LOGAN'S POV
"She blocked my number."
I stare at my phone like it just betrayed me. Three calls to Aria Chen, and all three went straight to a message saying the number is no longer available.
Marcus stands in my office doorway. "Logan, her father just died. Give her space."
"I don't have space to give!" I slam my hand on the desk. "She's pregnant with my child, and I called that child a mistake. I offered her money to get an abortion. Do you understand what I did?"
"Yes. You acted like your father's son."
The words hit like a punch.
My father. The man who was destroyed by a woman claiming pregnancy. Who almost lost everything because he believed a liar.
I spent my whole life swearing I'd never be that stupid. Never be that weak.
And now I've become something worse—the man who abandoned his actual child because he was too damaged to see the truth.
"The security footage doesn't lie," Marcus says quietly. "Maya deleted your note. She knew Aria was pregnant before today. She's been playing you for months."
I pull up the video again on my computer. Watch Maya enter my suite that morning two months ago. Watch her take Aria's phone, delete something, put it back.
She erased my note. Made sure Aria would wake up confused and alone.
Then she positioned herself as my ally. My confidant. The one person I could trust while dealing with the Chen acquisition.
"I'm an idiot," I whisper.
"Yes," Marcus agrees. "But you can fix this."
"How? She won't take my calls. Her father is dead. She probably hates me."
"Then make her listen. Show up. Prove you're not the monster you acted like this afternoon."
Before I can respond, my office door bursts open.
Maya Chen walks in like she owns the place. She's smiling, holding a bottle of champagne.
"Logan! I heard the acquisition paperwork finally cleared. We should celebrate—" She stops when she sees my face. "What's wrong?"
I stand up slowly. Every muscle in my body is tense.
"Get out."
Her smile falters. "What?"
"Get out of my office. Get out of my building. Get out of my life."
"Logan, I don't understand—"
"I saw the video, Maya." My voice is deadly quiet. "The security footage from the hotel. You deleted my note to Aria. You knew she was pregnant. You've been lying to me for months."
The color drains from her face. "I can explain—"
"Explain how you drugged your own sister? Explain how you've been working with Robert Crane to destroy both our families? Explain how you made me believe Aria was a liar when she was telling the truth?"
Maya's face transforms. The fake sweetness disappears, replaced by something cold and calculating.
"Oh, please." She sets down the champagne bottle. "Don't act so innocent. You wanted to believe Aria was lying. It was easy because you're terrified of ending up like your pathetic father."
The insult lands, but I don't flinch.
"You're right," I say calmly. "I did want to believe it. Because trusting people has always led to pain. But you know what? I'd rather be my father—a good man who got fooled—than become you. Someone who destroys their own family for money."
Maya laughs. It's an ugly sound. "You think you're so noble? You offered her half a million dollars to abort your baby. You had security drag her out like trash. You're not a good man, Logan. You're just like me."
The words should hurt. Maybe they do. But I don't have time for pain.
"Marcus, call security," I say without looking away from Maya. "Have them escort Ms. Chen from the building. She's banned from Pierce Industries permanently."
"You can't do this!" Maya's voice rises. "We had a deal! I helped you acquire Chen Enterprises!"
"You sabotaged the acquisition and sold our secrets to Crane. I have lawyers reviewing every document you touched. If I find evidence of fraud—and I will—you'll face criminal charges."
Two security guards appear at the door.
"Wait!" Maya grabs my arm. Her nails dig in. "Logan, please. I did all of this for us. For you. Aria was in the way. She's weak and stupid, and she would have dragged you down. I was helping you!"
I pull my arm away. "By drugging your sister? By making me abandon my child? That's your version of help?"
"Yes!" She's shouting now. "Because you're meant to be with me! Not some pathetic girl who can't even run a business! I'm your equal! I'm the one who deserves to stand beside you!"
"You're the one who deserves prison," I say coldly. "Get her out of here."
Security drags Maya toward the door. She's screaming, fighting, making a scene.
"You'll regret this! Crane will destroy you! I'll destroy you! You think Aria wants you now? She hates you! That baby will never know your name!"
The door slams shut, cutting off her voice.
Silence fills the office.
Marcus exhales slowly. "Well. That was dramatic."
"I need to find Aria." I'm already grabbing my jacket. "Now."
"Logan, she just lost her father. She just found out her sister has been sabotaging her for years. She just got rejected by the father of her baby. Maybe she needs time—"
"Time to what? Decide I'm not worth forgiving?" I shake my head. "No. I'm done making mistakes. I'm going to find her and fix this."
"And if she doesn't want to be found?"
The question stops me at the door.
What if Aria doesn't want to see me? What if I hurt her too badly?
My phone rings. Unknown number.
I answer it immediately. "Aria?"
"Mr. Pierce?" A woman's voice. Professional. "This is Sarah Chen from Morrison and Associates Law Firm. I'm calling on behalf of my client, Aria Chen."
My heart pounds. "Is she okay? Is the baby—"
"My client and the baby are fine, physically. However, Miss Chen has instructed me to inform you of the following: One, you are not to contact her directly. All communication must go through this law firm. Two, she will be pursuing child support through legal channels. Three, she does not require or desire your involvement in the pregnancy or the child's life."
Each word is a knife to the chest.
"No," I say firmly. "No, that's not acceptable. I need to talk to her. I need to explain—"
"Mr. Pierce, my client has made her wishes clear. Attempts to contact her directly will be considered harassment and dealt with accordingly. Do you understand?"
"Put her on the phone," I demand. "Right now."
