Page 76 of My Damaged Protector

“What?”

“You said to tell you the truth, and I sense an ‘or’ coming up. What's the ultimatum?”

Groaning, he steps back from his position at the entrance of the kitchen, leaving him partially in the living room and almost in the kitchen. Somehow this image of him reflects his current stance in my life: one leg in, one leg out.

“Or what, Ian? What will you do if I don't tell you the truth?” I snap, my own anger now rising.

“Don't do this.”

“Do what? Ask you to trust me? Because the last time I checked, that's what I asked you to do, and you agreed to it!”

“I didn't agree to shit! You said it and didn't ask me if I'm fine with it or not.”

He may not have agreed to my plea, but he didn't disagree either. “This is bullshit.”

“Oh, I'm glad you said it, because for once we can agree on the same thing. This right here,” he motions between him and me, “is bullshit. Whatever this is, it's not going to last if you don't trust me enough to tell me the truth.”

“I do trust you, Ian. That's why I asked you to trust me. That's why I'm still asking you to trust me now.”

“Then tell me the truth,” he says in a final tone.

Looking at my aunt, she's now focused on me, giving me a look that says she's in full support of Ian.

Not cool.

Even if she doesn't understand where I'm coming from, I expect her to support me. Me. Not Ian. I'm her family.

Shaking my head, I throw the sponge in my hand down. I was wiping the counter when Ian walked in and ambushed me with his anger.

“I'm going to walk away, and we'll talk when you're calm,” I say and start to walk out of the kitchen.

No one says anything as I leave. When I pass, I'm not too surprised when Ian grabs my arm to stop me from walking.

“I’ll leave,” he says so low I almost think I’ve misheard him. But he repeats himself. This time clearer. “If you walk away from this conversation, then I'm going to assume that you don't give a rat’s ass about me, and I'm going to leave. There's no point in being here if I'm not wanted.”

I nod a couple of times, and his words sink in with every shake of my head.

Taking my hand to where he's holding me, I tap him, twice.

“If that's how you feel, then you know where the door is.” I release his grip on me and walk away before he can say anythingelse. I keep my feet walking until I get in front of my room and open the door.

The moment the door closes behind me, tears start to spill. I hear Ian’s footsteps as he walks out of the house. The loud bang of the door as it closes behind him will forever haunt me.

But deep inside, I know I did the right thing. If he can leave me because I want time to tell him I'm carrying his baby, then all he's done is prove how right I am for not wanting to tell him at all.

What the hell was I thinking, letting him back into my life? And letting him get me pregnant?

Now I'm stuck with not only one child without a father in her life, but another, too.

I feel like slapping someone in the face, and it's not Ian or Kyle.

It's me.

How do I always let myself get knocked up by men who don't give two shits about me?

The door to my room opens, and I raise my head to see it's my aunt. One look at my face, and she's beside me, wiping my tears.

“Oh, dear. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have brought the topic up when he was around the house.” She apologizes, gathering me in her arms. My anger toward her immediately melts.

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