Guys, I've been reading a lot more on here lately and I've been getting so much inspiration for this book and for this other book I'm working on. (The new book is a secret lol) but I do need a cover for this new book I'm working on. Can you guys comment if you or somebody you know can make good covers. I'd really appreciate it!

Milan

My life wouldn't quite be the same if I agreed to Teddy and Victoria's ludicrous plan. I'd be dropping everything I'm familiar with and trying to start over somewhere out of the country. I have no issues with leaving Victoria, Teddy and the rest of their family alone but what about how I feel? What about how my family will feel for years if I just disappear? My family will be devastated, but of course, The Reeds will be untouched. It's not fair.

At this point, I was allowed out of the bathroom and I was allowed to roam the house but every single door and window in the house was bolted shut so I couldn't get out. Teddy's not smart enough to think of anything like that so I knew it was Victoria's doings. Victoria might have out smarted me with the windows but she never thought about putting the house phone up. So, I called somebody that would be able to help me and deleted the call all of the call history, just in case she decided to check it.

I stood by the front door and watched how his all black BMW GT pulled into the circular driveway. I was standing by the door because I knew the butler was on Teddy and Victoria's payroll and I wanted to get the door before he came back from doing the laundry. The front door was the only door that wasn't bolted shut and I could've ran out. I could've hid somewhere but I knew they'd find me, so I just stayed in the house, until now. The person I called will save me from them.

Theodore climbed out of his car, looking finer than I remembered. I'd be locked away for so many months, that I almost forgot how good he looked in all black. I turned around just to make sure I couldn't hear the butler coming up the steps and I couldn't. I slowly unlocked the front door, careful not to make too much noise since the locks click once they're open. I pushed the bag I packed out of the way and I quietly pulled the front door open, only to see Theodore climbing the porch steps with a frown on his face.

"What?" he asked, trying to come inside but I stopped him.

"No, you can't come in."

He sighed and I could tell he was irritated, but it's not my fault. I don't want the butler to see him over here and then he gets in trouble with his parents.

"Why? It's my Dad's house, so I can come in. I've been in the house inside of you plenty of times before, so what's the issue now? The only difference now is that you ain't in his bed screaming my name."

I rolled my eyes. "It's a big difference now. I need your help."

"I know, that's what you was saying when you called me but you never gave me any details. What the hell is going on and what happened to your face? Well, shit, what happened to your whole body?" Theodore took in my body and all of the bruises, scars, discolorations, cuts, and scrapes that were all over me. Teddy and Victoria ruined me because some of these scars are so bad, that I don't think they're ever going to go away. He reached down and grabbed my hands, looking at my wrists that had some of the worst scarring from the handcuffs I was in. Part of that's my fault though. I was pulling on the handcuffs, trying to break them and my wrists were getting scraped up in the process. "What happened to your wrists?"

"I was tortured."

He scrunched up his face as he looked beyond me in the hallway, that I knew was empty, but I still had to check for myself. I quickly turned around and looked back at the empty hallway.

"By who? My parents? And don't lie to me either."

"Of course it was your parents. Your Dad found out I was cheating on him and was trying to force me to sign the divorce papers. Then your Mom got involved. She pushed me down a flight of stairs, and instead of killing me since I'm a liability, they handcuffed me to the bathroom sink upstairs for over a month."

Theodore sighed. "Why didn't you call me sooner? I could've helped you."

I frowned. "How was I supposed to?"

"I don't know...I jus--damn," he mumbled. "Where are they at now?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know but they left about an hour ago."

"And the butler?"

"Downstairs doing the laundry. Can you help me or not? I really need to get out of here but they took everything I own, including my car keys and they bolted all the doors and windows shut so I couldn't leave. I just wanna get away from this place before they get back. Please help me," I begged.

I knew he still had a soft spot for me and hatred for his parents, so he didn't hesitate to help me out of the house and put me in the front seat of his car but it smelled off. It didn't smell like the strong Tom Ford cologne he'd usually wear. Instead, I spelled the Tom Ford cologne but with a hint of Japanese Cherry Blossom. Nonetheless, I didn't speak about it since we aren't together and haven't seen each other in months. And part of me is just grateful that he was able to save me from his parents.

