Amanda’s POV

I had heard the whispers. Zaire had moved on, and now he was with that girl—MMiya She was nothing like me. She wasn’t the girl he’d known before. She was rough around the edges, a bad gyal who thought she could control everything. She thought she could just walk into his life like she owned it.

I wasn’t going to let that happen. Not after everything Zaire and I had been through. We were supposed to be together. I was the one who knew him inside and out, the one who stood by him through thick and thin. Miyah didn’t know what she was getting into.

I was going to remind her who she was messing with.

Walking into his apartment that day, I could see the way Zaire looked at her. It was the same look he used to give me, the one that made me feel like I was his world. But I wasn’t about to let her take that from me.

I walked right in without knocking. Zaire looked up from the couch, his eyes lighting up, but he quickly masked his surprise. Miyah was sitting on the other side of the room, looking all calm and collected, as if she was the one who belonged there.

“You still messing with him?” I asked, my voice dripping with attitude as I leaned against the doorframe, not bothering to hide the disdain in my voice.

Miyah looked up, her eyes narrowing. “I’m his woman now, Amanda. You might want to get used to it.”

---

MMiya'sPOV

I could feel the tension the moment Amanda stepped into the room. The air thickened, and I could see the hatred in her eyes. She wasn’t here to just check on Zaire; she was here to make a statement.

I wasn’t about to let her get away with it. She thought she could walk in and throw shade without any consequences. Not on my watch.

I stood up slowly, keeping my eyes locked on hers. “You’ve got a lot of nerve coming in here like this,” I said. “You had your chance, Amanda. Zaire’s mine now.”

She scoffed, running a hand through her hair. “Please, Miyah. You think I’m just going to let you keep him? You’re nothing but a rebound.”

I felt my blood start to boil. No one talked to me like that.

“You’re the one who walked away, remember?” I snapped, stepping closer to her. “You’re the one who threw him out like he was nothing. And now you think you can just come back in and take him again? It doesn’t work like that.”

Amanda's eyes flickered with irritation, and I knew she wasn’t done. She was the type who couldn’t accept defeat, especially not from someone like me.

“You’ll see,” she muttered, her voice low and menacing. “Zaire’s mine, Miyah. He always will be.”

---

Zoey’s POV

I could tell Miyah wasn’t backing down. She never did. But Amanda was pushing her, and I wasn’t about to let this go down like it was some petty drama. Zaire didn’t deserve to be dragged through the mud by his ex.

I stepped forward, crossing my arms and giving Amanda a cold stare. “You think Zaire’s going to keep entertaining you while you throw shade at his girl?” I asked. “You’re delusional.”

Amanda smirked, her eyes flicking over to me like I was just another obstacle. “You’re just a sidekick. Don’t think you can scare me. I know Zaire better than any of you.”

“Yeah, and look where that got you,” I shot back. “He’s over you, Amanda. It’s time to let go.”

Amanda’s eyes flashed with rage, and I could feel the tension building. This wasn’t just about Zaire anymore. It was about pride. And there was no way Amanda was walking out of here thinking she’d won.

---

Ashley’s POV

I had been quiet up until now, watching the sparks fly between Miyah and Amanda. But enough was enough. I wasn’t about to let this girl walk all over us, especially not after everything Zaire had been through with her.

I stepped forward, my heels clicking against the floor, and stood beside Miyah. “You’re real bold coming in here after everything you’ve done,” I said to Amanda, my voice dripping with disdain. “But trust me, you’re not getting Zaire back.”

Amanda’s eyes narrowed as she sneered at me. “You think you can intimidate me? You think I’m scared of some girl who doesn’t know her place?”

I gritted my teeth. “Don’t test me, Amanda. You might’ve had him once, but not anymore.”

Amanda looked at me like I was a joke, but I wasn’t playing. I could feel the heat building inside me. She was going to learn the hard way that I didn’t back down from anyone.

---

Amanda’s POV

I wasn’t going to let them talk to me like that. They thought they could control Zaire’s life. They thought they could replace me?

Miyah was staring at me like I didn’t matter. Zoey was smirking like she had it all figured out. And Ashley? She was acting like I didn’t know how to handle things.

But I wasn’t going to let them win. Zaire was mine, and I would remind them of that.

“I don’t need to be intimidated by you guys,” I said, my voice shaking with anger. “Zaire will come back to me when he realizes you’re nothing but distractions.”

Miyah stepped closer to me, her eyes burning with fury. “You’ve had your chance, Amanda. Don’t make the mistake of thinking Zaire’s going to come back to you. He’s moved on.”

“You’re wrong,” I said, my voice low. “Zaire will always come back to me. I’m his first choice, Miyah. You can’t change that.”

---

Zaire’s POV

I had been watching the entire time, my fists clenched in frustration. I hated seeing these women fight, but there was something about Amanda that I couldn’t ignore. The way she came in here, trying to claim me like I was some kind of possession, it didn’t sit right with me.

But it also didn’t sit right with me that Miyah, Ashley, and Zoey were all fighting back. I could feel the tension building, and I knew it was only a matter of time before things escalated.

“Amanda,” I said, my voice cold. “You need to leave.”

Amanda’s eyes snapped to mine, hurt flashing across her face. “You’re choosing her over me?” she asked, her voice trembling.

