<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">The apartment was in a prime location in the heart of Halton City. A hospital, supermarket, and banks were conveniently situated just downstairs. But most importantly, the interior of this apartment was just how I liked it–simple and modern. Not to mention, the furniture was all brand new and stylish too.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I walked around the apartment andy on the king–size bed to call Teri.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">However, her line was busy.</font></font>Content ? N?velDrama.Org.
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“So busy,” I muttered to myself.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Just then, my phone rang.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">It was Logan.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I quickly answered, “Hey, Logan?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Logan’s calm and clear voice came from the other end, “I heard from Collin that you liked the apartment?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Yeah, it’s so convenient here. Even if I’m hungry in the middle of the night, I don’t have to order t There’s a restaurant nearby downstairs. Then, I asked, “Logan, can you rent this ce to me?! have money now.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">There was a brief pause before Logan said, “Rent? What are you thinking? Just stay there for now.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“But 1-</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">*Just stay there until everything is settled,” Logan firmly interrupted before I could finish my sentence. “If your brother knew I was taking rent from you, he’d cut ties with me,” he added.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Upon the mention of my brother, I cautiously questioned, “Will my brother reallye</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">There was a brief silence before Logan calmly replied, “Yes.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">e see me?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I breathed a sigh of relief.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">onto the</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Although I wasn’t sure if he just wanted tofort me, I still held onto the hope that it was true.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Logan’s voice remained calm and steady as he continued, “Are you free tonight? I’lle by and take you out for dinner to celebrate you moving into your new home.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I chuckled and asked, “Is this a new house?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Yes. So far, you’re the first person to live there.” His tone carried a hint of augh.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">His words caught me off guard.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I looked around the apartment and noticed that some of the furniture was still in its protective wrapping.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I was surprised and overwhelmed.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Feeling embarrassed, I replied, “Logan, is this your ce? It doesn’t feel right for me to stay here. What if I mess up the ce?”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">But Logan justughed and replied, “Silly girl. I’ll pick you up at 7:30 pm tonight.”</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">With that, he ended the call.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">1 had a gut feeling that something was off, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I just felt awkward. But the apartment was so perfect. It was the exact ce I dreamed to live in.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">In the end, my excitement outweighed my worries, and I started to decorate my own room.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Chapter 55</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">After a while, Collin brought over my belongings, including the things I had risked my life to sneak out from Elijah</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">vi.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Bags after bags of luxury goods were brought up, and left me dazzled.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Suddenly, I noticed a ck bag.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I must’ve idently grabbed it that day.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As soon as I saw that bag, that feeling of uneasiness crept back.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Without a second thought, I quickly took the bag, hurried downstairs, and threw it into the garbage bin.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">As the lid of the bin closed, I let out a breath of disgust</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Goodbye to the days that I had groveled before Elijah. Goodbye to the foolish girl I once was.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">Just then, my phone rang again,</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">It was from an unknown caller.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I furrowed my brows and hesitated for a moment before I answered.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Hey, it’s me,” Elijah’s tired voice came from the other end of the line.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">My instinct told me to hang up and block him immediately.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">“Don’t hang up. There’s something that I need to discuss with you,” he said.</font></font>
<font style="vertical-align: inherit;"><font style="vertical-align: inherit;">I suppressed my emotions and coldly asked, “What is it Mr. Linden?” There was a long silence on his end, and my patience was beginning to wear thin.</font></font>