LOGAN'S REVENGE

CHAPTER 22

            Marie sank to her knees and wept. Her life just took a wrong turn. How could they do this to her? They had known the truth and they had hidden it from her, even Richard and Mary. They were liars. How could the one person she loved the most in the world not be her biological father ??
         The man who had looked after her, read her bedtime stories and taken her riding and gardening?? How could he look her in the face and lie to her?? They'd made a fool out of her. Tons of questions ran through her head as she cried harder.

     She needed some fresh air. She felt choked up. She looked around the room and the walls were closing in on her. Everything just went wrong.

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       They were speaking in hushed tones when Katherine and Logan walked in.

          “ How did it go Logan? Did she believe you? How did she take it? ” Lucas asked with a heavy heart. The thought of his daughter in pain weighed heavy on him.

       “ She didn't take it well. She's angry and devastated. I've never seen her this broken, not even when she had the accident. ”

      “ This is all my fault. If I hadn't been in a rush to see her, she wouldn't have had to find out this way. I should have planned it carefully. It hurts so much that I can't comfort her. ”  Katherine said and wiped a tear away.

      “ It's not your fault Kat. She had to find out sooner or later. She'll heal with time. Let's give her time to sort out her emotions. ”

      The room fell silent. Knowing that they had hurt Marie in one way or another ate at their conscience. Some minutes passed before Richard broke the silence.

       “ I'm tired of sitting here doing nothing. The woman I love is hurting. She needs me. ”

       “ We all love Marie, but don't be a fool son. You're the least person she wants to be with right now. The only person that can comfort her now is Madison. She's the innocent one in all of this. ”

       “ You're right Mr Henshaw. Marie needs me right now but I'm scared of what she might do. She does nasty things when she's angry. This is a huge blow for her. ”

      “ You have to try. You've been with her through thick and thin and you have a deep understanding of each other. Please, you have to try. ” Katherine begged.

       Madison looked around the room. All eyes were on her and she realized she was this family's only hope at winning Marie back. She was a bit mad at them for hurting her friend but she had to help them.

        “ I'll try but I'm not promising anything. ” She said and left the room.
  
       She couldn't imagine how much Marie was hurting. This family had more twists and turns than a labyrinth. She hadn't believed it when Richard had told her about Marie's past until Lucas had confirmed it. She braced herself for the worst when she got to the bedroom door. She knocked but got no answer.

      “ Open the door Marie. I know you're hurting and you don't want to talk to anyone but please let me in. I'm really sorry but you have to let me help you. Open the door please. ”
  
    She knocked a few more times and got no answer. She tried the doorknob and it opened easily. She entered the room but there was  no sign of Marie anywhere. She checked in the bathroom and the closet but Marie wasn't in the room.

      “ I was afraid you'd do something like this. Where the hell have you gone Marie ? ”

    She took the stairs two at a time till she got to the living room.

       “ Marie's not in her room. She's gone. I've checked everywhere but she's gone. ”

     “ She couldn't have gone far. The estate's swamped with guards. Call the guards and have them search everywhere.. Come with me Richard, we'll search together. Maddie and Mary, check around the house and gardens. Katherine stay with my dad in case she comes back. ” Logan said before he left the house with Richard.

      “ I can't believe she actually ran away. She doesn't know how much the estate has changed. If she reacts this way about her past, how do you think she'll react when she discovers her true identity ? ” Henshaw asked Lucas.

      “ Now's not the time for that. She can't find out about anything yet. We'll give her time to take it in. Step by step. She's stubborn as she's tough. She'll get over this. We need to support her. ”

   “ I really hope she does Lucas. We need to get all of this over and done with. I'm tired of the secrets and lies. ” Katherine said and left the room.

The search continued till sundown. The guards and the labourers had searched the entire estate from top to bottom but there was still no sign of Marie. Richard and Logan had gone into town to check at the NGO but she wasn't there either. They were so worried when they got back to the estate and there was still no sign of her. Nobody had died but it felt like the entire family was grieving. A heavy silence fell on the house.

    “ We've looked everywhere. It's like she's disappeared ” Logan slumped into a chair and closed his eyes. He was exhausted.

    Mary made some coffee and served. Food was the least of their worries but they drank the coffee.
      Logan and Richard finished their coffee and decided to continue the search. They were at the front door when it opened and Marie walked in. They rushed to hug her but she stepped away from the embrace. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

     “ Don't touch me. I want to speak to my dad. ” She said.
  
      Lucas walked up to her.

    “  That's fine my sunshine. We can talk in the study where there won't be any interruptions. ”

    He held out his elbow to her and walked with her to the study.