Once Theodore put my stuff in the trunk of his car, he quickly pulled off from his parent's house, giving me this warm feeling inside. I hadn't left that house in over a month and I really think I was losing my mind because of it. I even think that's why Victoria was losing her mind too. She was so wrapped up in making my life a living hell, that she was doing the exact same thing to herself. It's pathetic to think a grown would stoop as low as she did just to please her ex husband that cheated on her and probably will again.

"So, let me ask you something," Theodore began as he drove further and further away from his parents' house.

"Yeah?"

"You good? 'Cause I heard some stuff about you..."

I scrunched up my face. "What did you hear about me?"

"That you're pregnant," he mumbled, looking over at my stomach. "You don't look it."

"That's because I'm not anymore. That's really why I haven't been around much, aside from your parents holding me against my will. I sent you my ultrasound because I didn't know who else to tell. My parents aren't too fond of Teddy and neither is the rest of my family, so you were the only person I could tell and get some rational advice from but I never heard back from you."

"B-Because I was confused. What did you expect me to say?"

"I don't know, but calling to see how I was doing would've been good too. You see, your Dad moved your Mom into our house and he's been sleeping in her room every single night and fighting with me every single night. Our fights were starting to become physical an--"

His eyes widened. "That nigga hit you?" he yelled.

"No! No, of course not. We'd push each other around but he never put his hands on me. Just the stress the two of them were bringing me, combined with my job, your Mom tormenting me everyday, my fear of what would happen if I actually told your father I was pregnant or the future of my child living in a home with your parents was too much for me and I miscarried due to all of the stress I was under."

"It wasn't mine, was it?"

"No...well, I don't think so."

Theodore frowned. "You need to know Milan."

"I'm sure it wasn't. When I went to the doctor and they told me how far along I was, we had stopped messing around well before then. It wasn't yours and if it was, you know I would've told you."

"Damn, but it was still my brother or sister though."

"I'm sorry," I replied, making him sigh.

"It's not your fault."

"Well I'm sorry about never calling you and following up with that ultrasound picture I sent you. I should have but I was just so down and depressed when I lost the baby."

"How do you feel now?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'm fine now that you came to get me. I'm really glad you've been here for me for so many years Theodore. You might not believe it, but you're the only person I can depend on for sound advice. You're the only person I can count on because nobody else seems to understand me the way you do. So, thank you for always being here for me."

"It's no problem Milan. You know how I feel about people fucking with you."

I looked over at him and watched how he drove with his seat reclined and one hand at the top of the wheel and I just wanted to touch him. It had been months since I touched him, so I just did it. I reached my hand out and caressed the side of his face, letting my fingers glide across his thick beard. "I really have missed you...a lot."

Instead of pushing me away like I assumed he would, he grabbed my hand and kissed it. "I missed you too Milan."

"Do you still love me?"

He nodded his head as he kept my hand in his lap. "Yeah, I still love you," he said, making me smile.

"I still love you too. I was thinking about you everyday when they had me handcuffed. I really thought I was gonna die and the only person running through my mind was you. I just kept thinking, what if I never see you again."

"Why was you even worrying about that? You already know I was gonna come see you before you died," he laughed, making me roll my eyes.

"Be serious," I laughed. "But I thought you forgot about me because the last time we talked wasn't so good. We ended things on bad terms. I thought we were through."

"It's not over until I say it is."

"You said that though."

"Nah, I said we needed to take a break and see other people because shit between us hadn't been working out lately but I never said we were over. You already know how I feel about you though, so I don't even know why you're questioning how I feel. I shouldn't have to validate what we are."

I scrunched up my face, confused. "So, what are we then?"

"What do you think we are?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. Friends? Because that's all we ever were."

"So, let's remain that way then."

"Fine with me," I said as he pulled up at the old Hilton hotel we used to hook up at. I guess he could feel my hesitation, so he grabbed my hand, squeezing it.

"I'm just gonna let you stay here for a few days to regroup and get yourself together, then we can come back and get you situated on a place to live. How does that sound?"

"I'd prefer to be living with you."

Theodore sighed. "You know you can't though. Ion know why you trippin' like this Milan. All of this could've been avoided months ago if you hadn't started that shit about being in love with my Dad and never leaving him for me bull shit. We could've been together but things have changed and I have bigger priorities now."

