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I giggled at Jules’ message because he always found a way to make me laugh. He’d done nothing to make me angry at him, but he’d done nothing to help me out of this situation either. As I was about to put my phone up, an incoming message flashed that caused my heart to flutter.

Jordan:

I haven’t spoken to you in a while and wanted to make sure you’re okay. Let me know you’re good. By the way, congrats on the engagement.

Seeing his text brought tears to my eyes.

Out of all the changes I’ve gone through lately, the budding friendship with him is what I missed the most. Between his attitude and Chan’s possessiveness, I figured it was best to leave well enough alone and keep Jordan at a distance.

Instead of responding to his text, I gathered myself and went in search of my so-called man.

“There you are.” He bumped into me once I rounded the corner. “Something has come up, so I’m going to get you home. You don’t mind ending the night early, do you?”

I placed my hand in his and allowed him to lead me back through the ballroom without responding.

I wasn’t in the mood for a snarky comment or a slick reply if I pushed for more information about the “something” that had come up.

As we glided through the crowd, I felt eyes on me.

Glancing over my shoulder, I locked eyes with Angelina.

The barely-there smirk on her face let me know what the business was that Chandler suddenly had to handle.

As we waited for the valet to bring the car around, I didn’t have it in me to care.

This is the life that was laid out for me, and there was nothing I could do but accept it. Thanks to Rosier, I was the most miserable I’ve ever been in my entire life, and although I could not contest my predicament, I’ll be damn if I was going to be silent about it.

“For us all to live on the same compound, I hardly ever see any of you,” my mother said before laughing and wrapping me in her arms. “Come on in. I was just about to make a couple of sandwiches for lunch.”

As I stepped into my childhood home and followed her to the kitchen, memories of the past flashed at every turn.

Along the walls were various pictures and accomplishments of my brothers throughout the years.

Stopping at a photo with my siblings and cousin, I smiled as I ran my finger along the frame.

We were so young then, and the love that shone through our eyes was evident.

My mother giggled as she came up behind me. “It took a lot of threatening to get you into that dress. You wanted to be like those boys so bad… I just knew I was going to have to find you a tuxedo!”

“Mama, please.” I smiled and waved her off after accepting the glass of fresh sweet tea. “Aren’t you glad I grew out of that?”

“Ha! Ecstatic!” We shared a laugh as she led me onto the back patio.

It was springtime here in South Florida, and the heat was already blistering.

No matter how hot it was, my mother would find herself outside.

“Tell me… what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” She eyed me with a knowing look before I could dispute.

“Before you try to say it’s just a friendly stop…

know that I’m your mother and can see right through you. So tell me, Mimi… what's wrong?”

Taking a seat on the swing, I pushed my legs back and forth as I peered into the backyard. My mother has always had a thing for flowers, so her garden was like one I’d never seen. I often joke that she loves her plants more than her kids.

“Do you ever miss Dad?” I dragged my eyes over to her and found hers already on me. “Do you ever get lonely?”

Taking a sip of her drink, she nodded before sitting it down on the wicker table beside her. “Every single day.” She gave me a soft smile. “The love I have for your father will never fade. Our relationship wasn’t perfect, but I loved that man… and I know he loved me.”

“He cheated on you, Ma,” I spoke somberly, causing her to stiffen. “I don’t mean to bring up the past, but how could you be with someone who disrespected you?”

It’s been two days since I’ve heard from my alleged fiancé, and I’m not mad about it.

The night after the event, he dropped me off at my condo with promises of calling me the next morning.

Call it my intuition, but I knew the “work” he had to tend to was another woman.

Whether it was Angelina or his secretary, I knew all about him and his extra-curricular activities.

“When your father and I met, he was young,” my mother began speaking as she snapped me from my thoughts.

“He was making a name for himself in the corporate world, and women always threw themselves at him. I didn’t care because he made it clear he only had eyes for me.

I fell in love with how he treated me and protected me.

” She dropped her head for a second before she continued, “After I had Rosier and Jules, I found out who and what your father truly was. I refused to raise two small children on my own, so I had to come to terms with what the life I chose entailed. I knew there would be women; I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but I accepted it.

My only demand of him was to not bring me a disease, outside children, or women to my door.

He never disrespected me in public, and at home, I was the queen of his castle. ”

“Mama, that’s not what I want…” I felt tears well in my eyes, and I kicked myself for becoming emotional.

“I want a man who loves me and only me. Just because we live this life doesn’t mean we don’t deserve faithfulness and to be cherished.

Why do I have to live my life in misery? I don’t want this!”

Placing my head in my hands, the levee finally broke.

I couldn’t help but feel as if being tied to a man who cheats at every turn was a life sentence I didn’t deserve.

Feeling the swing dip, I felt my mother wrap her arms around me.

Pulling me into her embrace, I placed my head on her shoulder and cried.

“It’s okay, baby girl.” She hugged me tightly, and I could feel the sadness in her voice. “I know this isn’t the life you saw for yourself, but you knew what being a part of this family would require. Chandler may not be the man you saw yourself with, but do you think you can learn to love him?”

“I despise him, Ma.” I sniffled as I wiped my eyes and sat up.

