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Tim smirked, as if amused by Jalen's bluntness, but he didn't argue. He pulled out his checkbook, signed off on the agreed amount, and handed it over. Jalen took the check, checked the numbers, then nodded.

"Good doing business with you," Jalen said flatly.

Tim narrowed his eyes. "Likewise."

There was a brief moment of tension, like Tim was trying to size him up. Jalen held his ground, keeping his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, Tim turned and walked back to his house. Jalen stood there, watching as he walked off. Only when he disappeared inside of the house did he exhale. It was done. The contract was fulfilled, and most importantly, Tim no longer had any leverage over him. Jalen pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Heidi:

Jalen: "It's done. I got paid. You're free to leave whenever you're ready."

******************************************

At 8:00 AM sharp, Jalen walked into his bank and deposited the full amount from the Horner property job. The money was in, his team had already received their cuts through Zelle, and now, he could finally breathe a little. The Horner job was his biggest payday yet by far, and despite all the complications surrounding it, he got out unscathed, paid in full, no drama. Well... at least up to this point.

Because now it was Heidi's move to come clean about her pregnancy before moving out for good. Her parents had no idea that she was pregnant, and once they found out, all hell would surely break loose in that house, and if they found out the baby was Jalen's then it truly would be a cataclysmic event.

At 9:15 AM, Jalen received a text from Heidi:

Heid: "Money's in? Everything cleared?"

Jalen: "Yeah we're good. All handled"

There was a long pause before her next message came through:

Heidi: "Okay then I guess it's time."

Jalen stared at the text for a second. This was it. Once Heidi told them, there was no going back.

Jalen: "You sure you're ready?"

Heidi: "No but I have to do it anyway."

Jalen smiled a little to himself. That was so Heidi. Always blunt, practical, and never afraid to do what needed to be done.

Jalen: "You got this. Call me after"

Heidi: "I will. Love you"

Jalen: "Love you too"

******************************************

At 6:45 PM, Heidi sat across from her parents at the dinner table. Leslie sat next to her. Heidi's stomach wasn't showing yet, but she knew that would change in the coming months. She had to get ahead of this. Her parents were already suspicious. If she didn't take control of the narrative now, they'd dig until they found out the truth, including who the father was, and that could not happen.

Her mother, Sylvia, was talking about some neighborhood drama. Her father, Tim, was unusually quiet, his eyes occasionally narrowing at Heidi like he was waiting for something.

He knew. Maybe not the ‘what', but he definitely knew something was up. She placed her fork down and cleared her throat.

"I have something to tell you all." She said.

Her mother instantly stiffened. Her father folded his arms across his chest.

"I'm pregnant."

When the words left Heidi's mouth, her mother let out an audible gasp, covering her mouth in shock. Tim's face darkened. Leslie, who already knew, of course, pretended to look surprised. Tim's expression didn't change, but eyes did. They turned cold, sharp, calculating. Heidi could see that Tim had been expecting something bad coming from her, at least something he considered bad. He just hadn't expected this.

"What?" Sylvia's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I'm pregnant." Heidi said it again, this time stronger, firmer, with no hesitation.

"By who?" Tim demanded immediately, his tone sharp and unforgiving.

"Stay calm. Stick to the plan." Heidi thought.

Heidi looked down, playing up the regretful daughter act.

"It was a mistake," she said softly. "Someone I was seeing for a little while, but it didn't work out."

Silence. Her mother's face was already red, her hands shaking slightly. Tim was still. Too still. That was worse than if he had started yelling. Tim's eyes locked onto hers, and Heidi could feel him trying to read her.

Heidi hated saying that it was a mistake. Truthfully, she didn't view her pregnancy as a mistake at all. She had deliberately chosen to have unprotected sex with Jalen and had no regrets about the results of that. The fact that a good man like Jalen was the father made her feel so much better about having her baby.

"Dad doesn't believe me." Heidi thought.

He didn't have proof, but Tim knew her too well. She could practically hear his thoughts: Heidi isn't reckless. She isn't stupid. She doesn't just ‘make mistakes' like this.

All this was true of course. Tim was clearly digging in his mind, trying to connect dots, and then...

"It's him, isn't it?" he suddenly said, his voice eerily calm.

Heidi's stomach clenched.

"Shit." She thought

"What?" Heidi feigned confusion.

"That damn contractor," Tim said, his voice sharp. "Jalen Moss."

Heidi forced herself not to react.

"What? Dad, no. This has nothing to do with him."

Tim wasn't convinced.

"You think I'm stupid?" he shot back. "All your strange behavior started not long after he started working here."

Her mother suddenly turned to her, eyes wide with horror.

"Oh my God." Sylvia's voice trembled. "Heidi, please tell me it's not true."

Heidi kept her expression calm. She had expected this.

"This baby isn't his." Heidi lied, looking her father dead in the eye. "Jalen and I talked some while he was working here, but we were never involved in that way. The father is someone I knew from college who I reconnected with recently, but he has left town permanently, and I can no longer reach him."

Tim's jaw tightened. Heidi could tell that was still suspicious of her story, but without proof, he had nothing to stand on.

******************************************

The rest of dinner was a disaster. Sylvia cried. Leslie remained quiet the whole time. Tim stared at her like she was a puzzle he couldn't solve. Her parents threw every argument at her.

"What about your future?"

"How could you be so reckless?"

"How are you going to raise a child on your own?"

