Mom, Don't Cry! Here comes a new Daddy! novel Chapter 69

Chapter 49

Chapter 49

(Sophia’s POV)

The entire drive back to my penthouse, Jake is practically vibrating in Sabrina’s lap.

But he’s not excited about going home or celebrating the custody win. No, the little schemer keeps catching my eye in the rearview mirror, making these exaggerated gestures that clearly mean: Get lost. Make yourself scarce. This needs to be a date.

I shake my head at him. He narrows his eyes and gestures more frantically.

God, this kid.

Sabrina’s too busy looking out the window, probably still processing everything that happened in court, to notice her son’s elaborate pantomime in the backseat. But I see it. Every pointed look. Every meaningful eyebrow wiggle.

He wants me gone so he can play matchmaker.

And the thing is, I kind of want to help him.

Because Ethan Hale-Ethan freaking Hale-is interested in my best friend. The Ethan Hale of Hale Global. Multi-billionaire. Forbes list regular. The man who could literally have any woman in the

world with a snap of his fingers.

And he chose Sabrina.

Not some supermodel or socialite or actress. Not someone with a perfect life and a perfect body

and zero complications.

He chose a divorced single mother who’s been through hell and back. Who lives in her best friend’s guest room and just got her life together enough to win custody of her son.

I still can’t wrap my head around it completely. When I first agreed to help Jake find his mom a boyfriend, I was expecting some nice accountant or teacher. Maybe a small business owner.

Someone normal and safe and moderately attractive.

Not a man whose net worth has more zeros than my company value.

The man is gorgeous too. Like stupid gorgeous. The kind of looks that could make a married woman reconsider her vows with just one glance. Dark hair, dark eyes, that perfectly tailored suit

that probably costs more than my car.

But it’s not just the looks or the money that makes me think he’s right for Sabrina.

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Chapter 49

It’s the way he watches her.

Like when she was walking to the car earlier, and he thought no one was paying attention, I saw

how his eyes tracked her movements. The way he looked at her hips swaying in that pencil skirt.

The slight softening of his expression when she laughed at something Jake said.

That’s not just attraction. That’s not just physical interest.

That’s a man who’s already halfway in love and doesn’t even realize it yet.

And the effort he put in? Participating in Jake’s ridiculous “find a new dad” contest. Hiding his real

identity just to meet her without the complication of his wealth and status. Flying to that

courthouse and arranging for Jake to speak to the judge.

Dustin never did anything close to that for Sabrina. Not once in seven years.

But Ethan did it after knowing her for barely a week.

If that’s not proof he’s serious, I don’t know what is.

I pull into my building’s underground garage, and Jake is out of the car before I’ve even turned off

the engine.

“Come on, Mom! We need to get ready quick! We can’t keep a guest waiting!” He’s practically bouncing on his toes, tugging at Sabrina’s hand.

Sabrina laughs, letting him pull her toward the elevator. “Jake, baby, we have plenty of time. Dinner

isn’t for another hour.”

“But you need to look pretty! Extra pretty! Special occasion pretty!”

“I thought you said I always look pretty?”

“You do! But tonight you need to look super-duper pretty. The prettiest!”

I follow behind them, my stomach already churning with guilt. Because I know what’s coming. I

can see it in Jake’s eyes, in the way he keeps glancing back at me with that look that says: Remem

ber what we talked about.

Except we didn’t talk about anything. He’s just assuming I’m going to magically disappear and leave him alone with his mom and Ethan.

Which, okay, maybe I should. Maybe I should give them space. Let them have an actual conversation without me playing third wheel.

But Sabrina just forgave me for the cruise disaster. She just stopped being mad at me for manipulating her. And now I’m supposed to bail on dinner and leave her alone with the man she’s

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Chapter 49

clearly still conflicted about?

She’s going to murder me.

We take the elevator up to my floor, and the second we’re inside my penthouse, Jake drags Sabrina toward the guest room.

“You need to change! That court outfit is too boring for dinner!”

“Jake-”

“No arguments! Go change! I’ll help you pick something!”

Sabrina shoots me an amused look over her shoulder as Jake physically pushes her into the

bedroom. “Your godson is very bossy today.”

“Wonder where he gets that from,” I mutter.

The guest room door closes, and immediately-immediately-Jake comes running back out.

His little face is dead serious. No more playful kid. This is Jake in full scheming mode.

“Aunt Sophia.” He plants himself in front of me, hands on his hips. “You can’t come to dinner with

us.”

“Jake-”

“I need to get Mom to like Mr. Jason. Don’t you want my dream to get a shiny-shoe protector for

my mom to come true?”

I stare at him, stunned. This five-year-old child who just used the phrase “shiny-shoe protector” with

complete seriousness, isn’t trying to emotionally blackmail me, is he?

“Jake, your mom just barely forgave me for the last stunt we pulled. I don’t think we should do anything right now that might-”

“Why not?” His bottom lip juts out. “Don’t you want me to get a new dad?”

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