27. OLIVIA

CHAPTER 27

OLIVIA

“…so we’re suing Charlie Green,” I say.

Heather’s face is on the other side of the screen. She adjusts her headset and tilts her head slightly, looking at me like she’s ready to dissect every word I say. I’m sitting on Ethan’s couch, my untouched coffee resting on the table in front of me.

“You mean Jax is suing her?”

I shrug. “Well, we’re all in this together?—”

Clawdia’s ears perk as she suddenly leaps onto my lap, startling me mid-sentence. “Since when is she so chummy with you?” Heather asks, narrowing her eyes through the screen.

“Uh, a few days,” I reply distractedly, running my fingers over Clawdia’s soft fur. “Maybe she just likes me better than you now.”

I was hoping she would be distracted by the cat’s cute face but when she narrows her eyes at me, I know that’s not going to work.

“Liv, there’s something you’re not telling me.”

I glance at Clawdia as if she might bail me out, but the cat just purrs contentedly, oblivious to my inner turmoil. Heather doesn’t drop her gaze, and I can feel her probing through the screen.

“What makes you say that?” I ask, stalling.

Heather leans closer to her camera. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe it’s the way you’ve been ignoring my calls, giving me one-word replies to texts, and generally acting like a human mystery novel. Liv, come on. I know you. This isn’t just about Charlie Green, is it?”

I sigh, heavily. My hand stills on Clawdia’s back, and I stare down at her, unable to meet Heather’s eyes through the screen. She’s right. There is more—so much more. But how do I even begin to explain it?

Heather’s voice softens. “Liv, you’re my best friend. You can tell me anything.”

Her sincerity undoes me. My stomach churns as I finally look up, my heart racing. “Okay,” I say slowly, the word feeling like a betrayal of the fragile bubble I’ve been living in. “It’s not just Charlie Green.”

Heather doesn’t interrupt, waiting for me to continue.

“It’s... them,” I admit, the words tumbling out like a confession. “All three of them. Jax. Ethan. Marcus.”

“Ethan? Now what did that asshole do?” she says. “Are they trying to cut you out of the pay on the channel? If they even try to remotely do anything like that, feel free to sue them. Even Ethan. In fact, I’ll be at court cheering for you.”

I shake my head. “That’s not what…” I sigh, rubbing my temple. “That’s not it.”

“Then what?” she says. “I know that woman has been saying vile things about you. All of you. Don’t let her get into your head, Liv. You’re better than that.”

“And what if she’s right?” I say, finally looking up.

“What?” she blinks.

“What if I’m with all three of them? Even your brother?”

Her eyes widen. She opens then closes her mouth like a fish. “You mean you’re working with them?” she finally says.

“No,” I say quietly, barely able to believe I’m saying this out loud. “I mean... I’m with them.”

“Wait, you’re serious,” she finally says.

“Yeah,” I say.

“Even Jax?”

“Yes, even your brother,” I say.

“I didn’t plan it, Heather. It just… happened. And now it’s messy and complicated, but it’s real. They care about me, and I care about them.”

Heather leans back in her chair, crossing her arms as she studies me. “So let me get this straight. You’re in a relationship with all three of them. And while that’s happening, my brother is suing Charlie Green for custody of his kid, and she’s dragging all of your names through the mud?”

“Yeah,” I say simply. “That about sums it up.”

“That’s a lot, Liv,” she says

“I’m sorry for not telling you. I didn’t know how you would react, with Jax being your brother and all.”

“It’s definitely a lot to take in,” she says. “And I know I should be happy for you…but I just can’t.”

“You can’t?”

“I can’t talk about this right now. Liv, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later.”

The car ride to the courthouse is quiet except for the soft hum of the engine. Jax is in the front passenger seat, staring out the window like he’s trying to find answers in the city skyline.

“Do you think I’m taking the right step? Suing her?” Jax says.