"You need to tell us exactly who the father is."

Heidi refused to divulge any name. She stuck to her story. It was a mistake with a guy she isn't with anymore, and whose whereabouts are unknown; end of discussion. She is keeping the baby and prepared to raise it. Eventually, she excused herself from the table, went upstairs and locked herself in her room. She pulled out her phone and texted Jalen.

Heidi: "It's done. They're pissed as predicted. My dad had a suspicion that it was you, but I denied it and fed him a story about a guy from college who's no longer in the picture. I think they're buying that story for now."

Jalen's response came instantly.

Jalen: "Are you okay?"

Heidi: "Yeah just exhausted. But it went as well as it could've I think."

There was a long pause before his next message.

Jalen: "I'm proud of you"

Heidi stared at the words, and for the first time that night she smiled.

******************************************

Unfortunately, the situation only got messier. Three days later, Jalen was in the parking deck of his apartment complex and was about to get in his truck to go grocery shopping when he suddenly saw a middle-aged man aggressively approaching him. Jalen's eyes widened when he quickly realized who it was.

"Mr. Horner, what are yo-"

"Have you been seeing my daughter?!" Tim said angrily.

Jalen stared. He was still processing seeing Tim Horner at his apartment complex like this. Jalen didn't know how he found out where Jalen lived unless he was simply that well connected to have someone dig up his address for him.

"Excuse me?" Jalen responded.

"My daughter, Heidi! She's pregnant. Is that baby yours?" He said a little more aggressively this time.

Jalen composed himself taking a deep breath. He had no desire to lie. He wanted to say that the baby was his and that her daughter can make her own decisions.

What he actually said was, "I don't know what is going on between you and your daughter, but you have no right to come to me accusing me of something you have no proof of. I completed your guest house as I was contracted to do. I was professional and polite to you and everyone in your family, and quite frankly, I find this extremely disrespectful what you're doing right now. Especially someone of your stature."

Jalen didn't exactly lie. He just put the onus back on Tim since all he had to go on was a suspicion and nothing more.

Tim's expression darkened. He was clearly used to power and people folding under his authority. He clenched his jaw. It was obvious that he had expected Jalen to stumble, panic, or confess. Instead, Jalen stood his ground, composed and unshaken. That pissed Tim off even more.

"Don't play games with me, boy." Tim's voice was low and dangerous. "I know my daughter, and I know damn well this isn't just some ‘mistake' with some random guy, that she's trying to sell me on."

Jalen clenched a fist. When Tim uttered the word "boy", it hit a nerve, but Jalen fought to maintain his composure.

He crossed his arms before saying, "Then maybe you should talk to your daughter instead of confronting me in a parking lot."

Tim stepped closer, his eyes burning with restrained rage.

"You listen to me, Moss. If I find out you're lying to me..., if I find out you had anything to do with my daughter's situation? I will ruin you."

Jalen didn't blink.

"Mr. Horner, I run an honest business. My work speaks for itself. My reputation speaks for itself. If you try to come after me without proof? That's called defamation, and I don't think a man in your position wants to be caught in the middle of a lawsuit over false accusations, do you?"

Tim's fists clenched. Jalen kept going.

"You think you're the first powerful man who's tried to intimidate me? You think I don't know how this game works? You have nothing. No proof. No leverage, and frankly, no right to be standing here mouthing off to me like this."

Tim's nostrils flared. This wasn't how he thought this would go. He had expected Jalen to crack, to slip up, or to show some kind of guilt. Instead, Jalen was looking him dead in the eye, unshaken. Tim had no proof. Heidi had covered her tracks too well.

Tim stepped even closer, now chest to chest with Jalen.

"You stay the hell away from my daughter."

Jalen didn't back down. He met Tim's cold, entitled gaze with pure, unshakable defiance.

Then he did the one thing that sent Tim over the edge. He smirked. Not a full smile, but just enough to let Tim know he wasn't intimidated. Tim's hands balled into fists. For a split second, Jalen thought the man was actually going to swing.

"Go ahead, motherfucker. Give me a reason." Jalen thought.

But Tim knew better. He let out a slow, furious breath. Then he stepped back.

"This isn't over." Tim's voice was sharp, seething.

Jalen shrugged. "If you say so."

Tim turned on his heel and stormed off, fists clenched, his entire body radiating pure rage. Jalen exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he watched the man disappear. That was close. Tim was dangerous.

******************************************

Jalen got in his car and dialed Heidi's number before heading out.

"Hey. Everything okay?" Heidi asked when she answered.

"I know we're supposed to be together today, but we should probably keep our distance from each other for now until you've moved out." Jalen responded.

"Why? What's going on? What happened?" She asked nervously.

"Well, let's just say, your father and I had an interesting little chat just now..."

Jalen heard Heidi's sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line.

"Oh god...What did he say to you?"

Jalen stared out the window of his truck, watching the parking lot where Tim had just left.

"Your dad somehow found out where I live and confronted me in my parking deck when I was about to head to the store. He straight-up demanded to know if I've been seeing you and if I'm the father of your baby."

Heidi shut her eyes.

"...Shit." She thought.

"...I didn't tell them anything about you the other night. I was careful." She said to Jalen.

"I know, but your dad isn't dumb. He has connections, and he sure as hell strongly suspects that I'm the guy behind this whole situation with you."

Heidi sat down on the edge of her bed, gripping her forehead.

