Frozen Rebirth: I Will Outlive You All

Across the Line

"Wait a second. Is that Logan?"

​Ashton Hayes squinted through the glaring construction lights.

​"Your adopted son, Madison?" Ashton asked, turning to the stunned woman.

​The wealthy neighbors of Silver Lake had stepped out of their luxury homes in silk robes and expensive slippers. They were drawn by the deafening roar of diesel engines tearing up the Hawthorne estate.

​Taylor Brooks clapped her hands together. "Oh, it makes perfect sense now!"

​"Madison, you always kept him out of the country club photos," Taylor continued. "We never even knew what he did for a living. To think he was a secret billionaire this whole time!"

​Ashton offered a warm, envious smile. "And look at how much he loves his family. He could have bought a penthouse in the city."

​"Instead, he spends a fortune to buy the estate right next to you," Ashton added. "That is true loyalty."

​The neighbors showered Madison with congratulations. They urged her to go over and greet the mysterious new owner.

​Madison stood completely frozen on the pristine sidewalk.

​Her heart hammered against her ribs. Cold sweat prickled the back of her neck despite the biting wind.

​A secret billionaire? That was absolutely impossible.

​Just this morning, Logan was an obedient dog begging for her approval.

​Where did this money come from?

​And worse, what if he told all these wealthy neighbors the truth? If he revealed how the Bennetts actually treated him, their high society reputation would be ruined overnight.

​She took a step backward, completely overwhelmed by anxiety.

​Mason noticed his mother panicking. He leaned in close, keeping his voice to a harsh whisper.

​"Mom, calm down," Mason muttered. "Think about this logically. He is playing a game."

​Madison swallowed hard. Her eyes darted between Mason and the massive construction site next door.

​"He has spent the last fifteen years acting like a dog," Mason sneered. "He did everything possible just to get a pat on the head from you."

​"A little bit of money does not change a person overnight," Mason assured her.

​"But he annulled the adoption," Madison whispered back.

​"He was just throwing a tantrum because of Sienna," Mason replied, adjusting the collar of his designer shirt.

​"Look at the facts. If he truly wanted nothing to do with us, why buy the house directly next door?"

​Mason smiled a predatory smile. "He is putting on a massive show just to get our attention. He is desperate for your validation."

​"He just wants you to beg him to come back," Mason concluded confidently.

​The words washed over Madison like a soothing balm. Mason was absolutely right.

​Logan had always been painfully obedient. He craved their affection. He was probably waiting by those reinforced steel gates right now, hoping she would finally tell him she was proud.

​Her posture straightened. The greedy gleam returned to her eyes.

​If she played her cards right, she could easily manipulate him back into her control. With his new fortune, the Bennett family could dominate the entire state.

​Madison stepped forward, she walked toward the property line with her arms wide open.

​She pasted on a radiant, tearful smile for the audience of wealthy neighbors watching her.

​"Logan, my sweet boy!" Madison called out loudly. She made sure her voice carried over the sound of the heavy machinery.

​"You really kept this a secret from us! You have finally made something of yourself, and I could not be more truly proud of you."

​She reached out, ready to embrace him. "Come here and give your mother a hug."

​Logan did not change his expression.

​He looked at the woman who had kicked him out into the minus forty degree cold to die.

​Now, because he had money, she was offering him the embrace he had spent fifteen years begging for. It was entirely pathetic.

​As Madison leaned in for the hug, Logan raised his right hand.

​A sharp, explosive crack echoed through the crisp night air.

​The slap was brutally heavy. It connected perfectly with Madison right across her cheek.

​The sheer force of the impact spun her around. She stumbled awkwardly in her heels and collapsed onto the dusty concrete driveway.

​A stunned, horrifying silence fell over the gathered crowd of neighbors. The elite residents of Silver Lake could not believe their eyes.

​Madison touched her burning cheek. A bright red handprint was already swelling on her skin.

​She looked up at Logan. Her eyes were wide with absolute disbelief and rising terror.

​"Are you insane?" Mason roared, breaking the silence.

​He charged forward, his fists clenched tight. Sienna trailed behind him, looking completely terrified.

​Mason stopped right in front of Logan. His face flushed with rage.

​"How can you treat her like this?" Mason shouted for the crowd to hear. "She raised you! She gave you a roof over your head when you had nothing!"

​Mason pointed a finger at Logan's chest. "I grew up looking up to you as a role model, and you repay our family with this kind of ungrateful violence?"

He was trying to immediately spin Logan into the villain of the story.

​Logan tilted his head slightly. His cold eyes locked onto Mason.

​Without a single word of warning, Logan swung his arm again.

​Another sickening crack split the air.

​Mason did not just stumble. The backhand slap caught him directly on the jaw, lifting him slightly off his feet.

​He crashed into the wrought iron gates with a heavy thud. Mason groaned in pain, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the pavement.

​Sienna screamed and rushed to his side.

​She looked from Mason's bleeding mouth to Logan's towering, wealthy presence. A sickening wave of regret washed over her.

​"Role model?" Logan asked. His voice was not loud, but the icy edge in his tone made everyone shiver.

​"Do not speak to me about family loyalty or brotherhood while my girlfriend's perfume still reeks off you."

​The crowd of neighbors collectively gasped.

​The scandalous revelation swept through them like wildfire. The perfect Bennett family image shattered entirely right in front of their eyes.

​"You..." Mason stammered, holding his bruised jaw. "You are dead, Logan. You think some money makes you untouchable?"

​"I think it makes me your landlord," Logan replied smoothly.

​He pulled a pristine white handkerchief from his pocket and slowly wiped his hands.

​"Let me make something perfectly clear to all of you," Logan said, addressing the elite crowd.

​"Madison Bennett is not my mother. Preston is not my father. We severed all legal ties at city hall this morning."

​Madison scrambled to her feet. Her face was pale with absolute humiliation.

​"Logan, please," Madison begged in a harsh whisper. "The neighbors are watching."

​"Let them watch," Logan said coldly. He tossed the used handkerchief onto the ground at her feet.

​"I bought this property for one reason only. To build my own life without your parasitic family dragging me down."

​Logan stepped back behind his property line. ​"If any of you step foot onto my land again, I will have my security break your legs."