19. Serena
19
SERENA
I can’t tear my eyes away from the screen. The comments keep rolling in, one after the other, and each one feels like a punch to the gut. I know I should stop reading them, that it’s not healthy, but I can’t help it. How did things get so out of control?
I scroll through the latest posts, trying to catch my breath as the words blur together. People are calling me a gold digger, a fraud, saying I’m just looking for a handout.
They’re dragging my business through the mud, accusing me of all sorts of things. And the worst part? They don’t even know me.
I thought the community would support me, and to some extent, they have. I’ve seen posts defending me, calling out Levy and whoever’s behind him for trying to shut down my store.
But it’s not enough. The more people speak up for me, the more the attacks intensify. It’s like the powers that be are getting angrier with every kind word spoken in my defense.
My phone buzzes, and I glance down to see another notification from the website. I’ve been getting a lot of online orders since the news broke that my store might be gone soon.
Thank goodness for Logan’s website-building skills. Maybe, if nothing else, I can run things out of my apartment and stick to the online stuff until I can save up for another building.
It’s all overwhelming, really. The thought of losing my store, my livelihood, and everything I’ve worked so hard to build... It's like the ground is crumbling beneath my feet.
I close the laptop with a snap, forcing myself to take a deep breath. The orders are great, but they’re coming in for the wrong reasons. People aren’t buying from me because they love my work; they’re buying out of pity or maybe as some kind of protest. It doesn’t feel right, and it certainly doesn’t feel good.
The bell above the door chimes, and I look up to see Emily walking in. She has a sad look on her face, one that immediately makes my heart sink. Something’s wrong. I can see it in her eyes.
“Hey,” I say, trying to sound more cheerful than I feel. “What’s up?”
Emily hesitates for a moment, and that hesitation makes my stomach twist. “We need to talk.”
I swallow hard and nod, gesturing for her to come sit with me at the small table in the back of the store. We sit down, and I can’t help but notice the way she’s avoiding my eyes. This can’t be good.
“What is it?”
She takes a deep breath, finally meeting my gaze. “Serena, I didn’t want to believe it, but... I did some digging, and I found out something that I think you need to know.” Her voice is thick with concern, and it makes my chest tighten.
“Spill it. You’re being too dramatic.”
“Logan’s family... they’re the ones who bought the building.”
“What?”
“I know, it sounds crazy,” she says quickly, trying to soften the blow. “But it’s true. Logan’s name is on the company that bought the building. I double-checked everything. It’s all there in black and white.”
I shake my head, trying to process what she’s saying. “No, that doesn’t make any sense. Why would Logan do this to me? Why would he...?”
“I don’t know, Serena. But the only thing that makes sense is that he’s been after insider information. Maybe he’s been playing you this whole time.”
The words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I feel like I can’t breathe. “No,” I say, shaking my head more forcefully this time. “No, that’s ridiculous. Logan wouldn’t do that. Why would he need insider information from me? He could do this with any of the other stores in the building. Why would he single me out?”
She doesn’t answer immediately, and that silence is almost worse than anything she could say. I can see the doubt in her eyes, the worry, and it tears at me.
“I overheard Lisa, the coffee shop owner, talking about how she had dinner with Logan a few days ago. She didn’t seem to know about your relationship with him, but...”
I feel like the floor is falling out from under me.
Lisa? Logan had dinner with Lisa? Why didn’t he tell me?
He told me he was hanging out with Abby.
My thoughts are spinning out of control, and I don’t know what to believe anymore. Logan’s always been so honest with me... hasn’t he? But now... now I’m not sure. Maybe I’ve been naive. Maybe I’ve been blind.
“I just don’t know what to think,” I say, my voice breaking. “Why would Logan do this? Why wouldn’t he tell me? And if he’s doing this to me, what else is he hiding?”
Emily reaches across the table and takes my hand, her grip firm and reassuring. “Serena, I wouldn’t tell you these things if I didn’t think they were important. You know that, right? I only want to protect you.”
I nod, trying to hold back tears. “I know,” I whisper. “But it just doesn’t make sense.”
“I know. That’s why I’m going to bring this up with Brant. I need to see if he’s involved too or if Logan’s doing this on his own.”
The thought of Brant being involved makes my stomach turn even more. He’s Logan’s best friend, his right-hand man. If Brant’s in on this too, then... I don’t even want to think about what that means.
“Okay,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Okay, talk to Brant. But... Emily, please be careful. I don’t know what’s going on, but I don’t want you getting caught up in something dangerous.”
She gives me a small, sad smile. “Don’t worry about me, Serena. I’ll be fine. Just... take care of yourself, okay?”
I nod again, feeling numb. Emily squeezes my hand one last time before getting up to leave. As she walks out the door, I’m left alone with my thoughts, my heart heavy with doubt and fear.