"...What did you say?" She asked.

"I didn't confirm or deny anything. I just pushed back and told him I didn't appreciate being accused of something he has no proof of."

Heidi exhaled, feeling a brief wave of relief.

"...Okay. That's good. That's really good."

"Maybe. But listen, Heidi, your dad is going to keep digging."

She already knew that. Tim Horner was a bulldog. He wasn't the type to just accept what she told him at face value, and if he was pulling up to Jalen's apartment, that meant he wasn't letting this go. Heidi bit her lip, her mind racing.

"Then we just have to stick to the plan. I move out this weekend, and then it doesn't matter what he thinks."

Jalen nodded on his end. "Yeah, and until then, we don't see each other. We don't text. We don't call. No contact at all until you're out of that house."

Heidi hated it. She hated the idea of spending the next few days feeling completely alone and pretending like Jalen didn't exist. She knew Jalen hated it too, but he was right. Her father would be watching her. Waiting for her to slip up to reveal what was really going on. She wasn't going to give him anything to use against Jalen.

"...I hate this."

"I know, I hate it too. But it's just a few more days. Then you're out."

"...And then what?" Her voice was small.

"Then we'll deal with whatever comes next. I, for one, am not going to hide forever. He'll confirm the truth eventually and if he wants to come after me and my business, then I say bring it on."

That was all she needed to hear. Even through the fear, the pressure, and the uncertainty...Jalen was still hers, and in four days, she would finally be free.

******************************************

The following Saturday morning, the house was tense at the Horner Residence. Heidi had spent the entire week dodging her father, avoiding prolonged conversations, and making sure there was no trace of Jalen in her life. She had scrubbed her phone, deleted every text, every photo, every call log.

She could feel it, though. Her father knew. He didn't have proof, but he knew. Now, as she rolled her final suitcase to the front door, he was standing in her way.

"Heidi, I need you to think about this."

Her mother, Sylvia, stood behind him, wringing her hands. "Honey, maybe we should talk a little more before you—"

"There's nothing to talk about." Heidi's voice was firm as she cut her mother off. "I already told you. I'm moving out, and that's final."

Tim's jaw clenched.

"I don't accept this."

Heidi swallowed the lump in her throat. She expected this, but hearing him actually say it still made it sting.

"You don't have to accept it," she said. "But you will respect it."

Tim's nostrils flared. "And where do you think you're going?"

"I already told you. I got a place in Sandy Springs. It's done. It's signed. I move in today."

"And how exactly do you plan to pay for it?" His voice was sharp. "You think your little teaching assistant job is going to cover rent in Fulton County?"

There it was. The condescension. The disrespect. Tim Horner had always viewed Heidi as his little girl and possession, and now that she was making a life choice without his permission, he was doing everything in his power to shake her confidence, but it wasn't going to work.

"I have savings. I have a job, and I don't need your money." Heidi said flatly.

"Really?" His eyes darkened. "You're doing all this without a man supporting you?"

Heidi stiffened. She could see the trap in his words. Her father was fishing to get her to slip up and admit who had helped her and who the father really is.

Heidi folded her arms. "I don't need anyone supporting me. I'm an adult, and I make my own decisions."

Tim narrowed his eyes.

"...And you're doing all this alone?"

"...Yes." Heidi said softly this time.

A beat of silence.

Then Tim's voice dropped into that terrifying, condescending growl. "You really expect me to believe that? That my daughter, the daughter I raised, is out here making decisions like this without some outside influence?"

Heidi stared him dead in the eye. "What you really mean is you can't handle the fact that I'm not under your thumb anymore."

Tim stepped closer. "You think I'm stupid? All this started after that contractor showed up, Jalen Moss. Admit it! That's who this is really about, isn't it?"

Sylvia whimpered. "Heidi... please tell me it's not—"

"You don't get to interrogate me," Heidi snapped, her voice louder now. "You don't get to guilt-trip me for leaving a house that's suffocating the life out of me."

"I'm your father," Tim barked. "I have a right to know who got you pregnant!"

"No, you don't," Heidi said, voice hardening. "You don't get to claim that title if the only way you know how to use it is to CONTROL ME!"

Tim's face twisted into something ugly. "You're making a huge mistake."

"No. The mistake was staying here as long as I did. The mistake was letting you treat me like I was some asset to protect instead of a person with a mind and future of her own."

Sylvia stepped forward, desperate. "Please don't leave like this. We can figure this out. We can talk—"

"You want to talk?" Heidi said, turning to her mother. "Then tell him to stop treating me like I'm property. Tell him to stop acting like my choices are sins just because he didn't pre-approve them."

Sylvia froze. She didn't say a word.

Leslie finally stepped out from the kitchen, her voice sharp. "She's not wrong."

Tim spun around. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Leslie said, her arms crossed. "You talk about family values, but you treat us like soldiers under your command. Heidi's not doing anything wrong. She's trying to live her life."

Tim's jaw locked. "This doesn't concern you."

Leslie stepped closer. "It does if you think you're going to bully her into staying."

Heidi looked at her little sister, heart pounding, throat tight, and mouthed a silent "thank you" to her.

Tim turned back to Heidi. "If you walk out that door, you're on your own. Don't come back here looking for help. Don't expect ANY support. You'll be cut off." Heidi stared at him for a long moment. Then she reached for the doorknob, took a deep breath, and said, "The next time you see me, I'll be a mother. I hope by then... you'll remember how to be a father."

