Page 59

SERENITY

I should be in newlywed bliss right now. I should be wrapped up in my husband, beneath him, above him, just with him. I should be soaking in every bit of our new life together, but instead, I was pissed.

And avoiding Creed.

Every time I thought about him paying for Gianna’s lawyer without talking to me first, I got mad all over again. I understood that he was doing what he thought was best for Gio, but the principle of it? Nah. That shit didn’t sit right with me.

I’d been giving him the cold shoulder for days now, and it annoyed me that it was bothering me more than it was bothering him. So, I did what I always did when I needed to cool off and get my mind right—I went to see Arielle.

Every time I stepped into Bradshaw Law we treated our people like they were our family so a lot of them stuck around with us.

“Serenity, I haven’t seen you in forever.” Ms. Brenda, my uncle’s long term Paralegal said stepping from behind her desk and hugging me. “Congratulations to you.”

“Thank you, Ms. Brenda.” I replied. “Is Ari in her office?”

“Yeah she back there. You want me to tell her you’re here?”

“Nah, I got it. Thank you.” I replied.

“Stop by and say hi before you leave Baby.”

“Yes ma’am, I sure will.” I told her continuing on my journey towards the attorneys offices.

When I got to Arielle’s office, I knocked a couple of time before inviting myself in. As I walked in, she looked up from her computer.”

“Hey Toot.” She smiled standing up and meeting me halfway. We hugged each other, tight before walking back to the desk and sitting down. "You look like you wanna fight, and I haven’t even asked what’s wrong yet."

I rolled my eyes as I sat down across from Arielle’s desk. "I don’t wanna fight. I just wanna sign my damn post-nup and go."

Ari arched a brow. "You that mad at Creed?"

"I’m not talking to him," I muttered, crossing my arms as I leaned back in my seat.

Ari scoffed. "Newlywed bliss lasted all of three weeks?"

"He’s an idiot."

"And?"

I cut my eyes at her before exhaling sharply. "He’s helping Gianna get a lawyer.”

Ari paused, glancing side to side, then shrugged. "Okay…?"

I sat up straight, glaring at her. "Okay? That’s all you got? He never fucking talked to me about it. Just did it, like it wasn’t a big deal."

Arielle sighed, placing her pen down on the desk. "Serenity, I get why you’re upset. He should’ve talked to you first, I agree with that. But you know how he is about Gio. He’s doing what he thinks is best for his son. This is not worth you icing him out."

I huffed, slumping back into my seat. "It’s just… I feel like he’s always doing some stupid shit when it comes to Gianna."

Ari smirked. "And you don’t do stupid shit when it comes to him?"

I narrowed my eyes, ignoring that statement. "Anyway, let’s sign these damn papers so I can get out of here. My daddy called me earlier talking about some damn family meeting or something."

Ari handed me the folder. "Standard agreement—if anything happens, y’all both leave with what you came with, community property is split evenly. No surprises."

I flipped through the pages, feeling a little bitter as I signed my name. Post-nups. Prenups. Shit like this made it feel like a time stamp was on the marriage.

"You okay?" Ari asked.

“I’m good.” I glanced up and noticed she looked a little off—her skin was paler than usual, and there was a subtle sheen of sweat on her forehead. "You look sick," I noted. "Are you good?"

Ari exhaled deeply. "You can’t tell anybody Tootie, not even Creed.

“I’m not even talkin to that nigga, I ain’t tellin him shit.”

“I’m pregnant."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

She gave me a small smile. "I just found out a few days ago. You’re literally the first person I’m telling."

I gasped, grinning instantly. "Ari! Oh my God!" She laughed as I ran around the desk to hug her tightly. "You’re gonna be a mama again!"

"Yeah, yeah, just keep it between us for now, okay?"

I pulled back, smirking. "You’re not even showing yet. I got at least three more months before I can start sending ‘Favorite Auntie’ onesies to the house.”

Ari laughed, shaking her head. "Let me break the news to Brodie first, okay?"

I sighed dramatically. "Fine."

After having a late lunch with Arielle after our meeting, I ended up sitting in the pickup line for the kids. Giovanni was the first to come out jumping into the car so we could wait for his sister.

“Hi Mama Ren.”

“Hi baby. Did you have a good day?”

“Yes. I had a green star day today.”

“Good job baby, I gotta stop at Glammy Si and Papa Lenox’s house, but afterwards we’ll get you a snack okay?”

“My mommy used to stop and get me snacks all the time.” He replied and as I looked into the rearview mirror, I could see a sadness in his eyes. “I miss my mommy, Mama Ren.”

“I know you do baby.” I replied feeling bad about being so mad.

I knew Gio missed his mom, knew he needed to see her as much as she probably wanted to see him.

I couldn’t stand Gianna, but I couldn’t imagine what she was dealing with sitting behind bars unable to access her child as easily as she was used to.

