Page 66 of The Secret Heir Next Door

A cold sweat breaks out on the back of my neck. “Who are they?”

“That’s not something you need to worry about,” he says, his tone final. “Just know that I’m doing what’s best for me and my business. It’s nothing personal.”

Nothing personal.

The words sting more than they should. This is more than business, it’s Serena’s livelihood, her dream. And it’s being ripped away because of something I shared with my brother in what I thought was confidence.

This is my fault. This is my family’s doing. I know it is.

“This deal… It's moving fast. I’m going to put pressure on the girl to get her out of there sooner if I can so they can get started. You should have a drink with me when I’m down there. Maybe you can buy into the business, too.”

Chaz has always been quick to act, especially when there’s money involved. But this… this is different.

My family is known for doing people dirty and just relying on the idea that no one is smart enough or has enough money to fight them.

They’re wrong this time, though. Now, they’re messing with me.

“You’re making a mistake.”

“I’m sorry, Logan,” he repeats, and I can hear the finality in his tone. “But my decision is made. I wish it could be different, but it’s out of my hands now.”

He hangs up before I can respond, leaving me standing there, phone in hand, fury and frustration boiling inside me.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm down. Serena can’t lose her shop, not like this. I won’t let it happen.

I made her a promise, and I have to keep it.

This is about to be a fight, and I’m willing to go the distance with it. Brant will back me, too. He’s one of the best attorneys in the city.

Donald told me that stuff about the eviction in confidence, and it’ll come down to he said, she said. There will be no proof on his end, though, because if I know Donald, he didn’t do anything to the letter, especially not if Chaz is leading him.

I pocket my phone and head back toward the house, my mind already racing with ideas and plans. I need to talk to Chaz to figure out how deep he’s in this and if there’s any way to salvage the situation. And I need to do it now before it’s too late.

Maybe I can appeal to my brother’s softer side—especially if I offer to go in with him so that he’s away from Mom and Dad finally.

They watch him like a hawk and don’t let him make any decisions on his own, for good reasons, but I’m sure he wants away from them at his age.

As I reach the door, I spot Serena inside, still helping with the cleanup. She’s focused, but I can see the exhaustion in her posture. And now, knowing what’s at stake, I feel that weight of responsibility even more.

I need to protect her, to shield her from this mess. But how? How do I fix something that’s already in motion, something that’s threatening to take everything from her?

I need to figure this out fast. Serena can’t lose her shop, and I can’t let my brothers screw me over like this.

“Logan!” I hear Brant’s voice from behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts. I slow down, and he catches up to me, a concerned look on his face. “What’s wrong? You look deep in thought.”

I stop and turn to face him, letting out a long breath. “Donald just called me. Said someone else approached him to buy the building Serena’s shop is in.”

Brant frowns, clearly puzzled. “That’s sudden. What do they want with the building?”

“They’re going to renovate it into high-end executive studio apartments,” I explain, the words coming out bitterly. “They’re offering him a big sum of money and a cut of the profits, but the kicker is they want everyone out, Serena included. Donald admitted that he had sent her an eviction notice already but had not done it the proper way. And now, he’s planning to force her out even sooner.”

His eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “That sounds awfully familiar.”

“Yeah, it does,” I agree, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Too familiar. It’s exactly the idea I shared with Chaz. I told him about my plan to buy Donald’s building and turn it into executive apartments. Now, out of nowhere, someone else swoops in with the same offer?”

“You think Chaz is working against you?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him,” I say, the realization settling in like a punch to the gut. “It’s too much of a coincidence. He knew about the idea. He knew about the building… it has to be him. Not to mention, Chaz and my parents just told me that if I didn’t end things with Serena, they would disown me. My mom told me that my business will suffer because they’re the reason I’m so successful.”

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