At that very moment, Logan picked up the same newspaper that Bella had just put down.

He didn’t bother finishing the article. A quick glance at a few lines was enough. He already knew how it would end.

In fact, he found the conclusion merciful.

The punishment for daring to lay a hand on his property had been far too lenient.

With a careless motion, Logan tossed the newspaper aside as though it were unimportant.

Across from him, Vincent clicked his tongue.

“Ruthless. Truly ruthless. You’re my friend, but I’d rather not have you as an enemy.”

Although Vincent had secured the verdict through legal channels, it was Logan who engineered Jack Hunter’s downfall. He had carefully traced and cut off every possible escape route, from business partners to reputation and financial support — anything that might have offered Hunter a way out.

Having witnessed the entire process firsthand, Vincent understood better than anyone that this had not been simple justice.

It had been revenge.

Logan did not respond to Vincent’s quiet remark. Instead, he calmly reached for the documents at his side.

“So when are you planning to send Bella back?”

Vincent shifted the subject as he asked.

“The trial’s over. It’s about time she returned to Netherwell, isn’t it?”

Logan’s hand, which had been reaching for his pen, froze.

It was only for a moment, but it was long enough for his thoughts to be revealed.

Bella was not free to stay wherever she wanted. He knew she couldn’t stay in the capital indefinitely. Sooner or later, she would have to return to Netherwell.

And yet, he had been delaying it.

He had made excuses where there were none and looked for any reason to keep her by his side a little longer.

“Well, the truth is…”

When Logan offered no answer, Vincent spoke first. His voice trailed off slightly, carrying the hesitation of someone withholding something.

“Your mother contacted me.”

He confessed it almost reluctantly.

“She asked about Bella.”

It was only then that Logan looked up from the documents and met Vincent’s gaze. He said nothing, but his look clearly demanded an explanation.

“She must have seen the newspaper and realized that I handled the defense.” She also knows you’re keeping Bella at the hotel. She said she would like to meet her.”

Vincent knew that Logan had no intention of exposing Bella, either to the press or to his mother. But the lady already knew everything; she had only asked to confirm it. There was no room for lies.

Truthfully, there was another reason why Vincent had told Lady Fraser where Bella was staying.

At first, he had thought it was just kindness.

Logan was not a man who gave his affection easily. However, once he accepted someone into his life, he took responsibility for them until the very end. Bella was bright and untouched by cynicism. It was not unusual for Logan to favor her; Vincent himself had grown fond of her genuine warmth.

This was why he did not think it was a bad idea for Bella — despite having lived there for years, she had never truly belonged in the Count’s household — to come to the capital. He was even prepared to help her find a position with another family or secure different work if necessary.

Despite Amelia’s irritation, Vincent remained by Bella’s side. Initially, Logan keeping Bella close seemed like an act of goodwill; he would not tolerate even the faintest hint of scandal.

However, after what happened with Jack Hunter, Vincent realized that this was not the case.

Logan’s feelings were not merely compassion.

He was fully aware that rumors were spreading about him, yet he did nothing to silence them. In fact, it seemed as though he wanted the rumors to become reality.

When Vincent looked at Logan again, he could see how he looked at Bella.

It was an expression he had never seen before.

Logan Fraser was developing feelings for her.

As her friend, Vincent wanted to be happy for him. Logan, who had lived his entire life as if he were made of stone, was finally experiencing something deeply human.

The problem was that he already had a fiancée.

Not just anyone, but his own sister.

Amelia was immature and lacked many of the qualities expected of a proper lady in high society. She was impulsive and stubborn. Even so, Vincent had no desire to see her hurt.

That’s what it means to be family.

“Bella will be returning to Netherwell soon, anyway…”

That was why he had told Logan’s mother where Bella was. If Logan refused to stop, she was the only person who could restrain him.

Surely she would try to put things right? Vincent could only hope that everything would be resolved in the capital before the news reached Rosedale.

“By now, she’s probably already at the hotel.”

Given her mother’s temperament, she would never have stayed at the estate had she found out about Bella’s presence.

Nevertheless, after a brief pause, Logan picked up the pen he had put down.

He neither reprimanded Vincent for revealing the secret, nor did he get up to go to the hotel.

Acting as though he had heard nothing, he calmly resumed his work.

***

Late that night, Bella sat bolt upright in bed, feeling as though the air had been stolen from her lungs.

She took a sharp breath and felt a painful tightening in her chest, while her heart pounded loudly in her ears.

The nightmares had been coming more frequently lately.

Even in sleep, she found no rest. Even when she was awake, she felt as though something unseen was chasing her, never allowing her mind a moment’s peace.

In her dreams, she walked down a dark corridor, drawn towards the sound of raised voices. Light spilled from a half-open door. Through the narrow gap, she saw someone collapse. Then—

— a brutal gaze locked onto her from beyond the doorway.

The face was always hidden in shadow and was never fully revealed. But those eyes were seared into her memory. Even in the silence of her room, she could hear the shouts from her dream echoing in her ears.

Whenever she woke from the dream, she could not fall asleep again. Clutching her throbbing shoulder, she would lie awake until morning.

The same scene replayed night after night. The eyes grew clearer. More familiar. With each passing evening, her unease deepened.

One afternoon, as she sat beside Logan and sipped her tea, her thoughts drifted for a moment.

The teacup slipped from her hand.

Tea spilled across her skirt.

“Are you all right?”

Logan looked more startled than she did. Grabbing the nearest cloth, he quickly blotted the wet fabric, asking her again and again.

“Are you certain you’re fine?”

“Yes… I’m fine. I’m sorry. My mind wandered for a moment.”

“You should see a physician.”

He spoke with concern. Lately, she had been staring blankly into space more and more often.

“I used to suffer from insomnia. It will pass.”

Each time, Bella refused his suggestion. It felt shameful to summon a doctor over mere nightmares, as though she were feigning illness.

“Bella.”

“It truly is nothing. Joshua’s grandfather said the same. He’s already busy with patients—I don’t want to trouble a doctor over something so trivial.”

She shook her head firmly.

The words were as much for her benefit as his.

“It’s nothing, You’re fine. Memories that had been buried for so long wouldn’t suddenly resurface. It’s just a meaningless nightmare. It will fade soon.”

But Bella was not fine.

Unanswered questions plagued her every night. Her growing anxiety soon began to show outwardly.

Although everything else had settled down, Bella was growing thinner by the day. Unable to simply watch any longer, Logan finally called for a doctor.

When she was told that the doctor would soon arrive at the hotel, Bella waited, her unease lingering beneath the surface.

Knock. Knock.

A sound came from beyond the door.