Chapter Twenty-Nine Confrontation
Haven
I sit 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."
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.
I stop a few feet away, unsure of what to say. The last time we spoke, everything felt broken, like we were standing on opposite sides of a chasm that couldn’t be crossed.
“Haven,” he says softly, standing up slowly. There’s a heaviness in his voice, a vulnerability I haven’t heard before. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
I swallow hard, my throat tightening. “Why are you here, Christian?”
He takes a step toward me, his eyes searching mine. “Because I can’t let this end like this. I can’t lose you.”
I freeze, the words sinking in, but the hurt from the past few days is still fresh. “You already made your choice, Christian. You?—”
“I know,” he interrupts, his voice full of regret. “I know I messed up. I thought I was doing the right thing, trying to protect Oliver, trying to handle everything on my own, but I was wrong. I was so wrong.” He steps closer, placing his hands on my shoulders. His warmth immediately comforts me. “I should’ve trusted you. I should’ve talked to you. I was trying to fix things, but all I did was push you away, and I hate myself for it.”
My heart clenches at the pain in his voice, and for the first time in days, I see the man I fell in love with—the man who’s trying, desperately, to make things right. “Christian, you didn’t just push me away. You made me feel like I didn’t matter, like I wasn’t part of this decision.”
His eyes fill with regret, and he nods. “I know. And I’m sorry. I don’t have an excuse, but, Haven, I’m done with Theresa. I’m going to deal with her. I don’t care what she’s holding over me. I won’t lose you because of her.”
I take a deep breath.
“You don’t have to worry about Theresa anymore,” I say, my voice steady. “She’s not going to be a problem.”
He stares at me for a moment, his brows furrowing as a frown crosses his lips. “What do you mean?”
“I met with her today,” I explain, taking a step closer to him. “I recorded her. Everything. She admitted to blackmailing you, to using Oliver to get what she wants. I have it all, Christian. You’re free of her. For good.”
His eyes widen in shock, as he stares at me, trying to process what I just said. “You… you did that?”
I nod, my heart pounding. “I wasn’t going to let her take you away from me. I wasn’t going to let her win.”
For a moment, he just stands there, silent, his eyes locked on mine. Then, before I can react, he closes the distance between us and pulls me into his arms, holding me tightly.
“God, Haven,” he murmurs against my hair, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t deserve you.”
I melt into him, wrapping my arms around his waist as the weight of everything finally lifts.
“Yes, you do,” I whisper. “You deserve someone who loves you, and I do, Christian. I love you.”
He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his hands cupping my face. “I love you too, Haven. I didn’t realize it until it was almost too late, but I do. I love you more than anything.”
Tears prick my eyes, but they’re not from pain this time—they’re from relief, from joy.
“Then don’t ever leave me behind again,” I say softly. “Don’t make decisions without me. We’re in this together.”
He nods, his forehead resting against mine. “I promise. I won’t. From now on, we do everything together.”
His words are a balm to the wounds I’ve been carrying, and for the first time in days, I feel like we can move forward. We stand there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the past slipping away and a new beginning unfolding in front of us.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he whispers, his lips brushing against mine. “Not without you.”
I kiss him, feeling the warmth of his love, I know we’ve made it through the storm. Together. And my mother would be proud to see what we can accomplish together.