“The man speaks to me as if I should be thankful for him allowing me in his presence. Not only that, but the way he flirts with women when I’m around is so disrespectful.

I know for a fact he’s been shacked up with a woman for the past two days.

He’s blatantly doing this in front of me as if it’s okay.

My relationship will soon become a public spectacle because of his behavior, and I don’t like that. ”

“I’ll speak with him.” We both jumped and looked toward the door at the sound of my brother’s voice. “One thing I’m not going to tolerate is him parading around publicly with other women as if he doesn’t have a wife at home.”

Saying nothing, I watched as my brother stepped onto the back patio with a menacing look. I haven’t spoken to Rosier in weeks, and if I thought there was a chance of running into him today, I wouldn’t have come over here.

“I don’t need you to do anything for me!” I snapped, moving from my mother’s embrace. “You’re the reason I’m in this mess now, so forgive me for not wanting your unsolicited help.”

With worried eyes, my mother looked back and forth between me and her oldest son. Never taking his eyes off me, he bent down to kiss my mother’s cheek before standing to his full height. Stuffing his hands in his slacks, he squinted his eyes and glared at me.

“Who are you talking to, Noemi?” he said calmly, but I knew he was anything but. “Because I know it’s not me.”

“Actually, I am.” I stood from my seat and stepped to him. “You’re ruining my life, and you don’t even care! You threw me off to a man who does nothing but disrespect and cheat on me!”

Coming closer, I had no choice but to crane my neck to look up at him. The heaving of his chest let me know I was pushing buttons that had severe consequences, but I didn’t care.

He gritted through clenched teeth, struggling to hold his restraint.

“Sister or not, watch who the fuck you’re talking to.

You will respect me as head of this Family and the decisions that I have made.

You know what the fuck it means being in a family like this, and you’ve always known an arrangement for marriage was a possibility.

I know you’re angry, but you will watch what the fuck you say when you’re talking to me or?—”

“Or what?” I stepped back and chuckled. “You’re going to take me to your little zoo and feed me to the gorillas? Cut my tongue and hands off? Maybe you’ll just kill?—”

“Enough, Noemi!” my mother shouted as she stepped in between us. “I will not have this behavior between you two in my home! You will sit and talk about your differences like siblings should.”

“He’s not my brother; he’s my dictator,” I stated in a growl as tears slid down my cheeks.

Turning, I reached back and snatched my purse from the table.

It was time I left before I said something I couldn’t take back.

The way I was feeling, I didn’t care if I did.

“You’re no better than our father, Rosier, and I hope for your kids’ sake, you change your ways before one day you end up ruining their lives too. ”

My heart beat rapidly in my chest as I spewed the words that I knew would hurt my brother to his core. For a split second, I could see in his eyes what I did before it was gone. Removing his hands from his pockets, he clenched them into fists as he shot daggers my way.

“As I’ve stated, you will do what’s been required of you, or there will be consequences.” He grabbed my arm and jerked me toward him. “Am I clear?”

“Crystal.” I nodded as more tears fell. “Anything for the Family, Boss . That’s all that matters to you anyway. You can reach me on my business line when needed. My personal line is for the people who give a fuck about me.”

Snatching from his embrace, I marched through my mother’s home, ignoring her pleas for me to come back.

Another minute in my brother’s presence, and one of us would end up being buried next week.

As I made my way outside to my Audi, I slammed the door shut after falling inside and sobbed.

I bawled for the happily ever after I’d never have, and I cried over the loss of my brother.

The relationship Rosier and I once shared was long gone.

He wanted to be head of the family with no regard for the big brother that I needed him to be when it came to my happiness.

Once I got myself together, I decided to go to my home on the compound instead of the condo.

Chandler only had access to me there, so that’s where I spent most nights.

Now, I wanted to be in my own space where I felt most like myself.

I wanted to be in the only place I knew I was safe from all the sorrows and worries that had become my world.

The more I thought about the agony I was in, the more my heart hurt.

Pulling into my driveway, I placed the car in park and exhaled.

I closed my eyes and tried my hardest to get myself together.

My heart was broken, and I was exhausted.

I needed a mental break, or I was going to succumb to the stress I was under.

Bypassing the several missed calls from my mother, I disconnected every app that would allow them to track me.

Before powering down my phone, my heart thumped as I went to my contacts.

Finding the name of the one person I wanted to speak to, I took a chance and sent a text.

Me:

I need you.

Jordan:

I’m on the way.

After reading his response, I breathed a sigh of relief before cutting my phone off.

In my moment of distress, all I wanted was him, and to know he would drop it all and come to me after not speaking for months spoke volumes.

My life was in shambles right now, and Jordan was the only one I wanted to be around.

Gathering my things to get out of the car, I prepared myself for his arrival.

He wasn’t a man of many words, but when he spoke, you listened.

This time, I needed someone to hear what I had to say.

He would let me vent with no judgment, and that’s what I need.

I didn’t care about the Family and what they wanted from me at the moment.

Right now, I need someone to listen to me. I wanted to be in the company of someone who cared about me and not my duty to our family obligations.

And for that, I needed Jordan.