Chapter 309 Shadows of The Past

Ella

The familiar scent of mahogany and fresh ink greeted me as I walked into the firm, but something felt different that day.

It wasn’t a physical change in the surroundings, but a shift in the atmosphere-the type of shift that instantly lets you know you’ve become the topic of whispered conversations.

Conversations halted mid-sentence, eyes diverted, and the atmosphere grew noticeably cooler. Jane from the legal research team was suddenly very interested in her coffee cup, while Peter from corporate had suddenly taken an intense interest in his shoe laces.

My inner wolf, always keen and alert, sensed the discomfort instantly. “It’s because of Logan”, she growled softly in the back of my mind. “It’s because of him and your association with him.”

I gave a forced smile to Diane, the receptionist, trying to brush off the internal chatter of my wolf and the external coldness of my colleagues. “Morning, Diane,” I greeted cheerfully, though I could feel the strain..

“Ella,” she replied, her tone lacking its usual warmth. Her gaze flicked to her computer screen, avoiding direct eye contact.

My heart sank. Diane had always been friendly, we had shared countless coffees and gossip during break time. This distant, almost clinical response wasn’t like her.

“Ignore them. What do they know anyway?” my wolf snarled. “We don’t need their validation.”

But it wasn’t about validation. “It’s about respect,” I answered in my mind, almost pleadingly to my wolf. “I’ve worked too hard to let this whole arrangement with Logan taint everything.”

But as I moved deeper into the firm, it became painfully evident that the frosty reception wasn’t limited to just the foyer.

“I must say, I didn’t expect to see you here today. I figured you’d be off somewhere… else. We all did, actually.” The insinuation

of you?” I asked, filling my coffee cup at the counter. “I guess I’m popular, huh?” My words were genial, but I felt the exact opposite. And Sarah didn’t return my good humor. “If that’s what you want to call it,”

I’ve got cases to work on, Sarah. Just like any other day.” She smirked. “Right. Cases.” And with that. biting remark, she moved past me, but not without knocking into me.

bent down to help. “Here’s

morning, huh?” Sarah hesitated, then snatched them away, her eyes

“Of course, Sarah. Let

and pointed glances. Ben from family law joked loudly about how “connections” made

me, letting the weight of the morning sink in. The walls felt like they were closing in,

don’t matter,” my wolf grumbled, frustration evident. “She couldn’t even

shot back quietly, sitting heavily in my chair. “These are my colleagues,

huffed. “So what if they want to gossip?

they see me as just… Logan’s plaything, then everything I’ve

“Then prove them wrong. Let your work speak for itself. Show

breath, trying to center myself. “I know, I know. It’s just… it’s easier said than done. I’ve worked so hard to

responded. “Then let’s remind them of who Ella really is. Show them your strength, your grace. Your abilities. Not because of Logan,

small smile tugged at my lips.

decided to put the morning behind me

paperwork. Files were scattered all across my desk, and my computer screen flashed with new emails. Among

I had expected something about extortion, smuggling, or maybe another high-profile heist. Instead, I found myself reading about land disputes and allocation

a moment, I was puzzled as to why Logan was involving us in

two distinct regions in the city. For years, it seemed, the piece of land had been in a sort

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