Breaking Up With The Hottest Man On Ice のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 41 - チャプター 50

Jake's POVI started keeping a notebook.Custody Documentation. That was what my lawyer called it.Every interaction with Emma. Every handoff. Every detail that might matter in court.Thursday 3:47 PM - Picked up Alex from school. Emma was not present. Child in good spirits.Friday 5:02 PM - Emma dropped Alex at my apartment. Child's jacket has hole in elbow. Shoes are worn through at the toes.Saturday 10:15 AM - Took Alex shopping for new clothes. He needed everything.I photographed the worn-out shoes before throwing them away. Documented the jacket with the hole. Made notes about how Alex said he had been wearing the same winter coat for two years.Evidence. All of it evidence that Emma could not provide adequately for our son.It felt wrong. Felt like I was building a case against someone I used to love instead of trying to work together.But I could not stop.Every time I thought about softening. About calling Emma to actually talk instead of sending cold texts. I remembered the

Jake's POVThe knock on my door came at nine on Monday night.I was not expecting anyone. Alex was asleep in his room. I had just finished documenting another day in my custody notebook.I opened the door.Margaret Sullivan stood there. Perfectly dressed. Perfectly composed. Like she had not been cut out of my life for months."Hello, Jake."My blood went cold. "What are you doing here?""Can I come in? We need to talk.""No. Whatever you have to say, you can say it out here."She looked past me into the apartment. "Is Alex here?""That is none of your business.""He is my grandson—""He is nothing to you. You threatened his mother. You paid her to disappear. You are the reason I lost eight years with my son." My voice was low. Controlled. "You do not get to see him. You do not get to be part of his life.""I understand you are angry. But Jake, I heard about the custody case." She stepped closer. "Let me help you.""How did you even know about that? I did not tell you.""I have connec

Emma's POVThe last time Margaret Sullivan called, I hung up.That was three days ago. Right after Jake left with Alex. Right after our son asked if I still wanted him.Margaret's voice had been smooth. Poisonous. "Hello, Emma. I think it is time we had a conversation."I had blocked the number immediately. Deleted it. Tried to pretend it never happened.Because I knew what Margaret wanted. She wanted to manipulate me. To threaten me. To finish what she started eight years ago when she paid me to disappear.But now, standing in my apartment holding the legal papers that had just been served, I realized blocking her number had changed nothing.Margaret had found another way to destroy me.Through her son. Through the custody case. Through every weapon she could buy with her money and influence.The papers shook in my hands as I read them.Amended Petition for Primary CustodyPetitioner: Jake SullivanLegal Counsel: Dr. Sofia CarvalhoMy stomach dropped. Dr. Carvalho was not just any la

Emma's POVI walked into my apartment holding Margaret's envelope like it was evidence of a crime.Sarah was waiting on my couch. "Well? What did she say?"I handed her the envelope without speaking.She pulled out the contract. Started reading. Her face went from curious to horrified."Supervised visitation? One weekend a month? Emma, this is barely more than nothing.""I know.""And she is paying you again. Fifty thousand dollars. Like you are some problem she can buy away." Sarah threw the contract on the coffee table. "Do not sign anything. We will fight this.""With what? I have two hundred euros in my bank account. I cannot afford groceries half the time. How am I supposed to afford a lawyer who can go up against Dr. Carvalho and Margaret Sullivan?""We will figure something out—""Everyone keeps saying that. Figure something out. Find a way. But Sarah, there is no way. I am broke. Desperate. Drowning. And Margaret knows it. That is why she made this offer. Because she knows I h

Jake's POVI went back to my apartment after leaving Margaret's hotel. Tried to figure out my next move.Call Emma. That was the first step. Tell her I wanted to settle. That we could work out custody without destroying each other.But something nagged at me. Something about the way Margaret had reacted. The ice in her voice. The threat.She will take Alex and run just like she did before.Margaret was not just worried about custody. She was terrified of losing control.My phone rang. Margaret again.I declined it.Thirty seconds later, another call. Different number. Her lawyer probably.I turned my phone on silent.But curiosity ate at me. What was Margaret planning? What was she saying to her lawyers now that I had pulled out?I drove back to her hotel an hour later. Used the key card she had given me weeks ago when she first arrived in Portugal. "In case of emergency," she had said.This qualified as an emergency.I took the elevator to her floor. Walked quietly to her suite door.