Il Suo Zaffario (His Sapphire)

Chapter 8

SAPPHIRE POV

When we got back to Logan's place, it was late. I had enjoyed spending time with his family, but whenever he was around, a knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. I tried not to make eye contact with him after what happened in the nursery, but I could feel his eyes on me, watching my every move.

Once inside my room, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I needed to think, to process everything that had happened. But just as I began to relax, a knock sounded on the door, making my heart leap into my throat.

"Who is it?" I called out, praying it wasn't Logan. I wasn't ready to face him again, not yet.

"It's Adonis," came the reply, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I stood up and opened the door, smiling when I saw him standing there.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

I nodded. "Yeah, just tired. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be working?"

He shook his head and stepped inside. "Nope, my shift's over." He sank down onto the love sac in the corner of the room, looking completely at ease.

I mouthed 'Oh' and sat down across from him. "Aren't you scared that Logan will come in and see you here?" I asked, half-joking, half-serious.

Adonis just shrugged. "Not really."

"So, how did it go at the Espositos' house?" he asked, and I told him everything—well, almost everything. I left out the part where Logan kissed me.

Before I could finish, I heard Logan call my name from down the hall, and my heart started to race. "You need to hide, or else you'll be in big trouble," I whispered urgently, my voice tinged with panic. "You might get fired."

Adonis just chuckled, not moving an inch. I ran over to him, trying to urge him to hide, but in my haste, I tripped and fell right into his lap. "Sorry," I whispered, mortified, but he just chuckled again, amusement dancing in his blue eyes.

Then someone cleared their throat, and my blood turned to ice. I looked up to see Logan standing in the doorway, his eyes blazing with anger. I scrambled off Adonis, my heart pounding in my chest.

"What the f**k are you doing in here?" Logan shouted, his voice a mix of fury and jealousy.

Adonis stood up calmly, meeting Logan's glare. "I'll leave. I just came to check on her."

"You don't need to check on her. She's okay!" Logan's voice rose, and he shoved Adonis, who immediately shoved him back.

"You can't tell me what to do, Logan. I can see her whenever I want, and you can't stop me. She's not yours."

"Stop it, you two!" I shouted, my voice trembling with fear.

Logan glared at Adonis one last time. "You're lucky you're my cousin," he spat, and Adonis walked out of the room, leaving us alone. Cousins?

Logan turned toward me, his eyes still smoldering with anger. "What were you both doing in here? Why would you let him in?"

I took a step back, my back hitting the wall. "He came to talk to me," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

"That's not what it looked like to me," he said, his jaw clenched tight.

"I tripped and fell on him. Why does it matter to you anyway?" I shot back, my voice quivering.

"It matters because you are mine, and I don't want to see you with any other guy." His words hit me like a punch to the gut, and tears welled up in my eyes. Without another word, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

I collapsed onto the bed, the tears spilling over. 'You're mine,' echoed in my mind, and all I felt was trapped. No matter how awful my life had been before, at least no one had tried to control me.

I couldn't stay here, not after this. I grabbed my shoes and ran out of the room, down the stairs, and out the front door. The guards called after me, but I ignored them, running as fast as I could, away from Logan, away from the suffocating feeling of being owned.

LOGAN POV

I shouldn't have shouted at her. Maybe I'd gone too far. Sapphire was sensitive, and I knew better than to push her like that. Stupid, I berated myself as I sat alone in my office, replaying the scene over and over in my head.

Suddenly, one of my guards burst through the door, his face pale. "Sir, Sapphire left the house."

My heart dropped. She was out there, alone, and it was dangerous. I shot up from my chair and bolted downstairs, panic setting in. How could she just leave like that?

I ran out of the house, scanning the dimly lit streets. She couldn't have gotten far. My pulse raced as I jumped into my car and sped through the neighborhood, searching for any sign of her.

I found her a few blocks away, sitting under a tree, her knees pulled to her chest as she cried. Relief washed over me, but it was quickly replaced by guilt. I parked the car and got out, running over to her.

She looked up as I approached, her and she rolled her eyes and looked away. "What do you want? Can't you leave me alone?"

I shook my head and sat down beside her, close enough to be near her but not so close that she'd feel cornered. "I'm sorry," I began, my voice soft. "I shouldn't have shouted at you. I'm an i***t for treating you like that. For acting like I own you. I was wrong, Sapphire."

She kept her gaze fixed on the ground, silent for a long moment. Then she turned to me, her eyes red and puffy. "Now will you please come home?" I asked, searching her face for any sign of forgiveness.

