Page 37 of Entrapped
A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, my parents exchanging wide-eyed looks as Colson stepped forward. He turned to my father and offered the deed, his hand steady and confident.
"Logan, Margaret," Colson said, addressing my parents directly. "This is the deed to your new home. A four-bedroom, three-bath, thirty-five hundred square foot home, fully furnished with everything handpicked by Josephine herself. It's ready for you to move in as soon as you like."
The room erupted in gasps and excited whispers. My mother’s hands flew to her mouth, her eyes welling with tears. My father took the deed with trembling hands, his usual stoic expression cracking under the weight of the moment.
"You did this?" my father asked, his voice thick with emotion. He looked from Colson to me, his disbelief clear. "You both did this?"
I nodded, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. "We did. Colson wanted to make sure you had everything you needed, just like I did."
My mother was openly crying now, clutching my father’s arm as she tried to process the enormity of the gift. "This is... this is too much, Josephine. We can’t possibly..."
Colson cut in gently, his tone firm yet kind. "It's exactly what you deserve. Family is everything, and this is our way of showing you just how much you mean to us."
There were congratulations all around as the rest of the family chimed in, expressing their amazement and offering their thanks. Even Serena, ever the sycophant, was all smiles as she clapped and gushed over the gesture. But when I glanced at my brother Logan, I noticed his reaction was markedly different. His eyebrows were knitted together, his expression tight. He looked less impressed and more... concerned.
The moment passed quickly as everyone’s attention turned back to the celebration, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. I excused myself from the table, my emotions teetering between elation and unease. I needed a moment to collect myself, to process everything that had just happened.
I slipped out of the dining room and into the hallway, making my way to the bathroom. As I closed the door behind me, I let out a shaky breath, leaning against the sink. I barely had a moment to myself before the door creaked open, and Logan slipped in behind me, closing it with a soft click.
"Logan," I started, surprised. "What are you…"
He cut me off, his tone low and accusatory. "What the hell was that, Josephine?"
I blinked, taken aback by the anger simmering in his eyes. "What do you mean? It was a gift, Logan. A gesture of appreciation for Mom and Dad."
"A gesture?" he scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "Is that what you call it? Or is it just another way for you to flaunt your new life as Mrs. Ashworth?
Did you think throwing money around would solve everything?"
"That’s not fair," I snapped, my own frustration bubbling to the surface. "Colson wanted to do something special for them. He knows how much they mean to me."
"And you’re just going along with it? Playing the role of the doting wife, the perfect little trophy?" Logan’s voice was harsh, his words cutting deep. "I hardly recognize you anymore, Josephine. You’re becoming just like them—these people, their money, their power. It’s changing you."
I opened my mouth to protest, but the words caught in my throat. Was I really changing? Or was I just trying to survive in this world I’d been thrust into?
"Logan," I began, my voice wavering. "I’m doing the best I can. This life... it’s not what I expected, but it’s what I have now. I’m trying to make the best of it, to make sure Mom and Dad are taken care of."
He shook his head, disappointment etched into his features. "Just don’t lose yourself, Josephine. Don’t forget where you came from."
With that, Logan turned and left the bathroom, leaving me alone with the weight of his words. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, searching for the woman I used to be. But all I saw was the wife of Colson Ashworth, dressed in designer clothes, living in a world that was both thrilling and terrifying.
Was Logan right? Was I losing myself in this life? Or was I simply adapting, doing what I needed to do to survive and protect the people I loved?
I didn’t have the answers, but as I rejoined the party, I knew one thing for certain: the line between who I was and who I was becoming was growing thinner with each passing day.
Chapter 16
Colson stood behind me as I knelt, carefully arranging my shoes on the lower shelf of our walk-in closet. The Thanksgiving dinner had gone off without a hitch, despite Logan’s harsh words still echoing in my mind. I was lost in thought when I felt Colson’s presence near me, his shadow stretching long across the floor. He stepped closer, stopping right in front of me.
“You’re in the perfect position,” he murmured, his voice deep and commanding.
I looked up, and his hand was already cupping my chin, tilting my face toward his. His expression was unreadable, but there was a familiar intensity in his eyes that sent a shiver down my spine.
“Are you asking or telling?” I asked, trying to keep my tone light, even though my heart pounded in my chest.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “Whichever gets me what I desire.”
I held his gaze, searching for a sign of what was really on his mind. “You know I won’t deny you either way.”
