Page 24 of Make Me Trust Again (Bluebonnet Creek #3)
I bite the inside of my cheek as I watch John enter the room alongside his lawyer, both of them dressed in crisp dark suits.
John lifts his gaze and stares at me, making every muscle in my body tight.
The corner of his mouth lifts in a knowing smirk.
The angry man from the other day is gone, and in his place is the charming golden boy everybody is used to seeing.
But it is all just a well-constructed mask that he puts in place for people, and they fall for it every single time.
It’s part of the reason why I didn’t want to tell anybody what had really happened.
John’s charming when he wants to be. Could I even blame them?
I fell for it as well. But the more time we spent together, the more that mask kept slipping, and I got to see the real him.
Not them. So I can’t help but wonder, if I said something, would they believe me?
His gaze skims over me, making my skin crawl in discomfort. Clasping my hands in my lap, I tighten my fingers as I try to keep a straight face. But if it’s to be believed by the knowing curl of his mouth, he sees right through me, and he’s enjoying this little game.
My lawyer glances pointedly at her watch before lifting her gaze to her colleague. “You’re late.”
“I had something important to discuss with my client that couldn’t wait,” he says as they both take their seats on the other side of the table, not a trace of remorse in his voice.
John’s eyes still hold mine, and I can feel the bile rise up my throat.
Is he actually going to go for it? Is he actually going to take this to court and request full custody? Why would he be smirking like that if he doesn’t know he has the upper hand?
No.
I open my mouth to protest, but my lawyer gives me a warning look before she shifts her attention back across the table.
“I hope it’s pertaining to this case, considering how long you’ve been trying to stall this.”
“We’re not stalling anything. We’re just trying to come to the best agreement for all the parties involved. Besides, my client was willing to put in his full effort at this mediation and keep his family intact, something we can’t say for your client, now can we?”
Mrs. Lewis’s gaze narrows in annoyance. “My client has given this a chance, both the mediation, and once that didn’t work out in the best interest of their family, her demands have been a bare minimum so the settlement can be as brief as possible.”
“I’m sure you can understand that Mr. O’Neil can’t just abandon his son.”
Can’t abandon his son?
Isn’t that what he’s been doing for the past seven years of his life? He didn’t seem to have a problem with that then, but now suddenly he does.
I dig my nails into my palms, letting the sharp pain ground me as I bite back the words that are on the tip of my tongue.
“Mr. O’Neil hasn’t really had much contact with his son so far. There are several parties who can confirm that he doesn’t even know ASL.”
“But Mr. O’Neil is willing to work on it in an effort to get a better relationship with his son.
Hence, asking for fifty-fifty custody.” The guy smirks at us across the table.
He’s so slimy, I can feel a shudder run down my spine.
Is it even surprising that John hired him? “You know that’s more than fair.”
Screw keeping quiet. “No wa?—”
My lawyer puts her hand on my knee, giving me a firm squeeze that clearly tells me to shut up.
I grind my teeth.
“Maybe in regular cases, but we both know that your client isn’t familiar with his son enough to get that.
He doesn’t have a way of communicating with him.
He’s not familiar with his schedule or doctor’s appointments, and the therapy he’s receiving.
Visitations every other weekend are more than generous at this point in the process.
If Mr. O’Neil shows the effort to work on his ASL, and his relationship with his son, and he feels more comfortable visiting him, we can potentially revisit this question down the road.
” Mrs. Lewis crosses her hands on the table as the silence settles over us.
John’s lawyer glances at him, but his dark eyes are fixed firmly on me, that rage that I’d seen in his gaze the other day shining as bright as ever.
Tense silence fills the room as we just stare at one another, the seconds ticking by slowly as I wait for the bomb to explode.
If he goes there, that will be it.
I’ll have to say what exactly happened and why I left. Why, when I was pressured into giving it a try again, I was willing to do it, but I quickly changed my mind.
But I swear to God, I’ll do it. For my son. I’ll take every dirty and pitying look, every gossip mill, it doesn’t matter as long as it means he’s safe.
Once those secrets are out, there will be no going back from it.
My heart is beating rapidly inside my chest, and a part of me wonders if he can see the wild flutter of my pulse point. My palms are sweaty, but I can’t unclench my fingers long enough, so I can wipe them.
“Fine.” John’s lips are moving, but I’m not sure I hear him correctly from the erratic beat of my heart. I blink, my lips parting slightly, but he continues, his eyes narrowing at me. “Every other weekend. But since you’ve kept him away from me all this time, my weekends start now.”