Chapter Thirteen Grace
Chapter Thirteen
Grace
I’m late. Of course I am. After spending far too long stressing over my hair—trying to get it to look effortlessly perfect while only managing to drive myself crazy—I finally managed to pull it into a loose, elegant updo that seemed like a compromise between casual and formal. Now, I’m rushing through the doors of the rehearsal dinner, feeling the weight of being late for such an important event.
The dining room is already buzzing with conversation, the low hum of laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. My heart races as I scan the room, trying to find my seat, and then my eyes land on him. Logan.
He’s standing near one of the tables, talking to Joseph, but my breath catches in my throat as I take him in. He’s wearing a crisp, tailored black suit, the fabric hugging his broad shoulders in all the right ways. The top button of his white dress shirt is undone, just enough to show the faintest hint of skin beneath, making him look both polished and effortlessly sexy.
His hair is styled, but not too perfectly, just tousled enough to make him look like he rolled out of bed looking that good. There’s something about the way he’s standing—confident, but relaxed—that makes the room feel smaller, like he’s the only thing I can focus on.
The way the fabric of his jacket moves with every gesture, the way the light catches on the sharp line of his jaw, makes heat rise in my cheeks. He catches my eye across the room, and for a second, it’s just us. His gaze lingers, and I swear his lips twitch into the slightest hint of a smile, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.
I take a deep breath, trying to calm the flutter in my chest, and make my way over to the table. My parents are already seated, along with Jess and Logan, who’s now taken his place beside them. As I slide into the seat next to my mom, I feel Logan’s gaze on me again, the weight of it making my pulse quicken.
“Finally made it,” Jess says with a grin, nudging me playfully. “I thought we were going to have to send out a search party.”
I laugh, trying to play it cool. “Yeah, well, the hair situation turned into a battle. The hair won.”
My mom pats my hand, giving me a warm smile. “You look beautiful, Grace. Just in time. Emily and Joseph haven’t started any speeches yet.”
I glance over at Logan, who’s sitting directly across from me, his eyes still on me, the heat between us unmistakable. He gives me a lazy, knowing smile, and for a second, I forget how to breathe.
“You look great,” he says, his voice low and smooth, and the way he says it feels like it’s meant just for me. The intensity in his gaze, the way his lips curl into that slow, sexy grin—it’s all too much, and yet I want more.
I manage a smile, feeling my heart pound in my chest. “Thanks. You don’t look too bad yourself.”
He chuckles softly, leaning back in his chair, his eyes never leaving mine. “I try.”
The conversation around the table is light, filled with excitement for the wedding tomorrow. My parents are gushing about how beautiful everything looks, while Jess is teasing me about getting to walk down the aisle as a bridesmaid. The air is filled with laughter and warmth, and for a moment, it feels like everything is perfect.
“Can you believe it?” my mom says, her eyes shining with joy. “It’s going to be such a beautiful day.”
“I know,” I reply, smiling at her. “It’s crazy how fast time has flown by. Feels like just yesterday they got engaged.”
“Speaking of,” Jess chimes in, her eyes flicking between Logan and me. “You two must be excited for your own big day, huh?”
My stomach flips at the mention of our fake engagement, but I manage to nod, forcing a smile. “Yeah… excited.”
Logan meets my eyes, and for a split second, the tension between us crackles. I can see the unspoken words in his gaze, the weight of everything we’ve left unresolved. Before I can say anything, something—or rather, someone—catches my attention.
Samantha.
She strides into the room, head held high, looking like she belongs here even though she absolutely wasn’t invited to the rehearsal dinner. Dressed in a sleek, body-hugging black dress, she makes a beeline for our table, her lips curled into a smile that’s anything but friendly.
Emily spots her first, her brow furrowing in confusion. “Samantha? What are you doing here?”
Samantha doesn’t miss a beat, her gaze shifting between Logan and me as she makes her way over. “Oh, I’m sorry for the interruption,” she says, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “I just needed to speak to Logan and Grace.”
The room falls silent, and I can feel the tension tightening around us like a noose. I glance at Logan, who’s already sitting up straighter, his expression hardening. My heart sinks, dread pooling in my stomach.
This is not good.
The room feels like it’s spinning as Samantha makes her way toward us, her heels clicking against the floor with each calculated step. I can already feel the heat rising in my cheeks, the dread settling in my stomach. I glance at Logan, hoping he’ll take control of the situation, diffuse whatever this is before it blows up.
Logan stands up, his face a mask of calm, though I can see the tension in his jaw. “Let’s talk in private, Samantha,” he says, his voice firm but steady. “This isn’t the time or place.”
Samantha’s smile widens, and she waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, no need for that. I can say what I need to right here.” Her eyes flicker toward me, and I feel the weight of her gaze like a punch to the gut. “It’s not a secret, after all.”
My heart races, a cold sweat breaking out along my skin. I glance at my parents, who are sitting quietly, watching with a mix of confusion and concern. Jess is looking between Samantha and me, her brow furrowed, clearly sensing the tension. I can already feel the embarrassment creeping in, the dread of what Samantha is about to say, knowing that everyone can hear. Including Joseph and Emily.
“Samantha,” I try, my voice weak but desperate. “Please, just—”
She cuts me off, her smile still fixed in place, though now it feels like a predator baring its teeth. “Logan, I just think it’s interesting, that’s all. I mean, you’ve always been careful about who you trust. Then this… what’s her name — Grace — She swoops in, and suddenly, you’re engaged?”
I freeze, the words hitting me like a slap. Logan shifts beside me, his fists clenching at his sides. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, Samantha,” he snaps, his voice hard. “This isn’t about you.”
