Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 215
The man responsible for the âproblemâ was walking right in front of her.
Logan Harper.
He was leaning against the wall opposite her, standing out like a crane among chickens.
Cecilia repeatedly wetted her lips to calm the churning within her.
Logan had his entire face covered by a pitch-black mask and had even donned a brown wig to hide his distinctive hair color.
Yet, with every step he took, he drew the gaze of countless eyes rolling in intrigue behind their masks.
âLife really isnât fair.â
He was much taller than most, had an impressive voice, and his bone structure and muscle tone were exceptional. There was no way a mere mask could contain his presence.
When Casey had discreetly mentioned Loganâs name on the guest list, Cecilia hadnât been surprised. After all, Count Heens had thrown this party hoping to establish connections with wealthy merchants like Logan. It wasnât odd for him to be on the guest listâno, the investment list that the Count hoped to court.
The real question was this: why had Logan Harper accepted the Countâs invitation?
As far as she knew, Logan didnât enjoy parties. Some mocked him for being too wary of gossip, but in truth, it was simpler than thatâhe was indifferent to human pleasures. He was the kind of man who cared about more primal instincts.
To fight, conquer, claim, protect, and defend.
Logan was the kind who dedicated himself wholly to his duties at the top of the mammalian hierarchy. He rarely even went home to his waiting wife, spending his days out at sea instead. Yet, here he was, entering this party on his own, laughing and mingling under a mask.
âMaybe he was pressured by his grandfather?â
Cecilia shook her head internally. The head of the Harper Trading Company wasnât the type to control his bloodline by forcing attendance at trivial events like this.
If he were, Logan wouldnât have spent his life at sea, drenched in the warm blood of sea monsters, even at this age.
The elder Harper had devoted his life to the prosperity of his family and his company. He expected his children and grandchildren to do the same.
In a way, he and Logan werenât so different. Logan served his nation as a soldier upholding the bonds of duty, while his grandfather held the bonds of filial duty in the highest regard.
It meant the old man had long been preoccupied with his grandsonâs marriage and potential heirs. A man so indifferent to women that his grandfather worried over it would never come to a place of vanity and luxury by choice.
âThen what could his reason be?â
Cecilia stared at him from behind her mask, clenching her empty glass.
Just then, his gaze shifted from the distance and settled directly on her.
Amid the subtle, hesitant glances from others, he was strikingly bold.
The mask, perfectly fitted to his sharp jawline, was decorated with gold leaf around the eyes. Those golden-rimmed eyes fixed intensely on Cecilia, and she pressed her lips firmly to the rim of her glass.
Could he have recognized her? It would be a bit odd to assume he wouldnât, given she recognized him right away.
Yes, he must have known, hence the way he stared.
With that, Cecilia confirmed her suspicion. The lady who enjoyed parties and indulgences was right here.
She met his gaze unflinchingly. One second, two seconds, three seconds⌠Each moment felt as endless as a thousand years.
The scrutiny was relentless. Cecilia felt both a chill of unease and a sense of empowerment, as if she herself were a serpent with her eyes red and sharp.
This kind of tension hadnât existed even when they were married. Heâd never challenged her like this, and sheâd never dared to stand up to him.
But things were different now. She held her breath, refusing to retreat even a single step. Time seemed to slip like sand in a toppled hourglass, flowing strangely.
Only when a passing couple crossed between them did she finally break free from the shadows of their bitter history.
