“I wasn’t manipulating you then, and I’m not now.”
“Bullshit! I marry you or else you’ll fight me for full custody? That’s very much manipulation, Jax!”
“Sop—”
Autumn held up her hand, interrupting him. “I’m sure you’ve heard the news of his trade?”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“It has to do with everything. The media has labeled him a traitor, and you and I both know that couldn’t be further from the truth. Jax lives and breathes football, he always has.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“We’re trying to take the heat off his current situation by having him get married. Your marriage will be fake.”
“Fake marriage? Then we don’t have to really get married?”
“No,” Jax bit. “You’ll marry me, Soph. You’ll carry my name, and so will our son.”
“And if I refuse? You’ll what? Take me to court for Ben?”
“Ben?”
I cleared my throat, meeting his eyes. “It’s his name. Benjamin Hayes.”
“What’s his whole name?”
“I just told you.”
“I’m asking for his middle name?”
I looked away.
“Can you get me his midd—”
“It’s Jax!” I screamed at him, and the son of a bitch had the nerve to smile at me. I glared at my lawyer. “Why are you even here if you’re not going to do anything? Can’t you object or deny or tell him to eat shit?”
“I don’t remember you having such a dirty mouth, Sophie.”
“What can I say, asshole? You bring out the worst in me.”
“Well, you bring out the best in me.”
“I’m immune to your bullshit charm, Jax. I’m not going to fall for it again, and I’m offended that you think I would.”
“You had no problem with it the night we made Ben.”
“Because I wanted to get back at you!”
“Back at me?” He pinned me with a confused glare, and I hated that I had shared too much.
“I’m not marrying you. I don’t care if it’s fake—I won’t do it.”
“Then I’ll have no choice but to take Ben from you. You hid my son from me… The judge will take my side. It won’t take much to paint you in a negative light, Sophie. Don’t make me do it. As furious as I am with you, it’s the last thing I want to do.”
I whimpered, holding my head in my hands. It felt like my whole world was caving in on me. “You can’t do this.”
“Be my wife, and I won’t.”