MMiya'sPOV

The air was thick with tension as Zaire and I stepped out into the night, the sound of the city barely reaching our ears through the rush of adrenaline coursing through our veins. This wasn’t just any confrontation. This was personal.

I could feel the weight of everything we had been through, all the pain, the betrayal, the love that had grown out of it. But tonight, I wasn’t just fighting for Zaire—I was fighting for us. I wasn’t going to let anyone tear this apart.

Zaire’s hand tightened around mine as we walked towards the cars parked outside, the darkness of the street hiding the danger that awaited us. We were no longer running. No more waiting. The time had come to face Amanda head-on.

“You ready?” Zaire asked, his voice low and steady.

I nodded, my throat dry, but my resolve firm. “I’ve been ready.”

As we approached the rendezvous point, I saw the figures lurking in the shadows. Amanda was here, and she wasn’t alone. She never traveled light.

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Zaire’s POV

The moment we reached the meeting spot, I could feel the anger rising. Amanda had made sure to bring backup—just like I knew she would. She was always calculating, always a step ahead. But this time, she wouldn’t win.

I felt Miyah’s hand squeeze mine, and I gave her a reassuring glance. Whatever Amanda had planned, we were ready. She could bring all the people she wanted, but it didn’t matter. This time, she was up against something she couldn’t fight.

I looked over at the dark figures in the distance. Amanda was there, standing confidently, her eyes locked on me as if daring me to make a move.

“You know why I’m here, Zaire,” she called out, her voice carrying over the distance. “You think you can just throw me away like that? I’m not going anywhere.”

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to. Amanda already knew the answer. She just wasn’t willing to accept it.

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Amanda’s POV

Seeing Zaire standing there, so calm, so confident, made my blood boil. He thought he could just replace me with Miyah. But he was wrong. No one could replace me. Not her, not anyone.

I walked forward, my heels clicking on the pavement, each step a reminder of the power I once held over him.

“I’m not done, Zaire,” I said, my voice low but sharp. “I was your first. You’ll always remember that.”

I could see him clench his jaw, the muscle twitching slightly. He wasn’t going to give in, I knew that. But I wasn’t about to let him walk away from me. Not now.

I glanced over at Jada, who was standing behind me, ready for whatever came next. We had our pickup, too. And we wouldn’t go down without a fight.

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Zoey’s POV

I watched from a distance, my heart pounding in my chest. Amanda was playing her usual games, trying to get under Zaire’s skin. But I knew better. I could see how determined he was, how unwavering his stance was.

Miyah stood by his side, looking just as fierce. She had come a long way from the shy girl who first entered our world. Now, she was as strong as any of us. And together, they were unstoppable.

“We can’t let her get to them,” I muttered to Ashley, who stood beside me, her eyes scanning the scene.

Ashley’s lips curled into a smile, the kind that promised danger. “We won’t.”

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Ashley’s POV

I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I watched Zaire and Miyah standing their ground. This wasn’t just about defending Zaire’s honor. It was about showing Amanda that she was nothing in this world.

I glanced at Zoey, who was just as focused as I was. We were ready. We had everything we needed. If Amanda wanted to play dirty, we were more than prepared to match her move for move.

“Let’s go,” I said, motioning for Zoey to follow me as we moved into position.

---

Zaire’s POV

Amanda kept talking, trying to break me, trying to make me doubt my decision. But I wasn’t listening. This was about Miyah, and no one—least of all Amanda—was going to take her from me.

I stepped forward, my voice cold and firm. “You’re wasting your time, Amanda. You had your chance. Now it’s over.”

Her eyes flared with anger, but I didn’t care. I had no more patience for her games.

Miyah stepped up beside me, her presence like a shield. I could feel her strength, her unwavering resolve, and it gave me the strength I needed to face Amanda head-on.

“This isn’t about you anymore, Amanda,” Miyah said, her voice steady but full of authority. “It’s about us. And you’re not welcome here.”

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Amanda’s POV

The words hit harder than I expected. I could feel my grip on the situation slipping. Zaire had chosen her. I could see it in his eyes. And that was something I couldn’t accept.

I turned to Jada, my mind racing with thoughts of how to take control again. This wasn’t how I envisioned it going, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t done. I wouldn’t be.

The silence hung heavy in the air before I took a deep breath and spoke.

“You’ll regret this, Zaire. You’ll regret ever letting her get in your way.”

I turned on my heel and walked away, but I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn’t finished yet.

---

Zoey’s POV

Amanda left, but I knew this wasn’t over. She was only going to get more dangerous now that she realized we weren’t backing down. But for tonight, we’d won. Zaire and Miyah had stood strong, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.

“We’ve got their backs,” I said quietly to Ashley, my voice steady. “We’ll keep them safe.”

Ashley nodded, her eyes sharp. “No one messes with us.”

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MMiya'sPOV

As Amanda disappeared into the night, I felt a strange sense of relief wash over me. The battle wasn’t over, but we had sent a message. We weren’t afraid. And I wasn’t going anywhere. Not now. Not ever.

Zaire turned to me, his eyes softening as he reached out to touch my face.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice gentle.

I smiled, my heart still racing but steadying with each passing moment. “Yeah. I’m good. I’m with you.”

And for the first time in a long time, I felt like everything was going to be alright.

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