Page 92 of King of Ruin

"And after hearing all that, the only thing you're worried about is whether they hit me?"

Elise held his gaze for a long moment before answering quietly.

"As long as they didn't lay a hand on you, then nothing else matters."

The words slipped out before she could soften them.

She immediately looked away, adjusting the strap of her handbag on her shoulder as she took a small step back, instinctively putting a little distance between them.

"This isn't something we need to keep discussing," she said, her voice returning to its usual calmness. "You should go home."

Logan looked at her as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Are you even listening to yourself?" He gave a short, disbelieving laugh and took a step after her when she tried to end the conversation. "After everything I just told you, you're still telling me to stay away from you?"

"Logan..."

"No."

He shook his head firmly, refusing to let her brush the conversation aside.

"I'm done pretending this is normal."

"It is."

"It isn't."

"It has been for years."

His brows knitted together.

"How can you say that?"

"Because it's true." She forced herself to keep her expression composed even as her fingers tightened around the leather strap of her handbag. "You're their son," she said quietly. "I'm not. They love you. Whatever they think about me doesn't change the fact that you're their family."

Her voice remained steady, though she couldn't bring herself to look at him anymore.

"If they want you to stay away from me..." She paused, swallowing the tightness in her throat before forcing herself to finish. "...then maybe you should."

For a second, Logan simply stared at her.

Then he let out a frustrated breath and turned away, dragging both hands through his hair before spinning back to face her again.

"Do you hear yourself?" he demanded, his voice rising despite his efforts to stay calm. "They hate you, Elise. I don't understand it. I don't understand how anyone could hate you this much."

He looked at her helplessly, searching for an explanation she couldn't give him.

"Please." His voice softened. “Let me move in with you."

Elise closed her eyes for the briefest moment.

"No." She opened her eyes again and finally looked at him. "I live with my boyfriend now."

Logan blinked.

For a moment, he simply stood there, trying to process what she'd said. Then his expression darkened.

"What boyfriend? The one you've never introduced me to?" His brows pulled together. "Xavier Chen."