She stepped outside and turned back one last time.

"I won't be back."

Tim froze. Heidi met his gaze without flinching.

"I'm not coming back, Dad."

The room fell into silence. Sylvia let out a small, shaky breath behind him. Tim's face hardened.

"...Then you're no daughter of mine."

A stab of pain shot through Heidi's chest, but she didn't let it show. She grabbed her last suitcase, pulled it outside with her, and shut the door.

******************************************

The moment Heidi pulled out of the driveway, she felt a whirlwind of emotions. On one hand, she was finally free of the suffocation of her father and his oppressive bubble. On the other hand, she had basically just severed ties with her family, and by extension, the only world she had ever truly known.

She didn't cry, look back or hesitate. She was hurt by what her parents had said to her, but she was also done. She hoped that Leslie would be okay now that she'd basically outed herself as someone not conforming to her father's beliefs. Maybe Leslie would join her one day. Heidi would welcome that if she ever wanted to.

Thirty-five minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot of her new apartment complex in Sandy Springs. Jalen was already there, standing outside his truck, waiting. The moment Heidi stepped out of the car, he knew. Heidi walked straight up to him and hugged him burying her face in his chest.

"As far as I'm concerned... I don't have a father." Heidi said into his chest. Her voice was low, but firm and unshakable. "Maybe my mother and I can reconcile down the road, but me and my father are DONE. I hate him."

Jalen didn't say anything at first. He wasn't going to tell her to calm down, tell her "he's still your father," nor that she would one day forgive him. He just held her. Let her breathe and feel. He knew better than to try to tell her how to feel about her father. Some wounds weren't meant to be patched up with words. Some wounds just had to bleed, and right now Heidi was bleeding. She clung to him, her arms wrapped tight around his waist, her face still buried in his chest. All that mattered right now was her.

He kissed the top of her head, his voice low and steady.

"Then he's done. If you say he's done, he's done."

She pulled back slightly, looking up at him. Searching his face. Jalen held her gaze.

"You're free, Heidi." His voice was soft but firm. "No one controls you anymore. Not him. Not anyone."

Her eyes glossed over. Her breath hitched, and then finally..., the dam broke. She sobbed. Not with little cries or quiet tears. Full-body, years-in-the-making, primal sobs. Jalen just held her through it.

******************************************

Chris Westward leaned forward in his chair, staring hard at the two private investigators sitting across from him in his office.

"So?" He folded his hands on his desk. "What do you have for me?"

The two men exchanged an uncomfortable glance before one of them cleared his throat.

"Not a damn thing," the first PI admitted, shifting in his seat.

Chris's jaw tightened. "Excuse me?"

The second PI exhaled, clearly already bracing for Chris's reaction. "Look, we tailed Megan. We went through her known associates, her recent movements. We checked phone records where we could. Bank transactions. Any sign that she might've left a trail."

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "But she's clean. Too clean."

Chris's fingers drummed against the desk.

"And Moss?" he asked, his voice sharp.

The first PI shook his head. "Same thing. The guy's a ghost. We checked his financials, his business dealings. We even followed him for a few days."

"And?" Chris snapped.

"And he works. Like a lot. Lately he's been doing a job at this property up in Bartow County. Some politician's house, I think. After that, he goes home or to a girl's place. He seems to keep a few in rotation but never seen him around Megan though. Then he does the same thing again the next day. He's disciplined. No criminal record, no lawsuits, no shady dealings. As far as we can tell, he's never even gotten so much as a parking ticket."

Chris's eyes narrowed. This didn't make any sense.

Megan had to be hiding something, and there had to be a connection to that contractor, Jalen Moss.

"Bullshit," Chris muttered, standing up and walking toward the window, staring out at the Atlanta skyline. "You're telling me a woman who's been living under my thumb for years just up and disappears with no money, no resources, and you can't find out a damn thing? And the contractor, Moss, he's just some honest, hardworking businessman? No dirt? No history? Nothing?"

The first PI hesitated. "I mean Moss does seem to be fucking around with a bunch of different women, but that's not exactly unusual for a guy his age. We're not saying there's nothing to find. We're saying that whatever there is, they covered their tracks well. We've been watching him and Megan like hawks and they've never come in contact with each other since we've been on them."

Chris turned around, his eyes burning with frustration. "So what am I paying you for?"

"We're telling you the truth," the second PI said, keeping his tone calm but firm. "If Megan's got something going on, she planned this well. She's not leaving a digital footprint. No new apartments in her name. No sudden cash deposits. No irregular spending patterns. And Jalen's not giving us anything either. The guy plays it straight."

Chris clenched his teeth. This wasn't over.

"Keep digging," he ordered, his voice low and dangerous. "I don't care how much it costs. Find me something. Anything."

The two PIs nodded, but the look they exchanged didn't go unnoticed. They were starting to realize what kind of man they were really working for.

******************************************

Jalen sat on his couch, mindlessly flipping through the channels on the TV, but he wasn't really watching anything. His thoughts kept drifting back to Chrysti Oliveira.

Two weeks.

That's how long it had been since she last responded to him. No texts, no calls, no random messages in the middle the night. Nothing. It made him sad, but he understood.

