Page 77 of Fake To Forever

Theresa leans back in her chair, crossing her legs elegantly. "Here I am. What’s on your mind?"

I don’t waste time with pleasantries. "I want to know why you’re doing this. Why are you forcing Christian into this ridiculous deal? Why are you trying to take control of his life again, after everything?"

Her smirk widens, and she leans forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table.

"Ah, straight to the point. I like that." She tilts her head, feigning innocence. "But Haven, darling, this isn’t about forcing anyone into anything. Christian made his choice."

I narrow my eyes at her. "He’s doing it because you’re blackmailing him, and you know it."

She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Blackmail? Such an ugly word. Let’s call it… negotiating. Christian knew the risks. He knew what would happen if I took him to court, and he chose to protect himself and Oliver. It’s really that simple."

I clench my hands around the mug, trying to keep my temper in check. "You don’t care about Oliver, and you never have. This is all about the money, isn’t it? You’re just using him to get what you want."

Her eyes flash, and for a split second, I see the coldness behind her perfect facade. "Oh, Haven, you poor, naive thing. You think this is just about money? Sure, the money is nice, but it’s about so much more than that. It’s about power. Control. Christian walked away from me, and now I’m making sure he remembers that I’m not someone he can just discard."

I swallow hard, forcing myself to stay composed. "You’re hurting him. And Oliver. Do you even care what you’re doing to them?"

Theresa leans back again, her expression smug. "Christian’s a grown man. He made his bed, and now he has to lie in it. As for Oliver… he’ll be fine. Kids are resilient." She shrugs, like she’s talking about some trivial inconvenience rather than a child’s life.

I stare at her, the disgust rising in my chest. "You don’t love Christian. You’re doing this for yourself, and we both know it."

She laughs again, a cold, hollow sound. "You’re right. I don’t love him, but I don’t need to. Love doesn’t matter here, Haven. What matters is that I get what I want. And right now, I’m winning."

The arrogance in her voice is staggering. She really thinks she’s untouchable, that she’s got it all figured out, but she’s about to find out how wrong she is.

I lean forward, matching her posture, my voice steady. "You’re not going to get away with this."

Her smile falters slightly, but she recovers quickly. "And what are you going to do, Haven? You’ve already lost. Christian agreed to my terms. He’s going to annul his marriage to you, and soon enough, I’ll be back in his life—and in control. There’s nothing you can do about it."

I hold her gaze, letting her believe she’s in control, before slowly reaching into my bag and pulling out my phone. I set it on the table between us, the recording app still running.

Theresa’s eyes widen, and her smug smile vanishes in an instant. "What the hell is that?"

I lean back in my chair, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "It’s a recording of you admitting to blackmailing Christian. Now I have proof that this entire arrangement is a farce. You’ve just handed me everything I need to stop you."

Her face drains of color, and for the first time, I see real fear in her eyes. "You think you can use that against me?"

"I know I can," I say, my voice steady. "And I will. I’m going to take this to Christian, to his lawyer, to the court if I have to. You’re not going to win, Theresa. Not this time."

Theresa’s hands clench into fists on the table, her carefully composed mask slipping as anger flashes across her face. "You think you’re so smart, don’t you? This little stunt won’t work. Christian made his choice. He’s mine now."

I stand up, slipping my phone back into my bag, my heart pounding with adrenaline. "No, Theresa. He’s not, and after this, neither you nor your mother will have any hold over him. You’re finished."

Theresa stands too, her voice low and venomous. "You’ll regret this, Haven. You don’t know who you’re dealing with."

I meet her glare head-on. "Actually, I do, and that’s why I’m not afraid of you."

Without another word, I turn and walk out of the coffee shop, my pulse racing, but a sense of victory settling in. I did it. I got what I needed, and now I’m going to end this once and for all.

As I step outside into the cool air, I take a deep breath, feeling the weight lift off my shoulders. Theresa’s games are over. And soon, Christian will be free of her for good.

***

As I pull up to Marie’s house, the adrenaline from my confrontation with Theresa is still coursing through my veins. My hands tremble as I grip the steering wheel, trying to steady my breath. I did it. I actually did it. I stopped her.

Even with that victory, there’s a nagging ache in my chest that I can’t ignore—Christian.What’s going to happen between us now?

I park the car and step out, and as if my thoughts have summoned him, I see Christian sitting on the porch steps. He’s hunched over, elbows on his knees, staring down at the ground like the weight of the world is crushing him. As I approach, his head lifts, and our eyes meet.

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