Rejected Mate's Redemption (Freda and James)

Chapter 38 FRIEDA WHITLOCK

I was glad that Kaiden said nothing more to stop me as I walked away. If he did, I'm afraid I would have given in to his demand of having claims over Francisco. I had seen as he stared at him with tenderness. The longing in his eyes to do more than rub his hair was glaring on his features. I needed no soothsayer to tell me that Kaiden loved Francisco.

However, he had a family already. Harper was always so ecstatic when she spoke about her father to Fransisco. I recalled how she kept bragging about him during Cisco's birthday party. Kaiden was her superhero. I could imagine how much it would be for her to know that her dad would be someone else's too, someone who wasn't her mom. This was so tough to even imagine.

Tears welled in my eyes as I thought about it. Igniting the engine, I dared not to look back even though I felt his stare piercing through the window to my face. Roughly, I drove out of the premises and my tears finally fell freely.

I was not being fair to Cisco. He deserved a father's love like every child out there with their parents but I couldn't give him that and this is because of how messed up everything had become. Kaiden wasn't giving up and it was evident from how he spoke earlier.

My mind was in turmoil. It was a miracle that I arrived home safely with how much tears had blinded my sight. As I pulled

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over in the driveway, I caught sight of a familiar figure standing outside the building. It was Safiya. She stood with her arms folded and had an unfriendly look on her face. Whatever it was, she didn't seem happy to be here. My breath hitched for a

moment when her eyes fell on the car and my heart sank to the bottom of my stomach.

Why was I reacting this way? I did nothing wrong. Becoming wary of her stare, I quickly wiped my face and made sure I looked natural before hopping out of the car.

I didn't hurry to go meet her, I took my time getting my things from the car before walking toward the front door where she was standing.

As I walked toward her, I noticed the look of conviction in her eyes as she stared at me. It was evident she hated me but I was wowed by the fact that she didn't hide it every time we were to face each other. Maybe it was a good thing. At least I knew her feelings towards me. What I didn't know were her intentions but judging from several events that had taken place in the past, I didn't think I had a shot of getting a dose of good thoughts from her.

"Safiya” I acknowledged when I was before her, when she said nothing, I gazed around.

"Why didn't you go in? Aren't you here to see Dad?" I asked with concern but all she did was stare at me with disgust. I had seen from her expression earlier that she wasn't here for nice talks and this proved it. Why was she here if not for Dad then?

"Why are you acting like you actually care about what I do or feel when you clearly don't" She said, a scowl forming on her face as her eyes squinted at me. 26361

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What did she know?

My heart s**d a beat and sweat broke out on my forehead.

"Safiya, stop talking in riddles and state what your problem is, or just leave. I have better things to do" I stated, almost giving my restlessness away. What if Kaiden made mention of Fransisco being his son to her?

My heart thumped out of fear, so much that I feared she could hear it.

"Stay away from Kaiden, Freda. He's mine. You better pay heed to my words before it's too late" She spat with disdain, glaring daggers at me. Her hateful look was like a knife tearing through my chest as I recalled when everything used to be neutral between us. We didn't hate each other but also weren't two peas in a pod. Just neutral. But now... Things were different. Safiya had changed and so did I. Even though that was the case, I was somewhat relieved to know that she had no idea about Francisco's relationship with Kaiden. For some reason, she not know seemed to be the best option for everyone. "How do you feel, lurking over a man with a wife, kid, and another on the way? Ever since you came back, you've been doing all you can to separate him from me, when did you become so cheap?" She continued, raising her perfectly carved brows my way.

Anger surged through my chest and I scoffed. How dare she call me cheap? Between me and her, we both knew who the cheap one was. I should have known this was the reason why she would be here in the first place to claim her husband. The

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same man I rejected and had no business with.

I had Francisco and he was enough. We didn't need Kaiden in our lives. Staring at how serious and desperate she looked, I wondered what attitude Kaiden might've displayed before her that made her feel I wanted him.

However, whatever it was, I didn't care. Right now, I wanted her ugly face out of my sight.

"Safiya, still dumb as usual," I smirked at how wide her eyes went at my remark, she gasped, seething silently while I continued, "Instead of putting the blame of your husband's actions on me, you should warn him and ask him to stay the f**k away from me! I don't want him back. I never will!"

With that, I walked past her, our shoulders brushing gently but she s**d a bit and that was not my problem. She had it coming.