Chapter 144

• Obviously, she’s still in love with Jake, and this is her biggest weapon. She will use his child as a pawn to maneuver him to meet her demands and try to tear us apart in the process.
• “You’re going to agree?” I snap in anger, his hands tightening on me as stinging tears gather in the back of my eyes.
• “No! Why would you think that?” He frowns. “She can’t dictate who I take with me on my own fucking plane to LA or who stays in the hotel with me. She doesn’t own me; she’s not my goddamn wife. Once that kid arrives, if she wants me to have access, she’ll need to get used to the fact that you’ll be there, whether we’re married or not.” He gets up, lets me go, and paces back and forth in agitation. “She doesn’t need money, but I’m giving her money for our child … not for her. Marissa is manipulative; it’s a fucking gift of hers. By throwing in that jibe about marriage, she thinks I’ll run for the hills because she thinks I’m a commitment-phobe,” he sneers, “She has no idea how different things are with you. If I need to marry you to let you see my kid, I’ll marry you tomorrow because I’ll marry you anyway. Now or in the future, Emma, you’re going to be my wife.” He storms around, letting his infamous temper rip, and I gawp at him, stupefied.