Chapter 6

Jackson took a deep breath, just about to speak when Scarlett's mother shrieked, “I don’t care what you say, your family must give us the wedding settlement and take Scarlett to the courthouse for the license, or I’m calling the police!”

Jackson’s mother paled and quickly tried to diffuse the situation. “No! No police, please! You’ll ruin my son’s reputation!”

Without missing a beat, Scarlett’s mom stood up from the ground in a flash. “Fine. No cops then, but the $50,000 settlement stays. That’s the emotional damage compensation for my daughter.”

“If you want to get married, take her to the courthouse. If not, then don’t. But she can live with him in the meantime. Let them have a trial marriage.”

Jackson’s father, clutching his chest, looked like he was about to collapse.

His mother rushed to him, trying to calm him down. “Honey, don’t get worked up. Your health can’t handle this!”

I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. The whole family looked like they were about to explode.

Suddenly, it all clicked: Jackson hadn’t done anything wrong, but somehow this madness had fallen into his lap.

Jackson’s eyes were sharp as he glared at Scarlett and her mother, his voice low and cold. “You’d better leave my house, or I’ll be the one calling the cops.”

Scarlett’s mother, defiant, spat back, “Fine, we’ll go, but your family made my daughter a joke. You’ll at least have to cover the wedding costs and pay her a year’s worth of lost wages.”

I glanced at Jackson, watching for his reaction.

If he agreed to pay, I would break up with him on the spot.

There’s no way I’d stay with someone who lets themselves get blackmailed just to avoid drama.

This wasn’t about the money. If he gave in, it meant he was admitting guilt, that he had led Scarlett on.

There was a right way to handle this and a wrong way.

I despised the idea of solving problems by throwing money at them. I needed Jackson to take a stand.