"That's not possible. Miss Chen is currently meeting with police to provide evidence in a criminal case against her sister, Maya Chen. The charges include drugging, fraud, corporate espionage, and conspiracy. If you have any information relevant to these charges, the detective handling the case would like to speak with you."
Maya is being charged. Good. She deserves it.
But none of that matters if I can't talk to Aria.
"Tell your client—" My voice breaks. "Tell her I'm sorry. Tell her I was wrong about everything. Tell her I want to be there for her and the baby. Please."
Silence. Then: "I'll pass along your message, Mr. Pierce. Goodbye."
The line goes dead.
I stand there holding my phone, feeling like my entire world just collapsed.
Marcus touches my shoulder. "Logan—"
"I lost her." The words come out hollow. "I had one chance to do the right thing, and I threw it away. Now she won't even talk to me."
"Then you fight for her. You keep fighting until she listens."
"How? She has lawyers blocking me. I can't just show up at her house—that's stalking."
"So you find another way." Marcus pulls out his phone. "I'm calling every contact I have. Someone knows where she is. Someone can get a message to her."
But before he can dial, my phone rings again.
Robert Crane.
I answer it because I'm angry and need someone to destroy.
"Crane."
"Pierce." He sounds delighted. "I hear you just kicked Maya out. Pity. She was useful."
"If you're calling to gloat—"
"I'm calling to make you an offer." His voice changes. Becomes serious. "I have something you want. You have something I want. Let's trade."
"I'm not interested in your deals."
"Not even if I can get Aria Chen to meet with you?"
Everything stops.
"What?"
"Aria Chen. The mother of your child. The woman who currently hates your guts." Crane laughs. "I can arrange a meeting. Get her to listen to you. Give you a chance to grovel properly."
"Why would you help me?"
"Because I don't want to help you. I want something in return." His voice hardens. "Drop the investigation into Maya Chen. Let her walk free. In exchange, I'll guarantee you one hour with Aria. Face to face. No lawyers. No interruptions."
My mind races. Let Maya go free? After everything she did?
But this is my only chance to see Aria. To explain. To beg for forgiveness.
"How do I know you can deliver?" I ask carefully.
"Because Aria Chen owes me a favor. A big one. I helped her father before he died—gave him evidence against Maya. Richard Chen promised his daughter would repay that debt. And I'm calling it in."
"You're lying."
"Am I? Check Richard Chen's phone records from this morning. You'll see my number. Three calls, ten minutes each. I was the one who told him about Maya's betrayal. I was the one who gave him proof." Crane pauses. "I'm also the one who can convince Aria to give you five minutes. But only if you drop the charges against Maya."
It's a trap. Obviously a trap.
But it's also my only shot at seeing Aria.
"I need to think—"
"You have one hour to decide. After that, the offer expires. And Pierce? Aria is planning to leave the city. Move somewhere far away where you'll never find her. If you want to be part of your child's life, this is your only chance."
He hangs up.
I look at Marcus. "Crane wants me to let Maya go free in exchange for a meeting with Aria."
"That's insane. Maya belongs in prison."
"I know."
"You can't seriously be considering this."
I sit down at my desk and put my head in my hands.
Do I sacrifice justice for a chance at redemption? Do I let a criminal walk free to save my relationship with the mother of my child?
What kind of man does that make me?
My phone buzzes with a text. Unknown number. A photo attached.
I open it.
It's Aria, sitting in what looks like a police station. She's signing papers. Her hand rests on her stomach—on our baby.
Below the photo, a message:
"She's filing a restraining order against you right now. Thinks you're dangerous. I can stop this. One hour to decide. - R.C."
A restraining order.
She thinks I'm dangerous.
My chest feels like it's caving in.
Marcus reads the text over my shoulder. "Logan, don't do this. Crane is manipulating you. This is exactly what he wants."
"What choice do I have?"
"Find another way! Hire private investigators! Wait until she calms down!"
"There is no calming down from what I did!" I stand up, my voice rising. "I called our baby a bastard! I threw money at her like she was a prostitute! I had security drag her out while her sister laughed! Would you forgive that?"
Marcus goes quiet.
My phone rings. Crane again.
"Time's up, Pierce. What's it going to be? Justice for Maya Chen? Or a chance to save your family?"
I close my eyes.
Think of Aria's face when I offered her money. The way she looked at me like I was a monster.
Think of my child growing up without knowing me. Believing I didn't want them.
Think of spending the rest of my life knowing I had one chance to fix this and chose revenge instead.
"I'll drop the charges," I say quietly.
Marcus makes a sound of protest, but I hold up my hand.
"But Crane," I continue, my voice hardening, "if you're lying to me—if this is a trick—I will spend every resource I have destroying you. Do you understand?"
"Crystal clear. Meet me at the old warehouse on Fifth Street in two hours. Come alone. I'll have Aria there." He pauses. "Oh, and Pierce? Bring proof you dropped the charges. I don't trust you either."
The line goes dead.
I look at Marcus. "Call our lawyers. Tell them to drop all criminal complaints against Maya Chen."
"Logan, this is a mistake—"
"Maybe. But it's my mistake to make."
Two hours later, I'm standing in an abandoned warehouse, holding legal documents proving Maya won't face charges.
The warehouse is dark. Empty. Cold.
This feels wrong.
A door opens. Footsteps echo.
But it's not Aria who walks into the light.
It's Maya Chen, smiling like she just won the lottery.
"Hello, Logan," she purrs. "Miss me?"