I didn’t hesitate. “Yes. I’m with Miyah now, Amanda. It’s over.”

Her face twisted in anger, and she shot me one last glare before turning and walking out of the apartment, Jada following behind her. But I could see the storm in her eyes. This wasn’t over.

--- Truth about Amanda

MMiya'sPOV

The room was still thick with tension, but as soon as Amanda and Jada left, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Zaire had made his choice. And now I could finally breathe.

But I knew this wasn’t the end. Amanda wasn’t done. She wouldn’t give up so easily. And neither would I.

I looked at Zaire, his eyes softening as he met mine. “I told you,” I said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Zaire’s lips twitched into a smile. “I know,” he said, his voice steady. “And I’m not letting you go.”

---

Zoey’s POV

The aftermath of the fight still hung in the air, but I was glad it was over—for now. Zaire had made his choice, and Amanda had been put in her place. But there was no telling what she would do next.

“Don’t worry, girl,” I said, nudging Miyah. “We got your back.”

Ashley nodded. “Always.”

Miyah smiled, a fierce look in her eyes. “I know. And I’m not backing down. Not for anyone.”

---

Zaire’s POV

The soft hum of the night filled the room as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at nothing in particular. Miyah was in the shower, and the sound of water hitting the tiles echoed faintly. But my mind wasn’t here—not tonight. It was stuck in the past.

Amanda.

That name still left a bitter taste in my mouth. Every time I saw her, it wasn’t just her audacity that pissed me off. It was everything she’d done. Everything she stood for.

“Why you so quiet?” Malik’s voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. He was leaning against the doorframe, a drink in his hand and a knowing look on his face.

“Just thinking,” I muttered.

“Lemme guess... Amanda,” he said, his tone laced with disgust.

I didn’t respond, but the way my jaw clenched told him everything he needed to know. Malik sighed, walking into the room and taking a seat across from me.

“You still letting her get in your head, bro?” he asked.

“It’s not about letting her get in my head,” I said. “It’s about remembering what she did. To all of us.”

---

Flashback: Two Years Ago

The night was electric, the bass from the club shaking the walls as we all sat in the VIP section. Me, Malik, Giovanni, Ashley, Zoey, and Amanda. Back then, Amanda was part of the crew—or at least, that’s what we thought.

She had always been charming, always knew how to smile just enough to make you think she was on your side. But underneath it all, she was a snake.

It started small—little lies here and there. She’d stir up drama between us, planting seeds of doubt and then sitting back to watch the fallout. At first, we brushed it off. But then she started to get greedy.

“Yuh nuh notice how Amanda always a look di chance fi bring people down?” Ashley said one night, her tone sharp as she poured herself a drink.

Giovanni shrugged. “It’s Amanda. She’s just... Amanda.”

“Nah, mi nah like how she move,” Zoey added. “She a tek advantage, an’ yuh blind if yuh cya see it.”

At the time, we didn’t want to believe it. We all had history with Amanda. She was Malik’s ex, someone Giovanni once trusted, someone who used to hold a special place in my life. But then came the betrayal.

---

The Betrayal

It was a business deal gone wrong. Amanda had convinced me to trust her with a major investment, promising that it would be a game-changer. I let her in, gave her access, and she burned me for it.

She stole from me. From all of us.

“Yuh did really trust har wid money?” Malik had asked, his voice tight with anger when everything came to light.

“She gave me no reason not to,” I replied, pacing back and forth in my office.

“She a wicked gal,” Zoey spat. “Mi tell unuh already. She nah nuh loyalty.”

The fallout was ugly. Amanda tried to spin the narrative, making it seem like we were the ones who turned on her. She tried to pit us against each other, but by then, we were onto her games.

---

The Final Straw

What made us cut her off completely wasn’t just the lies or the money. It was when she went after Ashley.

Ashley was the loudest in the group, the one who never backed down from a fight. Amanda knew that. She set Ashley up, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. Ashley spent two nights in jail before we managed to clear her name.

“I’m gonna kill that b—” Giovanni started, his fists clenched as we stood outside the station.

“Easy, G,” I said, though my own anger was barely under control.

Amanda disappeared after that, but the damage was done. We all hated her for it. She broke our trust, tried to destroy us, and then had the nerve to show her face again like nothing happened.

---

Present Day

“Yuh remember how she did try set up Ashley?” Malik asked, breaking the silence.

“Of course, I remember,” I said, my voice low. “I remember everything.”

“And yuh still think she done?” Malik asked. “Amanda nuh know when fi stop. Yuh cya trust har.”

“I don’t trust her,” I said firmly. “And I’m not letting her back in. Not now, not ever.”

The sound of the shower stopped, and moments later, Miyah walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her as she looked between me and Malik.

“What’s going on?” she asked, sensing the tension in the room.

“Just talking about Amanda,” Malik said, getting up from his seat.

Miyah’s expression darkened. “What about her?”

“Nothing new,” I said quickly, not wanting to ruin her mood. “Just reminding myself why I don’t let snakes back into my life.”

Miyah nodded, but I could see the fire in her eyes. She hated Amanda as much as I did. And after everything we’d been through, I knew one thing for sure—Amanda wasn’t done.

But neither were we.