Even when he would be in Phoenix, Gianna was just a phone call away.

Before we could continue our conversation, Cree hopped into the car, throwing her backpack on the floor in front of her seat.

“Hi Mommy.”

“Hi, my beautiful girl. Did you have a good day?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Good… Gio, help Sissy with her seatbelt, okay?”

“Okay.”

The entire drive I thought about Gio and his situation with his mom. If I were in Gianna’s situation, I would want Creed to help me too and I get why he did it; for his son’s sake. I loved Giovanni enough to want the best for him, so I got it.

By the time I pulled up to my parents' estate, I was still reeling from Ari’s news, but I had no clue that I was about to get hit with something that would shake my entire world.

As I parked, Sevyn pulled up at the same time. When the kids and I got out, they immediately went to their uncle.

“Uncle Sevy.” The kids screamed hugging him and he hugged them back before turning to me.

"You know what this is about?"

I shook my head. "No clue."

When we walked inside, I immediately felt something was off. My mother’s eyes were red, glossy from fresh tears, and my father looked tense as hell. Before I could ask what was going on, my father turned to Marlena, our house manager.

"Can you take the kids into the kitchen? Let them get a snack?" That was my first red flag. We sat down in the family room, and after an agonizing silence, my father spoke. "Your mother and I… have decided to get a divorce."

The room got quiet, confused on what the hell was happening. I thought it was a joke, but why else would my mama be crying. I felt my heart drop.

"What?" I whispered.

Sevyn leaned forward, jaw clenched. "What you mean a divorce? What the fuck is going on?"

My mother just shook her head, fresh tears slipping down her face. Her tears weren’t guilty tears, they were hurt tears.

I turned to my father, my stomach twisting. "Daddy… why is she crying?"

“Listen… I fucked up.”

“Fucked up how?” Sevyn asked too calmly. As if based on my daddy’s answer was going to determine his next move.

He was silent, struggling to answer as his mouth opened and closed.

“Did you have an affair?” I asked, barely above a whisper. There was more silence and that told me exactly what I needed to know. “Wow.”

Sevyn stood up so fast that his chair tipped over. "Bro, what the fuck?—"

"Sevyn!" My mother grabbed his arm, stopping him before he could swing.

My father exhaled deeply, running a hand down his face. "That’s not all…" I stared at him, dreading whatever came next.

"I have another son. He’s eight years old. I didn’t know about him until recently. That’s how all of this came out."

I swear, I blacked out for a second. Sevyn on the other hand, did not. My brother lunged at him, and if it weren’t for me and my mother throwing ourselves in between them, he would’ve tried to beat our daddy’s ass. My daddy didn’t even try to fight back, proving his guilt.

I continued to hold Sevyn back as best as I could while he pointed his finger in our dad’s direction.

“You ain’t shit for doing something like this to her.

She ain’t have to be there for me, she didn’t have to love me like she did.

I ain’t even her fuckin kid, but she loved you enough to love me.

You don’t do shit like that to the woman you love, to the one who loves you enough to make those sacrifices. ”

“I fucked up and I ruined my marriage Sev, you think I’m proud of this? You don’t get to lecture me on that woman because you don’t know everything about what happened.”

“That ain’t no fuckin excuse.” Sevyn replied before he pulled away from me roughly, shaking his head in disgust and then storming out.

“Tootie…” My father tried to touch my arm, but I jerked away from him. “I’m sorry baby.”

I shook my head before I turned to my mother, hugging her tightly. "I’m so sorry, Mommy."

She shook her head, her voice thick with emotion. "I’ll be okay, baby."

“Call me if you need me.” I replied kissing her cheek. I didn’t give my father a second glance before I left, grabbing my kids and getting the hell out of there.

I loved my father more than anything, I was a daddy’s girl through and through; but this was unforgivable, especially after everything I went through with Creed. I knew that pain and I wouldn’t have wished that pain—the pain of the love of your life betraying you—I wouldn’t wish that on nobody.

By the time I got home, I felt empty.

I managed to get the kids settled and fed before heading straight to my bedroom. Once Ms. June took over, I broke the fuck down.

Tears fell relentlessly as I curled up on my bed, sobbing into my pillow. When I finally calmed down, I grabbed my stash, rolled up a blunt, and stepped out onto the balcony. The first inhale soothed my nerves, but it didn’t do shit for my heart.

I wasn’t even aware that Creed was home until I heard the balcony door slide open behind me.

"Serenity?" His voice was soft, concerned. He knew I didn’t smoke unless I had some shit on my mind. I didn’t answer.

Just took another slow inhale. Creed stepped closer; his brows drawn together. "What’s wrong?"

I let out a dry, humorless chuckle.

"Niggas ain’t shit. That’s what."

Then, I ashed my blunt, walked past him, and went inside.