Page 154 of Mended Hearts

Jackson was suddenly there, motioning toward the exit.

“I willnotbe ushered out ofmy daughter’sparty bythe nanny.”

“Let’s go, Carly,” Jax rumbled, low and unflinching.

“This is ridiculous.” She scoffed, but shrank back when he took one deliberate step forward.

“You think you’re so clever,” she sneered, gaze narrowing on me around Jax’s shoulder. “Following in my footsteps. It won’t last.”

“Let’sgo, Carly,” Jax repeated.

“You can pretend you’re different all you want. But he’ll get bored. Just like the rest of us. You’ll be yesterday’s news the second that baby’s off your tit.”

My eyes widened. Jax didn’t blink. Instead, he took her arm and steered her toward the exit. Kaia and I were left standing alone in the heavy silence that followed, thirty pairs of eyes pretending not to look.

Greyson’s voice came over the speakers. “The party is officially over. Please enjoy the refreshments and take a favor on your way out.”

Beside me, Kaia hissed the only question I’d been asking since Carly showed up.

“How the hell did she know?”

23

Plus One, Always

OLIVER

“Baby girl, I’m so sorry,” I breathed, holding my daughter’s shaking hands in mine, right where I’d caught her in the lobby.

“I don’t want her here!”

“She’s leaving, I promise. Leighton and Captain Reynolds are making her leave.”

“She ruins everything!” she squeaked, trying so hard to suck in a breath, to blink back her tears.

Furiousdidn’t even begin to cover it. This had gone on too fucking long. And now, I was done playing nice. It was time to let Greyson and Alice off the leash—to let them dismantle whatever pathetic custody attempt Carly thought she had a shot at.

“I’m so sorry, baby. That should not have happened.” This would be the last time I hosted anything in a public venue. I tipped her chin up until her eyes met mine. “Not today. Notever. You deserve so much better, princess.”

“You said she wasn’t coming,” she croaked, wiping at her face. “You promised!”

“She wasn’t supposed to, baby. I know that rattled you, and it’s not okay for her to blindside you like that, Mattie.”

“I hate that name,” she snapped, still swiping angrily at her cheeks. “I hateher. Andshegave me that stupid name.”

“Then we don’t have to use it anymore, okay? If you don’t love it, I’ll call you Tillie, or Sunflower, or anything that makes you smile.”

She looked up at me then, those glassy blue eyes lit with the smallest flicker of hope. “Really?”

“Really.” I shifted where I was crouched beside her, squeezing her hands in mine. She gave a wobbly nod, wiping her nose, then straightened the black tulle skirt we’d picked out together.

“Why didn’t you stop her sooner?” she whispered, her voice tight and trembling. Her fingers slipped from mine to twist in the fabric of her dress.

“I should’ve,” I admitted. “I should’ve walked her right back out. I was trying to avoid a scene.”

“But she made one anyway. She always does.”

“I know, champ. And I’m so, so sorry.”

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