I glance at him, catching his reflection in the rearview mirror. His brows are furrowed, his hands clenching and unclenching in his lap. Before I can answer, Ethan speaks.

“We don’t have any other choice, man. She crossed a line, and you know it, man. She’s using the kid to get to us. Who knows what she’s going to do if we let it go unchecked.”

“I just don’t get it yet,” Marcus says, frowning. “Before…she was all about concern for him. What changed?”

“We didn’t have a choice, Jax,” I say gently. “The lawyers were clear. This was the only step left. She leaked the story about Adam, she compromised his privacy. She’s playing dirty.”

Jax leans his head back against the seat, closing his eyes. “I know. I just hate that it’s come to this. I never wanted Adam caught in the crossfire. Even my sister isn’t too happy about it.”

I think back to my conversation with Heather. Jax glances at me. “Have you spoken to her?”

“Yesterday, yes,” I say.

Jaz frowns. “Everything okay?”

I can’t exactly drop the bomb on him that his sister knows about us. Obviously she hasn’t spoken to him about it, and he has no idea.

I rest a hand on his arm. “You’re doing this to protect him. That matters.”

He opens his eyes and looks at me, a flicker of gratitude in his gaze. “Thanks, Liv.”

The car slows to a stop in front of the courthouse, and the sight of the crowd outside makes my stomach drop. Reporters swarm the entrance like bees around a hive, their cameras flashing even before the car fully stops. The noise hits me before we’re even out—voices overlapping, questions shouted into the air, all of it a chaotic blur.

“Media’s here in full force,” Marcus mutters from the front seat, his hand gripping the door handle.

I glance at Jax beside me. His jaw is set, his eyes scanning the crowd like he’s bracing for a hit. He hasn’t said a word since we pulled up. I reach out and touch his arm lightly. “You’ve got this,” I say.

The moment we step out of the car, the noise doubles. Cameras flash, blinding bursts of light against the gray morning sky. Microphones are thrust toward us as reporters shove forward, their voices colliding into an overwhelming roar.

“Mr. Thompson, do you have any comments about the lawsuit?”

“Jax, are you trying to use the court to manipulate custody of your son?”

“Olivia, is Love Lab funding this legal battle?”

I keep my head down, trying to stay close to Jax as we move toward the courthouse steps. The crowd presses in, making it hard to move without bumping into someone. A microphone grazes my arm, and I instinctively pull back, but there’s no room to retreat.

“Miss Chase, is this a publicity stunt for Love Lab?” a voice calls out

“Olivia, what’s your relationship with Mr. Thompson?” another one shouts.

Before I can even process the questions, I’m surrounded. A small group of reporters closes in on me, their cameras and mics cutting off my view of the others. The questions come rapid-fire, each one more invasive than the last.

“Are you romantically involved with all three men?”

“Did Love Lab orchestrate this lawsuit for views?”

“Do you think polyamory is setting a bad example for younger audiences?”

The words sting, and for a second, I feel frozen. The chaos, the noise, the flashing lights—it’s too much. I try to step back, but they close in tighter, their cameras and microphones crowding my space.

And then, suddenly, there’s an arm around my shoulders. Ethan. He pulls me close, his body shielding me from the reporters as he steers me away from the fray.

“That’s enough,” he says firmly, his voice cutting through the noise. “We’re not answering questions.”

The reporters don’t stop, their voices following us as Ethan guides me toward the courthouse steps.

Marcus and Jax are waiting at the base of the steps, both of them tense and watching the scene unfold. Jax’s eyes dart to me the moment we reach them.

“You okay?” he asks, his voice low and laced with concern.

I nod, though my heart is still racing. “Yeah. Thanks to Ethan.”

Ethan releases his hold on me, his expression hard as he glances back at the reporters still buzzing behind us. “They’re relentless,” he mutters.

“We knew they’d be here,” Marcus says, his tone clipped. “Let’s just get inside.”

