Page 74 of Fake To Forever

I pull up to Marie's house, my hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles are white. My heart is pounding in my chest, my mind racing, and the tears won’t stop falling no matter how hard I try to push them down. I can barely think straight. Christian’s words are still echoing in my head:I made a deal with her. I agreed to marry her.

How could he do this to me? To us?

I wipe my face with the back of my hand and take a deep breath before getting out of the car. The cool night air hits me like a slap, clearing my head just enough to get my feet and move toward Marie’s front door. I don’t even have to knock. Marie opens the door before I can lift my hand, her face full of concern.

“Haven?” Her voice is soft but filled with worry, and just hearing her say my name makes me break down again. The tears I’ve been holding back spill over, and I crumble into her arms, sobbing.

She pulls me inside, wrapping her arms around me as I cry into her shoulder.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” she whispers, leading me into the living room and sitting me down on the couch. She rubs my back, giving me a minute to catch my breath before speaking again.

“What happened?” she asks gently, sitting beside me. “Talk to me, Haven.”

I take a shaky breath, wiping my face again. My voice is hoarse, barely audible.

“It’s Christian… he… he made a deal with Theresa.”

Marie’s brows furrow in confusion. “What kind of deal?”

I swallow hard, my throat tight. “He’s going to marry her. Again.”

Her eyes widen in shock. “What?”

I nod, the reality of it hitting me all over again. “He said it’s just a legal arrangement. That he’s doing it to protect Oliver, so she doesn’t take him to court. But he didn’t even tell me, Marie. He just made the decision without me.”

Marie’s jaw clenches, and I can see the anger rising in her. “He’s marryingTheresa? After everything? After all she’s done to him and Oliver?”

“He said it’s the only way to keep Oliver safe,” I murmur, my voice thick with emotion. “He said if he didn’t agree, she’d take him to court, and he was afraid she’d win.”

Marie shakes her head, her expression hardening. “That’s not an excuse, Haven. He didn’t even tell you? Didn’t talk to you about it?”

“No,” I whisper, fresh tears filling my eyes. “He said he didn’t have a choice, but... he’s just pushing me out. Making decisions without me, like I don’t matter.”

Marie reaches out and grabs my hand, her grip firm. “Of course you matter. And you’re right to be furious. He should’ve talked to you. You’re hiswife. You’re supposed to be a team.”

I nod, but the hurt is still gnawing at me. “I don’t know what to do. Part of me understands why he did it—he’s just trying to protect Oliver. But the other part of me… I can’t stand the thought of him being tied to Theresa again. Even if it’s just on paper.”

Marie squeezes my hand, her eyes softening. “He’s put you in an impossible situation, and you have every right to feel hurt.”

I sniff, wiping my nose with the back of my hand. “I just don’t understand why he didn’t trust me enough to talk about it. I would’ve helped him. Iwantedto help him. It feels like he’s chosen her over me.”

Marie shakes her head firmly. “No. He didn’t choose her. He’s scared, Haven. Scared of losing Oliver, and I get that. But the way he went about it was wrong. You two are supposed to be partners in this. He should’ve trusted you with this decision.”

I nod, trying to make sense of it all. “I just feel like I’m being pushed out of his life. Mom just… died, and now Christian is making decisions like I’m not even part of the equation anymore. Like I don’t have a say in my own life.”

“But you do,” Marie insists. She suddenly looks determined and grabs my shoulders. “You do have a say, and you don’t have to take this lying down.”

Furrowing my brow, I say, “What do you mean?”

“If Theresa wasn’t in the picture, she wouldn’t be able to threaten Christian and he wouldn’t leave you to give her what she wants.”

“Okay,” I reply, confused. “That’s all pretty obvious.”

“So you need to convince her to get lost.”

I let out a bark of laughter, but there’s no humor in the sound whatsoever.

“Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to convince a woman like Theresa to leave Christian alone? As long as he has money and she wants it, she won’t stop.”

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