Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 226

Love. It was a word that weighed too heavily to bear.

Cecilia stood up, instinctively retreating a few steps backward. But Logan kept advancing.

“Is it your face that I’m drawn to? Or… something else?”

His bold gaze swept over her entire body, giving her an odd sensation that raised the fine hairs on her skin. She lightly brushed her arms to calm herself, pressing her lips tightly together.

Logan, now close, reached out and took hold of her arm. Cecilia instinctively opened her mouth to cry out, but stopped when she realized he wasn’t gripping her with any force.

Causing a scene here would only complicate matters further. The best course was to calm him and send him away quietly.

Logan leaned his head down carefully. Cecilia didn’t flinch, standing firm as his forehead touched her shoulder.

His skin was warm against hers. His clothes carried the faint, smoky scent of cigarettes, mixed with hints of wine that grew more distinct with each irregular breath, making her feel strangely conflicted.

“Are you… drunk?”

“Is it obvious?”

“It wasn’t before…”

She hadn’t noticed from a distance. His speech had been clear, his gaze sharp.

But now that he was so close, she could smell the strong scent of alcohol permeating from him.

“I’m not used to parties…”

As he spoke, the vibrations tickled her collarbone.

“You’ve overindulged.”

He gave a slight chuckle at her remark.

“I didn’t know wine affected me this much.”

Cecilia didn’t respond to his playful laughter. Instead, she pushed him gently toward the bed, making him sit down.

His eyes, looking up at her, were still clear and focused. Not the gaze of a drunk man at all.

“I’ll leave. Sober up, and then go back.”

As she turned and walked a few steps away, she felt something tugging at her waist.

“Oh… for heaven’s sake.”

Logan had caught the ribbon tied around her waist, smiling as he held it. She opened her mouth, ready to say something harsh to make him let go for good and leave.

But he spoke first.

“Then let’s do it.”

“Pardon?”

“If you want to call it off, let’s end it.”

“Are you serious? If you change your mind after sobering up…”

“That won’t happen.”

He loosened the tie around his neck, letting out a deep sigh before looking at her with that same, unwavering gaze.

“If you’re willing to go to such lengths, staging a fake romance to get out of this, it’s better to just let you go.”

“……”

Even deeply intoxicated, he had pieced together enough clues to see the truth.

‘Such a perceptive man…’

“But there is one condition.”

Logan continued.

“Though I’ll have to initiate the breakup, let’s make it look like I was the one who got dumped. Because that’s the truth, isn’t it?”

“……”

This wasn’t the petty revenge of a slighted man. It was an attempt to ensure that Cecilia wouldn’t appear to be the one left behind. But for Cecilia, it was an uncomfortable kindness. She had no interest in marriage, family reputation, or her own honor.

Yet, something told her that if she refused, he might reconsider the breakup. So she simply nodded.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

The conversation concluded. She opened the door, ready to leave and search for her family, when his quiet voice called from behind.

“There’s one thing I want to ask.”

She paused, her hand on the doorknob, and turned back.

“Yes?”

“If you’re so desperate to end this engagement, why are you helping me?”

“…Excuse me?”

Logan sat up straight.

“Didn’t I tell you? I looked into things.”

“……”

“Do you really think that’s all I found out?”

Seeing the look on her face, he gave a faint smile.

“Viscountess Odridge has a much looser tongue than you might expect. And she’s not particularly subtle, either.”

Cecilia stood leaning against the door, blocking anyone from entering as Logan continued speaking.

“Choosing Nigel Rosencrantz as your fake lover to suit the connections desired by Marquis Lope, and your visit to Viscountess Odridge last night to spur her on… Anyone can see it was aimed at the Pierce Duchy. And the only link between you and the ducal household… is me, isn’t it?”

He walked toward her, leaning close to whisper near her ear.

“Though I can’t guess why you’re trying to turn the duchy upside down, if you’d like my help, I’m willing to cooperate.”