The courtroom is quiet except for the faint shuffle of papers and the ticking of a clock somewhere behind us. We’ve been waiting for Jax’s case to be called for the past thirty minutes. But this uncomfortable silence is still better than the mess going on outside.

Jax hasn’t spoken since we sat down, his gaze fixed on the front of the room. I follow his line of sight and feel my stomach tighten when I see her—Charlie Green.

“Who’s that with Charlie?” I whisper to Jax, nodding toward the woman seated next to her. Charlie looks different today—not her usual composed and smug self, but slightly uncomfortable, her posture rigid as she avoids looking in our direction.

“That’s Charmaine,” Jax says, his voice low. He glances at me briefly before his eyes shift back to them. “Adam’s mother.”

My gaze shifts back to Charmaine. From what I’ve heard, she’s hardly around. She sits tall, composed, her face unreadable. It’s hard to imagine her and Jax as anything more than strangers.

Charlie gets up from her seat. The door opens behind us, and a few more people shuffle in, drawing my attention. I follow her out, catching up to her in a few strides.

“How could you do that?” I hiss, glaring at Charlie. “Leaking Adam’s name to the press? You had no right.”

Charlie finally looks at me, her discomfort flickering into annoyance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “I had nothing to do with that.”

“Don’t lie,” I snap, my voice rising slightly. “We all know it was you.”

“Me? It could have been you for all I know,” she hisses.

I scoff. “You mean to say we willingly allowed gossip fanpages to run rumors on us? And involve a child in it? Excuse me but we haven’t stooped so low as you have.”

Her eyes narrow, and she opens her mouth to respond, but before she can say anything, the bailiff calls, “Case number 1142, Jaxon Thompson versus Charlie Green.”

Charlie looks at me and we return back to the room. Jax exhales slowly, stands, and adjusts his jacket. I reach out, touching his arm briefly. Charlie and Charmaine stand as well, moving to their table.

The judge, an older man with a no-nonsense demeanor, looks over the documents in front of him. “Mr. Thompson, I understand you are pursuing a defamation suit against Ms. Green. However,” he glances up, adjusting his glasses, “there is also a pending suit filed by Ms. Green accusing you and your associates of threatening her.”

A ripple of murmurs spreads through the room. Jax stands tall, his voice steady. “Your Honor, we have video evidence that disproves Ms. Green’s accusations. The footage shows?—”

The judge cuts him off with a raised hand. “We’ll get to the evidence in due time. However, this case isn’t just about defamation or threats. It involves the well-being of the child.” He leans back slightly, his expression hardening. “In any case, the boy cannot be subjected to those sorts of conditions.”

I can’t stop myself—I speak without thinking. “He won’t.”

The judge’s head snaps toward me, his eyes narrowing. “Young woman, this is not your turn to speak. Do not interrupt the proceedings.”

Heat floods my face as I sink back into my seat, pressing my lips together. Jax glances back at me briefly, his expression unreadable, before turning back to the judge.

The judge continues. “As far as I can see, your unconventional relationship is not an environment suitable for a child. I cannot grant visitation rights unless those disruptive elements are removed.”

Charlie clears her throat, her voice calm but cutting. “Your Honor, Jax has never been responsible. If he wants to prove otherwise, he needs to end this… arrangement. It’s not stable or appropriate for Adam. Visitation rights are a luxury for him. He doesn’t even know this child.”

“The child’s mother—plaintiff Charmaine Green has been deputed overseas for the past few years, is that correct?” Jax’s lawyer says.

“Yes,” Charlie replies hesitatingly.

“And last year she was given an opportunity to opt out of service and serve close to home but she renewed her lease on the base she’s on right now. Is that not true?” the lawyer continues.

Charlie’s face turns red. “What does my sister have to do with this?”

“You’re accusing my client of not being present in his son’s life when he wasn’t even aware of his existence till a few weeks ago,” the lawyer replies calmly.

The judge is observing the proceeding. He allows Jax’s lawyer to continue till the Greens lawyer intervenes.

