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Bria didn’t know what to make of her mood at the moment.

Her nerves had been overactive ever since she woke up that morning.

Between the nausea, vomiting sessions, and overloading thoughts, Bria couldn’t gauge how her family would take her pregnancy announcement.

After leaving Isla Mujeres, Lo and Bria came home where she slept for most of the day.

Due to her demanding schedule in New York and her quest to Lo, she was beyond exhausted.

After waking up at six in the morning, she sent a group text to her family asking them if they could meet at her parents’ house.

Walking inside the home she used to live in was still nostalgic.

A part of her missed being there with her mother, who was always doing something in the house.

Her father would then come home after a long day of running the streets and they’d have long talks out by the pool.

It gave her small joy knowing she had a little one on the way that she could make memories with as well.

“Well, hello,” her mother greeted, standing over the stove. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”

Bria gave her mother a hug. Other than Lo, her arms felt like the safest place on earth.

“I missed you, Mama,” Bria playfully whined.

“Oh, and I’ve missed you, too.” Cecilia planted a kiss on her forehead. “How are you? You asked us to meet, and I can’t help but feel like you're in trouble.”

“No, I’m okay. I just wanted to talk to you guys about something. Where is everybody else?”

“They're in the dining room. Go ‘head and see them. Breakfast will be done in a bit.”

Bria strolled down the hall to the dining room where Cali, Enya, and Douglas sat. He was at his usual spot, which was the head of the table.

“Hey, y’all.”

“Well, if it isn’t Casper,” Cali snarled playfully. “You sprain your wrist and dipped out of town on us, Bria. You don't like us no more?”

Bria chuckled, bending down to hug her. “Cali, why do you always gotta be dramatic?”

“Because it’s in my nature. I heard you were in New York doing big things, my girl.”

Bria walked around the table to give her father a hug. She opted out of showing affection to Enya since she was still bothered about her telling her business.

“How are you, Daddy?”

“I’m doing well.” He grinned at her. “It’s nice to have you guys here with me. I didn’t realize how much I miss you girls living here.”

Enya scoffed. “Oh, please. You were the main one saying you couldn’t wait until we moved out so you and Mama can walk around the house naked.”

Cali gagged. “Enya, please. We’re about to eat. I don't need that visual in my head.”

“Cali, don't get slapped,” Cecilia warned, walking in with a plate of eggs.

Bria snickered as she sat next to Cali. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast, and hash browns were on the table along with orange juice.

The aroma of the food immediately made her nauseous.

Bria couldn’t wait to go to her first prenatal appointment so the doctor could tell her how to get rid of her symptoms.

“Let’s pray,” Cecilia suggested, grabbing Douglas’ hand and Cali’s.

They all bowed their heads.

“Lord, we thank you for the day. We also thank you for this meal. Please allow it to nourish our bodies. In Jesus’ name amen.”

“Amen,” they all spoke in unison.

Everyone piled food on their plate except for Bria. She opted for a piece of toast to nibble on.

“So, Bria, how was New York?” Cecilia quizzed, forking her eggs.

“It was good. I met a lot of nice people and teaching really inspired me. I think I want to open a dance studio down here.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Cecilia said, “you’ll have so many young girls running to be taught by you, Bria.”

“How did the Nike campaign go? Were you able to be comfortable since your wrist was sprained?” Cali asked.

“It was cool. Not too bad. I’m so thankful that the sprain was only mild because I was able to heal faster.”

Douglas nodded. “Me too. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something. Your marriage has been on my mind heavily. So, I was thinking of a way for you to be free. I think if we come up with a plan, you can get a divorce.”

Her brows furrowed immediately. “What do you mean get a divorce? I’m already locked in, Dad.”

“I know, and I feel horrible for putting you in this position. I knew Lo wasn’t the man for you when we first made plans.

He has a horrible reputation in the streets, and I just didn’t see him fit to be your husband.

I owe you an apology for not choosing a better mate, and I feel obligated to help you out of it. ”

“Yeah, the way he was acting at the hospital didn’t sit well with me at all. I can see him abusing you in the future,” Enya stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

Bria gasped at her statement. “Excuse me? Why would you say that?”

“Because he’s a wild card. I look in his eyes and see nothing but crazy. He’s going to abuse you if you don't walk away.”

Douglas pointed his fork at Enya. “You see, that’s the angle we can use. I’ll go to Devyn and explain to him that Lo is abusive. Bria will confirm and a divorce will be granted.”

