FreeNovel
Chapter 310 Moral Compass
Ella
“Your mother?” I asked, shooting Logan a quizzical look. “What does your mother have to do with this
case?”
The weight of Logan’s gaze was palpable as he began to speak. “The land… it’s more than just an
asset, Ella.”
His voice was soft, yet there was an undeniable intensity lurking beneath. I leaned forward, genuinely
intrigued. His usually unreadable face hinted at vulnerability, a side of him I had yet to see.
“My mother used to own a shop there,” he started, pausing as if gathering his thoughts. “It was her
pride and joy-a little sanctuary away from the chaos of the world. It was the last piece of independence
she had.”
I watched him closely, the atmosphere thickening with every word. “Your mother? But I thought she was
always… well, with your father.”
“She was,” he replied, hesitating slightly. “But before the overwhelming demands of our family took
over, she had that little shop. My father made her leave it behind. She missed it every day.” Logan’s
fingers tightened on the edge of my desk, his knuckles whitening.
There was so much unsaid between those lines. He kept speaking of his mother in the past tense,
implying that she was no longer alive. I wanted to ask, but I chose to keep quiet.
There was a whole lifetime of pain, loss, and perhaps even regret in his eyes. It was jarring to see this
side of Logan. A stark contrast to the ruthless businessman and Mafia boss I’d come to know.
“I intend to have that land, Ella,” he continued, his eyes fixed on a distant point, as though looking into
the past. “I want to build a plaza there… with a statue of her. A place to honor her with.”
“That’s… really touching,” I admitted, my heart softening towards him. The image of a young Logan,
perhaps clutching his mother’s hand in front of her beloved shop, played in my mind. “It’s a beautiful
gesture. I’m sure she would love that.”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“She would have,” Logan said quietly. “She’s gone now. Has been for many years.” My eyes widened
slightly, although I had an inkling that his mother had passed. “I’m sorry.”
Logan said nothing. His gaze refocused on me, his expression unreadable once more. But the
sentiment had already been revealed.
However, a nagging concern remained. “But Logan,” I ventured cautiously, “What about the tenants?
It’s not really fair to evict them just for a statue, is it?”
He stared at me for a moment, clearly not expecting the question. “It’s not just a statue,” he said, his
voice so low it was almost a growl. “It’s more than that.”
“Right,” I replied, swallowing somewhat. “But my point still stands. There are people, families, living in
those apartments. You’d really evict all of them for this?”
Suddenly, Logan’s face darkened. “Ella, you’re my lawyer. Your job is to win cases for me, not to serve
as my moral compass.”
“I’m not trying to claim that I’m morally superior in any way,” I replied, matching his intensity. “But isn’t it
part of my role to offer counsel? Both legally and ethically?”
He leaned back in his chair, studying me. “Look, Ella, my reasons are my own. Why does it matter so
much to you?”
“Because…” I hesitated, gathering my thoughts. “Isn’t there a part of you that wants to be better? To
honor your mother in a way she would truly appreciate? Evicting families, people with lives and
memories just like you, doesn’t seem like the right way to do it.”
A flash of annoyance crossed his features. “So, now you’re telling me what my mother would want?” he
asked. “You don’t know the first thing about her.”
“No,” I responded calmly, holding his gaze. “I’m not saying that. I’m just asking you to think about it
before you do anything.”
Logan seemed to wrestle with his thoughts for a moment. The tension in the room was palpable, our
two wills colliding like opposing storm fronts.
“Just win the case, Ella,” he finally said, his voice firm. “And stop trying to make me feel guilty.”
I sighed, knowing there was little more to be said. “Alright, Logan. I’ll do my best. But I hope you’ll
consider what we discussed.”
He rose from his chair, his posture rigid. Without another word, he strode out of the room, leaving me
alone with my swirling thoughts.
His revelations about his mother had unveiled a depth to him I hadn’t anticipated. Yet, with Logan,
there were always layers, each more intricate and enigmatic than the last.
For all the softness he had shown, his final words were a sharp reminder of the world he inhabited a
world of power plays, of ruthless decisions, and of a legacy he seemed both bound to and burdened by.
As the door clicked shut behind him, I felt a mix of emotions. Respect for the love he held for his
mother, frustration at his stubbornness, and an overwhelming urge to bridge the distance between us,
to find some middle ground.
However, the silence left in the wake of Logan’s departure was almost suffocating. Before I could
gather my thoughts, the familiar presence of Ema stirred, her energy swirling around me.
“Ella, what are you going to do?” she questioned, her voice tinged with concern. I sighed deeply,
running a hand through my hair. “I’m his lawyer. My duty is to serve my client, regardless of personal
feelings.”
She growled softly, a low rumble echoing in the back of my mind. “You’re more than just his lawyer.
You’re a person with values, with ethics. Remember what we just talked about? Surely there’s a way to
make him see reason.”
I slumped back in my chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. “I tried, Ema. I really did. But you saw him-
how he is. He’s set in his ways. Pushing further might jeopardize our professional relationship.”
Her voice held a hint of defiance. “And what about our values? What about standing up for those who
can’t? I thought you believed in justice, in doing what’s right.”
“I do,” I whispered, feeling the weight of the responsibility. “But sometimes, my hands are tied. There
are battles I can’t win, no matter how hard I try.”
The wolf inside me seemed to pace, restless and agitated. “So, we just give up? Let him have his way,
even if it means causing pain to innocent people?”
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “It’s not about giving up. It’s about picking our battles. I’ll do
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmwhat I can within the legal framework, but I can’t force him to change his mind.”
There was a long pause, as if my wolf was grappling with the situation. When she finally spoke, her
tone was more subdued, but still infused with passion.
“I know the world we live in isn’t black and white. But you, Ella, you’ve always had strong moral
convictions. You’ve always known which battles to fight, which causes to champion. This… this feels
wrong. Moana would be hurt, too.”
My heart ached. “I know, Ema,” I murmured. “It hurts to feel like I’m letting you down, letting myself
down. But Logan… he’s complicated. There’s so much I still don’t know about him. Today he showed
vulnerability, a side I haven’t seen before. Maybe… maybe with time, he’ll come around.”
Ema huffed, the sound of frustration evident. “Time is a luxury those tenants might not have. Do we just
stand by and watch? Isn’t there some middle ground?”
“I’ll look into it,” I promised. “See if there’s a way to protect their rights while still fulfilling my duties to
Logan. But I won’t push him directly. Not now.”
My wolf’s energy seemed to shift, a touch more understanding in her tone. “I just want you to
remember who you are, Ella. Remember what we stand for. Don’t lose yourself in this world he
inhabits.”
A sad smile played on my lips. “I won’t, Ema. But it’s a tightrope walk. Balancing what’s right with
what’s expected of me.”
There was a quiet acceptance from my wolf, but also a firm resolve. “Then let’s find that balance
together. Let’s ensure we can look in the mirror every day and be proud of the choices we make.”
I nodded, taking strength from her presence. “Agreed. We’ll find a way. We always do.”
With renewed determination, I turned my attention back to the files on my desk. But amidst the legal
jargon and case notes, my thoughts kept drifting back to Logan, to the choices I had to make, and the
path that lay ahead.
One thing was clear: this journey was going to be a lot more challenging than I could ever have
anticipated.
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