Page 88 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“Can I ask something?” Brandon’s voice got everyone’s eyes on him. I wondered to myself what he wanted to ask.

“Sure,” the judge answered him with a smile.

“Can I have the same last name as Livy?” he asked in a small voice and I stared at him in shock.

“Brandon, no,” I told him as I crouched down. “Why would you want that?”

“Alexander said we are family,” he watched me with those big blue eyes, shining with tears. “You don’t want me to have the same last name as you and Alexander?”

Oh my God! This can’t be happening! I can’t tell him this marriage isn’t real. Or it might be real but we weren’t quite sure yet.

“It’s not that, sweetie,” I spoke softly, not wanting to upset his feelings. “I would love that we had the same last name, but when you get older, you might feel differently. Your mom and dad gave you that name and it makes you special.”

He nodded, but tears spilled and I felt horrible. “I really want to, Liberty.”

I wanted to pull my hair out. How was I supposed to handle this?

“He could keep his last name and add Caldwell to his.” Alexander kneeled down now too and I snapped my head to him at those words. How could he suggest that, knowing we started this as a business arrangement? “What do you think about that, Brandon?”

Brandon was eagerly nodding and I could have killed Alexander on the spot.

“That’s settled then,” the judge announced. “Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell. Brandon has found a perfect family. The custody has been awarded to both of you.”

I stared at him in shock. How could he just agree to it? One minute, he believed this was a fake marriage, and next, he was changing Brandon’s last name to my husband of barely a week. And custody to both of us? That was not a stipulation of Lena and Larry’s will. How the hell could this have happened?

“Congratulations,” Mr. Taylor came to us. “I’ll take care of all the paperwork. I’m sure you are all eager to go and celebrate.”

“Yes,” Alexander acknowledged him. “Please, send the paperwork to my office.”

“I’m so happy,” Brandon squeezed me in a tight hug. I returned it, as if in a haze. Then, he turned to Alexander and gave him a big hug. “Thank you, Alexander.”

I watched them and I knew it wasn’t only my heart at risk of being broken but also Brandon’s. And there was nobody to blame but me.

It’s all fun and games till somebody gets hurt.My mother’s words were haunting me.

Chapter Forty

Liberty

We left the courthouse building, and Alexander’s driver was still waiting for us in the same spot. Brandon was chipper, jumping around Alexander and me. I didn’t want to ruin his excitement so I just smiled with a heavy heart.

Ever since I accepted Alexander’s proposal, everything has been rushed and a blur. I didn’t like to rush things. For Pete’s sake, I had a rule not to sleep with a boyfriend till we dated for six months. And here I was breaking all my rules around Alexander.

Brandon slid into the car first and I was getting ready to follow when Alexander grabbed my arm and stopped me.

“What’s the matter, Liberty?” he asked.

“Nothing,” I muttered. I didn’t want to get into it with him here or spoil Brandon’s excitement. His cold blue gaze was drilling into me, as if he was going through each corner of my soul. He had a complete control of all situations and lives; I, on the other hand, had none.

“We’ll talk later,” he spoke calmly, his voice cold. I nodded and slid into the car too.

We went back to the house, and Maxim was waiting for us at the door. He must have been worried and my heart warmed at the thought. Thank God, Caldwells were a great and caring family.

Well, except for the father.

As soon as the car stopped and Alexander exited the vehicle, I heard him ask. “How did everything go? Is Brandon ok?”

Brandon exited the car next with the big smile on his face, and I followed although I couldn’t quite muster a big smile.

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