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"Oh, I’m sure you don’t," Sienna said with a carefully crafted smile. "But let’s get one thing straight—my daughter is not somerandom girl in your son’s life. She’shis partner, and that little boy you’re so concerned about? He is loved. Deeply. By my daughter, my family, by all of us."

Lenox finally spoke, his deep, commanding voice cutting through the air like a blade.

"Giovanni is family," he said. "Which means he will always be taken care of. Always be protected. And if you have a problem with that…" His eyes hardened. "Then that’s something you gon’ have to work through on your own."

Mama pressed her lips together. Sienna smiled, smug as hell.

"I don’t have time for this," my mama muttered.

"Oh, I think you do," Sienna countered. "Because as long as my daughter is in your son’s life, we will be having this conversation anytime you forget to act accordingly."

Mama exhaled sharply, her whole body tense.

"You done?" she asked, her voice clipped.

"For now," Sienna said lightly, lifting her wine glass before walking off with Lenox, her head high.

I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding. I had never seen my mama lose a battle like that. And from the way she stomped off, I knew she was pissed. But me? I was impressed. And for the first time since this whole situation started… I knew Serenity was damn sure her mother’s daughter.

I should’ve known they wouldn’t let that shit go. Not even twenty minutes after my mama walked away from Sienna and Lenox, I found myself cornered in the kitchen, staring at the two most frustrating women in my life—my mama and Gianna.

Mama had her arms crossed, her expression tight. Gianna stood beside her, lips pursed, like she was preparing to be dramatic.

"I don’t know what the hell kind of circus you invited into my house, but I’ll be damned if I let some boujee-ass folks come up in here acting like they run shit," Mama snapped.

I exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Mama, come on."

"No, you come on, Creed!" she said, voice sharp. "I invited them here as a courtesy! And what do I get in return? Disrespect! In my own damn home!"

Gianna huffed, shaking her head. "They walked in here like they own Texas. And did you see how yo bitch just sat there while her mama talked crazy to your mother? That’s the kind of woman you want in your life, around my son?"

"First of all, watch your mouth," I said, my voice low, firm. "Second, let’s not act like y’all didn’t start that shit first."

"Excuse me?" Mama scoffed, looking genuinely offended.

I rubbed my jaw, already over this conversation. "What did you expect to happen? Y’all been making it real clear from day one that you don’t like Serenity. You think her people don’t see that? You think they don’t feel that energy? Of course, they gon’ be protective of her. Just like you would be if the shoe was on the other foot." Mama pressed her lips together, but the way her eyes flickered told me she knew I was right. "And you," I turned to Gianna, my patience wearing thin. "How many times I gotta tell you that Serenity is gonna be in Gio’s life whether you like it or not?"

Gianna’s face twisted. "Creed, she’s not his mother!"

"And she ain't tryna be!" I snapped. "But Gio loves her. And she loves him. So unless she decides on her own that she don’t wanna be in his life, you don’t have a say in it."

Gianna scoffed, looking at my mama for backup.

My mama sighed deeply, shaking her head. "So, what? You choosing them over your own family now?"

I stared at her, my frustration boiling over. "First of all, Serenity is my family and second of all, Mama, don’t do that. You know damn well I love you. But y’all gotta do better. Both of y’all."

"Oh, we gotta do better?" Gianna repeated, throwing up her hands.

"Yeah," I said, my voice dead serious. "Serenity has been nothing but respectful to both of you, but you think she just gon’ sit there and take y’all’s bullshit forever? You think I’m gon’ sit here and take it? Y’all acting like she ain’t been holding her own through all this, like she ain’t had every reason to snap on y’all but still chose to be cool. But let me tell you something—" I leaned in slightly, looking them both dead in the eye. "She can only take so much. So can I."

My Mama stiffened and Gianna’s eyes widened slightly, like she was finally realizing that I wasn’t bending on this.

I exhaled, running a hand over my head. "I ain't gon' keep having this same conversation with y’all. If you got a problem with Serenity, that’s on you. But stop expecting me to pick sides, because that’s not happening."

Gianna let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. "Unbelievable."

"Believe it." I said, pushing past them, leaving them both speechless.