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The Trap

Author: Rejoice Ezeh
last update Last Updated: 2025-12-04 14:22:54

Jake's POV

Three weeks into mediation, I finally saw it.

Margaret's real strategy.

She was never going to win custody. She knew that. Courts favor parents. Especially fit parents with stable homes and happy children.

But winning was not the point.

Destroying us was.

I sat in Ana's office looking at the latest legal bills.

Seventy-five thousand dollars. In three weeks.

Court filings. Depositions. Expert witnesses. Mediation fees.

And we were just getting started.

"The trial will cost at least three times this amount," Ana said. "Maybe more if it goes to appeal."

"So total we are looking at what? Half a million dollars?"

"Possibly. Margaret has unlimited resources. She can drag this out for years if she wants."

"Years?"

"Yes. Family court moves slowly. She can file motion after motion. Request continuance after continuance. Appeal every ruling. This could take two or three years to fully resolve."

I felt sick.

"And even when we win?" Emma asked quietly.

Ana looked at her with sympathy.
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  • Breaking Up With The Hottest Man On Ice    Margaret's Real Endgame

    Emma's POVI lay in bed thinking about Margaret's rejection.She did not want partial custody. She wanted full custody or nothing.That made no sense strategically.Any lawyer would tell her to take the compromise. Get access to Alex. Build relationship. Then push for more later.But she rejected it.Why?Then it hit me.She never wanted Alex.This was never about her grandson.This was about destroying me.Everything. The lawsuit. The press leaks. The attacks on my character.Not to get Alex. To make me suffer.To punish me for existing. For loving Jake. For having the audacity to come back.Margaret's hatred was so consuming, she would rather have nothing than see me happy.I sat up in bed. Reached for my phone.Jake was in the living room working. Door closed.I looked up Margaret's number. Private line. The one she had called me from before.Against every lawyer's advice, I called.She answered on the second ring."Emma. I was wondering when you would call.""What do you really wa

  • Breaking Up With The Hottest Man On Ice    The Surrender

    Jake's POVEmma was asleep when I made the call.Doctor's orders. Complete rest. No stress.Which meant I had to handle this without her."Ana, I want to settle. Contact Margaret's lawyer. Tell him we are ready to negotiate.""Jake, are you sure? Emma should be part of this decision.""Emma is on bed rest. She cannot handle the stress. I am making the decision.""What are you offering?""Partial custody. Margaret gets regular visitation. We keep primary custody. But she gets access. Real access.""That is significant concession.""I know. But I will not risk losing Emma or this baby. Not for anything.""Let me reach out. I will call you back."An hour later, my phone rang."Richard Hoffman is willing to meet. He has counter proposal.""What does Margaret want?""Two weekends per month with Alex. All holidays alternate between households. And joint decision making power on education and healthcare."My stomach dropped. "That is not partial custody. That is joint custody.""Between you

  • Breaking Up With The Hottest Man On Ice    The Miscarriage Scare

    Emma's POVThe ultrasound screen was black and white. Grainy. Hard to understand.The doctor moved the wand slowly. Searching.I held my breath.Jake held my hand so tight it hurt.Please. Please let the baby be okay.The doctor stopped moving the wand. Pointed at the screen."There," she said quietly.A tiny flicker. Barely visible."That is the heartbeat."Relief flooded through me so fast I started crying."The baby is okay?""For now. The heartbeat is strong. But Ms. Reed, you are bleeding. Your stress levels are dangerous. Your body is trying to protect itself by ending the pregnancy.""But the baby is alive?""Yes. Right now. But if you continue at this stress level, you will miscarry. I am certain of that."Jake spoke up. "What does she need to do?""Complete bed rest. No work. No stress. No custody hearings. Nothing that raises blood pressure or cortisol levels.""For how long?""At least through first trimester. Twelve weeks. Maybe longer depending on how she progresses."I f

  • Breaking Up With The Hottest Man On Ice    The Pregnancy Weapon

    Jake's POVThe motion was filed Monday morning.By Monday afternoon, it was news."Custody Battle Mom Pregnant Again - Is She Trying to Replace Son?"The headline made me sick.The article was worse.They took Margaret's legal arguments and turned them into character assassination.Emma was not just having a baby. She was replacing Alex. Planning for when she lost custody.Creating backup child.The cruelty was calculated. Deliberate.Margaret knew exactly what she was doing.Social media exploded."She's already moving on from the son she's losing""This is sick. Who gets pregnant during custody battle?""Poor Alex. His mom is already replacing him.""She trapped Jake with one baby, now doing it again."Some people defended Emma. But they were drowned out by hate.Emma stopped eating. Stopped sleeping. Just lay in bed staring at her phone.Reading every comment. Every article. Every judgment."Emma, you have to stop looking at that.""They think I would replace Alex. They think I am

  • Breaking Up With The Hottest Man On Ice    Processing the Pregnancy

    Emma's POVJake stood frozen. Staring at me.The silence stretched. Thirty seconds. A minute.My heart raced. This was the wrong time. The worst time."Jake, please say something."He blinked. Seemed to come back to himself."You are pregnant?""Yes. Six weeks.""Six weeks. So before all this. Before the news stories. Before I stepped down.""Yes. We got pregnant right after we moved in together."More silence. Then slowly, his face changed.The shock faded. Something else replaced it."We are having another baby?""Yes."A smile. Small at first. Then bigger."We are having a baby."He crossed the room. Pulled me into his arms."Emma, this is good news. The best news.""But the timing—""The timing is terrible. But the news is wonderful. In the middle of all this darkness, new life. Our life. Growing."I started crying. Relief flooding through me."I thought you would be angry. We have so much going on. The custody battle. Your business. The press.""I do not care about any of that ri

  • Breaking Up With The Hottest Man On Ice    Career Casualties

    Jake's POVMonday morning, I got the call I had been dreading.Board meeting. Emergency. Mandatory attendance.I knew what it meant before I walked in.Marcus and David sat at the conference table. Three other board members on video call.All of them looking uncomfortable."Jake, thanks for coming," Marcus started. "We need to discuss the situation.""What situation?""The publicity. The custody battle. The impact on the firm.""I lost one client. That is not catastrophic.""It is not just Thomas. We have had calls from six other clients. Concerned. Asking questions. Two are considering leaving.""Because of tabloid headlines?""Because of optics. Sports management is reputation business. Athletes want agents who enhance their image, not damage it."David added, "Your personal life has become major news story. Every time someone searches your name, they find custody battle. Secret payments. Family drama.""None of which affects my ability to represent athletes.""Perception affects ab

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