**Barely Edited**

Charlotte's Pov

            Something was said and because I was so furious and barely able to hold on to what little calm I still had while James was still standing in front of me, I could have sworn that maybe I didn't actually hear what had come out of his mouth correctly. So, with a raise of an eyebrow, I cocked my head slightly to the side and asked,

           "What?"

         "I said, no." And so he replied. I could have laughed if I wasn't so goddamn furious. And the more I had him standing in front of me, the more irritated I was becoming. I did a good job keeping my composure throughout the whole night even though it was killing me inside. What he did was killing me inside and I couldn't hold it in anymore, but I was scared that if he didn't leave, if he didn't leave me alone, I would end up saying something irreparable, something I would never again be able to take back. So I held it in.

         "Excuse me?"

        He made a move as to approach me. The glare I sent his way was more than enough warning for him from me. Had he dared come any closer than he already was, he would have lost an eye.

         "We need to talk. You can't just send me away without giving me the chance to explain things to you." He said and there, without warning, a laugh escaped my lips.

         The fucking audacity this man had. I mean, the actual audacity.

         "Oh, I'm sorry. Now you want to talk? That's rich. What happened to your goddamn words for the past four months when it was needed? When it mattered? I told you not to lie to me ever again_"

         "And I didn't. I was going to tell you, Charlotte." He replied, cutting me off. I listened. "As soon as I was certain that she was mine. I didn't want another Jemma situation in hand. As soon as the DNA test was done, I was going to tell you. Then things started happening left and right and we found out you were pregnant and my mother got into some trouble. It all came crashing down." He was explaining but this made me even more furious. None of those things were reasons enough to hide something as big as this from me.

        "Oh, fuck you, Darcy. Fuck you very much and fuck off with your meaningless excuses as to why you couldn't simply come to me with this, especially after the shit that happened with Jemma. You promised_" Then just like that, my voice broke and I hated myself for that. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't. He didn't deserve my tears. Not now. Not right now.

          I stopped for a second, my eyes closed as to not let my tears fall and betray me. A deep breath, and another. A head shake as I heard my name being softly spoken. I looked up and found him kneeling in front of me, just like earlier in the evening.

         "Baby, please. Please, I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry. Charlotte, I don't know what I was thinking. I'm a stupid man and I know that and I'm working on that, you know I am. I'm working on being better so please don't put me out. Please I need you more than ever." He spoke, his voice stuttering as he said the words. I could do nothing but to let him as his head came to rest on my lap. I shook my head. It was too late for the begging. I didn't care for them now. He betrayed me when I told him clearly that I would never take that from him again. I fucking warned him and what did he do the first chance he got, did the exact thing I warned him against. How the fuck was this justifiable?

         I lifted his head off my lap so that his eyes could meet mine, so that he could understand the enormity of his actions. All actions had consequences and sooner or later, we all had to face up to them. His time was up, it fucking sucked that other people...innocent people would suffer just as much and to a point, I even hated him for that.

          "I want you to grab the bag and I want you to please leave the house." I told him. I didn't need to say much more. I didn't think I could say much more. My throat was burning from the howl that threatened to escape. I was in pain. My heart was bleeding. I was angry and fucking hormonal.

          "Charlotte_" He started and so I got up, knowing that he would do the same. I walked over to the bag I had thrown at him earlier and extended it towards him. I had packed a few essentials for him just because. In fact, it wasn't needed. He had all the money he could possibly dream of, he could walk out and buy himself a whole new life if he wanted to. His needs weren't what I thought about when I was packing the bag. I was doing it for myself, a form of therapy. To give me the sense that I still had a say and what I wanted and needed mattered in this life we made together.

        "Leave or I swear I'll be the one leaving this house. I will take Bastian and be gone and you'll never see us again. Neither he, I...or the baby." I said and had a fleeting second to think that maybe this was a little harsh.

         "You wouldn't." He replied which sent a burst of furry into me so Intense that I threw the bag at him again and yelled out louder than I had intended it to be, mindful of Bastian.

        "GET THE FUCK OUT!"

          My nose was flaring, my heart beating hysterical fast, my eyes wild and full of anger. I was more than besides myself and all I wanted was for him to leave so that I could be alone and finally fall apart by myself.

           We stood there for what felt like an eternity. And when I thought he wouldn't move and that I would have to make good on my promise to leave instead, already thinking of where I had last seen the keys to the condo he had purchased for me for my birthday a few years ago, he bent down and grabbed the bag. Then he started approaching me. And, as if on reflex, took a step back. He sighed, standing so close to me that I could smell him and he smelled fucking great. He always smelled amazing to me and I hated myself for even having those thoughts when I was basically kicking him out.

          "I've never meant for this to get out of hand and I'm so fucking sorry that it did." He spoke softly but I heard him just as well. I shrugged as if I couldn't care less, knowing full well that I was purposely avoiding looking at him.

          "Please leave." I whispered back, my voice betraying what I had tried so hard to hide. Yet again I felt the tears forming and this time I couldn't stop them. And as a single tear fell on my cheek, he leaned toward me and place a kiss on my temple before whispering,

          "I love you."

          Then he was gone and finally I could breathe again. I stood there for God knew how long. Lost, just lost in thoughts and pain, and anger and....Nothing. There was an emptiness that was already taking form inside of me. Because, as anger, frustration, and sadness fought a battle to see who of the three would take over my being, all I was left with was nothing.

         Then, knowing that I couldn't stay on my feet for any longer, I walked out of my bedroom and into Bastian's room and laid next to him as he slept peacefully, unaware of the shit-storm that had taken place between his parents.

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Charlotte is just so freaking fed up at this point and honestly, I don't blame her. Why the hell are men so infuriating.

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😚😊 until then....