Mia shakes her head. "I can't choose between them. I won't."
David makes another note. "Option three: If one of you is the biological father, establishing paternity would strengthen Mia's position significantly. Courts prefer children to have relationships with both biological parents when possible."
"Jack is their father," Mia admits quietly. "But revealing that creates its own problems."
"Such as?" David's pen hovers over his notepad.
I answer for her. "Jack was Mia's father's best friend. She was eighteen when they were together. He was thirty-six. The optics are devastating."
David winces. "That's problematic. Not illegal, since she was of age, but it would raise questions about the power dynamic and his judgment."
"So we're screwed no matter what we do," Mia says, her voice hollow.
"Not necessarily." David leans forward. "Option four: You could gather evidence that Marcus is unfit or has ulterior motives. If you can prove he's using the children as leverage to control you, that would undermine his case significantly."
Hope flickers in Mia's eyes. "How do we do that?"
"Document everything. Every interaction, every threat, every attempt at manipulation. If he's made statements about wanting you back, about using custody as a weapon, get it in writing or on recording." David pauses. "You could also hire a private investigator to look into his background. If there's anything questionable in his past, it could be useful."
We leave David's office with more questions than answers. In the car, Mia stares out the window, her profile etched with worry. The afternoon sun catches her dark hair, and I'm struck again by how much I want to protect her from all of this.
"We'll figure it out," I say, starting the engine.
"Will we?" She turns to face me, and the vulnerability in her expression makes my chest ache. "Maybe I should just give Marcus what he wants. End things with you guys, go back to him, make this all go away."
I pull over abruptly, the car jerking to a stop on the shoulder. "Look at me."
She does, her blue eyes swimming with tears.
"You are not going back to a man who manipulates and controls you. You are not sacrificing your happiness to appease someone who's using your children as weapons." I cup her face, my thumbs brushing away the tears that spill over. "We will find another way."
"But what if there isn't one?"
"Then we'll create one." I lean in and kiss her softly, tasting salt and desperation. "Throughout history, people have overcome impossible odds by refusing to surrender. We're not surrendering, Mia. Not to Marcus, not to fear, not to anyone."
She kisses me back with sudden intensity, her hands fisting in my shirt. When we finally break apart, we're both breathing hard.
"I love you," she whispers.
"I love you too." I rest my forehead against hers. "Now let's go tell Jack and Blake what we learned."
That evening, we gather at Jack's house. He opens the door wearing jeans and a fitted t-shirt that shows off his muscular chest and broad shoulders. Even in casual clothes, he radiates authority.
Blake is already inside, pacing the living room in athletic pants and a coaching polo that stretches across his athletic frame. His brown eyes are fierce when they land on Mia.
"Tell us everything," Jack says, guiding Mia to the couch.
We explain David's assessment, the legal complications, and the limited options available. Jack's jaw tightens with each revelation. Blake's hands clench into fists.
"So Marcus can drag us all through court and destroy everything we've built," Blake says, his voice tight. "That's the play he's running."
"Unless we find leverage to make him back off," I add.
Jack moves to the window, his broad shoulders rigid. "I could publicly claim the twins. Establish paternity. Give Mia the traditional family structure courts prefer."
"And destroy your reputation in the process," Mia protests. "Everyone would know you slept with your best friend's barely legal daughter. Your career would be over."
"My career isn't worth more than my sons." Jack turns to face us, his hazel eyes determined. "Or you."