Page 76 of Fake To Forever

"I don’t want to lose her," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "But what choice do I have?"

Garrett’s jaw tightens, and he takes a deep breath. "There’s always a choice, Christian. You’re just too scared to make the right one."

As Garrett’s words hang in the air, I feel the weight of everything I’ve been avoiding crash down on me. He’s standing there, staring at me with a mixture of anger and disbelief, like he can’t understand how I’ve let things get this far, and the truth is, I don’t fully understand it myself.

Garrett’s voice cuts through the fog in my mind. “Think about what you’re doing, Christian. You’re about to throw away the best thing that’s ever happened to you. ForTheresa? For some twisted deal? That’s not who you are, and you know it.”

I want to argue, to tell him I’m doing this for Oliver, that I’m just trying to keep him safe, but as I stand here, staring at Garrett, the truth hits me like a punch to the gut.

It’s not something I planned, not something I expected when this whole arrangement started, but somewhere along the way I fell for her. Hard. Now, I’m about to lose her because I’ve been too caught up in my fear to see what’s right in front of me. The realization makes my heart race, and I feel like an idiot for not recognizing it sooner. For not admitting it to myself, let alone to her.

Garrett’s still standing there, waiting for me to say something, but I’m frozen, caught in this moment of clarity. Everything I’ve done, every decision I’ve made, has been about protecting my son. But what about Haven?

I don’t just care about her, I want to protect her. The thought of losing her, of watching her walk out of my life because I was too scared to fight for her, feels like a knife to the chest.

Garrett’s voice snaps me back to reality.

“Christian,” he says, his tone softer now, but still filled with frustration. “You can still fix this. You can still fight for her, but if you keep going down this path, you’re going to lose her, and you’re going to lose me. Is that what you want?”

I shake my head, the words catching in my throat.

“No,” I finally manage. “No, I don’t want that.”

Garrett stares at me, his expression softening slightly, though the anger is still there. “Then why the hell are you marrying Theresa?”

I don’t have a good answer for him, because now I see it clearly—I’m not just afraid of losing Oliver. I’ve been running from my own feelings, from the fact that I’ve fallen in love with Haven, and the idea of being vulnerable, of risking my heart again, terrified me.

“I love her,” I say, the words slipping out before I can stop them. It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud, and it feels like a weight lifting off my chest, even though the situation is still a mess. “I love her, Garrett.” I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t know. I thought I was doing what was best for Oliver. I thought if I could protect him, it wouldn’t matter what happened with me and Haven. But it does matter. I can’t lose her. I don’t want to lose her.”

Garrett watches me for a long moment, the tension between us shifting. “Then fight for her. Don’t let Theresa win. Don’t let her ruin your life again. You have to talk to Haven, tell her the truth.”

The truth. It seems so simple now, but the fear is still there, gnawing at me. “And what if it’s too late?” I ask quietly. “What if I’ve already pushed her too far?”

Garrett shakes his head. “You’ll never know unless you try. But I’ll tell you this—you keep going down this road, and itwillbe too late. She’ll walk away, and she won’t come back.”

“I have to stop this,” I mutter, more to myself than to Garrett. “I can’t marry Theresa. I have to tell Haven the truth about how I feel.”

Garrett nods, his anger finally fading into something more like relief. “Good. Now go talk to her. Fix this.”

I don’t waste any more time. I rush past Garrett, my heart pounding in my chest, and head toward the door. There’s no time to lose. If there’s any chance of salvaging this, I have to act now. I can’t let my fear or Theresa’s threats control me any longer.

As I step outside, the cool air hits my face, and for the first time in days, I feel like I’m seeing things clearly. I’m in love with Haven, and if I want any kind of future with her, I have to fight for it. I have to fight forus.

And I will.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Confrontation

Haven

Isit at the small table in the corner of the coffee shop, my hands wrapped around a steaming mug of tea. The warmth does nothing to ease the chill running through my body. I’ve been waiting for this, building up my courage, and now that the moment is here, every muscle in my body feels tense, ready for whatever Theresa throws at me.

The door opens, and there she is—Theresa. Tall, blonde, and willowy, dressed to perfection as always in a tailored coat and heels that click sharply against the tile floor as she approaches me. Her eyes sweep the coffee shop, narrowing slightly when she sees I’ve picked a public spot, but she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she slides into the seat across from me, a smirk already tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Haven," she says, her tone dripping with faux politeness. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

I take a deep breath, steadying myself. I can’t let her rattle me.

"I wanted to talk to you," I say, keeping my voice calm. "Face-to-face."

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