Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Nathan was so furious he couldn't form words.

But he was a grown man—he couldn't exactly blow up at a child. All he could do was glare.

Cordelia looked at Rhys, all blinking innocence and wide-eyed confusion, and felt her eyebrow inch upward.

She was starting to catch on. This kid was devious. At his age, he'd already figured out exactly how to push Nathan's buttons.

She'd thought he was quiet and dull. Clearly, she didn't know him well enough.

Nathan caught on too. He fixed Rhys with a cold stare. "You're Logan's illegitimate kid, aren't you?"

He jabbed a finger toward Cordelia. "And you have the nerve to call her 'Mommy'? She's not your mother."

Rhys blinked, perfectly matter-of-fact. "A stepmom is still a mom."

Nathan choked.

Cordelia couldn't help it—she laughed out loud.

Rhys glanced at her, brow furrowed with exaggerated seriousness. "Mommy, you don't like this rude man either, right? I think he's awful. Can we just ignore him?"

Nathan's face had gone from red to nearly purple.

His dark gaze locked onto Rhys's face—a face that bore an unmistakable resemblance to Logan—and his fists clenched at his sides.

That man was clearly his bane, and even his son carried that same jinx.

Cordelia reached down to ruffle Rhys's hair, about to agree, when a warm voice called from nearby, laced with amusement. "Rhys. Cordelia."

Both of them looked up at the same time and spotted the man in the camel-colored coat standing a short distance away.

They ran to him in unison.

"Logan!"

"Daddy!"

Nathan, abandoned where he stood, watched Cordelia throw herself into Logan's arms like she belonged there. Jealousy burned through him like acid.

Cold and cutting with him. Soft and eager with Logan. Did she really despise him that much?

"What are you doing here?" Cordelia tilted her face up, eyes sparkling. "You said tomorrow at the earliest."

Logan gazed down at those bright eyes and brushed his thumb gently across her temple. "I thought last night's phone call was your way of telling me you missed me. Was I wrong?"

Cordelia pressed her lips together, the tips of her ears warming.

She had missed him. But he'd been working, and she refused to be the clingy type. "You weren't wrong. But are you really done?"

Logan nodded with a smile. "Finished early. Handed the rest off to my assistant. I missed you. And Rhys."

His gaze shifted to the boy. He lowered his voice. "Was Rhys good while I was gone? Any trouble?"

Rhys stood shoulder to shoulder with Cordelia, those bright eyes—so similar to hers—fixed on Logan. "No trouble. I was good every single day. Ask Cordelia if you don't believe me."

Logan raised an eyebrow at Cordelia.

She nodded. "He was decent. But that's mostly because I'm an excellent disciplinarian. He was a handful at first."

Rhys's mouth drooped at the corners as she tattled on him.

Logan had heard their entire exchange with Nathan. He knew how Rhys had defended him in front of his rival, and it earned the boy some extra grace.

He bent down, scooped Rhys up, and gave his bottom a light pat. "I'll let it go this time. But no bullying Cordelia while I'm away."

Rhys bristled at the blatant favoritism. He crossed his arms and turned his head with a huff. "Daddy's biased. Always taking Cordelia's side!"

Logan didn't look the slightest bit guilty. "She's my wife. Who else would I side with?"

---

"Enough." Nathan strode over.

Watching the three of them laugh together like a picture-perfect family while he stood forgotten—he couldn't take it.

His gaze cut toward Logan, cold and sharp. "It wasn't enough to steal another man's wife? Now you're making her play stepmom to your kid. Is that how you treat her?"

Logan's eyebrow quirked, his expression one of mild, amused surprise. "Oh—Mr. Foster. I didn't even notice you there. Are you here visiting Ms. Johnson?"

One sentence. It shut Nathan down completely.

He'd come here under the pretense of visiting Bianca just to see Cordelia. He was in no position to interrogate anyone.

Whatever was between him and Cordelia—they knew. They didn't owe Nathan an explanation.

"You—" Nathan started again, but Cordelia stepped between him and Rhys.

Her voice was ice. "If you have nothing else to say, go find Bianca. I don't want you saying ugly things in front of a child."

Nathan's jaw clenched. Seeing her protect this boy so fiercely twisted something in his chest. "Have you forgotten you have a daughter of your own?"

Cordelia shook her head. "Of course I haven't. But that's none of your concern."

Done wasting her breath, she grabbed Logan's hand and headed for her break room.

The man was unhinged. He kept using Yara as a weapon, and every time, his words got uglier.

She didn't even have the energy to argue anymore.

"Daddy, is that man your love rival?" Rhys leaned close to Logan's ear, whispering what he clearly thought was very quietly.

Cordelia shot him a sideways glare. "Rhys, I'm not deaf."

Logan shielded the boy, shifting him in his arms with a grin. "He's hardly a rival. He lost his standing with Cordelia a long time ago."

Just an ex-husband. Not worth a second thought.

Cordelia shook her head with a helpless smile. "Why are you explaining this to him? He doesn't understand."

Rhys lifted his chin immediately. "Who says I don't? I totally get it. Guys used to chase after my mom too. Lots of them. She said they were love rivals."

Cordelia froze. Her brow furrowed as she looked at Rhys.

Rhys seemed to realize what he'd said. His body stiffened. The playful energy drained away, and his head dipped low.

Logan glanced at him with concern, then looked to Cordelia.

They both braced for tears, for Rhys to demand to see his mother. Instead, he yawned and buried his face in Logan's shoulder. "Daddy, I'm sleepy."

They were both surprised he didn't cry or fuss about seeing his mom. But it was probably for the best—less risk of their cover being blown.

Logan patted his back gently and chuckled. "Alright. And how many times do I have to tell you? Stop calling me Daddy."

Rhys hummed softly and tightened his arms around Logan's neck. "You are my daddy."

Logan let it go. "Your grandparents have been asking about you. Do you want to go see them?"

His parents had brought it up many times, but Logan worried Rhys wouldn't warm to them—or worse, that his presence would remind them of Heath and reopen old wounds. So he'd kept putting it off.

Rhys lowered his head. "Would Grandma and Grandpa... want me there?"

Logan nodded. "Of course they would."

"Then..." Rhys seemed to gather his courage, lifting his eyes to meet Logan's. "Then I'll go."