Page 3 of Rejected Pretend Mate

I made a mistake. Can't you forgive me?

I swear I'll never do this again.

Don't leave me.

It was the same thing. Ivan had a drinking problem and took it out on me. I couldn't remember the amount of times I'd tucked my tail and gone back. That was what I was supposed to do. I was raised to be a good wife and a doting mother. I was raised to take whatever Ivan gave me and never complain.

But that wasn't my life anymore. Everything fell apart the moment I caught him with another woman, and I realized I didn't have just to accept that life.

And I wasn't there anymore. I was here. I was safe, and Ivan couldn't hurt me. Right?

I took a deep breath in and curled my hands into fists. "You need to leave. We aren't back in our old town. You're in my brother's territory, and I'm warning you, you don't want to piss him off. So, get out. While I'm asking nicely."

Ivan's nostrils flared once more, and his eyes narrowed on me. I watched his jaw clench, and I knew he wanted to yell. He was seconds away from doing so.

And then I heard a door open. "April, you okay out here? I heard a noise."

Liv stood in her doorway, looking worried at me. Her eyes quickly jumped from me to Ivan and then back to me.

I looked away from Ivan and nodded my head at Liv. "I'm okay, Liv. Just dropped my groceries, is all."

Liv looked back at Ivan, her eyes narrowing slightly. "And he is?"

"Leaving," I said quickly, looking at Ivan. "He was leaving. Just stopped in to ask me a question, is all."

Ivan stared at me, and after a moment, he took a step back. "I'll be back."

"Don't," I said as he turned, heading down the hallway. I watched him walk away until he got onto the elevator, and then I exhaled.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Liv asked, and I looked back at her, nodding my head. I was fine. The last thing I needed was for Riley or Cayden to find out about what was happening. She was exactly the type of person to tell them.

"I'm fine." I reached down, grabbed my groceries, and unlocked my door. I hurried inside, feeling my legs give out as soon as I did.

I covered my mouth, feeling tears burn my eyes. I took a deep breath, feeling a panic attack taking hold of me.

I hated it. I hated how everything came rushing back and how my body tensed up. I wished I fought back. The old me would have fought back. But he'd changed me. He'd ruined me.

I started to cry, squeezing my eyes shut, wishing I could disappear. But I knew it wouldn't, and I worried I'd never be the old me again.

Chapter 2 - Weslie

I stretched my arms up and smirked, looking over at Cayden, who scowled with his arms crossed, shaking his head. "You cheated."

"I did not," I laughed, looking back at the TV and seeing the winning part on my side of the screen. That was the fifth game I won, making me the winner overall.

He tossed his controller aside and sighed. "Well, our shift is almost over, so it's a tie."

"I won five out of six games. I don't think it's a tie." I said as I grabbed my phone. "You're just a sore loser, is all."

"Oh, shut up," Cayden said, glancing at his phone. "You somehow cheated."

I snorted, pulling myself out of my hair. "I think I heard Ayden and Miles come in. Want me to punch you out?"

Cayden nodded, and I walked across the space and down the stairs toward our punch-in station. I grabbed my card, and Cayden punched both of us out for the day.

I spotted Miles tossing his jacket into his locker. "Hey, is it cold outside?"

Miles nodded, running a hand through his hair where he had some snow. "It's getting pretty cold out now. Is Ayden in yet?"

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