Page 89 of Faking with Three

“I’m sorry for not telling you. I didn’t know how you would react, with Jax being your brother and all.”

“It’s definitely a lot to take in,” she says. “And I know I should be happy for you…but I just can’t.”

“You can’t?”

“I can’t talk about this right now. Liv, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.”

The car ride to the courthouse is quiet except for the soft hum of the engine. Jax is in the front passenger seat, staring out the window like he’s trying to find answers in the city skyline.

“Do you think I’m taking the right step? Suing her?” Jax says.

I glance at him, catching his reflection in the rearview mirror. His brows are furrowed, his hands clenching and unclenching in his lap. Before I can answer, Ethan speaks.

“We don’t have any other choice, man. She crossed a line, and you know it, man. She’s using the kid to get to us. Who knows what she’s going to do if we let it go unchecked.”

“I just don’t get it yet,” Marcus says, frowning. “Before…she was all about concern for him. What changed?”

“We didn’t have a choice, Jax,” I say gently. “The lawyers were clear. This was the only step left. She leaked the story about Adam, she compromised his privacy. She’s playing dirty.”

Jax leans his head back against the seat, closing his eyes. “I know. I just hate that it’s come to this. I never wanted Adam caught in the crossfire. Even my sister isn’t too happy about it.”

I think back to my conversation with Heather. Jax glances at me. “Have you spoken to her?”

“Yesterday, yes,” I say.

Jaz frowns. “Everything okay?”

I can’t exactly drop the bomb on him that his sister knows about us. Obviously she hasn’t spoken to him about it, and he has no idea.

I rest a hand on his arm. “You’re doing this to protect him. That matters.”

He opens his eyes and looks at me, a flicker of gratitude in his gaze. “Thanks, Liv.”

The car slows to a stop in front of the courthouse, and the sight of the crowd outside makes my stomach drop. Reporters swarm the entrance like bees around a hive, their cameras flashing even before the car fully stops. The noise hits me before we’re even out—voices overlapping, questions shouted into the air, all of it a chaotic blur.

“Media’s here in full force,” Marcus mutters from the front seat, his hand gripping the door handle.

I glance at Jax beside me. His jaw is set, his eyes scanning the crowd like he’s bracing for a hit. He hasn’t said a word since we pulled up. I reach out and touch his arm lightly. “You’ve got this,” I say.

The moment we step out of the car, the noise doubles. Cameras flash, blinding bursts of light against the gray morning sky. Microphones are thrust toward us as reporters shove forward, their voices colliding into an overwhelming roar.

“Mr. Thompson, do you have any comments about the lawsuit?”

“Jax, are you trying to use the court to manipulate custody of your son?”

“Olivia, is Love Lab funding this legal battle?”

I keep my head down, trying to stay close to Jax as we move toward the courthouse steps. The crowd presses in, making it hard to move without bumping into someone. A microphone grazes my arm, and I instinctively pull back, but there’s no room to retreat.

“Miss Chase, is this a publicity stunt for Love Lab?” a voice calls out

“Olivia, what’s your relationship with Mr. Thompson?” another one shouts.

Before I can even process the questions, I’m surrounded. A small group of reporters closes in on me, their cameras and mics cutting off my view of the others. The questions come rapid-fire, each one more invasive than the last.

“Are you romantically involved with all three men?”

“Did Love Lab orchestrate this lawsuit for views?”

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