An Engagement Plot

Logan's lips curled into a soft smile as he glanced at Emily, his eyes filled with warmth and devotion. I wasn't the one doing the capturing. He thought. It was Emily who captured my heart.

His fingers lightly brushed against hers as they stood together, but before he could say anything, Ruben's voice cut through the moment.

"Let's go inside." Ruben gestured toward the grand double doors of the Austin estate.

Logan gave Emily's hand a reassuring squeeze before following her family inside. The luxurious living room was bathed in a golden glow from the chandelier overhead, its soft light reflecting off the polished marble floors. Plush velvet sofas and ornate furniture gave the space an air of refined elegance. A maid appeared swiftly, setting down a tray of steaming tea and an assortment of delicate pastries before disappearing just as quickly.

Ruben took his seat, lifting his teacup with a composed expression as he finally spoke.

"So, Logan." He began, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of something more calculating. "Emily told me that you and she have been dating for a while now."

He took a measured sip of his tea, watching Logan over the rim of his cup.

Logan turned toward Emily, his gaze softening before looking back at Ruben. "Yes, sir, we have about two years now. One of the best decisions of my life."

Ruben smiled, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "That's good to know." He replied smoothly, setting his cup down. His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest before he continued, his voice deceptively pleasant. "So tell me, what are your intentions with my daughter?"

Logan's grip tightened slightly around Emily's hand, sensing the tension in the air. He could see the flicker of nervousness in her eyes as she glanced at her father.

Logan exhaled slowly before meeting Ruben's gaze head-on. "I hope to marry her in the near future." He said, his voice steady and sincere. "You see, Mr. Austin, I love your daughter very much, and I want her to be my wife someday."

A slow, wicked smile spread across Ruben's face, and the room seemed to grow colder.

"Good. That's very good." Ruben murmured. He leaned forward slightly, lacing his fingers together. "But you see, we have a little problem here. Your father wants you to marry my other daughter, Khalia. Isn't that right?"

The air in the room grew thick with tension.

Logan's jaw tightened as he glanced at Emily, noticing the way her expression faltered. Her usual confidence was momentarily replaced with sadness. He reached for her hand again, holding it gently as he turned back to Ruben.

"I just heard about it today." Logan admitted, his voice calm but firm. "I swear, I was going to talk to you about it, Emily." He turned to her, sincerity shining in his eyes. "I already told my father I won't marry her, but he's determined. He says he already made a deal with her grandfather." His fingers squeezed around hers. "I don't want to, and I won't."

Emily offered him a small, reassuring smile before exhaling softly.

"Actually, Logan…" She began hesitantly, turning to look at Ruben. Her father gave her a slight nod of approval, prompting her to continue. "I think you should marry Khalia."

Logan's entire body stiffened. His smile faded instantly, replaced with confusion and something darker, betrayal.

His brows furrowed as he studied her face, trying to understand. 'I don't get it… I thought she loved me. Why would she want me to marry her sister?'

"Why?" Logan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Emily's heart clenched at the pain in his eyes, but she forced herself to push forward.

"Logan, let me explain." She leaned in slightly, her voice soft but deliberate. "I love you, and I always will. But Khalia is the heir to my grandmother's fortune." She paused for a moment before adding, "Do you know how much that's worth? Trillions of dollars. And she can only inherit it after being married for at least a year."

Logan's breath hitched as realization dawned on him.

Emily's voice grew steadier, the plan unfolding like a carefully crafted scheme. "Grandpa has already arranged for you to marry her. So marry her. Then, after the year is up, you can divorce her and take the entire fortune with you. Then we can get married."

Silence settled over the room, thick and suffocating. Logan could only stare at her, his mind racing. His fingers slowly uncurled from around hers as the weight of her words sank in.

'They want to use me. They want me to take her sister's fortune and walk away with it.'

A bitter taste filled Logan's mouth. His gaze flickered between Emily and Ruben. Was this always Emily's plan? He wondered. Or was this her father's doing?

His eyes darkened as one thought echoed in his mind. An engagement plot. 

Logan stared at Emily, disbelief and confusion swirling in his eyes. "You want me to marry your sister?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Emily hesitated for a moment before responding, her voice steady but laced with an edge of urgency. "Of course not." She said, shaking her head. "But if you don't, she'll marry someone else, and I'll lose the opportunity to get any of Grandma's inheritance."

Logan felt a cold weight settle on his chest. So she wants to use me to help her secure her inheritance… The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. But how can I do this? How can I marry someone else when I love her?

He took a step back, running a hand through his hair as frustration and disbelief warred within him. His heart ached at the very thought.

Logan clenched his jaw before finally standing tall and speaking with conviction. "I cannot do this. I can't do this to you, Emily. I love you. I cannot marry your sister."

For a brief moment, Logan saw a flicker of warmth in Emily's eyes, a glimmer of love and admiration as she looked up at him. 'I knew it.' She thought. 'I knew you wouldn't go through with this. I knew you loved me.'

But as quickly as it came, the warmth faded, replaced by a cold, calculating expression Emily then spoke. "Unfortunately, Logan… you have no choice. If you love me and want to marry me, you'll have to get Khalia's inheritance first."