Chapter 173 No Pride Left
Jackson's lips curved into a slow smile. "You're right. I'm not married. If my mother found out she has a grandson, she'd probably—"
Olivia's voice turned sharp. "There's no 'probably.' Until Jack turns eighteen, I won't let him be separated from me. I promised his mother I'd take care of him until then. After that, it's his choice."
Jackson nodded quickly. "Okay. I promise."
Olivia's gaze didn't waver. "After the DNA results come back, if he's yours, I need you to buy us a school district house in New York. Full payment, clear title."
Jackson hesitated for only a beat. "...Okay."
---
They returned upstairs together. Olivia glanced across the room and saw Jack nestled in Ethan's lap, his small hands gripping a picture book while Ethan read in a low, steady voice.
"Jack," she called softly.
The boy slid down from Ethan's legs and toddled toward her, his chubby face breaking into a smile. "Mommy!"
Olivia crouched down and pulled him into her arms. "Baby, Mommy needs to take two hairs from your head. It'll hurt a little bit, but you need to be brave, okay?"
Jack's hands flew up to cover his head, his big round eyes wide with alarm. "Hurts. Mommy, no."
Olivia held up two fingers. "Two hairs for two chocolates."
Jack lowered one hand. He held up three chubby fingers. "Three chocolates."
Olivia laughed despite herself. "Deal."
Before he could change his mind, she plucked several strands from his scalp. Jack yelped, but didn't cry. She wrapped the hairs in a napkin and handed them to Jackson.
"Don't forget what you promised, Mr. Hayes."
Vincent, ever the gossip, leaned forward. "What'd he promise?"
Jackson grimaced. "A school district house in New York."
Vincent blinked. "..."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. His gaze fixed on Olivia with unnerving intensity, tracking every flicker of emotion across her face.
Olivia turned to Helen with a polite smile. "Helen, Jack and I should head home now."
Helen stood, concern creasing her brow. "You just got here. Stay for dinner, at least. No one's waiting for you at home anyway."
"Thank you, but we already ate." Olivia's smile didn't reach her eyes. She hoisted Jack onto her hip and moved toward the door.
---
Back in her apartment, Olivia sat Jack down on the couch and brushed his hair back from his forehead. "How was preschool today, baby? Did you have fun?"
Jack launched into an enthusiastic retelling of his day—blocks, snacks, a new friend named Charlie—and Olivia listened with half her attention, her mind circling back to Ethan.
Finally, she interrupted gently. "Jack, have you ever seen Mr. Ethan before today?"
The doorbell rang.
Olivia froze. She rose slowly, crossed to the door, and peered through the peephole.
Jackson Hayes stood outside, hands in his pockets, shoulders tense.
She scanned the hallway. No sign of Ethan.
She opened the door a crack. "Mr. Hayes. What can I do for you?"
Jackson glanced past her into the apartment. "I wanted to talk. About Jack. Can I come in?"
Olivia hesitated, then stepped aside. "Come in."
---
Jackson paused at the entrance, eyeing the shoe rack. "Should I take my shoes off?"
"No need. I don't have men's slippers. Or shoe covers." Olivia's tone was clipped. "Just come in."
Jackson filed that detail away—no men's slippers—and made a mental note to report it to Ethan later. He stepped into the living room and immediately began cataloging everything: the worn couch, the stack of children's books, the absence of anything expensive or masculine.
Jack tilted his head up at him. "Uncle Jackson, what are you looking at?"
Jackson smiled and ruffled the boy's hair. "Nothing, buddy."
But his eyes drifted toward the balcony, searching for men's clothing hanging to dry.
Olivia crossed her arms. "Mr. Hayes. Are we talking, or are you conducting surveillance?"
"Talking. Right." Jackson sat down on the couch, suddenly looking uncomfortable.
Olivia poured him a glass of water and sent Jack to his room to watch cartoons. Once the boy was out of earshot, she turned back to Jackson. "What did you want to discuss?"
Jackson cleared his throat. "If Jack really is my son... I have to bring him back to the Hayes family."
Olivia's brow furrowed. "You're going back on your word?"
"I'm his biological father," Jackson said quietly. "You're not blood-related. Legally, I'm his guardian."
Olivia's lips thinned. She leaned back and studied him. "Did Ethan send you?"
"No!" Jackson said too quickly. Then, realizing how that sounded, he tried again. "This has nothing to do with Ethan. I just... I want my son."
Olivia's expression turned cold. "You didn't want him half an hour ago."
Jackson shifted uncomfortably. "I've had time to think—"
"Call Ethan," Olivia interrupted. "I'll talk to him directly."
Jackson brightened. "You want him to come up?"
"Call him."
Jackson pulled out his phone and dialed. "Ethan, you can come up. Liv wants to talk to you."
There was a long pause. Then Ethan's voice came through, low and furious. "You idiot."
Jackson winced. "But she asked—"
"Tell her I already left."
Jackson's face went pale. "Uh... I have you on speakerphone. She heard that."
Silence.
Olivia leaned toward the phone, her voice cutting through the tension. "Ethan. Show some pride. Don't make me look down on you."
Ethan's laugh was dry and humorless. "Around you? I've got no pride left."
"You told me you'd never see me again," Olivia said quietly. "I expect you to keep your word."
Another long silence. Then: "Fine."
The line went dead.
---
Jackson sat frozen, the phone still in his hand. Olivia's expression didn't change. She rose and opened the front door.
"Mr. Hayes. I think it's time for you to leave."
Jackson stood quickly, his face flushed. "Right. Yeah. I'll... we'll talk after the DNA results come back."
"Goodbye, Mr. Hayes."
He fled.
---
Downstairs, Ethan stood beside his Maybach, one hand braced against the roof, his head bowed. The glow of a cigarette burned between his fingers.
Jackson jogged over. "Ethan, I'm sorry. I screwed up."
"It's fine." Ethan's voice was flat. He took a long drag and crushed the cigarette against the car's paint, leaving a black smear. "Buy two houses in the Upper West Side tomorrow. School district. And get her a car."
Jackson blinked. "I already contacted a developer. I'll have it done as fast as possible."
Ethan pulled open the car door and slid into the back seat. Jackson climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine.
They drove in silence for several blocks. Finally, Jackson glanced at Ethan in the rearview mirror. "Are you flying back to LA tomorrow, or...?"
"Buy two," Ethan said again.
Jackson's hands tightened on the wheel. He smiled faintly. "Got it."