The days after Logan’s goodbye was like a death sentence to me. Something has died with me the day he gave up on us. I’d see him at school, but every time I tried to approach him, he’d walk away, his shoulders hunched and his face set in stone. It was as though I didn’t exist to him anymore.
I tried to tell myself that time would heal him, that eventually, he’d realize Vanessa’s lies and manipulation. But as the days dragged on, that hope began to wither. The distance between us felt insurmountable, and the weight of the truth—the truth that could change everything—pressed harder on my chest with every passing moment.
The only person I had left was Sarah. She was my anchor, the one who kept me steady when I felt like I was drowning. That day, after another failed attempt to talk to Logan, I found myself sitting with her in the library during lunch.
“You look like hell,” Sarah said bluntly, her eyes scanning my face.
“Thanks,” I muttered, resting my head in my hands.
“What’s going on, Emma?” she asked softly, leaning closer.
I hesitated, the words caught in my throat. For weeks, I’d been carrying this secret, trying to figure out what to do with it. But I couldn’t do it alone anymore.
“I need to tell you something,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
Sarah frowned, her brow furrowing. “Okay. What is it?”
I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I spoke. “It’s about Vanessa... and the baby.”
Her frown deepened. “What about it?”
“It’s not Logan’s,” I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “The baby... it’s Professor Mitchell’s.”
For a moment, Sarah just stared at me, her mouth slightly open. Then she shot up from her chair, her voice loud enough to draw the attention of a few nearby students.
“Are you serious?” she demanded, her voice a mix of shock and anger. “Are you telling me that Vanessa’s been lying this whole time? That she let Logan think it’s his kid?”
“Shhh!” I hissed, pulling her back down into her chair.
Sarah’s eyes were wide, her disbelief palpable. “Emma, Logan needs to know. You can’t keep this to yourself.”
“I know,” I said, my voice trembling. “But he won’t listen to me right now. He won’t even look at me.”
“Then make him listen,” Sarah said firmly. “Show him proof. He deserves to know the truth.”
Her words hit me like a slap. She was right—of course, she was right. Logan needed to know the truth, but telling him wasn’t enough. I needed evidence. Something undeniable.
I took a deep breath, the beginnings of a plan forming in my mind. “The clinic,” I said, my voice steadying. “I can get the proof from the clinic.”
Sarah looked at me sharply. “You mean... Vanessa’s file?”
I nodded. “I’ve seen it before. I know what it says. If I can just get the documentation...”
“That’s risky,” Sarah said, her brow furrowing. “But it’s the right thing to do.”
“I can’t give up on him, Sarah,” I said, my voice cracking. “Not this time. I won’t let Vanessa ruin everything.”
Sarah reached across the table, squeezing my hand tightly. “You’re doing the right thing, Emma. Logan needs you to fight for him, even if he doesn’t realize it right now.”
That night, I lay awake in bed, my mind racing with the plan. I would go to the clinic after school tomorrow, during my shift. I’d find Vanessa’s file and take what I needed. It wasn’t exactly ethical, but none of this was.
Vanessa had lied, manipulated, and destroyed everything good in my life. She didn’t deserve to get away with it.
And Logan... Logan deserved the truth.
***
The next morning, I walked into school with a sense of determination I hadn’t felt in weeks. Logan passed me in the hallway, his gaze fixed firmly ahead as though I weren’t even there. It stung, but I didn’t let it break me.
By the end of the day, I felt like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. But as I walked into the clinic and greeted Dr. Foster, I knew what I had to do.
This wasn’t just about Vanessa or Logan or me. This was about truth. About fighting for the future I still believed we could have.
Not this time. I wasn’t giving up.