Chrysti was a fighter, a woman who spent years keeping her walls up for her own protection. Letting Jalen in had been an uphill battle for her from the start, and now it seemed like she was trying to pull away even after everything they'd experienced together. Jalen had thought after their last encounter that maybe she would finally allow herself to give in to her feelings, but it seems he may have been wrong.

Jalen wasn't angry. He understood it. This life, the one he was living, was crazy. Not many women could handle this, and he never blamed any of them for struggling with it, however, it still didn't stop the sting in his chest every time he checked his phone and saw nothing from her. He hoped she hadn't decided to cut him off completely. He didn't want to believe that.

Jalen sighed, rubbing a hand over his short beard before tossing his phone onto the table. Maybe she just needed time, or maybe... she was already gone.

******************************************

Elsewhere, Chrysti clutched the steering wheel, her knuckles turning white as she sobbed uncontrollably in the driver's seat of her car. Her chest ached, her throat burned, and her stomach twisted itself into knots so tight she could barely breathe. She'd been sitting in this parking lot for twenty minutes, staring at the entrance to the clinic, knowing that if she went inside, there was no turning back.

Her mind once again was at war with itself:

Voice 1: "You have to do this. You're not ready. This isn't the life you wanted."

Voice 2: "But you love him. And you love this baby."

Her body shook violently as she wiped her tears with the sleeve of her hoodie..., Jalen's hoodie. The same one she borrowed that day at his apartment, the day she never wanted to end. It still smelled like him. That only made her cry harder. Chrysti squeezed her eyes shut, taking a shaky breath.

Why was this so hard? She had spent so much time resisting him, convincing herself that she couldn't possibly fall for a man like Jalen. Not a man with six other women carrying his children, and yet, here she was... pregnant with his child, wearing his hoodie, crying in a parking lot because she couldn't bring herself to let go. Her phone vibrated. She sucked in a breath, her heart slamming against her ribs as she looked at the screen.

As if fate was torturing her..., Jalen's name was on the screen. The text was simple.

Jalen: "Hey. I know it's been a while, but I just wanted you to know that I'm thinking about you. I miss you, Chrysti."

She covered her mouth, her entire body breaking down all over again.

"He misses me...," she thought.

Her fingers trembled as she hovered over the keyboard.

******************************************

Jalen's heart skipped a beat when his phone began buzzing. It was a call from... CHRYSTI. Jalen answered immediately.

"Chrysti Hey! Are you okay?"

Jalen stopped to listen. All he heard was sobs. She was crying uncontrollably, unable to form words.

"Chrysti, I'm here! Where are you?"

More sobs. Then...

"A-a-a-b-b-b-ortion clinic."

Jalen's heart dropped into his stomach.

An abortion clinic. Chrysti. His Chrysti. Alone. Crying her eyes out. He gripped his phone tighter, his pulse thundering in his ears as he forced himself to breathe. This wasn't about him. This wasn't about convincing her of anything. This was about her. One of the women he loved, alone in the worst moment of her life.

"Chrysti, baby... tell me where you are. Please."

His voice was gentle, steady, even though his insides were shaking apart. More sobs on the other end.

"I-I... I-I can't—Jalen, I can't—"

Jalen closed his eyes, his heart breaking at the sound of her pain.

"You don't have to say anything else, okay? Just share your location with me. I'll be there. I promise. You don't have to be alone."

A few seconds of silence. Then, his phone buzzed. Location received. Jalen was already moving.

"Hang on, Chrysti. I'm coming."

He ended the call, pulled on his shoes, grabbed his keys and wallet, and literally sprinted out the door.

Jalen sped through the streets, and down the highway, weaving through traffic as his mind raced. He had never felt like this before, this urgent, helpless desperation. He didn't care about the risk, about getting pulled over, about anything except getting to her. Thankfully, no cops were around.

He reached the clinic in record time, pulling into the lot and scanning the area frantically. Then, he saw her. Chrysti was in her car, hunched over the steering wheel, shoulders shaking with deep, gut-wrenching sobs. Jalen jumped out of his truck and ran to her driver side car door.

"Chrysti," he breathed, tapping gently on the glass.

She didn't look up. Jalen opened the door, crouching beside her. He didn't say a word. He just reached in and gathered her into his arms.

The second he touched her, she shattered. She collapsed into his chest, gripping his shirt like a lifeline, sobbing uncontrollably. Jalen held her tight, rubbing slow, soothing circles on her back. She was shaking so hard, she could barely breathe.

"I can't—I don't know what to do, Jalen," she choked out between sobs. "I—Oh my God, I don't know—"

"Shhh... you don't have to decide right now." His lips brushed the top of her head. "You don't have to do anything alone."

She just sobbed harder. Jalen let her. He let her cry; let her break. He knew no matter what happened, he wasn't leaving her.

******************************************

Jalen never let go. For about thirty minutes, he just held her. Let her sob, grieve, and breathe. Her body trembled against his, her fingers still clinging to his shirt like she was afraid to let go. Jalen didn't rush her or push her to speak. He just kept his arms around her, his heartbeat steady, and whispered soft reassurances whenever she gasped for breath between sobs.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she pulled back slightly. Her eyes were swollen, her face streaked with tears, her lip quivering as she tried to form words. Jalen gently wiped her face, his thumb brushing along her cheekbone.

She swallowed hard, then finally, finally whispered, "I really don't know what to do..."

Her voice was so small, so lost, it broke Jalen's heart. He didn't try to answer for her, convince her, or tell her what to do. Instead, he took both her hands in his, squeezed firmly.

