Page 64 of My Rockstar Ex's Broken Vows

"Document everything," he says firmly. "Every interaction with Marcus. Every time he threatens you. Keep records of your custody arrangement and how you’re following it to the letter. Ifhe does take this to court, you’ll need to show that you’ve acted in Ollie’s best interest at all times."

I nod, my fingers twisting in my lap. "Okay."

"And in the meantime," he adds, "be cautious. I’m not saying you can’t see Mr. Reid, but if Marcus is looking for ammunition, don’t give him any."

CloverClub

210 Smith Street, Brooklyn

4:12 PM

Brooke swirls her cocktail.Her manicured nails clink softly against the glass as she studies me with that no-bullshit look I’ve come to expect.

She's the only friend I have that I knew would be free at three in the afternoon and up for a cocktail. I left the attorney's office and told her I needed a day-drink, and she made it to Brooklyn before I did.

"Okay," she says, leaning back in her chair. "Let me get this straight. Marcus is threatening to take you to court because Ollie mentioned Callum?"

"Pretty much," I say, slumping in my seat. The cozy bar we picked feels anything but cozy right now. The warm lighting and chatter around us are a stark contrast to the sunshine still shining outside. "He said I’m being reckless. That I’m exposingOllie to someone with an unpredictable lifestyle who would only bring chaos."

Brooke snorts, taking a sip of her drink. "Of course he did. Marcus loves nothing more than throwing around his ‘mightier than thou’ attitude."

"It’s more than that," I say, my voice tight. "He said if his son so much as sees Callum from afar, he’s taking me to court."

Brooke sets her glass down with a decisive clink. "What is his fucking deal?! God, he's such an asshole! And you believe him?"

I hesitate, my fingers twisting in my lap. "I don’t know. I talked to a lawyer. That's where I left from when I texted you. He said Marcus doesn’t have much of a case unless he can prove I’ve actually put Ollie in danger. But he also said to be careful, to avoid giving Marcus any ammo."

Brooke tilts her head, her lips curving into a wry smile. "Let me guess—now you’re stuck wondering if you should back off and or give Marcus the big, fat middle finger?"

"Well, that is more your style. I prefer not to make waves. But, yes, I am wondering how to handle it. Keep the peace or keep exploring if there's even atherethere with Callum. A part of me feels like if there is a second chance to find out I have to take it."

"Um, there is no question there, sweetheart. You do you and let him throw his own temper tantrum if he wants. He can't take away your son because you're seeing someone he doesn't like."

I nod, swallowing hard. "I hate the idea of giving him any kind of win, but I don’t want to risk Ollie getting caught in the middle of this."

Brooke leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Listen to me, Sienna. Marcus is lashing out because you’re happy, and he can’t stand it. It’s classic divorce bullshit. At first, the guy’s butt-hurt for being left, so he tries to hurt you. With him, it’s all about control. If you give him even an inch, he’ll keep pushing."

"So what do I do?" I ask, my voice quieter now.

"You call his bluff," she says firmly. "You show him that he doesn’t scare you. And if flaunting Callum a little drives him crazy? Even better."

"Brooke," I say, shaking my head. "That’s not going to help. He’s not just lashing out—he’s serious. He may not win in court, but he could easily bury me in court costs by dragging it out. He can make my life miserable."

"He won’t," she interrupts, her tone sharp. "Because he's an attorney and he knows he’ll lose. And you know what men like Marcus hate more than losing control? Looking stupid in front of a judge. He’s bluffing, Sienna. Don’t let him think he has any power over you."

I let out a shaky breath, her confidence almost convincing me. Almost.

"But," Brooke continues, holding up a finger, "that doesn’t mean you should hand him fodder on a silver platter. Keep things with Callum low-key for now. I know that’s not what you expect to hear from me, but if you can avoid really pushing his buttons, maybe he will eventually leave you alone."

"That’s what the lawyer said, too," I admit, the words sitting heavy in my chest.

"Well, there you go," Brooke says, picking up her drink. "Even a broken clock is right twice a day."

I let out a small laugh despite myself. The knot in my stomach is loosening just a little. "You really think he’ll back down ever? He is such a vindictive dick. I'm scared this is my life, walking on eggshells with him for eternity."

"I know eventually he will move on to his next victim," she says, her voice confident. "We can only hope he gets married quickly. The key is not letting him think he’s won. So be smart, but don’t cower. He feeds off of control, so when he thinks he can't control you anymore, he will move on."

Her words stick with me as I glance down at my phone at a missed text from Callum.

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