Samantha’s gaze sharpens, and she takes a step closer, her voice dripping with fake concern. “Oh, I think it’s very much about me. I know a gold digger when I see one. I can’t help but wonder, did you two get together before or after we split?”
The room goes completely silent, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. She just called me a gold digger. In front of everyone.
I glance at my parents, at Jess, and see the shock on their faces. Emily and Joseph are watching from across the room, their smiles gone, replaced by wide eyes. The embarrassment is crushing, the shame clawing at my throat. I want to disappear, to melt into the floor.
Logan takes a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. “Gold digger. You would know all about that, wouldn’t you, Samantha?” His words cut through the air like a knife. “You’re the expert on using people for personal gain, considering that’s exactly what you did with me.”
Samantha’s eyes flash, and her smile turns icy. “You really think this little charade is going to last? She’s just playing you, Logan. When she’s done with you, she’ll move on to the next rich guy who comes along.”
“That’s enough,” Logan growls, but it’s too late. The damage is done, and I can feel the weight of everyone’s eyes on me, like they’re waiting for me to defend myself, to say something—anything.
I try to speak, to say something that will calm everything down, but the words stick in my throat. “This isn’t… I’m not…” I start, but Samantha’s smirk deepens, and I realize she’s enjoying this—relishing in the attention and the scene she’s causing. She wants this fight, wants to tear me down in front of everyone.
“Samantha,” I say, my voice shaky but firm. “This isn’t about you. Please, just stop.”
“Oh, Grace,” she replies with mock pity, tilting her head. “You can pretend all you want, but we all know what’s really going on here. You saw an opportunity and took it. Smart, really. I almost admire it.”
My heart feels like it’s going to burst, the humiliation washing over me in waves. My parents are staring at me, their confusion turning to worry. Jess looks at me with a mix of disbelief and anger, and I can see Emily’s shocked face in the background.
“Samantha, stop!” I say, my voice rising with desperation. “You’re wrong!”
Logan steps forward again, his face flushed with anger, but I can’t handle it anymore. The attention, the accusations, the way Samantha’s words are twisting everything—it’s too much. I know this could ruin everything, and the walls are closing in.
“I can’t do this,” I mutter, my breath hitching. “I can’t—”
Before Logan or anyone else can react, I push away from the table and storm out of the room, my heart pounding in my chest. I can’t stay here, can’t face the looks, the whispers, the pity in their eyes. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, and I blink them back, forcing myself to walk faster, to get away from the mess I’ve created.
I push through the doors into the hallway, the air outside the dining room feeling cooler, less suffocating, but I can’t shake the tightness in my chest. My heart is still racing, my face flushed with embarrassment. I lean against the wall, trying to calm my breathing, but the humiliation is too fresh, Samantha’s words echoing in my mind.
Gold digger. Fraud.
I press the heels of my hands into my eyes, willing myself not to cry. This was supposed to be a simple, no-strings-attached plan, and now it’s spiraling out of control. I need to pull myself together before I completely fall apart.
Across the hall, I spot the sign for the bathrooms and quickly slip inside, hoping the cool water will help calm my nerves. I splash some on my face, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My updo has come slightly undone, strands of hair falling loose, but I don’t care. All I see is the panic in my own eyes, the uncertainty. I feel like I’m drowning in it.
The door behind me creaks open, and I glance in the mirror to see Logan stepping inside. His face is tight with concern, his jaw clenched as he watches me.
“Grace,” he says softly, stepping closer, “don’t listen to her. You know she’s just trying to stir things up. She thrives on this.”
I swallow hard, my emotions still raw. “Logan, she’s ruining everything. I can’t… I can’t keep doing this if she’s going to be around, making everyone think I’m some kind of con artist. Everything could unravel. You have to get rid of her. Now.”
I’m nearly in tears, the weight of the situation pressing down on me, and I can see the guilt flicker across Logan’s face. He reaches out, trying to offer some kind of comfort, but I step back, needing space to breathe.
“I will,” he says quickly, his voice low. “I’ll talk to her, get her to leave. Grace… you need to understand something.”
I glance at him, confused, and then I see it—the hesitation, the regret in his eyes.
“Samantha and I didn’t end on good terms,” he admits quietly. “She’s vengeful, and she knows how to hold a grudge. She’s not going to let this go easily.”
“Why is she doing this?” I ask, my voice trembling. “Why does she hate me so much?”
Logan rubs a hand over his face, clearly struggling with what he’s about to say. “It’s not just about you,” he begins. “It’s about me. When Samantha and I were together, things… weren’t great. Yes, she was a gold digger. I knew that when we started dating. I used it as an excuse to not always be fair to her.”
I blink, trying to process what he’s saying. “What do you mean?”
“I wasn’t always kind to her,” Logan admits, his voice rough with guilt. “I let her take the blame for everything wrong in the relationship, but the truth is, I wasn’t innocent. I knew what she wanted from me, and I used that as a reason to push her away. I wasn’t fair, and when we finally broke up… she held onto that.”
His words hang in the air, heavy and unsettling. I stare at him, unsure of what to say. Logan has always seemed so confident, so sure of himself, but hearing this… it’s like seeing another side of him. A side I don’t know if I can fully trust.
“Have you really changed, Logan?” I ask softly, my voice shaking with uncertainty. “Because I don’t know if I can handle this… if you’re still that person.”
Logan’s face hardens with determination. “I’m not that man anymore, Grace. I swear.”
Before I can say anything more, I glance over his shoulder and see Samantha standing down the hall, watching us through the open bathroom door. Her smirk is cold, full of satisfaction, and when she catches my eye, she laughs. Then, without a word, she turns and walks away.
It feels like the ground beneath me is crumbling.