a faint, poisonous smile.Everyone turned toward Logan in unison with their eyes narrowing with a mixture of confusion and contempt. It wasn’t just the boldness of his statement that unsettled them; it was the sheer audacity that he, an outsider, had dared to speak at all.To them, Logan was nothing more than an inconvenience. The man Charlotte had married against reason and without permission. A man they barely tolerated—if at all.The silence broke when one of the uncles muttered darkly, “What nerve…”Joyce’s expression hardened. “Excuse me?” she said sharply, her voice slicing through the murmurs. “Did I just hear y

The hall was dead silent—so silent that even the faint hum of the chandelier seemed deafening. Damien lay on the marble floor, clutching his arm and groaning in pain. His expensive suit was creased, his composure shattered. The great heir of the Blackwell family—the man who had strutted in with arrogance and entitlement—was now curled up like a wounded animal at Logan’s feet.Gasps filled the room. Some were of disbelief, others of outrage. The Sullivans, known for their control and refinement, now looked like a nest of hissing serpents disturbed by an intruder.Charlotte stood frozen beside Logan, her heart racing wildly. She hadn’t expected him to act—but he had, swiftly and decisively. She saw the fire in his eyes, the calm, unyielding strength that always surfaced when someone dared to disrespect her. For a moment, she couldn’t even breathe.Across the table, Felix Sullivan shot to his feet, his chair clattering backward. His face flushed red, his voice cutting through the air l

Chloe’s eyes fluttered open weakly as Logan carried her through the front door and into the guest room. Her frail body trembled beneath the soft blankets wrapped tightly around her. Though the doctors had used the word “stable,” there was nothing stable about the way she looked. Her lips were pale, her breathing shallow, and her fingers twitched every few seconds as if she were fighting something unseen—something determined to pull her away from the world she still clung to.Charlotte followed close behind, her heart twisting painfully at the sight. Barbara stood frozen in the doorway, tears already gathering in her eyes. For a long moment, no one spoke. Only the faint hum of the ceiling fan filled the silence, slicing through the tension like a whisper.“Lay her down gently,” Charlotte murmured, her voice trembling.Logan nodded without speaking. He moved with steady precision, lowering Chloe onto the freshly made bed as though she were made of glass. When he brushed a strand o