Page 45 of Fake To Forever

“You okay?” he asks, his voice low.

I nod, even though I’m not sure if I am. “Yeah. Just… a lot to process.”

He squeezes my hand, his thumb brushing against my skin in a way that sends shivers down my spine. “We’ll get through this, Haven. One step at a time.”

I look up at him, searching his eyes for something—reassurance, maybe. “Thank you, Christian. For everything.”

His gaze softens, and he lifts our joined hands, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of mine. “You don’t have to thank me for anything.”

As we walk down the hallway, side by side, I realize that if I’m not careful, I might stop pretending this is real and start to think it actually is.

There’s something about being around him and with him… that feels so right.

Chapter Seventeen: Honesty

Christian

“Married? Are you fucking joking, Christian?”

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I release a long breath, fighting to maintain my patience.

“Yes, Theresa,” I say in a low, steady voice. “I’m getting married, and I’m letting you know as a courtesy.”

Theresa’s voice crackles through the phone, sharp with disbelief. “A courtesy? You’re telling me as acourtesy? You didn’t even have the decency to tell me before announcing this to everyone else?”

I grit my teeth, pressing my fingers harder against the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my temper in check. “Theresa, I’m not obligated to inform you of every decision I make in my personal life. This is about me and Haven. It has nothing to do with you.”

Her laugh is bitter, venomous. “Of course, it has everything to do with me. You think this little engagement of yours won’t affect Oliver? Do you think you can just bring some random woman into his life and pretend everything will be perfect?”

My jaw clenches. This is exactly what I expected. Nothing with Theresa is ever simple. She finds a way to twist everything into a fight, especially when it comes to Oliver. I take a deep breath, reminding myself why I’m doing this… why I agreed to this arrangement with Haven in the first place.

“I’m not bringing a random woman into his life,” I say, keeping my tone even and controlled. “Haven is someone I trust. She’s been in Oliver’s life already, and this is something we’ve thought about carefully. It’s the right decision for both of us.”

Theresa scoffs, the sound grating. “You’re doing this for you, Christian. Don’t pretend this is about anyone else. God, I can’t believe you’re using this woman to win the custody battle.”

Her words hit too close to the truth, and I swallow the guilt that rises in my chest. This engagement, on paper,isa strategic move, a way to show stability for Oliver, to prove that I can provide him with a family. But it’s more than that now. At least, I’m starting to believe it could be.

“This is about more than just the custody case,” I snap, my patience wearing thin. “This is about building a life that’s good for me and Oliver. I’m not going to sit here and justify every choice I make to you.”

There’s a long pause, and I can almost hear her fuming on the other end of the line. When she speaks again, her voice is lower, more dangerous.

“You really think a sham marriage is going to fool anyone? The courts aren’t stupid, Christian. They’ll see right through this. And Oliver… he’s not going to just fall in love with whoever you parade in front of him.”

I grit my teeth, forcing myself to remain calm. “This isn’t a sham, Theresa. You can either accept that and move on, or you can make this harder than it has to be.”

Her sharp intake of breath tells me I’ve hit a nerve, but I don’t care. This conversation has gone on long enough, and I won’t let her manipulate me into doubting myself—or this marriage.

“Good luck with that,” she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’re going to need it.”

Without waiting for a response, she hangs up, the line going dead in my ear. I lower the phone, staring at it as the silence in my office closes in around me. My blood is still pounding in my ears, a mix of frustration and exhaustion, but I know better than to let Theresa get to me, or believe that this is the last I’ll hear about this matter. She’s going to try and make me pay for this, but I’ll be ready for her.

After the exhausting conversation with Theresa, I sit in my office, staring at the phone on my desk. The temptation to smash it into a million pieces is strong, but I resist. There’s only so much damage control I can handle today, and breaking things isn’t going to help. I need to make one more call.

I dial my dad’s number and wait. He picks up on the third ring, his deep voice coming through the line.

“Christian. I was wondering when I’d hear from you today.”

I lean back in my chair, letting out a long breath. “Just got off the phone with Theresa.”

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