"Like Mya? How could you choose her over me?"

"I didn't," he sighed. "She was there for me when you turned your back on me. I might always be here for you but you're never around when I need you. What about my needs and how I'm feeling? Can't you be around to comfort me sometimes?"

I sighed, leaning closer to him. "Come and see me tonight."

"I'm not hooking up with you tonight. I got business to handle."

"We don't have to hook up. We can talk."

He sighed. "Just talking?"

"Yes."

He shook his head as he ran a hand down his face. "Alright, I'll see what I can do tonight."

Theodore helped me out of the car and he took me into the hotel where we used to meet o hook up and it immediately started bringing back old memories of what we used to sneak around and do just a few months ago. I walked in beside Theodore, who just gave the receptionist a head nod since he's seen us plenty of times before to know which credit card to charge. Theodore grabbed the keys from the receptionist and we went straight to the elevator. The elevator took us upstairs to the seventh floor, where we'd normally be, and we went right into our old room.

As soon as the doors were closed, I grabbed Theodore's hand and pulled him over to the bed. "Can you stay here with me for awhile?" Before he could even respond, I pushed him down on the bed and climbed on top of him. "Huh? What do you say?"

Theodore frowned. "Milan, you stink."

I scrunched up my face. "Excuse me?"

"You smell like my Mama and that shit is turning me off. You need to shower or something." He grabbed my hips and pushed me off of him before standing up. "Look, I told you I was gonna come back over here tonight so just chill and give me a chance to come over. We may have been separated for awhile Milan, but my feelings for you haven't changed. You don't need to do anything to keep me Milan."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, you already got me," he reassured me, making me feel better about myself and what we had going on. I was a little hesitant about calling him to help me because I didn't want him to judge me when he warned me about his parents and what they were capable of. I was embarrassed, actually. But knowing my position in his life hasn't changed, reassures me that we can do something more than just sneaking around with each other.

Maybe we can actually be together.

Jazmine

Aubrey stood in front of me with a frown on his face, which didn't help the fact that my nerves were horrible already. "Just please don't be upset all day," I said as I fixed his tie. My Mom is completely against the two of us getting married and even threatened to crash our wedding if we decided to get married without Aubrey and I sitting down to talk to her and my Dad. She claimed Aubrey was disrespectful for going behind my Dad's back and proposing to me without going to him for his blessing first. She even claimed Aubrey's just trying to get some money out of our family by getting me pregnant too.

I figured by now they'd all be done with this little beef they had back in California because I'm done with it. It's old. Everybody, well Aubrey and I, have matured since everything that went down in high school, I just wish my parents would have. But now they're insisting on having a sit down with Aubrey and I before we move on with our lives.

I can understand my Mom wanting to talk but not my Dad since he hates Aubrey and I equally. He's been against us since I first bought him home sophomore year of high school. He pretended to like Aubrey up until our senior year when he caught Aubrey sucking my nipples in his car. That's when he lost his mind. Our relationship hasn't been the same since, since he loves to call me out of my name every chance he gets. I really don't have anything to say to my Dad. I don't even consider him my father, but my Mom is forcing him to come to this meeting because she claims she wants to keep the family together.

"You know I don't like these mother fuckers," he explained. "And to top it off, they got me dressing up in this bull shit ass suit. I don't like this shit Jazmine. Why am I trying to impress your parents? I'm not in a relationship with them."

"Because you know how crazy they can get and you already know my Mom threatened to crash the wedding if we don't sit down and try to sort things out with them. And we've been talking about doing this for months though. We already said we didn't want to bring our baby into this world and our families can't get together."

"So, what about my Mama then? When are you gonna sit down and have a conversation with her?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know but I really don't wanna talk to that hood rat ass broad. You know I hate her."

Aubrey smirked as he turned to look in the mirror at his tie. "You hypocritical as fuck but that's cool. Kennedy's coming here in two days and she's not coming by herself."

I scrunched up my face. "So, you just lied to me then? You said Kennedy was coming, you never mentioned your bitch ass mother."

"Look, don't be talking about my Mama like that. I know she has her issues but so do both of your parents and I never lied to you. I just didn't tell you that she was coming with Kennedy. But Kennedy can't travel by herself, so my Mama's coming with her."

