Page 91 of The Secret Heir Next Door

Maybe this won’t do anything for me, but it could be huge for the small business owners.

I knew Serena wouldn’t go for my attempt to save her, at least that’s how she’d see it, so I approached it differently, hoping she wouldn’t slap me across the face when she got here.

"Great," I say, nodding to her. "Thanks, Grace. Make sure everyone’s ready for the opening speech. We’ve got one shot to make this work."

She squeezes my arm and heads off, leaving me with my thoughts. I run my hand through my hair, trying to calm my nerves. I’m not used to feeling like this—like I’m on the verge of losing something that actually matters. For all the business deals I’ve closed, all the boardrooms I’ve dominated, nothing compares to the knot twisting in my stomach now.

She’s coming. Grace received a text earlier, saying she would be here with our order, though Serena has no clue what’s actually waiting for her here. I can picture her reaction—arms crossed, brow furrowed, that fierce glare she has when she’s angry but trying not to show it.

She’ll probably hate me for this at first, for turning her private heartbreak into a public affair. But she needs to know that I’m not the enemy.

I check my watch again, even though I just looked at it a minute ago. Any moment now.

The crowd begins to grow, faces lighting up as they see the event unfolding. People are laughing, kids are running around with painted faces, and there’s an unmistakable buzz in the air. I want this to be more than just an apology. I want it to be a statement, a stand. This is not just for Serena but for every small business owner who’s been steamrolled by corporate greed. Levy’s not getting away with this without a fight.

My family isn’t going to get away with this without one hell of a fight.

I spot Serena entering with Lila and Emily, their heads turning as they take in the scene. Serena’s face shifts from curiosity to surprise, then to something sharper—anger, maybe. She pauses in the middle of the path, her eyes locking on the booth with her logo on it. She turns, scanning the crowd, and her gaze finally lands on me.

There it is, the fire in her eyes, the set of her jaw. She starts toward me, her steps quick and determined, and I brace myself for the impact.

“Logan,” she grounds out. “What is this? What are you doing?”

“It’s for you,” I say in an even voice. “For all of you.”

She glances around, taking in the booths and the banners. “I didn’t ask for this,” she snaps. “I don’t need you to swoop in and…”

“I know,” I cut in, trying to catch her eyes, but she’s looking everywhere but at me. “You didn’t ask for this, but you deserve it. All of you do.”

She crosses her arms over her chest, her stance defensive. “Is this your way of saying sorry? A grand gesture to make yourself feel better?”

“It’s not just about feeling better,” I say, stepping closer. “It’s about making it right. When I found out what was happening, I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. This is me trying to fix what I can.”

Serena’s gaze finally meets mine, and I see the hurt in her eyes. “You knew your company was doing this to us, to me, and you didn’t stop it.”

“No,” I say firmly. “I didn’t know. I swear, Serena, I was blindsided by this, just like you were. They took my idea and ran with it behind my back. They’re using my name, my company, to push you out, and I’m just as angry as you are.”

She shakes her head, looking like she’s struggling to believe me. “Logan, your name is all over this deal. Your company’s name. How could you not know?”

“My family’s company name is on it, not mine. I trusted the wrong people,” I admit bitterly. “I shared that idea with my brothers, thinking they’d help me build something good. Instead, they sold it out from under me. And now they’re profiting while you and everyone else are left with nothing.”

She’s quiet, processing my words. I reach out, tentatively, to take her hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t see it coming. And I’m sorry you got caught in the crossfire. But I’m here now, trying to make it right. You mean too much to me to let this go without a fight.”

She looks down at our joined hands, her fingers slowly curling around mine. “I don’t need you to fight my battles,” she says, but there’s less heat in her voice now. “I’ve been doing just fine on my own.”

“I know you have,” I say, squeezing her hand gently. “You’re strong. Stronger than anyone I know. But this isn’t just your fight, and it’s not just mine. It’s all of ours. And I want to stand by you, not because I think you need me, but because I need you. I need you to know that I’m on your side.”

She lets out a slow breath, her eyes softening. “This whole thing…it’s a lot.”

“I know,” I say. “But I’m not going anywhere. Not this time.”

There’s a long pause, and then she nods, her palm warm against mine. “Okay.”

I exhale, relief washing over me. “Thank you,” I say. “Thank you for giving me a chance.”

Before she can respond, Lila and Emily walk up. Lila raises an eyebrow at me. “So, Logan, what’s the plan here?”

I look around at the bustling event and the hopeful faces of the small business owners, and I turn back to Serena. “We’re going to make some noise,” I say. “We’re going to make sure everyone knows that these businesses are worth fighting for and that they deserve to stay. We’re going to put pressure on Levy to compensate everyone properly if they go through with this. It’s the least they can do.”

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