Chapter 37-2

Kane laughed and walked to his step-sister’s side before taking hold of her arm. “C’mon, Tori. Our part’s done with. Besides, I just got a call from dad. He wants you back home for another date.” “No!” Tori immediately shouted. “I’m not going back to that prison!” Of course, Kane ignored her complaints and forcefully took her with him. “No!” she shouted. “Don’t leave Claire with that old man! He’s going to kill her while we’re distracted! He’s a fucking serial killer!” Logan silenced Tori with a smile. She stared at him with wide eyes that were still filled with utter fear. However, that helped her stop shouting and she quietly went with Kane out the office. Logan chuckled to himself at how easily he affected the girl. Claire on the other hand… Heath shut the door behind him before he walked to stand at his father’s side. Then he said, “Plan failed, huh?” Claire shrugged. “Not really.” “You were in on it too?” Logan asked his son. Heath nodded. “It was Claire’s suggestion.” For some reason, that caused her to blush, but Logan just looked between the two of them with surprise. “I’m impressed. You really seemed as if Claire had ripped your heart to shreds.” His son chuckled. “That’s because she almost did. I just recollected the memories and acted upon them in front of you and mom.” Logan’s eyebrows furrowed. “Then all of this…it wasn’t real? You and Claire are still together?” Claire leaned her chin on the heel of her palm. “Yes, Logan. Heath and I are very much still together. And we don’t have any plans to separate.” He allowed her words to slowly sink into his mind. It took a few seconds and a little more observing of the two’s faces for Logan to be truly convinced that Claire was telling the truth. When he realized that everything was real, he collapsed onto the desk, leaning on his forearms. “Logan?” Claire stood up from her desk and looked at him with worry. “Are you okay?” she placed her hand on his shoulder. Her looked that said she was annoyed with him had completely disappeared from her face. Heath also came to his side and stared down at him with worry as well. Logan looked between the two of them and saw that their concern was genuine. He couldn’t help but smile at their similar facial expressions. “Yes.” He replied with a defeated sigh. “Never better.” >>>>><<<<< The three of them decided to go up to the top floor for Logan’s explanation. Though he told Heath and Claire that he felt fine, they stilled worried about him and made sure he was seated comfortably with a cool glass of water in his reach. Logan couldn’t help but smile lazily at their efforts. “Alright.” Claire said with determination. “I think your explanation is due.” “And don’t say something incredulous like you’re just being a doting and protective father.” Heath added. Logan chuckled at his son. “What if that’s really the explanation?” He gave his father a flat, unconvinced look. “Fine. I’ll tell you the truth.” Claire and Heath glanced at each other before they stared at Logan in anticipation. “How much exactly did Julia tell you, Claire?” “She told me that she was hired to purposely cause problems between the two of us by you. It was like testing our relationship.” He nodded before beginning. “It actually started with Ava. She was the one who had suggested Heath take over Bishop Lodgings when he came to the states. Of course, I didn’t mind and easily agreed. Only later did I find out that Ava actually had some ulterior motives.” Logan went further on to explain that Ava had wanted Heath and Claire to purposely meet. She had hoped that something would grow between the two of them, leading to something more. Ava really liked Claire and knew at the same time that her son was lonely and focused too much on work rather than his own personal life. So she made a plan of somehow getting Claire and Heath together. “Wow.” Claire blinked. “I didn’t know I was so well-liked by Ava.” Then she suddenly remembered what happened earlier that day and groaned before burying her face into her hands. “I was so mean to her!” The older Bishop chuckled at her reaction before he continued. “Even though Ava had that purpose in mind when she wanted Heath to take over the hotel, I knew that she also had no plans to interfere. She had decided to be a spectator and watch from the sidelines as the scene unfolded. Ava was so sure that you two would hit it off. “I, on the other hand, didn’t think it would be a good idea for the two of you to advance in your relationship so smoothly. It was best to throw in any obstacles now before you two became too involved.” Claire raised a confused brow. “You’re talking as if you and Ava knew for certain that I would end up with Heath and have a future together with him.” “Because we did.” Logan answered swiftly, making Claire even more confused. Heath saw her expression and smiled in humor. Logan could see the affection in his son’s eyes. “I knew the consequences of interfering with your lives. I knew I would eventually get punished for it and be hated by one or even both of you.” “Damn right.” Claire crossed her arms over her chest. “But I took that risk anyway, because I just wanted to make sure. From the outside, you were a good person Claire. Ava and I knew that you would be a good match for someone like Heath. But I’ve been through many experiences where a person could easily change their character because of love or the lack of it.” Logan saw the way Claire glanced at Heath in confusion. However, even Heath wouldn’t have an answer to her question. His son didn’t know about his past. Even though it was a justification for his actions, he didn’t want Heath to know that his father had done such things in the past. The only person who knew about his past was his wife, Ava. But that was because she had helped him through it all. Even though Logan was still very much like a child at heart, he wanted his position as an all-compassionate father to have power over his children. Though one day, he may have to reveal everything to his children—when they eventually ask. “I didn’t know how you or Heath would react to each other if your relationship faced problems. I didn’t want either of you to regret your decision if you ended up falling together because your early time spent with each other had gone by easily. Therefore, I hired Julia.” “To cause those problems you spoke of.” Heath said and Logan nodded in confirmation. “You wanted us to go through conflict together and see if we could overcome it together as well. If we couldn’t then we wouldn’t be a good match.” Again, Logan nodded. “I also wanted to see if you two actually loved each other or not, also. I wanted to know if what you had between you would be eternal, and not just temporary. If the flame you had between you could be easily blown out, then that would also be another indication of your future.”