I’m holding my breath, my arm intertwined around Marcus’s.

“Unfortunately, we cannot spend more time on this issue than we already have. I’ve made my decision on this matter. You can choose your son, or your friends .”

My throat feels tight, and I want to say something—anything—to break the silence, to defend Jax. But the judge’s earlier reprimand keeps my lips pressed shut.

Jax exhales slowly, his hands gripping the edge of the table in front of him. He doesn’t look at Charlie, doesn’t glance back at us.

“Your Honor, I?—”

The judge cuts him off, his tone stern. “Mr. Thompson, this court isn’t here to debate lifestyle choices. My concern is the welfare of the child and the environment in which he is being raised. The gossip surrounding this arrangement has already placed undue attention on the boy. You need to demonstrate stability if you are serious about having a meaningful role in his life.”

I glance at Charlie, expecting to see triumph in her expression, but she just looks uncomfortable, her gaze focused on her hands folded on the table. Charmaine, on the other hand, sits completely still, her face unreadable.

The judge continues, “If you choose to maintain your current lifestyle, visitation rights will be denied. However, if you wish to pursue custody or even consistent visitation, you must make a clear and public decision to separate yourself from this arrangement. The court cannot in good conscience expose a child to this level of instability.”

“How long would I need to... distance myself?”

The judge raises an eyebrow. “That would depend on the progress shown and the feedback from supervised visits, should you choose to pursue them. But let me be clear, Mr. Thompson: any connection to this arrangement would hinder your case. Permanently.”

Silence bears down on the court.

“What is he going to do?” Ethan says.

The judge leans forward in his chair. “Mr. Thompson, have you made your decision?”

Jax straightens in his seat, his hands clasping together tightly. For a moment, the silence stretches, unbearable in its weight. Then, finally, he speaks.

“I have, Your Honor,” he says, his voice steady but low. “I choose my son.”

The words land like a blow, even though I saw them coming. My chest tightens, and I have to focus on keeping my breathing even.

The judge nods, his expression neutral but perhaps a touch softer than before. “Very well. The court acknowledges Mr. Thompson’s decision. Visitation rights will be reinstated, pending confirmation that the terms outlined by the court are adhered to. Supervised visitation will begin immediately, and the court will reconvene in sixty days to review progress.”

The judge continues. “The pending defamation case against Ms. Green will remain open, but the court advises both parties to resolve matters amicably outside of these proceedings if possible.”

Another strike of the gavel. “This case is adjourned.”

“He made the right choice,” Marcus says quietly, though there’s a bitter edge to his voice.

I nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I know.”

Jax finishes speaking with his lawyer and heads toward the exit. As he passes us, he finally stops, his gaze flicking to me. There’s something in his eyes—apology maybe—but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.

Before I can respond, he’s gone, disappearing through the doors and into the waiting crowd of reporters.

Ethan sighs heavily, standing and running a hand through his hair. “Let’s go,” he says.

Marcus nods, his expression unreadable as he follows Ethan out. I linger for a moment, staring at the doors where Jax disappeared.

He chose Adam. He did what any good father would do.

But that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

The courthouse doors swing open, and a wall of noise hits us. Reporters shove microphones in our faces, cameras flash, and questions are hurled at us like stones. I barely hear them.

“Olivia! Marcus! Ethan! Any comment on the judge’s decision?”

“Is this the end of Love Lab?”

“Does Jax leaving mean the polyamorous arrangement is over?”

When we finally make it to the car, Marcus opens the door for me, but I hesitate, glancing back toward the courthouse steps. Jax is still there, standing near Charlie and Adam? They brought the kid here? His shoulders are hunched slightly, his posture heavy. Charlie says something to him, but I can’t hear it.

“Liv,” Marcus says gently, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Let’s go.”

I slide into the car, Ethan already in the driver’s seat, staring out the windshield like he’s somewhere else entirely.

I turn to them. “Where do we go from here?”

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