Page 134 of Reputation (Tempt)

Not only had Emerson been there for both my daughter and me. Emerson had consistently shown that she didn’t care about my money or fame. I thought back to Brooklyn’s birthday party, when she’d tackled the paparazzo. And even more recently, to the way she’d defended me to her dad. Plus, so many other instances, large and small.

She might love designer clothes and luxury handbags. And I’d seen the way her eyes gleamed anytime she looked at her engagement ring. But she didn’tneedthose things to be happy. And I knew well enough that if she wanted a Birkin or anything else, she was determined and hardworking enough to buy it for herself or to find a way to pay for it.

She was nothing like Trinity.

I stayed with Brooklyn a while longer, talking and reading books. Hoping my presence would calm and reassure her. Eventually, she fell asleep, and I watched her for a minute, marveling at how grown-up and yet how young she still seemed.

After a long while, I forced myself to leave, pressing a kiss to her forehead before tiptoeing to the door. I found Emerson in the kitchen, busying herself with Brooklyn’s backpack.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, our shoulders brushing as I took the folder from her and signed it.

“I like to,” she said. “I like taking care of Brooklyn. And it feels normal, when everything else in my life is anything but.”

I nodded, placing the folder back in the backpack. I knew exactly what Emerson meant. My daughter grounded me, kept me focused. Brooklyn didn’t care whether I was famous or rich. She loved me because I was her dad. And lately, it felt as if I was failing her.

I was failing Brooklyn, and I was failing Emerson. And I was sosickof letting Trinity run our lives. I was done with watching Brooklyn and Emerson suffer.

So, I went to my office and called Pierce to explain my plan. When I finished, he asked, “You’re sure about this?”

I nodded. “I’m sure.”

I loved Emerson, and I was determined to show her that, regardless of the cost. And there was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my daughter.

If Trinity didn’t take my offer to have the piece appraised and pay the equivalent value, then I’d surrender Marie Antoinette’s necklace to her. I would be sad to relinquish a piece of my mom’s collection, especially to someone as undeserving as Trinity. But letting go of something that had belonged to my mom didn’t mean letting go of my memories of her.

Over the past few weeks, I’d come to realize that I didn’t care about the money or even the principle of it. If buying Trinity off meant I was able to move on with my life once and for all, I’d do it. Because by holding on, I was never going to be able to let go.

Ironically enough, it was Emerson’s dad Declan who’d made me realize that.

He kept pushing and pushing Emerson to do what he thought was best, without regard for what she wanted or needed. And I’d been doing the same with this fake engagement. Asking Emerson to lie for me. To help me instead of pursuing her own goals. To… I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair. I was done.

I was done with Trinity’s bullshit. I was done hurting the woman I loved.

When Pierce eventually called to say that Trinity would only accept the necklace, I’d made my peace with the idea of parting with it. It was a one-of-a-kind piece that was worth a fortune. But nothing was as priceless to me as Brooklyn and Emerson.

I didn’t tell Emerson what had happened—at least not immediately. Instead, I mentioned that the hearing had been postponed by a few days because the judge had had a family emergency. I felt bad for making her believe the custody hearing was still moving forward, merely postponed, but I hoped it would all be worth it in the end.

I called Alexis to see if Brooklyn could spend the night. She immediately agreed. Then, I roped Kendall into helping me by getting Emerson out of the house. I told her I was planning a surprise, and she was more than happy to concoct some excuse about Emerson’s maid of honor duties than to push for more information.

With Emerson preoccupied and the rest of my plan coming together, I packed an overnight bag for Brooklyn. Jackson drove me to pick up Brooklyn from school. She was surprised and happy to see me, though her face quickly fell.

“What happened? Did we lose?” she asked, a panicked look in her eyes.

“No, sweetheart. I would never let anyone keep you from me. From now on, you never have to worry about going to live with her. And it’s up to you to decide what kind of relationship, if any, you want to have with her.”

She jumped into my arms, her sense of relief palpable. It matched my own. And it only made me wish I’d just given Trinity the damn necklace sooner. I could’ve avoided a lot of stress and heartache.

“Where’s Emmy?” she asked.

“She’s with Kendall working on some stuff for the wedding,” I said as Jackson pulled away from the school.

“Hers or yours?” Brooklyn asked.

“Kendall’s,” I said.

Brooklyn huffed. “Ugh.”

“What?” I asked.

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