Reject My Alpha President (Iris and Arthur) novel Chapter 45

“Likely story,” I snort, trying to stand. But Arthur grabs my wrist and pulls me back down.

“I’m serious, Iris. I only ever loved you. I was going to tell you everything, but you ran off and I couldn’t find you, no matter how

hard I looked. I thought you took money and went and had an abortion.”

For a moment, I’m just stunned to find out the truth. I want to assume that Arthur is lying, just trying to manipulate me, but

when I look into his eyes… I see nothing but sincerity. Still, his assumptions about me hurt. I never took any money. And I never

even dreamed of having an abortion. I wanted Miles from the moment I found out I was pregnant.

I swallow hard and murmur, “Why didn’t you tell me from the beginning that you were planning on making this arrangement

with her?”

Arthur

stares at me “u”

“I was going to.”

“But not soon enough,” I reply quickly. “You should have consulted me before agreeing to it. I might have considered it back then.

if only I had been kept in the loop.”

”

He keeps staring at me, and I go on, “I only left because I was hurt. Because you broke my heart. And for what it’s worth, I left penniless. If it weren’t for Brian and Liam’s help, I would have been homeless. It’s only thanks to them that I survived, got my degree, and earned enough money to support myself and Miles.”

As I say this, though, my heart turns bitter again. I press my lips into a thin line and continue, “After five years of working my ass off just to be able to stand on my own two feet, I thought that my art career was finally taking off in a big way. But you are the

‘anonymous patron‘.”

I can’t decide if I wish he’d remained anonymous or not.

“Iris, I only wanted to be your patron to apologize,” Arthur cuts in. “It was Selina’s family who tried to shut down the gallery, and I wanted to make it up to you because I know how hard you worked. It was never meant to bribe you.”

I grit my

teeth and look away. No matter how logical his excuse seems, it still doesn’t feel like enough. He still thought his

But then Arthur adds softly, “It’s only you and Miles who hold my heart. Never Selina. Come back to me, Iris.”

For a moment, just a moment, the thought of us being together again thrills me. All I ever wanted was for us to be a happy, loving family. To be with my mate and give my son two parents who loved each other.

Shaking my head, I stand, and this time I don’t let him pull me back down even though my legs are still wobbling.

“No, Arthur,” I assert firmly. “Maybe five years ago, I would have agreed to something like this. But I’ve changed. I’ve grown up. And I won’t be the human woman who will only ever be viewed as a homewrecker. Furthermore, I won’t be content with being

loved in private while you and Selina display your affection in public, no matter how fake it is.”

Arthur looks up at me, his brow furrowing with what I can only describe as pain. But I hold my ground, knowing that I’ve made ther