Chapter 4 My can't he leave me alone?

Aubrey's pov ;

I didn't expect much for the next few days. I didn't go back to that scumbag, and I didn't feel afraid of his warnings either. Every time I thought about him, I felt angry and confused. Why was he so desperate to make me go back to him when he was the one who cheated on me? It didn't make any sense.

His betrayal still hurts very much, like a fresh wound that refused to heal. I had given him everything—my trust, my love, my time. And he threw it all away for some cheap fling. Now he had the audacity to act like I was the one who needed to come crawling back? It was infuriating.

I replayed our last conversation over and over in my mind, trying to find some hidden meaning or clue that might explain his behaviour. But there was nothing.

The more I thought about it, the more I realised that he was just trying to threaten me. He didn't want me back because he loved me. He wanted me back because he couldn't stand the idea of me moving on and being happy without him. It was all about control for me.

However, I refuse to give him that power over me and my life. I have my own life to live, and I'm going to let him dictate it. I deserved better than his lies and deceit. I deserve someone who would love me wholeheartedly and without reservation. And it took me a long time to realise that he's not that person.

But there was something else gnawing at me, a secret I hadn't yet revealed to anyone. My pregnancy.

The thought of him finding out terrifies me. What if he tried to take my child away? The idea of him having any influence over my baby's life filled me with dread. He's toxic, and I won't let him poison my child's future.

So, I ignored his calls and texts, deleting each one without reading them. I surrounded myself with friends who supported me and reminded me of my worth. I threw myself into work and hobbies that made me happy. Slowly but surely, I started to feel like myself again.

The days passed, and with each one, his grip on my thoughts loosened. I realised that I was stronger than I had ever given myself credit for.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. I sighed and went to answer it. It was my mother, standing there with her usual sour expression.

Memories of my childhood flooded back as soon as I saw her face. Being constantly neglected, she was always too busy with her social life to care for me, never a kind word or a gentle touch. It was always about appearances with her, never about love or support. And most of her time she would give to Sage and take care of her.

"Mom-" Before I could even greet her, a hard slap landed on my cheek. The pain was sharp and immediate, stinging like a swarm of angry bees.

I barely had any time to register the impact before she grabbed my arm and threw me into the middle of the living room. I stumbled but quickly got up, my hands instinctively protecting my belly. Thankfully, I didn't feel any pain there.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?" I demanded, glaring at her.

Another sharp slap landed on my other cheek, the force nearly knocking me off my feet again. My mother stood over me, her face twisted in rage.

"What the fuck were you thinking, offering Ryder a divorce? Do you think you're so capable, huh?" she screamed. "You're nothing but a worthless little slut!"

I felt tears stinging my eyes but I refused to let them fall. "He was cheating on me," I managed to say through my anger.

"So what?" she spat. "A high-value man like him needs a high-value girl, which you are not. Of course he's going to find someone else!"

Her words cut through my heart. "You don't understand—"

"Oh, I understand perfectly. You're just a useless little girl who couldn't keep her man happy. Ryder's right to find someone else. And do you have any idea what you've done? Ryder broke off his partnership with your father's company because of your little drama! Do you even know what that means for us? For our family business?"

I tried to process what she was saying through the haze of pain and disbelief. "What are you talking about?"

"Ryder's company was the backbone of your father's business. Their partnership meant everything—contracts, investments, stability. Without Ryder, your father's company is going to crumble. All because you couldn't keep your legs closed and keep him happy."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. "So, you're saying I should just accept his cheating? That I should stay miserable just to keep your precious business afloat?"

"Yes!" she screamed, her face turning red with fury. "Because that's what a real woman does! She sacrifices for the greater good. But you? You're just a selfish little bitch who thinks only about herself."

My head was spinning. The betrayal I felt from my mother was almost worse than what Ryder had done. I knew she was cold, but this was a new level of cruelty. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself.

"Sage is a homewrecker," I argued, desperate to make her see reason. "She's the one who came between Ryder and me."

"How dare you talk about your sick sister like that!" my mother shot back, her eyes blazing with anger. "You're lucky Sage is sick, or a pathetic girl like you would never have had the chance to marry a man like Ryder. You should be grateful!"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Sage is still the golden child in her eyes who could do no wrong, even when she was the one who had ruined everything. "Grateful? For what? For being betrayed and humiliated?"

"Yes! Grateful that a man like Ryder even looked at you! Grateful that you had a chance at a life you could never have dreamed of on your own. And now you're throwing it all away because of your petty feelings."

I felt a surge of determination. "I'm not going back to him," I said firmly. "I've made my decision."

My mother grabbed my arm, her grip tight and painful around me. "You will go back to him," she hissed. "You will fix this mess you've made, or so help me, you will regret it."

I wrenched my arm free. "No, I won't." Her face twisted with a nasty expression, wrath and hatred oozing from her eyes. I pushed her back, my hands shaking with adrenaline. "Please leave me alone, mom."

She glared at me, her eyes narrowing with fury. "You'll regret this," she spat before turning on her heel and storming out of my apartment. The door slammed shut behind her, and I stood there for a moment, trembling.

I plopped down on the sofa and sighed, the stress taking its toll on me. My cheeks were still throbbing from her slaps, and I could feel the sting of tears threatening to fall. I couldn't believe my own family would turn against me like this. It felt like a nightmare—one where the people who were supposed to love and support me were my enemies instead.

But I'm determined this time. I had endured so much for so long, always putting others' needs before my own. It was time to stand up for myself and my child. No more bending to their will. No more sacrificing my happiness for their approval.

Suddenly, my phone rang, startling me. I quickly wiped away my tears and answered. It was my landlord, and he sounded panicked.

"What's the matter?" I asked with a sinking feeling in my stomach.

"You need to move out of the apartment," he said abruptly.

I was shocked and abruptly stood up. "What are you talking about? Why?"

"I can't tell you more details," he replied with a panicked voice. "But you need to leave my apartment right now or I'll sue you. The man—he'll make my company bankrupt if you stay."

Man?

"Who? Ryder?" I made a guess. "You're evicting me because of him?"

"I'm sorry," he let out, and I could hear the genuine regret in his voice. "But I can't afford to lose everything. Please, just pack your things and go."

I felt the stress mounting, my chest tightening with anxiety. "This is insane," I muttered, hanging up the phone.

I cursed Ryder under my breath. He is making my life a living hell, refusing to let me go, even when I had made it clear I wanted nothing more to do with him.

I sank back down onto the sofa, feeling utterly defeated.