#Chapter 19: The Ball

ELENA The night air was crisp as Logan guided Aiden and me to his car. The tension still crackled in the air, a lingering reminder of the chaos back at the boutique. My fingers trembled slightly as I adjusted Aiden’s seatbelt, my mind replaying Derek’s accusations over and over. “You were already cheating on me. Faked your death because you were afraid someone would find out you were pregnant?” The venom in his voice still echoed in my ears, and my stomach twisted at the memory. I should have known better than to expect anything else from him. It was foolish—naïve—to have ever loved him. “You’re quiet.” Logan’s voice cut through the haze of my thoughts as the car rolled forward. His sharp blue eyes flicked over to me briefly. “Still stuck in your head?” I forced a small smile. “Just thinking.” “That’s a dangerous habit,” he quipped. “Want me to fix it?” I sighed. “If you say another bad joke, I might actually throw myself out of this car.” Aiden giggled beside me. “Loga