Adonis held onto Kayla one last time, squeezing her tight before reluctantly stepping back. He didn't want to leave. Didn't want to go back to Richmond with his mom and Janay. But he knew he'd be back—for the gender reveal, for the baby shower, for Kayla.

"I'ma see you soon, alright?" he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Kayla nodded, cupping his face like she used to when they were kids. "I'ma hold you to that, little bro."

Adonis smirked, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. With one last glance at his sister, he turned and made his way to Gwen's Beamer. The moment he slid into the backseat, he could feel the tension thick in the air.

Janay sat with her arms crossed, looking pissed off, while Martha was eerily silent in the front. Gwen, on the other hand, didn't bother hiding her irritation as she pulled off, her fingers drumming against the steering wheel.

"You alright, baby?" Gwen asked, glancing at Adonis in the rearview mirror.

Adonis nodded, but he didn't say anything. His mood had already shifted the second he stepped into the car. He went from feeling safe—wrapped in his sister's love—to being back in the presence of the same people who made Kayla's life hell.

He turned his gaze out the window, ignoring Janay's scoff beside him.

"Oh, so you quiet now?" Janay muttered, rolling her eyes. "You was just all up under Kayla like she your damn mama."

Adonis clenched his jaw but didn't respond.

Janay huffed. "Whatever. I don't see what's so special about her anyway. Y'all act like she the damn princess of the family."

Gwen's foot pressed harder on the gas, her patience wearing thin. She had half a mind to slap the taste out of Janay's mouth, but she wasn't about to act a fool while driving.

"Janay, shut the hell up," Gwen snapped. "You jealous, and it's real damn ugly. You oughta be happy your sister got somebody that love her."

Janay folded her arms tighter, sinking into her seat like a pouting child.

Adonis, still staring out the window, finally spoke. "She is special." His voice was low but firm, leaving no room for argument.

"She my sister. My heart," he continued, turning to Janay with a glare. "And I'll be damned if I sit here and let you talk crazy about her."

Janay scoffed but didn't say anything else. Martha remained silent as well, her shame weighing heavy in the quiet car.

Gwen smirked. "See? That's what loyalty looks like." She looked at Adonis through the mirror again, her expression softening. "Kayla lucky to have you, baby. And I know she know that."

Adonis simply nodded, his mind already back on the compound. Back where his sister was.

And as much as he hated to admit it, leaving her behind felt wrong—like he was walking away from the only home he had left.

Janay huffed, her voice full of bitterness. "I don't see what's so special about her for her to be your heart?"

Adonis snapped his head in her direction, eyes narrowing. "You jealous." His voice was low, dangerous.

Janay scoffed. "Jealous? Please."

"Yeah, you are," Adonis shot back. "And it's real ugly."

Martha turned in her seat, her voice softer, trying to smooth things over. "Adonis, don't talk to your sister like that—"

Adonis laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Oh, so now you wanna play mama? You got a lot of nerve." His eyes darkened as he stared at Martha, his words slicing through the thick silence. "You really sat back and let our sorry of an excuse father abuse Kayla. Let him. And now you wanna act like you got a say in what I say? Nah."

The whole car went silent. Martha swallowed hard, her lips parting, but she didn't have a damn thing to say.

Gwen kept her eyes on the road, but the tension in her jaw was clear. She wasn't going to stop Adonis—not when he was telling the truth.

Adonis turned back to Janay, his voice sharp as a blade. "You jealous 'cause Kayla got attention. But do you really want that kind of attention?" His eyes pinned her in place. "You want the kind of attention where our own father is attracted to you?"

The air shifted.

Janay's face drained of color, her lips parting, but no words came out. She blinked rapidly, looking away, while Martha gasped, her hand flying to her chest like she'd just been slapped.

Gwen let out a slow breath, shaking her head as she gripped the wheel tighter.

"Thought so," Adonis muttered, turning back to the window.

Martha's shoulders began to shake as silent tears slid down her cheeks. She turned her face toward the window, trying to hide her shame, but there was no hiding from the truth. The weight of Adonis's words sat in her chest like a heavy stone, suffocating.

Janay didn't say a damn thing. For once, she was quiet.

Adonis, still staring out the window, let out a bitter laugh. "Man, stop all that crying." His voice was low, flat, unmoved by his mother's tears. "You gonna be with Vince anyway."

Martha stiffened, more shame washing over her. She knew Adonis was right. No matter what had happened, no matter how much she wished she could go back and change things, she would still end up in Vince's arms. She was weak for him, and that realization disgusted her.

Nobody spoke.

The only sound was the hum of the road beneath Gwen's tires.

Adonis shook his head, voice barely above a murmur. "I hope he gets time."

Martha's breath caught. Janay's fingers curled into her lap.

Gwen's grip on the wheel tightened. She wasn't going to say it out loud, but she agreed and for the rest of the ride, the car was filled with nothing but thick, suffocating silence.

