Page 72 of Fake To Forever

“Yes,” I affirm, locking eyes with her. “This marriage will be in name only. You won’t interfere in my personal life or Oliver’s upbringing. You’ll have access to the finances as agreed, but Oliver stays with me. Full custody, non-negotiable.”

Theresa’s amusement seems to vanish, replaced by a colder, more calculating look. “You’re in no position to demand?—”

I cut her off, my tone firm. “I’m in every position to demand, Theresa. You want my money, you adhere to my terms. Oliver is not a bargaining chip. He stays with me.”

Agnes’s gaze flicks between us. “And if we agree to these terms, you’ll go through with the marriage? You’ll play the doting husband?”

The words make my skin crawl, but I nod. “Yes, but Oliver is off-limits. You don’t use him to leverage more money or control. He’s my son, and that’s the end of it.”

Theresa narrows her eyes, mulling over my conditions.

After a moment, she smirks, “Very well. We have a deal, but remember, Christian, I can always change the rules of the game.”

“The agreement will be legally binding,” I insist. “No games. Your lawyers can draw up the contracts, but my terms are clear.”

“We’ll have our lawyers contact yours,” Theresa says, standing up, smoothing her dress. “We’ll iron out the details formally.”

As she turns to leave, I add, “Theresa?—”

She pauses, looking back over her shoulder.

“Never forget why I’m doing this. It’s for Oliver. Not for you. Don’t ever think this is about us.”

A chilling smile crosses her lips. “Of course, Christian. Whatever you need to tell yourself.”

Agnes moves to follow her daughter.

Before stepping out, she turns to me, her voice chillingly sweet, “You’ve made the wise choice, Christian. It’s best to keep things… amicable, for everyone’s sake.”

I don’t move until I hear the front door open and close and then I move to sink down onto the couch..

As I ponder the deal I’ve struck, the hollow victory of it, a part of me mourns the personal price I’ll pay. Haven and the life I wanted with her now seem more distant than ever. My resolve to protect Oliver is unwavering, but as I face the cold quiet left in Theresa and Agnes’ wake, I can’t help but feel I’ve traded a piece of my heart and soul to do so.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: What’s For the Best

Haven

The funeral was hard—harder than I expected, and I expected it to be unbearable. Watching Mom’s casket lowered into the ground, hearing the finality in the priest’s voice as he said his last words… it was like a part of me went with her. I didn’t cry as much as I thought I would. Maybe I’m still numb, still trying to process the reality that she’s really gone. It hasn’t hit me fully yet, and I’m terrified for when it does.

Christian was by my side the whole time, holding my hand, keeping me steady when I felt like I might break. Even as he stood next to me, I could sense something was off. He’s been distant lately, his usual warmth replaced by something more guarded. I’ve been trying to ignore it, telling myself that we’re both going through a lot, but now that we’re back at his house, the silence between us feels suffocating.

I sit on the couch, staring at the wedding decorations we still haven’t taken down. The remnants of a day that was supposed to be a new beginning, but instead, everything feels like it’s falling apart. Christian is standing by the window, his back to me, staring out into the yard. The tension in his shoulders is obvious, and I can’t take it anymore.

“You’ve been distant,” I say quietly, breaking the silence. “You’ve seemed… off. What’s going on?”

Christian doesn’t respond right away. He stays facing the window, his hand resting on the frame like he’s trying to steady himself. When he finally turns around, there’s something in his eyes that makes my stomach twist—a look of guilt, maybe even shame.

“We need to talk,” he says, his voice low but firm.

The pit in my stomach grows.

I sit up straighter, my heart starting to race. “What is it?”

He walks over and sits across from me, his face tight, like he’s bracing himself for a blow. “Haven, I made a decision… one I didn’t want to make, but I felt like I didn’t have a choice.”

I feel the air between us grow heavier, the tension so thick it’s choking me. “What kind of decision?”

He runs a hand through his hair, sighing deeply before finally meeting my eyes. “Theresa came to me with an offer. A deal, really.”

---