Bria couldn’t believe how casually he had stated that lie. Lo had been many things. Deranged at times, stubborn and a loose cannon, but he had never put his hands on her.

“Wait a minute,” Cecilia intervened. “I hope y’all aren’t talking about lying on him. That would be ridiculous.”

“No one’s lying. He made Bria sit and watch him torture Dough,” Enya revealed.

“Enya!” Cali chastised her. “What the fuck?”

“He did what?” Douglas’ voice boomed.

“You bitch! This is why I don't fuck with you now ‘cause you run your got damn mouth too much!” Bria bellowed.

“What the hell did he do?” Douglas asked again with even more bass in his tone.

Bria was tired of hiding her sins. She’d played the good girl role long enough and was ready to shed that image and live life like she wanted.

“Yeah, he tortured Dough because I cheated on Lo. There you have it. I did something really fucked up.”

“Bria,” Cecilia groaned in a disapproving tone. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I was unfulfilled. Oh, and Lo was not my first lover. I gave my virginity to Dough, too.”

Douglas sat back in his seat, staring at her with eyes so cold they caused chills to surface on her skin.

“So, you lied about saving yourself for marriage?”

“I did,” she responded with so much arrogance.

“Bria, what has gotten into you? You cheated on your husband, and you gave your virginity up before marriage. Why not be honest?” Cecilia interrogated her.

“Y’all gotta stop acting like y’all have never done anything wrong in life,” Cali spat. “This is the real world. People change their minds about things. There’s no need to beat Bria up for it.”

“She lied to me!” Douglas yelled. “She was supposed to save herself for marriage. I can’t believe you didn’t keep your promise to me, Bria. I’m so disappointed in you.”

“Who cares?” she snapped. “You ain't got no room to be casting disappointment over anyone when you're in The Mob. Miss me with your judgements.”

“You need to watch your mouth,” Enya shot.

Bria angled her head. “Oh, Dad, you know I’m not the only one who didn’t save myself for marriage. Did you know Enya was having sex with your right-hand man when she was underage?”

“Oh, my God,” Cali whispered before covering her mouth with her hand.

“Excuse me?” Cecilia sneered.

Enya’s mouth gaped as her gaze bounced from Douglas to Cecilia.

Bria had kept her sister’s secret for years, promising not to tell a soul.

Somehow, Enya had forgotten how she used to get down before she got married.

She was sneaky, conniving, and had an illicit affair with someone who was ten years her senior.

Normally, she would never disrespect the sister code, but Bria was tired of Enya running her mouth when she had so many bones inside her closet.

“Who the fuck was it, Enya? Was it Tommy? Huh?”

The sprinklers had activated in Enya’s eyes as they seared into Bria. “You're a fucking bitch!”

She winked at her. “Now, I have company in the room of shame. Stop running your mouth about my business now.”

“Who was it!” Douglas shouted, rising from his seat.

“Dad, please,” Enya cried.

“Please my ass.” He turned to Bria. “Who was it?”

She stared at her father, refusing to answer the question he was dying to know. She couldn’t get over his ploy to pin domestic violence on Lo when he had never physically harmed her.

“Got damn it, if you don't answer me, I’m going to slap the shit out of you, Bria.”

She gawked in disbelief. In her thirty-two years of living, Douglas had never threatened to lay a finger on her.

He was the fun parent. The dad who shared inappropriate jokes and let the kids stay up past their bedtime.

Before her marriage, Douglas had been her safe haven for when she needed comfort from the world.

At this moment, she didn’t recognize her father.

“Douglas, now wait a minute,” Cecilia interrupted. “I know you're upset but you're crossing the line.”

“Bria is the one who crossed the line,” Enya defended their father. “Now she wants to get all quiet.”

“I don't give a damn about what you're talking about. Bria, you got some fucking explaining to do and if you don't tell me what I want to hear, I’m going to slap it out of you.”

Bria scoffed as she rose from her seat. This meeting had gone to shit all in a matter of ten minutes. What was supposed to be a pregnancy announcement had turned into a verbal brawling.

“If you touch me, you're going to regret it.”

Douglas’ head reared back as amusement settled on his features. “Oh, yeah? What you gon’ do, huh? Tell me what the fuck you think you can do to me?”

She shook her head. “You know what? I’m leaving. I didn’t come here to get judged and threatened.”

“Yeah, you get your ass out of here and come back when you know how to act!” he yelled.

“Daddy, you trippin’,” Cali chastised him as Bria headed out the room.