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She checked her makeup and hair in the rearview mirror, noticing the smudge of eyeliner under her eye. She took her pinky and wiped it away quickly. She reapplied her lip gloss and looked in the mirror and frowned. Self-doubt was creeping in. She looked away.

Ivy took her time crossing the street, her mind racing with thoughts of the date. The schoolyard was bustling with children, parents chatting in small groups, and the sound of laughter and playful banter filled the air. Alice spotted her and ran into her arms like she had done since the first day of school, her pigtails bouncing. "Mommy!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "Guess what I learned in class today!"

"What's that, sweetheart?" Ivy asked, sweetly as she took her daughters hand and started walking.

“Miss Jenkins taught us about butterflies. Did you know they start as caterpillars?" she said excitedly.

Ivy chuckled. "I did. They're amazing, aren't they?" She tried to keep her thoughts from wandering back to the bookstore encounter.

"Miss Jenkins said that when they come out of their cocoons, they're all wrinkly, but then they let their wings dry out and then fly away," Alice said, her eyes sparkling with wonder. "It's like magic!"

Ivy nodded, smiling down at her daughter. "It is, indeed. Just like in you're favorite storybook." She ruffled Alice's hair gently, pushing aside thoughts of the man with the piercing blue eyes. "How was the rest of you're day?"

"Good except Zane kept stepping on my shoe when we were standing in line," Alice pouted, her tiny brows furrowed. "But I told him to stop, and he did."

Ivy felt a twinge of pride at her daughter's growing assertiveness. "That's great, Alice. You handled it perfectly."

They walked into the house, and as they did, Alice squealed with excitement, "Daddy!" Ivy's stomach dropped. James was lounging on the couch, his boots propped up on the coffee table. She'd given him a key for emergencies, not to just pop in whenever he felt like it.

The moment she saw James, a familiar knot formed in her stomach. She remembered the countless times he had shown up unannounced, each time promising to be better. But where had that led them? Sheforced her attention back to the present, reminding herself that she was stronger now.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice tight with annoyance.

James looked up, his eyes darting to the coffee in her hand and then back to her face. "Just passing by and thought I'd check in on my favorite girls," he said, his tone nonchalant.

Ivy's smile stiffened. Alice is fine. You didn't need to stop by you could have just called."

"Ivy, come on," James said, his voice taking on a cajoling tone. "We need to talk. It's been ages since we had a real conversation."

"Alice, honey, go to you're room for a bit, okay?" Ivy asked gently, her eyes pleading. She didn't want Alice to get caught in the middle of their tension. Alice looked between the two adults, pouting her lip out slightly, but she did as she was told, dragging her backpack with her.

As soon as Alice's bedroom door clicked shut, Ivy turned to James, her voice firm. "You know exactly why it's been like that. This one's name was Sarah, right?" She didn't bother hiding the sarcasm in her tone. James had a string of failed relationships with his side pieces.

James sat up, his expression one of surprise and irritation. "Look, Ivy, I've made mistakes. A lot of them." He paused, searching for the right words. "But I've changed. I want to make it right."

The words hung in the air like a fog she'd heard a dozen times before. She studied him, looking for any signs of sincerity, any cracks in the façade she'd grown so accustomed to. But his eyes remained steadfast, a hint of hope flickering within them. "James, you can’t make but one mistake," she said, her voice laced with skepticism. “After that it’s a choice."

James patted the couch cushion again, his eyes never leaving hers. "Ivy," he said, his voice dropping to a low, intimate whisper, "Come here gal."

Ivy rolled her eyes, the gesture a familiar defense mechanism against his charm. She knew all his moves, his smooth talk, and his sweet-talking. But she was done with it.

"I've got a lot of stuff I've got to do, James," she said firmly, her voice unwavering. She placed her coffee on the counter and folded her arms across her chest, her eyes never leaving his. She had a date to think about, a book to read, and a life to live without his drama.

James stood up, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What's gotten into you, Ivy?" he snapped. "You used to be so sweet, so loving."

"Are you serious right now? What has gotten in to me? More like what or who you've gotten into." She said venom dripping from her words.

James's jaw clenched, his features contorting into something less charming. "You're still hung up on that?" Ivy's eyes flashed. "No, James, I am not 'hung up'. I am over it. I've moved on." She lied. "Moved on?" hesneered. "With whom?" he asked, his eyes narrowed, and he furrowed his brows.

Ivy felt a sudden surge of anger. "It's none of you're business," she said, her voice as sharp as a tack. "I've given you more chances than you deserve. Go get some pussy from one of you're whores."

James took a step closer, his height looming over her. "I'm not letting you go that easily, Ivy," he growled. Ivy's eyes narrowed, and she stepped back, her heart racing. "What's that supposed to mean?"

James leaned in closer, his breath hot against her face. "You're mine," he whispered, his eyes darkening. "I'm not done with you yet, whenever I get tired of you, that's when I'll let you go. And until then if I can't have you, nobody else will either." Ivy felt a chill run down her spine, but she held her ground. "That's not you're decision to make, James." She stepped back, her heart hammering in her chest. "You had you're chance. You threw it away with you're physical and mental abuse, the constant cheating, you're disrespect and you're lies."

But James didn’t back down. Before she knew what was happening, he had her pinned against the wall, his hand wrapping around her throat, squeezing not enough to cut off her air but to assert his dominance. Ivy's eyes went wide with fear; her heart pounded like a drum. She felt a sudden surge of rage.

"I'm the man in this relationship, I lead, you follow," James snarled, his eyes blazing with a possessiveness that sent a cold shiver down Ivy's spine."It's that simple, you're mine and I'll have what's mine whenever I want!" His grip tightened, cutting off her air supply, and she could see the veins in his arm bulge, and she could feel his other hand trying to unbutton her pants.