I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know is that the world I thought I knew is crumbling around me, and I don’t know if I’ll be able to put the pieces back together again.
It’s been a long day, and I’m finally closing up the store. My phone sits on the counter, charging, but I’ve ignored it all day. The constant buzzing of notifications and the never-ending flood of social media comments have become too much to bear.
I don’t want to get pulled back into that black hole of negativity and distractions, so I’ve let the battery drain to almost nothing.
As I turn off the lights and lock the cash register, I glance around the shop. This place, my place, feels different now. It’s supposed to be my sanctuary, where I feel safe, but it’s starting to feel like a prison. The walls seem to be closing in on me, the shadows darker and more ominous than they used to be. I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease and head for the front door.
The evening air is cool against my skin as I step outside, the sun setting on the horizon and casting long shadows down the empty street. I take out my keys and start locking up, my mind still spinning from everything that’s happened today.
The cruel comments, the overwhelming orders, Emily’s warnings about Logan, it’s all too much. I feel like I’m drowning, and I don’t know how to come up for air.
Just as I finish locking the door, I hear footsteps behind me. I tense up, my heart skipping a beat, but before I can turn around, I feel familiar arms wrapping around me. Logan’s warmth surrounds me, but instead of comforting me like it usually does, it only makes my stomach churn.
I stiffen in his embrace, and he notices immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m not feeling well,” I lie, my tone distant as I pull away from him and step back, trying to put some space between us.
Logan frowns, clearly sensing that something is off. “Do you want my driver to take you home? You shouldn’t be walking if you’re not feeling well.”
I shake my head, forcing a small smile that I don’t feel. “I can walk. It’s not far.”
He doesn’t argue, but he falls into step beside me as we start walking down the street. The silence between us is heavy, almost suffocating, and I can feel the tension building with each passing second. I know he wants to ask me what’s really wrong, but I’m not ready to have this conversation. Not here, not now.
After a few minutes, he finally breaks the silence. “Serena, what’s going on?”
I sigh, feeling the frustration and anger bubble up inside me. I don’t want to talk, but the words are already on my tongue. “I’m just not in the mood, okay?”
Logan frowns in confusion. “I had a bad day too, baby, but I’m not taking it out on you. What’s really going on?”
His words hit a nerve, and before I can stop myself, I snap at him. “I’m not in the mood for your games or your lies, Logan.”
He stops walking, touching my shoulder and looking at me with shock and hurt in his eyes. “Games? Lies? Serena, what are you talking about?”
I cross my arms over my chest, trying to hold onto the anger simmering beneath the surface all day.
“You’re using me. I’m just a joke to you, aren’t I? I should’ve known better than to believe that you’d actually want to date someone like me.”
Logan’s eyes widen in disbelief, and his hand slips down my arm, but I pull away. “Serena, that’s not true. I don’t know where this is coming from, but you have to believe me…”
“I know you’re buying the building,” I interrupt, my voice trembling with emotion. “It would’ve been easier to handle if you’d just been honest with me from the beginning.”
Logan looks completely baffled. “Buying the building? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t lie to me!” I shout. “I know you’re buying the building, and I know you’re dating other women too. Lisa told me about your dinner. What else are you hiding from me?”
Logan’s face falls, and I can see the hurt and anger there. “Serena, that’s ridiculous. I’m not buying the building, and I’m not dating anyone else. How can you even think that?”
“Because it all makes sense!” I exclaim, my voice breaking. “You’ve been keeping secrets from me, and now everything is falling apart. I don’t know who you are anymore.”
He looks at me with desperation and frustration. “Serena, you’re wrong. I’ve never lied to you, and I’ve never done anything to hurt you. You have to believe me.”
But I can’t. I can’t even look at him right now. “I don’t want to do this anymore, Logan,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion. “I never want to see you again.”
Before he can say anything else, I turn on my heel and start walking away, my heart pounding. I can hear him calling my name, but I don’t stop. I can’t. I need to get away, to put as much distance between us as possible.
When I finally reach my apartment, I fumble with the keys, my hands shaking uncontrollably. I can’t get the door open fast enough. As soon as I step inside, I slam the door shut behind me and slide down to the floor, the tears I’ve been holding back finally spilling over.
I bury my face in my hands and start to sob, the pain and confusion washing over me in waves.
How did things get so messed up? How did we go from being so happy to this?
The doubts keep swirling in my mind, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t make them go away.
Did I make a mistake? Did I push him away for no reason? Or was I right all along?
None of this can be real, right?
He’s a good man, but his family is a bunch of assholes.
I’m not sure what to believe and what not to believe, but I know that my heart is in shambles right now.