Ella The room was bathed in the soft glow of my bedside lamp, casting gentle shadows on the walls. My eyes flickered from the ceiling to my digital clock. 2:37 AM. Sleep was elusive tonight. No matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t catch it. I had been laying here for what felt like an eternity, hoping that exhaustion would finally take over me, but it didn’t. The comforter felt too heavy, almost suffocating, and I tossed it aside with a frustrated sigh.

Logan My phone buzzed on the nightstand, its screen lighting up the dark bedroom. Squinting, I saw Ella’s name flashing across the screen for the first time in two weeks. It was barely past five in the morning. The sun wasn’t even up yet. My first thought was that something terrible must have happened. I picked up the phone, and my voice came across a little harsher than I intended. “Ella? Why are you calling me?”

Ella “Aren’t you going to try it on?” Logan cocked his head as he looked back and forth between me and the dress. He was right; normally, I would try something like this on before I bought it. But right now, I just wanted to leave. His statement about his vacation in the tropics had left me reeling and disgusted, and I didn’t want to spend any more time with him than what was absolutely necessary right now.

Ella Logan’s words had me feeling as though the fire that the sales attendant had started had just been stoked. “All done?” he asked, pushing himself off of the wall. “Not even close,” I growled. 

Ella Logan’s grip on my waist tightened as Leonard appeared again, his eyes more calculating than ever. “Ella, your father is coming tonight, correct?” I swallowed hard, my eyes darting around the extravagant room as if it could offer me a way out of this situation. “Yes, they got caught up in traffic, but they’re on their way.” Leonard smirked, sipping his champagne. “And what about your little sister? Will she be gracing us with her presence as well? I’ve heard so much about her, you know.” My jaw clenched. There was something in his tone, something that went beyond a man simply asking about my sister. He was probing, although for what, I couldn’t be sure. “I wouldn’t invite my sister to a gathering like this, Leonard.” I stopped myself short, sensing the edge in my voice. I was about to add something more but bit back the words. The glint in Leonard’s eyes was unmistakable. “I see.” He looked at Logan. “Well, I do hope tonight won't be a disappointment. Edrick and I have s