Chapter 14: Betrayal in the Shadows

Zaire’s POV

The tension in the apartment was thick. I couldn’t stand the silence between me and Za’miyah anymore. Every time I looked at her, I saw the confusion in her eyes—the unanswered questions that I wasn’t ready to answer. But I couldn’t keep hiding from the truth.

The doorbell rang, and I knew it was my mother before I even answered it. No one else dared to show up unannounced at my place.

“Zaire, you need to get your head out of the clouds,” my mother’s voice cut through the air the moment I opened the door. “You can’t keep letting that girl distract you.”

She didn’t even give me a chance to speak before she walked in, her eyes narrowing when they landed on Za’miyah, who was sitting on the couch, her face impassive. My mother’s gaze flicked from her to me, the disappointment clear in her eyes.

“What’s she doing here?” My mother’s voice was sharp, cold. "You’re wasting your time with her, Zaire. She doesn’t care about you. She only cares about your money.”

Za’miyah stood up, her eyes flashing with defiance. I knew she didn’t like being judged, especially not by my mother. I could see the fight in her, the bad gyal that never backed down from anyone.

“Excuse me?” Za’miyah’s voice was steady, but there was a venom to it. “Who are you to tell me what I want, huh?”

My mother scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m his mother. And I know exactly what you’re after. You think I don’t see through your little act? You’re just here to trap him, take everything he’s worked for.”

Za’miyah’s eyes narrowed, and I saw her take a step forward. “You don’t know anything about me, lady. But you better learn fast.”

I stepped in between them before things could escalate, holding my hands up in a futile attempt to calm the storm brewing between them. “Mom, please,” I said, my voice strained. “This isn’t helping.”

But my mother wasn’t listening. “You don’t understand, Zaire. This girl is playing you. She’s a gold-digger, just like the rest of them.”

Za’miyah’s jaw clenched. “You don’t get to talk to me like that.”

Before I could stop it, they were face-to-face, both of them challenging each other, neither one willing to back down. I had never seen my mother act this way before, and I didn’t know how to control the situation. I could feel my temper rising, but there was no way I was going to let them tear each other apart over something I couldn’t fix.

“This needs to stop,” I said, my voice dark, my fists clenching. “I’m not having you two fight like this.”

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Miyah’s POV

I didn’t care about Zaire’s mother. What I cared about was Zaire. And if his mother thought she could tell me who I was and what I was about, she had another thing coming.

She didn’t know anything about me, or the way I had to fight for every little thing in my life. The only thing I was here for was Zaire. But I wasn’t going to let anyone disrespect me, especially not in my face.

“I don’t need your approval,” I said, my voice low and dangerous. “I didn’t come here for your son’s money. I came for him.”

I could see the way Zaire looked at me, caught in the middle, his frustration rising. He wasn’t going to solve this for me. I was my own woman, and I was done with letting anyone think they could walk all over me.

Zaire’s mother scoffed, clearly not convinced. “You think you’re so tough, huh? You think I don’t see right through you?”

Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Ashley walked in, her eyes scanning the room with a familiar intensity. She didn’t like being in places where she wasn’t in control. And right now, I could tell she felt the power shift.

“What’s going on in here?” Ashley asked, her voice sharp as she surveyed the scene. Her eyes flicked from Zaire’s mother to me, then to Zoey, who had followed her in. Zoey was always up for a good time, but today, there was something in her eyes that told me she was here to make a statement.

“I’m just here to make sure Zaire knows what he’s getting himself into,” my mother sneered.

Ashley, without missing a beat, stepped forward, throwing a subtle, mocking glance at Zaire’s mother. “Is that so? Maybe you should focus on keeping your own house in order before you come for mine.”

The tension in the room hit a new high. Zoey, standing behind Ashley, couldn’t help but laugh. “This is a joke. You really think you can control him like this?”

I turned to Zoey, appreciating her presence. “They think they can, but they’re wrong. Zaire’s his own man.”

Zaire’s mother shot back, her voice venomous. “And look where that got him, huh? Caught up with a bunch of gold-diggers and troublemakers. He could’ve had a future without all of this chaos.”

Ashley smirked, stepping closer to Zaire’s mother. “You don’t know what’s going on here, lady. And trust me, you’re not gonna like what happens when you mess with the wrong people.”

I could feel the heat rising in the room, and it wasn’t just about Zaire anymore. It was about power, respect, and the battle for control. Everyone in the room had something to prove.

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Zoey’s POV

I had been quiet until now, but the drama unfolding in front of me was too good to ignore. Ashley was out here acting like she owned the place, throwing shade at Zaire’s mother, and I was here for all of it.

Zaire’s mom didn’t know how to act with someone like Ashley. Ashley wasn’t going to back down, not for anyone. And she wasn’t afraid to let Zaire’s mother know exactly where she stood.

“If you think I’m gonna sit here and let you talk down to my girl like that,” Ashley said, her voice sharp, “you’ve got another thing coming.”

Zaire’s mom opened her mouth, but I could tell she was holding back. She didn’t want to get into it with Ashley, not if she didn’t have to. And truth be told, neither did I. But sometimes, you had to stand your ground.

“You don’t know who you’re dealing with,” Zaire’s mom spat, her tone bitter.

“I know exactly who I’m dealing with,” I said, my voice low. “But you? You’re just another woman trying to get in the way of what’s real.”

That sent the room into silence. Zaire looked at me, his eyes flicking between us, clearly unsure of what to do next. He hated confrontation. But this? This was different.

I could see it in his eyes—he was stuck between us. But that wasn’t my problem. The only person I cared about in that room was me, and I wasn’t about to let anyone think they could come for me or my friends.

And if that meant making a few enemies along the way? So be it.

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Giovanni’s POV

I had been listening outside the door for a while. This wasn’t a situation I had expected to walk into. The energy in the apartment was suffocating, and I couldn’t stand the thought of my son being caught in the middle of all this.

But there was more at play here than just the women and Zaire. I could feel the tension in the air. And I wasn’t sure how much longer I could keep my own life from falling apart.

I opened the door to find the room frozen, everyone staring at each other. My eyes found Zaire first, his jaw clenched. Then they moved to the women, who were all standing their ground.

What had I walked into?

“I don’t care what anyone thinks,” I said, stepping in and breaking the silence. “But we’re not doing this today.”

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