"And where's she gonna stay? Because she can't stay in my house."

"Oh," Aubrey smirked. "But it was all right for your Mama to stay here with us for a few days?"

"Yes."

"Well, it's gonna be all right for my Mama to stay here for a few days too. Look, I'm not about to play these childish ass games with you Jazmine. I know you don't like my Mama, but I don't like your folks and sometimes you gotta do shit you don't want to do. Just think about Aubrey Jr."

I rolled my eyes. We don't even know if we're having a boy or a girl yet but he insists it's going to be a boy and we're naming him Aubrey Jr. That's not happening though. "Anyways, I'm trying to think about the baby but I just don't fuck with your Mama like that. You know she does anything she can to torment me."

"And least my Mama didn't try to say I took advantage of you. The most my Mama will do is try to fight you."

I smacked my lips. "As if that's okay though."

Aubrey sighed as he turned to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. "Look, all of our parents are fucked up but that's not gonna stop us from being together or having this baby, so don't put too much stress on yourself and this baby because of them. And if we sit down and talk to them and they aren't saying any shit we like, then we're gonna leave them niggas where they at. Deal?"

I nodded my head. "Deal."

Aubrey and I met up with my parents downtown at some country club they just started going to since they've been visiting here a lot more often. My Mom comes out here a lot to see me and to check up on how I'm doing since I'm carrying her grandchild. My father, on the other hand, found some woman out here. I don't know who she is and I really don't care. He spends all of his time out here with her, so he doesn't even communicate with me, which is perfectly fine with me. Limiting conversation with my father is a good thing.

"It's so nice to see you darling," My Mom said once Aubrey and I approached the table she and my Dad were sitting at. She stood up and immediately pulled me into a hug. She didn't bother embracing Aubrey, so she sat right back down. "Austin."

"Lynette," he mocked her, purposely calling her the wrong name.

I shook my head. I know Aubrey means no harm, but I wish he's just be respectful to them because the more you get the riled up, the angrier they get and the more belligerent they start to become. "Hi Mom. How are you doing?"

"I'm great," she smiled. "Have a seat Jazmine. I saved the spot near me for you."

I looked down at the table and saw it was only one empty seat. "What about Aubrey? Where's he going to sit?"

"Not here," my father finally spoke up, making me roll my eyes.

"Look, either you guys are going to be respectful towards the both of us or we don't have to be here. Mama, you insisted on having this dinner here because you said you wanted to bring the family closer. Against my better judgement, I forced Aubrey and myself to even show up tonight, so can y'all please show us a little respect? And if you can't do that, then we'll just leave," I told them. I wasn't here for the games. They might have been but I had better intentions on this happening. I know it's going to be hard but I really want my family to get along before the baby comes. I don't want the baby being born into madness.

Mama rolled her eyes. "Fine. I pushed his chair under the table. He can get it if he wants it but I want an apology first."

Aubrey scrunched up his face. "An apology for what?"

"Because you called her out of her name, boy!" My Dad butted in.

"Y'all consistently call me out of my name, so what's the difference now? I'm not apologizing to you so don't hold your breath on it...Matter of fact, hold your breath and pass the fuck out while you're at it."

Mama gasped. "Austin! What kind of language is that? I don't know if you're noticed but this is a professional event you're attending with some of Georgia's most elite. Apologize to me this instant."

"Hell no," Aubrey spat. "I'd have to be dead if you ever thought you were getting an apology from me."

"That can definitely be arranged. We have a lot of connections around the country, and you being killed, is something we can do tonight," my Dad suggested. "How would you like to be killed young man? Because my wife deserves an apology."

"No she doesn't," I spoke up. "And secondly, she's not even your wife. You've been sleeping around on her for months, so maybe you owe her an apology for cheating on her for so long. Aubrey didn't do anything but come in here respectfully.

My Dad scoffed. "Oh, shut up whore. Nobody cares about what's coming out of your mouth. Instead of being concerned about that hoodlum, you need to be focused on what kind of government assistance you'll be getting on once you have this baby because you know his jail bird ass ain't gon' do a damn thing to take care of that baby."

