Page 45 of Pieces of Us

“I fucked up.” I heard behind me. I stopped and turned to look at her. “I know we were forced into a marriage, but I really did fall in love with you, Hemi. The only reason I pretended I didn’t was because you set the tone of how life with you was going to be.

“You didn’t love me like I loved you. You were so caught up in Morgan Prescott that you never even looked at me the way youlooked at her. On our wedding night, you called out her name in your sleep. I knew then I could never compete with her…not back then and not now. That’s when I started sleeping with other men. I got jealous and wanted to hurt you, so I hit you where it hurts. Your pockets.”

She scoffed while shaking her head.

“And that didn’t even do shit to you.” She sighed and walked closer to me. “I resigned from taking your assets, but I’m keeping the money. I feel I deserve a little compensation for putting up with your grumpy behind for all these years.”

She reached on top of the shelves lining the wall, pulling down a Manila envelope and handing it to me.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a contract I had my lawyer draw up stating that I’ll only take the money and leave the assets. It’s already signed, sealed, and now delivered.”

I stared at her for a moment before I leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her forehead and wrapping my arm around her shoulder. “Good luck with everything, D. I’m sure you heard the conversation with your old man. He’s going to get his shit together.”

“Yeah…I’ll prepare my black dress because we both know his ass is stubborn.” She chuckled lightly.

“Take care of yourself, D. I’ll see you around.”

“You too, Nehemiah. Good luck with getting your girl back.”

I didn’t know how she knew that, but I didn’t want to protract the moment by asking. I simply nodded and continued my stride out of the door.

Morgan

“Come on, Honey Bee. Nana’s inside waiting for you,” I told her as I got out of the car. Mariah couldn’t get out of her seat belt fast enough.

“Nana, Nana!” she yelled.

Megan cringed and covered her ears. “Goodness, ’Riah. You literally just saw her two days ago. Calm down.”

I laughed. “What I tell you about coming for my honey bee? She loves her nana.”

Megan laughed. “That has been made very clear.”

As we started up the walkway, a horn beeped behind us, and I noticed Justin pulling in beside me. I rolled my eyes because I knew I couldn’t duck his ass much longer.

“Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” Mariah cheered, rushing to his door.

Justin got out with a huge smile on his face that I wanted to slap off.

The nerve of this motherfucka to smile when he’d just ruined our family.

Images of the lustful desire in his eyes watching the Duprees engage in a sexual act flooded my mind. The way he undressedas if that was something he’d been wanting to do had me clutching my purse tighter to refrain from going for my mace.

“My munchkin! I missed you, sweet pea.” He kissed her cheeks as my lips turned in disgust.

“I missed you too, Daddy.”

“No hug for your old man, Meg?” he asked, smiling at her.

“Of course.” She moved to hug him. “Where have you been?”

“Oh, I had to go out of town for a few days.”

Lying ass.

“Come on, Mariah. Nana’s waiting for you.”

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