All Chapters of Breaking Up With The Hottest Man On Ice : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

Jake's POVAfter putting Alex to bed, Emma and I stood in the hallway.Not speaking. Both thinking about what our son asked.*Why do you not love each other anymore? You made me, so you must have loved each other once.*"We should talk," I said quietly."About what Alex said?""Yeah."We went to the living room. Sat on opposite ends of the couch.The space between us felt like miles."He is not wrong," Emma said. "We did love each other once. Very much.""I know.""But then I ruined it. I took the money. I ran. I lied for eight years. I destroyed everything." Her voice broke. "So the answer to his question is simple. You do not love me anymore because I gave you every reason not to.""Emma—""It is true. Is it not? You cannot love someone who betrayed you like that. Who kept your son from you. Who lied about everything." She looked at me. Eyes full of tears. "So why do you not love me anymore, Jake? Because I made it impossible."The words hung between us.She was giving me an out. A

Emma's POVI spent every free moment searching for apartments.During lunch breaks at work. Late at night after Alex fell asleep. Early in the morning before anyone else woke up.Nothing. Absolutely nothing I could afford.A one-bedroom near Alex's school: two thousand euros a month. I made fifteen hundred.A studio apartment in a decent neighborhood: eighteen hundred euros. Still impossible.Cheaper places existed. But they were far. An hour away by bus. Sometimes more."What about this one?" Sarah pointed at my laptop screen. We were sitting in a café during my lunch break. "Five hundred euros. That's affordable.""It's in Amadora. That's almost two hours from Alex's school by public transport.""Oh.""If we move there, Alex would have to switch schools. Wake up at five in the morning to get to my school on time. Or change schools entirely and lose all his friends."Sarah closed the laptop. "This is impossible.""I know." I put my head in my hands. "I have three weeks to find someth

Jake's POV"Dad, can I have ice cream?" Alex asked at dinner Tuesday night."Before you finish your vegetables?""Mom lets me have dessert before dinner all the time."I paused with my fork halfway to my mouth. "She does?""Yeah. She says it's fine as long as I eat everything after."That didn't sound like Emma. But maybe she had different rules at her place."Alright. Just this once."Alex grinned and ran to get ice cream from the freezer.Wednesday evening, Emma texted me.Did you tell Alex he doesn't have to do homework on Wednesdays?What? No. Why?He just told me you said Wednesday is his "free night" from homework.I called her immediately."I never said that," I told her when she answered."I didn't think so. But he was very convincing.""What else has he been saying?""That you let him stay up until ten. That I said he could skip hockey practice if he's tired. That you promised him a new video game.""None of that is true.""I know. Jake, I think he's playing us."I thought ab

Jake's POV Emma's face had gone completely white."What did he say?" I demanded. "Emma, what did Liam say?""He said... he said I ruined his life. That he's out now. That he's coming to fix everything."My blood turned to ice. Then to fire."Give me your phone.""Jake—""Give it to me. Now."She handed it over with shaking hands. I checked the call log. Unknown number. Of course.I immediately called my lawyer."David, it's Jake Sullivan. I need you to file an emergency restraining order. Today."Emma sat frozen in the passenger seat. In the back, Alex was still sleeping. Blissfully unaware."The restraining order we had on Liam Hartford lapsed while he was institutionalized," I told David. "He just called Emma threatening her. We need a new order immediately.""I'll file the paperwork within the hour," David said. "But Jake, it'll take a few days to process. Maybe a week.""That's not good enough.""It's the best I can do. In the meantime, document everything. Every call, every text

Emma's POVJake sat at his kitchen table staring at the restraining order paperwork.He'd been sitting there for an hour. Just staring.Not moving. Barely breathing.I'd never seen him look so defeated."Jake," I said softly. "We'll figure this out.""How? I can't go near him. Can't stop him. Can't protect you." His voice was hollow. Empty. "I'm useless.""You're not useless.""I am. Liam made sure of it. He played this perfectly. Got the law on his side. Now he can do whatever he wants and I have to just... watch."I sat down across from him. Reached for his hand.He pulled away."Don't.""Don't what?""Don't try to make me feel better. We both know this is a disaster."Something in me snapped.Not anger. Not fear.Determination.I stood up. "You're right. This is a disaster. But sitting here feeling sorry for yourself isn't going to fix it."Jake looked up. Surprised. "Emma—""No. Listen. You've been protecting me for months. You've fought for me. Stood up for me. Kept me and Alex s