She sighed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Okay, but promise me you won't shout at me anymore. I can do what I want, talk to who I want."

A flicker of frustration rose in me, but I swallowed it down. This was about making things right, not controlling her. "No, you're going too far," I started to say, but she just stood up and headed toward the car without another word.

I followed her, still trying to wrap my head around everything. We drove back in silence, the tension thick in the air. When we arrived home, I got out and walked around to open her door, but she was already asleep in the back seat, exhaustion written across her face.

I carefully picked her up, her head lolling onto my chest as she instinctively snuggled closer. Despite everything, she looked so peaceful, so innocent. I carried her inside, up the stairs, and into her room, gently laying her down on the bed and covering her with the blanket. She murmured something in her sleep, curling into the sheets, and I couldn't help but smile.

I wanted to protect her, to make things right. But I knew it wasn't going to be easy.

SAPPHIRE POV

I woke up to the sound of giggling, the kind that could only mean one thing: the kids were in my room. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and looked around, spotting little Mia beaming at me from the foot of the bed.

"Auntie Sapphy!" she squealed, and before I knew it, she was darting toward me, throwing herself into my arms. I laughed, holding her close as the door creaked open and Sara appeared in the doorway.

"Oh dear, are they bothering you?" she asked, though I could tell she was amused.

I shook my head, still holding Mia. "'They'?" I repeated, scanning the room, and soon enough, I spotted Aiden hiding behind the love sac, with Amelia and Kyla peeking out from behind the stairs.

"Hi, Kyla, Amelia, and Aiden," I called out. Aiden came running over, and Amelia hesitated for a moment before taking Kyla's hand and guiding her toward me. They climbed up onto the bed, giggling all the while.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, amused by their excitement.

"Uncle Logan is babysitting us for the day," Amelia explained, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

I smiled and started to get up, but Sara clapped her hands to get the kids' attention. "Come on, children, stop bothering Sapphire. Breakfast is ready."

They scrambled off the bed and rushed out of the room, but I stayed behind, picking up little Kyla. At two years old, she preferred being carried rather than running with the others.

I carried her downstairs to the dining room, where the kids were already seated, chattering away. I took a seat, and Logan, who had been watching the chaos unfold with a hint of a smile, reached over to take Kyla from me. He placed her gently in her high chair and picked up her little bowl.

"Open," he instructed softly, and Kyla obediently opened her mouth, giggling when she finished. It was adorable, and I couldn't help but wonder why Logan didn't have kids of his own. He was so good with them.

After breakfast, the kids settled down to watch cartoons, and I took the opportunity to grab a quick bath, brush my teeth, and get dressed. When I came back downstairs, I found Logan in the living room with Kyla asleep on his chest, her tiny hand clutching his shirt, her other hand in her mouth. I sat down beside him, smiling at the sight.

"Umm... Logan, why didn't you have kids of your own?" I asked, curious.

He looked down at me, his expression neutral. "I don't have time for babies. I'm busy. Plus, I have these kids. They visit me all the time, so I'm good."

I nodded, trying to understand. "But you'd be a great dad if you had at least one baby. You're getting older, you know," I teased lightly.

He shot me a glare. "I'm not having any kids, Sapphire. I don't need any."

"What about marriage?" I pressed, though I already suspected his answer.

He shook his head, a faint smirk on his lips. "No marriage either. I want to be able to get any woman I want without being tied down to one."

"Well, I wouldn't want to be that girl who falls in love with you and can't get married or have a baby," I retorted, pursing my lips.

"I don't let women fall in love with me, and if they do, well, good luck to them." He chuckled, the sound grating on my nerves. Arrogant bastard.

"Well, I hope one day you get a girl pregnant, and you'll see how having a little one in your life will be the most precious thing ever," I said, smiling sweetly, but he just laughed.

"That won't happen. I'm getting a vasectomy soon. I'm not having s*x until I– wait no if I do have s*x, I'll use protection," he said matter-of-factly, rubbing circles on Kyla's back. I could feel the frustration boiling inside me.

"Why are you even talking about this? I don't want any kids, that's it," he said, his tone firm.

I sighed, leaning back on the couch. "I want to find the perfect guy, get married, and have babies," I confessed, and he chuckled again, as if the idea was absurd. "What? You're not planning on keeping me locked up forever. If that's what you're planning to do, I'll marry Adonis."

His mood shifted instantly, his eyes darkening. "No, you're not marrying Adonis or anyone," he whispered, careful not to wake Kyla.

I huffed in annoyance, standing up and walking out of the room before I said something I'd regret.