The late afternoon sun filtered through the wide bay windows, casting a warm glow over the cozy living room as Tanya sat back on the plush sectional in Tamera's modern colonial-style home, crossing her legs as she sipped on a glass of sweet tea. While Freddie's toys were scattered on the floor, and the faint scent of vanilla candles lingered in the air.

Tamera sat across from her, scrolling through baby items on her phone, her expression smug as hell. "I'm just saying, I couldn't be happier for Tank and Kayla. Especially since I can't stand Darling."

Tanya smirked, raising a brow. "Not too much now, she's Dina's sister."

Tamera rolled her eyes so hard she nearly saw the back of her head. "Girl, fuck Dina. Matter fact, fuck that whole family."

Tanya was about to respond when a tiny pair of feet pitter-pattered across the hardwood floor. Freddie waddled over, her curls bouncing with each step. "Titi," she babbled, reaching up for Tanya.

Tanya scooped her up with a grin, planting a kiss on her chubby cheek before looking back at her sister. "Well, it don't even matter no way. Tank is obsessed with Kayla."

Tamera let out a dramatic sigh, tossing her phone onto the couch. "Tell me about it. That man stays with his damn head between her thighs."

Tanya giggled, shaking her head. "You know he do. That boy a straight-up fiend. And even with her being pregnant, he still on her like she brand new."

Tamera laughed, shaking her head. "Kayla got energy, 'cause that boy pounces on her any chance he gets."

"And does," Tanya agreed, adjusting Freddie on her lap. "That's why Darling is no competition to Kayla. Darling didn't give it to him like that."

"You right," Tamera cackled.

She couldn't lie—she was happy as hell that Kayla came into Tank's life and put it all the way down on him. At first, Tamera had been side-eyeing Kayla. She was just some random girl Tank brought home, fresh-faced and young. But over the past ten months, Kayla had grown on her.

Kayla was sweet, funny, down to earth. But most of all, she loved Tank for who he was.

Unlike stiff-ass Darling, who always tried to correct Tank's country-ass grammar, tried to convince him to quit truck driving and settle into some white-collar job.

Nah, Kayla embraced the country-living, truck-driving, down-home man that Tank was. She loved him for him.

And for that, Tamera loved Kayla like a real sister. Tanya smirked, adjusting Freddie on her lap as she watched Tamera shake her head with amusement. "So, you really done with Darling and them?" she teased.

Tamera scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Done been done. The only thing Dina's family ever did was piss me off. You see how they acting about this baby? Darling acting like she supposed to be the one carrying Tank's child, like Kayla stole something from her."

Tanya sucked her teeth. "She mad 'cause Tank never slipped up with her. And now Kayla pregnant? It's eating her alive."

Tamera chuckled darkly. "Good. Let that shit burn. She thought she could mold Tank into one of them clean-cut, polished-up, corporate types. Baby that boy from Mississippi. That boy was born to be in a truck, on some land, working with his hands. Kayla loves that about him. Darling tried to change it."

Tanya nodded, rocking Freddie gently as the baby babbled. "Kayla solid. And she ain't just in love with the lifestyle, she in love with him."

Tamera smirked. "And that's why he can't get enough of her."

Tanya laughed. "Clearly."

They both knew Tank was weak for Kayla. Hell, everybody did. And it wasn't just 'cause she was young, beautiful, and could take every inch of him without complaining. It was deeper than that. Kayla gave him peace.

Tamera exhaled, stretching out on the couch. "You ever notice how he always gotta be touching her? Like, even when we out somewhere, his hand is either on her belly, her back, or her damn thigh."

Tanya nodded. "Girl, and let's not even talk about how he be looking at her."

Tamera chuckled. "Like she hung the damn moon."

Tanya grinned. "That girl got Tyler Carter sprung."

"And she deserves every bit of it," Tamera added, her voice firm. "After everything she been through, she deserve a man that love her out loud, that take care of her, that put her first. Tank does that."

Tanya smiled, pressing a kiss to Freddie's soft curls. "Yep. And ain't nothing Darling or Dina can do about it."

Tamera's expression darkened for a second. "You think they still plotting?"

Tanya sighed. "I know they are. But it won't matter. Tank ain't letting nothing happen to Kayla. And neither is this family."

Tamera's jaw clenched. "Damn right. They want war? They gon' get it."

Meanwhile, Darling sat with her best friend, Yasmin, venting about the one thing that had been consuming her thoughts—Tank.

"You know, it's really crazy when you think about it," Yasmin said, swirling the ice in her drink as she eyed Darling. "I don't think they've known each other that long, and he got her pregnant."

Darling's jaw tightened, her grip on her own glass firm. She hated hearing it out loud.

Yasmin, oblivious to Darling's growing irritation, kept going. "I mean, y'all were together for years, and Tank never slipped up. But some girl he barely knows?" She shook her head. "That's wild."

