Chapter Seventeen Honesty
Christian
“M arried? 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 a courtesy ? 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, is a 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.”
There’s a pause, followed by a low chuckle. “That bad, huh?”
I shake my head, though I know he can’t see me. “Worse than I expected. She’s not handling the news well, which isn’t exactly a surprise.”
“Let me guess,” my dad says, his tone knowing, “she’s convinced this engagement is a sham?”
“Exactly,” I say, rubbing the back of my neck. “She basically accused me of using Haven to win the custody case.”
He lets out a low sigh. “She’s trying to rile you up, Christian. She’s always known how to push your buttons.”
“Yeah, and she’s doing a damn good job of it,” I admit. “But the thing is, I don’t think she’s going to let this go. She’s already been spreading rumors back in the city—painting me as the bad guy, telling anyone who’ll listen that I’m manipulating the system to take Oliver away from her.”
There’s a brief silence on the other end of the line, and I can tell my dad’s thinking. He’s always been methodical like that, never reacting on impulse.
“You’ve got the advantage in this case, Christian. The courts don’t care about rumors. They care about facts, and the fact is, you’ve been there for Oliver, stable and reliable. Theresa’s the one who’s been erratic, dragging him through this media circus.”
“I know,” I say, though the frustration still lingers. “But she’s making it harder than it needs to be. If she wasn’t constantly stirring up trouble, we could have worked something out that actually benefited Oliver.”
“That’s not who she is,” my dad says, a hint of disappointment in his voice. “You’ve known that since the day she left.”
He’s right. I knew who Theresa was long before this battle for custody started, but it doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. Every move she makes feels like an attack, not just on me, but on Oliver’s future.
“And Haven?” my dad asks, shifting the conversation. “How’s she handling all of this? I can’t imagine it’s easy for her, either.”
I pause, thinking about how much Haven has taken on. I told my dad the truth about our arrangement and how it benefits the both of us several days ago. It didn’t feel right lying to him when I knew he’d understand what we were doing. To my relief, not only is he supportive, but he seems to have a growing admiration for Haven, even though they haven’t met yet.
“She’s been… incredible,” I say, surprising myself with how much emotion is in my voice. “She’s handling everything better than I could’ve hoped, but I can tell it’s wearing on her. I’m asking a lot from her.”
Our engagement is meant to help both of us, but she’s having to deal with so much more from me. The attention of the paparazzi, the pressure of the custody battle, and the expectations that come with marrying someone of my wealth and prestige. Though she’s holding her head up high and hasn’t made a single complaint, I know all this is having an effect on her.
When Dad speaks, there’s something thoughtful in his tone. “She must be special. It’s not easy to stand by someone in a situation like this, especially when you’re up against someone as vicious as Theresa.”
“She is special.” The words come out before I can stop them. I realize as I say it that I mean it more than I expected. “At first, it was just about the arrangement, you know? Something that made sense for both of us, but… now, I don’t know. It’s starting to feel like more than that.”
“And that’s where it gets complicated. You’re already in deep, Christian. Marriage, even for practical reasons, doesn’t come without feelings eventually getting tangled up.”
I lean forward, resting my elbows on the desk. “It’s already complicated. We’re telling everyone this engagement is real, and the more we play the part, the more I start thinking… I don’t know. I can’t afford to think too much about it. Not when I need to focus on Oliver.”
“You’ll have to figure that out sooner rather than later,” he says. “But be careful. Haven’s taking on a lot to help you, and if this turns into something real for you, you owe it to her to be honest about your feelings. She’s not just a pawn in this, Christian.”
“I know,” I say, my voice soft. “I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately. I don’t want to hurt her. I also don’t want to make promises I can’t keep.”
“You’ll do the right thing, son. You’ll do right by that girl, one way or another.”
“I’ll figure it out,” I say finally, more to myself than to him.
“I know you will,” my dad replies. “Just don’t let Theresa drag you down in the process. Keep your head on straight. You’ve got the upper hand here.”
I nod, even though he can’t see me. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it.”
“Anytime, Christian. I’m always here if you need advice.”
We say our goodbyes, and I hang up, staring at the phone for a long time. Dad’s right about everything—about Theresa, about the custody case, and about Haven. I need to keep my focus on what’s best for Oliver, but I also need to be honest with myself about how I feel about Haven because if I’m not careful, this could turn into something real… and I’m not sure either of us is ready for that.