Mama smirked. "I told her the exact same thing David. While you've still got your body, you need to be looking for another man. What about Theodore? I know he has a daughter so he has experience. He'll be able to help you with your baby and assist you financially. I know his family and they're good people, except for that evil Mother of his. She's a real bitch."

"She might be but at least she's not auctioning her children off to the highest bidder," Aubrey scoffed. "You know, y'all really got a lot of nerve talking about me and my child right in front of my face."

"We can do what we want," My Dad smirked. "You know, you can do things like this when you're rich. Isn't that right whore?"

I rolled my eyes. "You know, the two of you deserve each other. We came here peacefully and that's how we're gonna leave. We tried to hear you guys out but it's clear you two have no intentions on trying to fix our relationships so we'll just leave you two alone. I hope you have a wonderful evening."

I turned away from my parents and grabbed Aubrey's hand so we could leave the country club. I didn't come here to entertain their nonsense tonight, that's why we left. And they're just rude and disrespectful to Aubrey and I for no reason.

"Fuck y'all niggas!" Aubrey yelled to them.

Aubrey pulled me closer to him while we walked out of the restaurant but something hit the back of my bed. I quickly turned around and watched as my Dad stood at the table with the bread basket and rolls in his head.

"Watch what the fuck you saying my nigga!" he yelled to us, making Aubrey immediately release me.

"Yo, you just hit my girl. Are you crazy?"

My Dad smirked. "Oh, so I finally got the hoodlum upset, huh? Well in that case, yeah, I hit that whore. What are you gonna do about it?"

Aubrey started to charge towards him but I yanked him back. "Just stop it. I'm fine, so let's just go."

"Nah, I'm done letting sh*t go with these niggas. I've had enough of their bull shit." Aubrey snatched his arm out of my grasp and walked over to my Dad, who was still holding the basket of bread. "Stop talking so much sh*t and just hit me one good time nigga."

"Are you mad Aust--"

My Dad didn't even finish speaking before Aubrey slammed the basket of bread into his face, sending my Dad flying back in his seat but that didn't stop Aubrey. Aubrey jumped over the table and pounced on my Dad, continuously slamming the rolls into his face while he punched him. My eyes widened as I watched Aubrey literally pound his face in, showing me a side of him that I've never seen before. This must have been the side of him that developed while he was locked up.

I lost my balance a bit when my Mom shoved me into the table beside us.

"Look what the fuck you and that hoodlum did! How come you two act like you have no home training? I understand him since his Mother was a prostitute but not you Jazmine. We raised you better than this!" she yelled, continuously pushing me back into the table every time I tried to stand up.

"Get off of me!" I yelled, shoving her off of me.

I've never put my hands on my mother before because I always thought she'd kill me whenever she saw me getting ready to raise my hand at her. I was always too afraid to defend myself around my parents but not anymore. They've crossed the line with the way they've treated Aubrey and I for years. My Mom stood up from the ground with a frown on her face.

"Is that how you're gonna do me Jaz? Treat me the way he treats you?"

I sighed. "Mama, I just wanted to get you off of me. I didn't want anything to happen to the baby."

"Well, I do."

Before I knew it, she grabbed a butter knife from off of the table and charged at me. "Mama, stop, please!" I found myself running all over the country club's dining hall just to get away from her. I don't know what' gotten into her today but she's been fine lately. It's like she flipped as soon as she got around my Dad. She started acting like him. I ran all the way over to Aubrey, who I knew would protect me. I pulled Aubrey off of my Dad and pulled his body in front of mine.

"What the fuck is going on?" he asked, turning to me.

I opened my mouth to speak but that's when his body tensed up and went limp against mine. Aubrey's body fell over into mine and that's when I noticed my Mom standing behind him with a smile on her face and blood all over her hands.

~~~

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I know this chapter is extremely short but I just wanted to update again for you guys since this book will be ending soon. I'm over it lol but how was this chapter? How do you guys feel about Milan calling Theodore over to help her? What do you think Teddy and Tori will say when they find out Theodore's the one who took Milan from their home? Will they be able to find Milan? Does Theodore really have feelings for Milan or is he just saying that? Does he actually have feelings for Goldie? How do you guys feel about Aubrey and Jazmine trying to sit down to talk to Jazmine's parents? Were you guys expecting things to end that way?