Darling swallowed hard, keeping her expression composed. It wasn't just wild—it was a slap in the face.

Tank had been hers for so long—since they were fourteen years old. They grew up together, lost their virginity to each other, built what she thought was an unbreakable foundation. He had been so careful with her, always using condoms, never once even slipping up for a second.

But now, Kayla—a girl who hadn't even been in the picture a year—was pregnant?

Darling's stomach burned with resentment.

Yasmin sipped her drink, then shrugged. "I mean, y'all never had any accidents. And you know how Tank is—he don't play about protection. So what makes her so different?"

Darling stared at her, then exhaled sharply. "She trapped him."

Yasmin raised an eyebrow. "You think so?"

Darling nodded, sitting up straighter. "That man always had a condom. Always. You want me to believe that suddenly, with her, he just so happened to not use one?" She scoffed. "No. She poked holes in it."

Yasmin smirked. "Damn, you really think she was on that type of timing?"

Darling let out a bitter laugh. "That girl comes from the gutter. She ain't never had nothing. No real family, no real home, nothing to her name. She was looking for a come-up. And the Carters? That's the biggest come-up out there."

Yasmin leaned back, considering that. "I mean, you not wrong. The Carters are damn near royalty down here."

"Exactly," Darling snapped. "So yeah, she saw her shot and took it. And now, she got everything that should've been mine."

Yasmin watched her carefully, her lips curving into a knowing smirk. "So... what you gon' do about it?"

Darling's fingers tightened around her glass, her mind already working.

"Oh, trust me. This ain't over."

Yasmin leaned in, eyes locked on Darling as she swirled the straw in her drink. "So, what's your plan?"

Darling smirked, her confidence unwavering. She sat back, crossing her legs, and took a slow sip of her drink before answering. "Simple. I'm gonna remind Tank exactly who the fuck I am."

Yasmin arched a brow, waiting for more.

"I was his first. His first kiss, first love, first everything. He might think he's in love with her, but I know him better than she ever could. And I damn sure know what he likes."

Yasmin sucked her teeth. "Girl, you don't think if he wanted to be with you, he would be?"

Darling shot her a sharp look. "He's confused right now. Caught up in this fairytale of being a dad. But that's all it is—a fairytale. That girl ain't built for him, and I know for a fact she ain't satisfying him the way I did."

Yasmin took a sip, debating if she should say what was really on her mind. Instead, she just asked, "So what exactly is the plan?"

Darling leaned in, lowering her voice like they were discussing top-secret business. "I'm gonna make him remember. I'll show up at that gender reveal looking the best I've ever looked. Remind him of what he had. And then, when the timing is right, I'll slide in—comfort him, get in his head. If Kayla's smart, she'll see she don't stand a chance and back the fuck off."

Yasmin stared at her, blinking. That had to be the dumbest shit she'd ever heard.

She loved Darling, but this plan was straight-up delusional.

Darling really thought she could just sashay back into Tank's life and he'd come running? Like Kayla wasn't carrying his child? Like the Carters were about to let her play those games?

Yeah. Okay.

But Yasmin knew better than to argue. Darling's mind was made up. And once she got an idea in her head, there was no shaking it.

So instead of telling her what a disaster this was gonna be, Yasmin just nodded and took another sip of her drink.

"Alright, girl. If you say so."

Darling smiled, satisfied with herself as she adjusted her gold bangle. "Trust me, Yas. I know Tank. He ain't gonna resist me once I remind him what we had."

Yasmin tapped her manicured nails against her glass, holding back a sigh. She knew this was gonna crash and burn. But hey, it wasn't her life.

"You do know Kayla isn't just some random girl, right?" Yasmin finally said. "She's carrying his baby. His family loves her. And from what I hear, Tank ain't thinking about you at all. You sure you wanna go through with this?"

Darling scoffed, flipping her long, silky hair over her shoulder. "Love? Please. Tank loves sex. And I'm the best he ever had. Ain't no way he's over me. That little girl is just new and exciting to him. But when reality sets in, when the stress of dealing with trauma, he's gonna start missing what we had."

Yasmin fought the urge to roll her eyes. Darling was in full denial, but Yasmin wasn't about to waste her breath.

Instead, she asked, "Okay, so let's say you do get his attention. Then what? He leaves her? You really think the Carters are gonna accept you back with open arms after the way you left him?"

Darling waved her hand dismissively. "They'll get over it. They'll see I'm the better choice. And besides, once I get Tank back in my bed, he'll forget all about that little hoodrat."

Yasmin smirked, shaking her head. "You really think your pussy is that powerful, huh?"

Darling laughed, sipping her drink. "It always has been, Yas."

Yasmin wasn't convinced. But she knew there was no point in arguing. Darling had already made up her mind, and nothing she said was gonna change it.

So, Yasmin just shrugged and leaned back in her seat. "Well, good luck, girl. You're gonna need it."

Darling's smirk widened. "I don't need luck, baby. I got a plan."