Page 28 of The Mistake

“I’m your husband, I’m allowed to.” He took a step back. “Now, go and remove those clothes. Cathy will deal with you.”

It didn’t take long for Cathy to arrive. She apologized profusely and then took the clothes back to wherever Sophie had gotten them. She returned with the appropriate sizes. Again, I did ask her to leave so I could get dressed.

“I am so sorry about my colleague,”she said. “It will never happen again.”

“She had a crush on Ive,” I said

Cathy opened her mouth and closed it. Staring at the woman, I frowned. “What is it?” I asked.

I thought my curiosity into trivial matters had died many years ago.

“Sophie had hoped that Ive was becoming fond of her.”

“Did they date?” I asked.

“I believe there was one date between them, that’s all.” Cathy bowed her head and left the changing room.

I shouldn’t be surprised. Ive was a good-looking man. Thick, blond hair, he had the boy next door look, but with a few scars and a lot of ink. Okay, he was thebadboy next door, but he was sexy and dangerous.

Pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind, I changed into each different outfit and walked out, giving a twirl for Ive. He nodded his head. Shook his head. But he looked completely bored.

After stepping into a summer dress, I did something I hadn’t done in a very long time. I looked into the mirror, and the truth was, I didn’t like what I saw. I didn’t know if people would see me as ugly. I knew I was bland. I didn’t have full lips or smoky eyes. I was dull, mousy maybe. I had big tits and large hips. My waist was small, but I think in the wrong clothes, it made my hips look almost cartoonish with the size difference.

Cassie was beautiful.

Sophie was beautiful.

I hated the tears that came to my eyes. I could imagine on that one date with Sophie, Ive didn’t hesitate in takingher to bed. He was my husband but he didn’t want to sleep with me. Wrapping my arms around myself, I had to wonder who would. I was the wrong choice. The mistake. They wanted Cassie, not me. She’s the one who should be married. Why hadn’t they left me to die when they had the chance?

My stomach swirled with sickness.I hated this.

Stepping out of the changing rooms, I gave a twirl and waited for the nod of the head.

Ive gave a nod, and I continued to change, until we got to the evening gowns. I lost interest and didn’t even pay attention to which one he liked. Cathy took note of each one. As for me, I wasmerely the ugly doll. Something for him to use because Ivan had forced him. The only reason he had me with him today was because Ivan had forced it.

No one ever wanted me. I was always the burden.

And that was why it was easier to throw me away. Like trash.

Always freaking trash.

Chapter Seven

Ive

I didn’t consider myself aconnoisseur of women. I had no way of knowing what they were thinking or what made them tick. Some of them I understood. Money and power spoke volumes. Others wanted stuff that made them feel special. I did know there was something wrong with my wife. I didn’t know if Sophie said something to her, or the whole shopping experience had upset her. But women loved to shop, that was a constant.

I had to keep reminding myself that my wife wasn’t like other women. She was different. From what I’d come to learn of Charlotte, she didn’t have a normal childhood.

Even last night, she didn’t know how to play fucking games. What kind of life hadshe lived?

I didn’t know how to deal with her,or what to do. She’d gone quiet. There was no smile on her face, and she sat next to me in the car, not even looking out the window. When we’d taken her, she’d never been this withdrawn. Had I scared her?

Sophie had pissed me off. Yes, the one date I’d taken her on had been a fucking nightmare. She had flirted the whole night, and then at the end of it, she’d begged to suck my cock, to give me a good time. I took her home, and knew she was trying to bag herself a man of power.

When it came to women, I’d liked them easy without complications. Sophie screamed all the wrong things. This was the first time I had seen her since that disastrous date. I hadn’t wanted her to go anywhere near my wife. Her catty behavior had shone through, and now my wife was miserable.

“Were there any clothes you didn’t like that Ichose?” I asked.

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