This Game Called Life (Kingdom Book 4)

Aviva’s words of possession galvanized Jason into retaking control of the surreal situation. Having his family’s support pleased him, but they didn’t know Farrah the way he did, she didn’t scare easily.

“Okay Farrah, your sudden appearance has done some damage but nothing irreparable. I have the divorce papers, so what the hell is going on here, who put you up to this?”

“Ah, about those papers, well you see Jason, it’s not worth the ink it took to draw it up.”

The smug look on her face had Jason reaching deep within to hold on to his anger. “What are you saying, Farrah?”

“What I’m saying, lover, is it appears that the divorce lawyer you used didn’t have a license when he took your money. Well, you can imagine my surprise when I found that out. The great Jason King, excuse me, Jason Kingdom, left a stone unturned. I know you, Jason, so why don’t I wait until you go check.” Strolling calmly over to one of the big sofas, Farrah took a seat and crossed her long shapely legs. “How about a drink, boys?”

Without comment, Jason looked over at Aviva, and the expression of hurt in her eyes twisted his gut. Stretching out a hand, he silently willed her to take it. By the fleeting look that passed across her face, he knew she wanted nothing more than to slap it away, but, she didn’t. Instead, she slipped her much smaller hand into his own.

Farrah, who was still without a drink, looked over at them with an outward show of amusement. “Such wifely devotion. It’s a shame she isn’t... your wife I mean.”

Neither Jason nor Aviva reacted to her jibe as they left. Yes, he wanted to check on the lawyer, but more importantly, he wanted a chance to explain why he had never mentioned his first marriage.

**********

Aviva felt as though she had been trampled by a herd of stampeding cattle. From the moment Farrah made her announcement; a buzz had started inside her head that grew in intensity by the minute. When she fully comprehended the other woman’s meaning, she thought she would pass out.

That Jason believed he was divorced was apparent. That he omitted to tell her that he had been married before, was what hurt her more than she could have imagined.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Aviva attempted to pull her hand out of Jason’s grasp. She didn’t want him to touch her. As far as she was concerned he was a deceitful bastard who had just humiliated her before his family and a stranger whom she hadn’t even known existed.

Unable to extricate herself from his grip, she thought about putting up a fight to get her way. Although the thought crossed her mind, she didn’t act on the childish impulse and allowed him to lead her away.

Now inside, Jake’s office, she again attempted to tug her hand away. Jason didn’t let go. Instead, he reeled her into him until she was flush against his hard chest and wrapped his arms around her.

Turning her face away, Aviva refused to look at him.

“I love you, my angel, you know that, right? You know that I would never deliberately do anything that would cause you pain. Please tell me you know that.” Jason pleaded.

Aviva didn’t struggle, nor did she respond to his passionate plea as silent tears ran unchecked down her cheeks.

Holding her slightly away from his body, Jason looked at her. Aviva knew how he would react at the sight of her tears, and she didn’t care.

“Oh God, Angel. Don’t cry, please don’t cry. I’m sorry you had to find out this way. I should have told you about Farrah. I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

“Please let me go,” Aviva whispered through her tears.

“I’m sorry, Angel, but you know I’ll never do that.”

“Jason, get your hands off me!” Aviva demanded her anger on the rise.

Without hesitation, Jason responded to her demand for release. “No! Not until you let me explain.”

His comeback was so typical of Jason; Aviva knew if she wanted to put some distance between them, she wouldn’t achieve her goal by making demands. Swallowing back her anger she tried again.

“I’ll hear you out. I just need some space to process what just happened.” Looking up at him for the first time since they entered the office, Aviva imbued her eyes with as much assurance as she could.

With a nod, Jason released her, but his big body remained between her and the door.

Certain that he tracked her every step, Aviva slowly made her way to a chair and sat down. “I’m listening.”

**********

The dispassion of those two words worried Jason much more than her anger ever could. Her anger at least meant she was feeling some form of emotion.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that I had been married before.”

“You said that already.”

“I’ll keep saying it until you believe me, Aviva. I know you need to know why, I didn’t mention it.” Jason paused, expecting a reaction, but received only a blank stare. “I didn’t mention it because I didn’t think it was important. My marriage to Farrah happened long ago, and lasted for such a short time, I felt it was of no consequence.”

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