"Like I said before, you don't have to decide right now." He said.

Chrysti sniffled, shaking her head. "I feel like I do."

Jalen held her gaze, his voice gentle but firm.

"No. You don't."

A fresh wave of tears welled in her eyes.

"But Jalen... this is your baby too. Don't you want a say in this?"

Jalen felt a deep ache in his chest.

"Chrysti," he said softly, "I would love this baby. I already do."

Her lips trembled.

"But I love you more," he continued, "And I'm not gonna try to force you into something you're not ready for."

Chrysti choked on a sob, her shoulders shaking again. Jalen cupped her face, making sure she saw the truth in his eyes.

"I meant what I said before. You're not alone in this. No matter what you decide."

Chrysti let out a shaky breath, nodding weakly. Jalen brushed one last tear from her cheek.

"Come on," he said softly. "Let's get out of here."

Chrysti hesitated, glancing back at the clinic doors. Then, slowly, she looked back at Jalen.

"...Okay."

Jalen exhaled, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. He helped her out of the car, keeping her close, leading her away from the place that had her trapped in her own head.

******************************************

"But I love you more."

Chrysti held onto those words like a lifeline. They echoed in her head, over and over again, as Jalen gently led her away from the clinic. She didn't even realize she was still shaking until she felt Jalen's arm around her, holding her steady. He opened the passenger door to his truck, helping her inside carefully before getting in on the driver side.

They just sat there for a moment. Jalen didn't start the engine. He didn't say anything. He just let her breathe. Chrysti looked down at her hands, clutching her stomach instinctively.

"How the hell did I get here?" She thought.

She felt like she was standing on a cliff's edge, teetering between fear and longing. Then she looked at Jalen, and the way he looked at her... There was no judgment in his eyes. No pressure. Just love. Real, honest, unwavering love.

Her chest tightened. She wasn't ready to say it out loud yet. She wasn't ready to admit what her heart was screaming at her, but in that moment, she knew Jalen wasn't going anywhere, and that terrified her just as much as it comforted her. Chrysti took a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper.

"...I don't wanna go home."

Jalen nodded without hesitation.

"Then we won't."

He started the truck and pulled out of the parking lot, his hand reaching over to squeeze hers, and Chrysti squeezed back.

They drove to a nearby park, parked the truck, got out, walked over and sat on a bench in front of a lake. For a few minutes they didn't say anything. Jalen just sat next to her with his arm around her and her head laying on his shoulder.

Then Chrysti suddenly said, "You know there are times when I find myself hating you because you made that stupid U-turn in front of me that led to all this." Chrysti said.

Jalen let out a small chuckle, but there was no humor in his voice.

"Yeah..." he said, staring out at the lake. "I know."

Chrysti looked down at her hands, wringing them together in her lap.

"I mean... I don't actually hate you," she muttered. "But... I don't know. It's like... before that night, my life was simple. Not easy, but simple. I didn't have to wrestle with all this."

Jalen nodded slowly, his gaze still fixed on the gentle ripples in the water.

"I get it."

Chrysti scoffed. "Do you?"

Jalen turned to her then, his expression serious.

"Yeah. I do."

He took a deep breath, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees.

"You think I planned for any of this? For you? For any of the women in my life? I was just trying to get home that night, Chrysti, but then you and I hit each other unexpectedly, and then I saw you, and somehow I knew right away that you were someone that would become precious to me."

Chrysti sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair.

"That damn U-turn," she muttered.

Jalen smirked. "That damn U-turn."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke as they sat there listening to the water, the rustling of the trees, and the occasional sound of laughter from a couple walking along the path behind them. Finally, Jalen spoke again, his voice softer this time.

"If I could take away your pain... I would."

Chrysti swallowed hard.

"But I can't." He continued, "And I won't lie to you. This isn't going to get any easier overnight. You have every reason to be scared, every reason to doubt if this is what you really want, but I also know you, and I know that you don't really want to walk away from me."

Chrysti blinked rapidly, staring at the lake like it held all the answers she couldn't find.

"I don't," she whispered.

Jalen turned to her fully now, reaching for her hand. She let him take it.

"Then stop trying to convince yourself that you should."

Chrysti let out a shaky breath, finally looking at him.

"Jalen... I—"

But before she could even finish, he squeezed her hand, his thumb brushing against her knuckles.

"I got you," he murmured. "No matter what happens next, I got you."

Then for the first time in what felt like forever, Chrysti let herself believe him.

"Are you hungry? You want a grilled stuffed burrito from Taco Bell or something?" Jalen said, trying to cautiously lighten the mood.

Chrysti let out a soft snort, shaking her head.

"Ain't no way you think a grilled stuffed burrito is gonna fix this."

Jalen grinned, rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb.

"I mean... it won't fix it, but it might make you feel a little better."

Chrysti rolled her eyes, but Jalen could see the tiniest hint of amusement flicker in them.

"You just want an excuse to go to Taco Bell."

Jalen shrugged. "Maybe, but also, you need to eat."

Chrysti sighed, finally giving in.

"Fine," she muttered. "But I swear to God, Jalen, if they forget my extra nacho cheese—"

"I got you," he interrupted, standing up and tugging her hand gently. "Let's go."

Chrysti let him pull her up, and as much as she wanted to stay in her mess of emotions, there was something about Jalen's presence, his calm, unwavering support, that kept her grounded.

