The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

"Just feels like if I'm the only one rooting for you guys, and Faye's not on board, it's kinda tricky for us to meddle. But, seems like

Faye's got the wrong idea about you. Tfor a heart-to-heart, buddy," Doreen recalled how distracted Faye had been on their

recent trip, hinting that Logan had his work cut out for him.

Logan, caught off guard, replied, "I know. I'll sort it out as soon as possible."

"Good." Doreen mentally applauded her future son-in-law. Faye could do far worse than ending up with him.

They returned to their booth, where Faye was still in the spose, lost in thought. Hearing them, she looked up.

"Let's take a walk after we eat, Faye," Doreen suggested, leading the way.

The tstrolled along the riverside, but soon Doreen claimed she had urgent business to attend to.

"I've got this urgent project thing, gotta run!" she fumbled in her purse for something.

Faye was puzzled about what urgent matter Doreen had to attend to all of a sudden.

Without waiting for a question, Doreen grabbed her car keys and dashed off, not before reminding Logan, "Take care of Faye on

your way back, will you?"

"Sure thing," Logan knew Doreen was creating an opportunity for him, though he was initially taken aback by her method.

"Should we keep walking, or do you wanna head back?" Logan asked Faye.

After a moment's thought, Faye pointed ahead, "Let's walk a bit more."

As they walked, the awkward silence had Faye scrambling for a conversation starter.

Then she remembered something from their group chat that Logan hadn't responded to, "Did you hear about Anna's wedding? We

should probably head back together for it."

Logan, pulling out his phone to book tickets, agreed without hesitation.

Seeing Logan's straightforward attitude, Faye didn't object to booking their flights together.

As they continued their walk, Logan finally gathered his thoughts and stopped, looking earnestly at Faye, "Faye."

Faye, puzzled, turned to him, "What's up?"

"It seems like there's been a misunderstanding between us. How about we clear the air today? I'm an open book," Logan's eyes

sparkled under the night sky.

Faye, ufortable under his gaze, turned away, "What are you on about now?"

She didn't want Logan to see right through her, so she stubbornly kept quiet and walked ahead.

Logan, with a light chuckle, caught up, "Why the hurry? Don't you want to clear things up?"

Even at this moment, he couldn't resist teasing Faye, which made her blush even more.

"lI don't have a girlfriend, nor am | playing the field."

Logan's clarification made Faye stop in her tracks, his playful smile replaced by seriousness.

"You might have seen a photo on my desk, but she's not my girlfriend, just someone very important," Logan continued, making

Faye's fleeting joy sink.

"But, don't you remember that photo?" Logan looked at her curiously. It was their first photo together, and she hadpletely

otten about it?

Faye, confused, responded, "That wasn'tin the photo, why would | remember?"

Both paused, and Faye just then remembered what she had been wearing that day, realizing she was the only woman who had

stood by Logan like that.

"You really ot," Logan said, half amused, half dismayed. He took out his phone, "Is this the photo you saw?"

Faye, looking closely, recognized it and felt her cheeks warm up again, "How did you get this photo? Wasn't the camera broken?"

"Because you ot, | had someone capture it from another angle."

After hearing Logan's full explanation, Faye understood the entire mix-up that had caused her so much distress.

"I'm so upset. | kept our first photo on my desk as a memento, call this way for you, only to end up misunderstood. Life's

tough," Logan sighed tically.

Despite knowing he was teasing, Faye couldn't help but retort, "What about your phone wallpaper, then?"

Logan handed his phone to her, "Go ahead, open any chat. The wallpapers are all different, yet all the same."

Skeptically, Faye browsed through and was stunned.

Every photo was of her, captured from various angles without her noticing.

"I've been taking these for a while. It might sound weird, but it's the only way | could keep memories of you," Logan explained.

Seeing the most recent photo of her on the balcony, Faye asked, "Why did you capture such a sad moment?"

Faye tried to hold back tears but couldn't help crying.

Seeing her cry, Logan becflustered and offered his handkerchief, "Please don't cry. | should've told you sooner to avoid this

misunderstanding."

"But I'm glad we met again. Otherwise, I'd regret it for the rest of my life."

As Faye tried topose herself, she asked, "Then why haven't you confessed your feelings?"

Caught off guard, Logan paused, then frantically made a phone call, leaving Faye confused.

"Where are you guys?"

All she could make out were phrases somewhat resembling those from Logan.

Logan, visibly embarrassed, glanced at Faye. "Just a sec," he said.

A few moments later, Faye noticed a delivery guy jogging up to them. It was so dark, and Logan was shielding her view so

thoroughly, she couldn't see what was being handed off.

"I've fallen for you, hopelessly in love during the wonderful moments we've shared. Would you consider being with someone who's

a bit handsand a bit well-off like me?"

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