Page 150 of Take My Name

“You okay, honey?”

“I’ll live.” My eyes track her suspicious movements. She’s been more worried about their reputations than listening to what I want.

“I was hopin’ we could talk…” Her gaze shifts to Warren for a split second. “Alone.”

Warren abruptly stands, facing her. “From now on, you’ll speak to her through me.”

“Pardon me?”

“You think you can slap my wife and get away with it?”

Oh fuck.Fuckfuckfuck.

“I’ve already apologized for that.”

Actually…her direct quote was, “I didn’t mean to slap you.”

That’s as much of an apology she’ll ever give me.

Warren crosses his arms, widening his stance. “Say whatever you came to say. I’m not leavin’ her with you.”

My mother clears her throat, looking more uncomfortablethan I’ve ever seen her. “Fine,” she bites out, folding her hands in front of her. “The lawyers are on their way with the paperwork you and Hayes need to sign. With that, if you and Warren are gettin’ back together, your father and I would like y’all to sign a postnuptial agreement to protect your trust fund so this doesn’t happen again.”

That has me jumping to my feet. “No.”

“If he loves you the way he claims, there shouldn’t be an issue. Plus, it protects him, too. He owns property on his family’s ranch I’m sure he wouldn’t want our family going after.”

Of course they dug into his business.

I’m not surprised considering he reminded them we didn’t have a prenup and he’s entitled to half of it. Warren would never go after it anyway.

“I’m not askin’ myhusbandto sign anything. That’s absurd.”

“I’ll do it,” Warren blurts before my mother can open her mouth to argue with me. “If that’s what it’ll take for you to leave us alone and let us be happy, I’ll sign.”

“You don’t have to!” I yank his arm to turn him toward me and find his hardened gaze. “They can’t force us.”

“I trust you a hundred percent, baby. One piece of paper agreein’ I won’t go after your money is no sweat off my back. Before I started buildin’ the cabin, I bought the land from my parents so it was in my name, but the minute I can, I’m addin’ yours too. If somethin’ happens between us, I’d gladly give it to you. Take it. It’s yours. I built it for you.”

“You built it forus, remember?”

He cups my face with both palms and leans down until he’s a breath away. “Yes, and if you’re not there with me, it has no value anyway.”

Warren’s words from a week ago still play on a loop in my mind.

Truthfully, I resent my parents for guilting him into agreeing to it, especially since they think theywonsome kind of one-sided game. But Warren doesn’t seem one bit fazed by it. I should’ve known he wouldn’t. He’s never cared about their money or the entitlement it gives them.

As soon as I signed both agreements, I packed up and left. Kissed my parents on the cheek and told them not to contact me until I reached out to them.

Their priorities don’t align with mine and there’s no reason to pretend we’re on good terms when we aren’t. They’ll have to get a complete personality facelift if they want to be in my life again.

Fortunately, Warren’s family has welcomed me back with open arms and have proved once again why I’ve always loved being around them.

In the agreement that Hayes signed, he had to ship all my belongings here, and it’s due to arrive this weekend. Once Bodie overheard me telling Warren, he let their sibling group chat know it was all hands on deck to help me unpack. Considering all my books from my parents’ house were delivered yesterday, I appreciate the extra help.

I’m most excited about putting books on my new shelves and organizing them. Hell, that part might take me the longest.

I’m officially going back to work full-time on Monday. I’ll getmy office set up and decorated before then so I can focus on reading and finding a couple more employees to help grow the business.