She still didn't know what the future held. She still wasn't sure if she could handle all of this, but for now she could let him hold her hand, make her laugh, even if just a little, and she could let him buy her a damn grilled stuffed burrito.

******************************************

At 2:15 PM on the following Tuesday, Karla Silva sat at her desk in her downtown Atlanta law office, finalizing the official discovery requests for Chris Westward's financial records.

She had been expecting stalling tactics. Chris was a powerful and connected man, and men like him didn't like being backed into a corner. She took a final glance at the documents.

She had bank statements from the last five years, tax returns and business financials, real estate holdings, stock portfolios, offshore accounts, and finally his expense reports, particularly ones tied to "business trips" that were actually trips with mistresses.

Karla smirked, knowing how much Chris must be fuming right now. His wealth and power were his identity, and now he was being forced to expose everything. She signed the document electronically and hit send. It was now legally filed. Then, she picked up her phone and called Megan.

Megan was at a cozy café on the outskirts of Atlanta when her phone buzzed. She saw Karla's name and instantly picked up.

"Please tell me you're about to make my day," Megan said, taking a sip of her tea.

"We're officially in the discovery phase. Chris has thirty days to turn over his financial records, or I can file a motion to compel," Karla said confidently. "We'll see if he plays fair..., but I doubt it."

Karla knew that Megan was pleased by the news even though Megan kept her tone measured. "What happens if he doesn't turn them over?"

Karla leaned back in her chair. "Then we go to the judge and hit him with sanctions. Judges don't like people hiding assets in divorce cases. If he pushes this too far, it could backfire spectacularly."

Megan nodded, understanding. "So... when do the settlement talks start?"

Karla checked her watch. "His lawyer will probably reach out in a few days to test the waters, but mark my words, Megan. Chris isn't going to just hand over money. He's going to fight, and I need you to be ready for that."

Megan sighed. She already knew that. "I'm ready."

******************************************

The following morning, Chris sat in his luxurious office at Westward & Associates, skimming through his emails with mild disinterest, until he saw the discovery request from Karla Silva.

His jaw tightened. He clenched his fist, fighting the urge to throw his phone against the wall.

"Son of a bitch..."

He immediately called his lawyer, Jeffrey Mathers.

"You see this bullshit? They're coming for everything. I want this shut down."

Mathers was calm. "Chris, you knew this was coming. You can't just ignore it."

Chris exhaled sharply. "Then we delay. Stall them. Bury them in counter-filings. I don't care, just keep them out of my pockets."

Mathers sighed. "If we push back too hard, the judge will see it as bad faith. We should—"

Chris cut him off. "I said stall them. Get it done."

He hung up, his anger boiling over.

******************************************

At 4:00 PM on Thursday, Karla's phone rang. It was Jeffrey Mathers.

She smirked, knowing exactly what this was about.

"Karla," Mathers said smoothly. "Let's talk settlement."

Karla leaned forward. "Go ahead."

Mathers cleared his throat. "Chris is willing to offer Megan a lump sum of $250,000 to walk away, no alimony, no further financial support."

Karla laughed out loud.

"Jeffrey, is that a joke? Because I swear I just heard you offer my client pennies."

Mathers sighed. "It's a generous offer, considering the prenup—"

"The prenup that states she gets a percentage of assets based on the duration of the marriage if Chris is in violation of the terms, which he is," Karla corrected. "Do you really want me to subpoena his financials and drag every dirty secret into court?"

Mathers was silent for a moment. Then:

"What's your counteroffer?"

Karla didn't hesitate. "Three million dollars. Full disclosure of financials. A signed gag order ensuring Chris can't defame her publicly."

Mathers nearly choked. "Three million? You're insane."

"No, Jeffrey. I'm prepared," Karla said coldly. "And if you stall, that number is only going to go up."

There was a long pause. Then Mathers muttered:

"...I'll talk to Chris."

*Click.*

Karla exhaled and leaned back.

"Your move, asshole." ******************************* About twenty minutes later, Jalen knocked and walked into Karla's office with lunch, her favorite drink, and flowers for her. Karla looked up from her laptop, her mind still replaying her tense phone call with Mathers. She hadn't expected Jalen to show up, but the sight of him carrying her favorite meal, a bouquet of red and white roses, and a bottle of the sparkling hibiscus drink she loved instantly melted the tension from her shoulders.

"Jalen... what are you doing here?" she asked, her tone softer than she intended.

Jalen smirked as he set the food down on her desk. "Figured my badass lawyer might need a little something to brighten her day. I know you just put Chris's people in a chokehold, so I figured I'd come celebrate."

Karla chuckled, shaking her head as she leaned back in her chair. "You're ridiculous."

Jalen placed the flowers next to her laptop and slid her lunch over. "I know. But you love it."

Karla rolled her eyes but smiled. She did love it. No man had ever made her feel this seen, cherished, and this understood. Jalen didn't even have to ask how she was feeling. He just knew.

She sighed, running a hand through her dark waves before reaching for the sparkling drink. "Mathers called. They offered Megan $250K."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "That's insulting."

Karla nodded. "That's exactly what I told them. I countered with three million, full disclosure of Chris's finances, and a gag order."

Jalen let out a low whistle. "Damn. You really went for the throat."

Karla took a sip of her drink, then smirked. "You expected anything less?"

