Chapter 4

While I recovered from the lake incident – mostly from shock and a few bruises – Jax was a silent, steady presence.

He didn't fuss, but flowers arrived, favorite books, and his security team discreetly increased their watch around my estate.

It was a quiet, consistent care that warmed something deep inside me.

Then, Beau escalated.

His personal assistant, a weaselly man named Finch, arrived at my door, bold as brass.

"Mr. Hamilton sent me," Finch announced, his nose in the air.

"Miss Lynn is pregnant. With Mr. Hamilton's child."

He paused for dramatic effect.

"Mr. Hamilton expects you to provide them with a suitable cottage on your grounds and, of course, ongoing financial support for the mother of his child."

I stared at him, speechless for a moment at the sheer audacity.

Hattie, who had answered the door with me, looked like she was about to physically eject Finch herself.

I held up a hand.

"Finch," I said, my voice dangerously calm, "tell Beau that if he or any of his associates, including you, set foot on my property again, or attempt to contact me in any way, I will have them arrested for trespassing and harassment. Now get out."

Finch scurried away.

I immediately contacted my father's legal team and obtained a restraining order against Beau Hamilton.

Beau, of course, was undeterred.

A few days later, he and a visibly, provocatively "pregnant" Daisy Lynn (her belly suspiciously round and firm for such an early announcement) confronted me as I was leaving a charity luncheon.

"Savannah!" Beau called out, striding towards me, Daisy Lynn waddling slightly beside him.

"We need to talk about my child."

Daisy Lynn placed a hand on her stomach, looking sorrowful.

"Savannah, please, don't make this harder than it needs to be. For the baby's sake."

Her voice was cloyingly sweet.

The hypocrisy was astounding.

I had had enough.

I stepped forward and slapped Daisy Lynn across the face.

Not hard, but enough to make a sharp sound, enough to wipe the sanctimonious look off her face.

"There is no 'baby's sake' that involves me, Daisy," I said, my voice like ice.

Beau roared.

Before I could react, he slapped me back, hard.

My head snapped to the side, my cheek stinging.

"You will not touch her!" he snarled, his face contorted with rage.

That slap was a gift.

It severed the last, lingering thread of any past civility.

"That's it, Beau," I said, touching my cheek, my eyes locking onto his.

"All ties, all considerations, are now officially severed."

I pulled out my phone.

"I'm calling my father's head of security. You just assaulted me, and you're violating a restraining order. You're going to jail."

Beau' s eyes widened, a flicker of fear finally appearing.

Daisy Lynn looked terrified.