Page 60 of The Secret Heir Next Door

“Love?” Chaz snorts, pushing off the wall to stand closer, his voice laced with sarcasm. “You don’t even know the meaning of the word. She’s a gold digger, Logan. Open your eyes. She sees the family name, the money, and she’s latching on for dear life.”

“That’s not true,” I reply, my voice hardening. “She isn’t like that. You don’t even know her.”

My father steps in now, his tone colder than usual. “We don’t need to know her, Logan. We see what she’s after. She dresses like trailer trash, for God’s sake. What kind of impression does that make? You’re tarnishing our reputation by even being seen with her, let alone considering marrying her.”

“Tarnishing the family name?” I chuckle. “Chaz’s three DUIs are tarnishing the family name. Your allegations of embezzlement, mom’s alcohol problem, Tate’s drug problem—those are things that are bad for the family name. Or maybe the number of prostitutes you’ve gotten caught with also might have done it.”

“How dare you,” my mother growls as she slaps me across the face.

“I changed my last name for a reason. I built my company from the ground up. I have busted my ass to make a legacy for myself.”

“And you’re about to ruin it with this little bitch,” Chaz laughs. “You need a certain type of woman and she sure as hell isn’t it. You can’t be seen at functions with her. You’ll be the laughingstock of our world.”

“You’re the laughingstock of everyone,” I growl. “What would you know about any woman? You’ve been divorced three times,and you’re engaged to another woman that you can’t even be faithful to. You have four kids from four women, and you don’t even see them.”

“Oh look, little Logy up on his high horse as usual,” Chaz slurs.

Of course, he’s drunk.

My parents have spent thousands on expensive rehabs to help him, and it never sticks.

My fists clench at my sides, but I keep them down. “You’re wrong. Serena is talented, kind, and?—”

“She’s beneath you,” my mother interrupts, her voice rising in frustration. “This is not how we raised you, Logan. You’re meant to marry someone of your own standing, someone who understands our world. She is not that person. She has pink hair, for goodness sake!”

Chaz jumps in again, his words cutting deep. “Do you even realize what you’re risking here? The business, the family legacy—everything we’ve worked for? And for what? Some girl who doesn’t even belong in the same room as us?”

I can feel my pulse quickening, anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Serena belongs wherever I say she does. And I don’t care about your ‘legacy.’ I care about her.”

My father’s expression darkens, and he takes a step closer, his voice deadly calm. “Then you’d better start caring, Logan. Because if you don’t end this engagement, you’re out. Out of the business, out of the will, out of everything.”

I have my own business, for Christ’s sake. I don’t need to be in theirs.

“We called in favors for your little tech business,” my mother cackles. “Have fun keeping any of your customers without our connections.”

“I’ve built this business from the ground up with my hard work and…”

“Bullshit. We all knew you needed to get this out of your system. You wouldn’t be anything without our family name,” my mother sneers.

She can’t be serious right now.

Wouldn’t they be trying to sabotage me, though, just to prove their point? Is she just talking out of her ass and trying to manipulate me?

That is her favorite game to play.

Then, the weight of my father’s words hits me like a punch to the gut, but I refuse to back down. “You’re seriously going to disown me because I’m marrying someone you don’t approve of? Last I checked, this is the 21stcentury.”

“We’re trying to protect you, Logan. She’s not the right choice. You’ll regret this. We’re giving you a chance to think clearly, to make the right decision.”

Chaz smirks, folding his arms across his chest. “Listen to them, Logan. Don’t throw everything away for a mistake.”

I look at each of them in turn, seeing the judgment, the disdain, the complete lack of understanding. They’ve already made up their minds about Serena, and nothing I say will change that.

“I’m not making a mistake,” I say, my voice steady. “But if you can’t accept Serena, then maybe I don’t belong in this family after all.”

Their silence is deafening, a wall that slams down between us. My father’s eyes narrow, my mother’s lips tremble slightly, and Chaz just shakes his head, disbelief etched on his face.

“You’re making the biggest mistake of your life,” my father finally says, his voice cold and final.

---