Page 5 of Reaper

As that memory washes over me, I understand a bit about how Ma must have felt back then. Though, I don’t know who it was that Dad had cheated on her with. Even now that I’m thirty-three, she still won’t tell me.

Kelly knew my parents had gotten a divorce, and I never understood why she was so curious about the ‘why’ of it. I never told her the truth, including why Ma changed our last names to her maiden name, Thompson, and right now, I’m glad I never told her. Kelly would have just found some way to distort it and slice me open again with her words. Just like she’s doing now.

Movement has me shaking off my thoughts and bile threatens to rise when I see her hands caressing her little bump of a belly.

“Aiden was only with you because his father ordered him to, even though he wanted to be with me the entire time. So, we kept our romance a secret. At least until he had what he wanted. Then he’d dump your worthless ass, and he could marry me. Either way, it was always going to be me who would be giving him his children.”

I turn my glare on Aiden. “Is that true?”

At first, he doesn’t answer me, and I lower the gun until it’s pointed at his dick, and he pales even further.

“Answer me.” It’s the least he could do for leading me on like this. However, I keep that thought to myself.

His throat works as he swallows hard. “It’s true. Father told me I had to do whatever I could to get my hands on your land and property. I’m sorry. You’re nice and everything, but no, I don’t love you.”

Once again, Kelly crosses her arms over her chest, which pushes her breasts out as she smiles smugly at me. God, why can’t she fucking cover up?

“That still doesn’t explainwhymy former best friend went behind my back and started fuckingmyfiancé. Best friends don’t steal each other’s fiancé,” I seethed.

Kelly scoffs again. “Because you don’t deserve someone like Aiden. You’re a nobody and wouldn’t fit into his world, whereas I do.” She pauses as she gestures to herself, and I can’t help but agree that her slim figure and platinum blonde hair would fit better in the Cox’s world than my curvier figure and dark brown hair. “Richard and Jessica approve, and since you now found out, I’ll soon be Kelly Cox instead of having to wait for him to marry and then divorce you,” she says as she wiggles her fingers on her left hand to reveal a huge, gaudy ass diamond on her ring finger. “You like it? It was his great-grandmother’s.”

Pain slices through me again at the sight and the implication before my gaze snaps to Aiden’s.

They’ve known.

They’ve known Aiden was fucking Kelly every time I was over at their house. For every event. Every holiday. When we started planning our wedding. They’ve known.

And said nothing.

While they’ve said it before, it finally sinks in what they were trying to do and how Aiden was going to try and steal everything from me if I hadn’t discovered their affair. It feels like someone’s taken a knife and splayed me open even more.

“Was your father behind all the proposals to buy our supper club and our land over the years? All of them?”

Aiden swallows thickly and nods. “From as far back as when we were in elementary school. Your land is the perfect spot for the resort he wants to build. He won’t rest until he has it. It’s not personal, it’s business.”

Something passes through Aiden’s eyes. Not quite guilt, but something else. However, I focus on his warning and the lastpart of what he said as I raise Ol’ Faithful a little more while still pointing it at Aiden.

“Well, it was personal to me, you fucking jackass! You can tell your father that no matter what, we willneversell the supper club, the house, or any section of our land to him. Or to anyone else for that matter. Even if we had gone through with the wedding, neither you nor he would have gotten it because I would have demanded a prenup. Richard can find another fucking place to build his fucking resort because he isn’t getting my land. Now, grab your shit and get the fuck off my land before you have a few more holes in your body for trespassing on private property,” I seethe, letting them see all of my anger and fury.

Aiden at least has the decency to look even guiltier than he had before, but Kelly flashes me another of her smug smiles as she slowly gathers her things. She goes to put her dress on, but I aim the gun back at her.

“I don’t think so. You can both walk your cheating, homewrecking, naked asses out of my house. You’re lucky I’m letting you grab your shit.”

“Enjoy your life, alone, like you’ll always be,” she says to me once she’s finally gathered the rest of her shit and walks toward Aiden before wrapping an arm around his waist.

I smirk, ignoring her barb, even as it slices clean through me. “He’s already shown that he has no qualms about cheating. Be careful, otherwise you’re going to end up in a miserable marriage since the Cox family never divorces,” I pause, glaring at Aiden for this next part, “except for when they are trying to screw someone out of their land apparently. If he cheats again, just remember that you’ll be caring for your kid on your own while he’s out with other women. Who’s to say he hasn’t already been seeing other women while he was with us?”

A flicker of unease crosses her face before she quickly masks it and glances sharply at Aiden before turning back to me. “You’re just jealous because he loves me and not you. That I’m going to be Mrs. Cox while you’re sitting at home, with your mom and your grandparents. Alone. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Just like your mother, you’ll always be alone.”

I cock the gun and raise it even more. Their faces pale as they share a nervous glance.

“Get the fuck out of my house.”

Chapter 3

Lark

Theybothwalkpastme to the door, and of course, Kelly gives me one more smug look of satisfaction as she leaves. God, doesn’t she have any other expressions besides smug?