Logan stared through the restaurant window from his parked car outside.

The woman reflected in the glass was Bella.

She wasn’t wearing her usual maid’s uniform. Instead, she wore a modest yet feminine dress that had clearly been chosen with care. Perhaps she had even applied a little make-up. Her lips looked fuller than he remembered, and a faint flush colored her cheeks.

A subtle crease formed between his brows.

As she ate, she nodded politely and spoke in low tones. Sitting across from her was a man Logan did not recognize.

His hair was as black as ink, as though it concealed something beneath. His skin was sun-darkened. His features were too sharp and polished — so carefully arranged that they stirred an instinctive distaste in Logan.

Without a second thought, Logan stepped out of the car and headed towards the restaurant.

Who was that slick-looking man?

And why was he sitting opposite with Bella?

His displeasure was unmistakable.

With a cold, unyielding gaze, he pushed open the restaurant door and walked inside.

***

“The more we talk, Miss Bella, the more convinced I am that you would make a suitable wife. Initially, I thought you might be interested in my wealth, but I was mistaken. I’m glad I listened to my father and agreed to meet you.”

Jack set his glass down with a polished smile. He radiated confidence, as though Bella had just passed an unspoken test with flying colors.

“Ah… yes.”

“Personally, I would get married immediately if I could. But after just one meeting, it might be too soon to decide. You said you’ll be staying in the capital for a while, so what do you think? Would you like to see me again? I’d like the chance to get to know you better. Since it’s your first time here, I could show you around.”

Bella parted her lips, unsure of what to say.

Jack was not a bad man.

And yet, every word he spoke felt heavy.

He boasted about his business success, speaking as though he were in a position to grant her favors if she pleased him. Although he said they should take things slowly, he already talked as though he could see their future clearly — perhaps with two children in it.

For the Countess’s sake — who had arranged a month’s leave and secured her lodgings — Bella had agreed to meet Jack three times.

But, truth be told, she did not want a second meeting at all.

“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

At that moment, a low, cold voice spoke the words Bella herself had been unable to say.

She lifted her head instinctively.

“…Your Grace?”

Bella rose halfway from her seat, her face filled with disbelief.

Jack also stood and inclined his head towards Logan, one of the Empire’s most renowned figures, whom he recognized.

“What brings you to the capital?”

Logan did not spare Jack even a glance. His attention was fixed solely on Bella.

“Ah… well…”

Under his intense gaze, which seemed to demand that she reveal the man’s identity, Bella found herself unable to speak. Her heart pounded unevenly, as though she were a child caught misbehaving.

“The Countess of Everett’s family met my father while she was recuperating, and she kindly offered to introduce me to Miss Bella. That is how we came to meet today.”

Jack spoke first.

“Jack Hunter.”

The man only introduced himself when Logan finally looked at him. Even when he heard the name Duke Fraser, he did not flinch. He met Logan’s gaze without hesitation.

“I must admit, I’m a bit surprised to learn that Miss Bella is acquainted with Your Grace. But she is quite charming, so I suppose it isn’t entirely unexpected.”

Jack spoke freely, praising Bella without reserve.

Whether his words were well-meaning or not, Logan was irritated by the tone of appraisal in his voice. In fact, his mood had darkened the moment he saw her seated across from another man.

He had believed she was in Netherwell.

When had she come to the capital?

And when had she started attending these arranged meetings?

If she had travelled all this way, why hadn’t she contacted him?

Deciding there was no point in exchanging further pleasantries, Logan took Bella’s arm and pulled her to her feet.

“If there’s nothing more to discuss, we’ll take our leave.”

“Miss Bella hasn’t finished her meal yet.”

Jack rose as well, stepping in front of them to block the way.

“As you can see, Miss Bella is quite capable—and quite busy.”

“She never mentioned being too busy to finish a meal.”

The atmosphere between the two men was tense, as though a fight might break out at any moment. Neither of them looked away.

“I see. If the woman who is to become my wife is busy, there’s nothing I can do about it. Miss Bella, I’ll contact you regarding our next meeting.”

In a battle where no fists were thrown, it was Jack who withdrew first.

“Regrettably, that won’t be necessary.”

“I was told she came to the capital to meet me and that she had no other engagements.”

“She does now.”

Having firmly rejected Jack’s proposal on Bella’s behalf, Logan led her out of the restaurant to escape the curious glances of passers-by.

***

After helping Bella into the car, Logan shut the door more forcefully than was necessary. Without specifying a destination, he told the driver to set off. The car rolled forward in silence.

Bella folded her hands neatly in her lap and stole cautious glances at Logan.

This was the first time she had seen the duke since she fled to Netherwell. She could not even begin to think of what to say. All she could do was sit quietly beside him.

Was he angry that she had left without saying goodbye?

The silence in the car, as they headed towards an unknown destination, grew heavier with every passing second. It pressed in on her, almost suffocating her.

Unable to endure the tension any longer, Bella finally opened her mouth, hoping to break the uneasy stillness.

“About that time—”

“If you’re going to apologize, it would be better to remain quiet.”

His tone made it clear that he was still deeply displeased. Bella closed her mouth at once.

“…No. Let me at least hear your excuse.”

A moment later, Logan turned his gaze toward her. His voice remained low, but it had softened slightly.

“Why did you disappear without a word?”

From the very first question, Bella was lost for words.

She had replayed that day in her mind countless times. But now she was facing him, she couldn’t find them.

‘I was afraid of how much you shook me. Because I ran before I lost control.’

How could she possibly say that?

“The countess would be returning soon.”

Bella answered, choosing the safest response.

“That day, Joshua said he was heading to Netherwell, so I asked if I could join him in his carriage. I’m sorry I couldn’t inform you beforehand.

“And the fact that you never contacted me afterwards… I suppose you intended to disappear entirely. The calling card I gave you had my contact details on it.”

She had tried to speak around the truth, but Logan saw through her with unsettling ease.

“What brought you to the capital? Did you truly come all the way here to meet that man?”

Bella nodded quietly.

Logan’s mind replayed the scene in the restaurant: Bella sitting across from Jack, looking different to usual, talking to a stranger instead of him, smiling and lifting a glass of wine in conversation.

At the mere thought of it, he felt a twisting sensation in his stomach and his expression tightened.

Until now, Bella had been nothing more than a woman who reminded him of the girl he had lost — she was so similar in appearance that it felt as if she were deliberately imitating her, yet she was entirely different in character.

However, the more familiar he became with her, the more the resemblance to the other girl faded. One thing remained unchanged, though: Bella was not someone he considered essential to his life. If he wanted to, he could draw her close. And if necessary, he could let her go.

That was what he had believed. But the moment he saw her seated beside another man, he realized he had been wrong.

‘She is mine.’

A fierce, unfamiliar possessiveness surged through him.

“You’ll refuse him, won’t you?”

He asked as though the answer were already decided.

“The countess told me that whether I like it or not, I should meet him at least three times, so—”

“Don’t.”

Logan cut her off before she could finish speaking. The countess’s words held no weight for him.

However, Bella did not live at the Fraser estate; she was in Netherwell. For her, the Countess’s wishes came first. Failing to appear at a meeting arranged through her introduction by the countess would tarnish her reputation. Even now, Bella could not shake the feeling that she had been discourteous in the way she left.

Above all, she feared that the Countess, who openly disliked the Duke, might find out that she had met him.

Out of gratitude for the Countess’s kindness, Bella believed that she should meet Jack the promised three times —

— and then decline him politely.

“Your Grace… I—”

She was about to explain her situation and ask to be let out of the carriage.

Grrrkk—

In the quiet car, the sound from her stomach rang out with unmistakable clarity.