Jalen chuckled as he pulled up a chair next to her desk, his eyes full of admiration. "Nah. That's why I brought you flowers. Gotta keep you feeling like the boss you are."

Karla felt a warmth spread through her chest. She still wasn't used to this, someone showing up just because they wanted to make her day better. She reached out and took Jalen's hand, squeezing it.

"Thank you, Jalen. Really."

Jalen kissed the back of her hand and winked. "Anytime, baby."

For the first time that day, Karla truly felt like she could breathe. She gently grabbed his chin and pulled him into a kiss.

****************************************** Forty-five minutes later, Karla's lone legal assistant, 23-year-old Marcia Gonzales, who had started about three weeks prior, came into her office, without knocking.

Marcia rattled off details about a deposition for a different case scheduled for next week, flipping through the file in her hands. Karla, sitting at her desk seemingly alone, tried to maintain her composure, but it was a battle. Every now and then, her breath hitched, her fingers tightening around the pen she held.

"Ms. Silva?" Marcia asked, pausing when she noticed Karla's unfocused expression.

Karla quickly cleared her throat, adjusting her posture in her chair. "Y-Yeah, Marcia. Go on."

Marcia frowned slightly but continued. Karla bit her lower lip, forcing herself to nod at the right moments as Marcia continued speaking. Karla struggled to keep her breathing steady. Marcia was still flipping through papers, talking about some procedural issue when Karla had to grip the edge of her desk with white-knuckled fingers to keep herself from moaning aloud.

Then after what seemed like an eternity, Marcia finally left. The moment the door clicked shut behind Marcia, Karla finally let go. Karla leaned back in her chair and allowed the sensation that had been building this whole time to overtake her. About forty-five seconds later, she orgasmed. She had to clasp her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming from sheer pleasure while her other hand slammed down onto the desk as her orgasm tore through her. She had been teetering on the edge for what felt like an eternity, her body locked in tension, her mind barely holding it together. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath. Her body was still trembling, and then...

Jalen..., the smug bastard who had been under the desk the entire time eating her pussy out, finally pulled back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"You were holding out on me," he teased, his voice low and rough with satisfaction.

Karla, still trying to recover, glared at him, though the effect was ruined by how breathless she looked. "You're an asshole."

Jalen smirked, standing up and leaning over her, his hands resting on the desk as he boxed her in. "And yet, you love me."

She did. Goddammit, she did.

Karla exhaled sharply, reaching down to pull him up into a heated tongue kiss, still tasting herself on his lips. Jalen hummed into the kiss, clearly pleased with himself.

After a moment, Karla pushed him back, her eyes still dark with lingering pleasure. "Get out before I lose my job, Moss."

Jalen chuckled, standing up straight and smoothing out his shirt. "Fine, fine. But just know... I'm taking you home with me tonight."

Karla rolled her eyes but didn't argue.

******************************************

Jalen technically was scheduled to be with Rachel that night, but she made plans with a couple of friends of hers so Jalen was free to be with Karla. The sexual tension and heat carried over from their afternoon encounter and they tore up her condo, fucking like rabbits. Jalen had Karla pinned against the wall in the living room, one leg wrapped around his waist, her nails digging into his back. Their movements were desperate, feverish, neither of them caring about anything other than how good it felt. But when Jalen shifted, thrusting harder, Karla flung her arm out for balance, only to send the lamp crashing onto the floor. Neither of them even paused.

They had somehow made it to the couch, Karla straddling Jalen, riding him with reckless abandon. His hands were gripping her waist, guiding her movements, his mouth trailing hot, open-mouthed kisses along her throat. At one point, Karla pushed him back, arching as she took him even deeper, so deep it had them both seeing stars. The force of it snapped the coffee table leg when Jalen braced against it.

They didn't stop. The couch cushions were completely out of place. A bottle of wine tipped over on the counter. Karla's heels were somewhere, neither of them knew where. When it was all over, they laid in the aftermath, bodies tangled, covered in a thin sheen of sweat, breathless and utterly spent.

Karla was the first to speak, her voice raspy and dry. "So... we broke some shit."

Jalen, still catching his breath, chuckled. "That's on you. You were trying to kill me."

Karla turned her head, smirking. "If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead."

Jalen laughed, pulling her closer. "Damn, I love you."

Karla let herself smile, just for a moment, before she pressed her face against his chest. She didn't even care about the broken furniture. Jalen was hers tonight. That was all that mattered.

******************************************

At 12:30 AM, with Karla now fast asleep, Jalen reached for his phone, now making it a habit to check in on Chrysti.

Jalen: "Hey just checking on you. How are you feeling?"

He didn't expect an immediate response. It had been this way since the day at the abortion clinic. Sometimes she answered and sometimes she didn't, but even when she didn't reply, Jalen figured she at least saw the messages, and at least knew that he was thinking about her.

Tonight, though, his phone vibrated almost immediately.

Chrysti: "Awake"

Jalen sat up a little, glancing at Karla, making sure she was still asleep before replying.

Jalen: "Everything okay?"

A pause. Then...

Chrysti: "Define okay"

Jalen exhaled, already reading between the lines.

Jalen: "You want me to come see you?"

A longer pause this time. Jalen waited.

Chrysti: "No"

Jalen frowned at the screen. That wasn't like her. If she wasn't brushing him off completely, she'd usually accept his offer to come over, even if it was just to sit with her.

Jalen: "Chrysti"

Chrysti: "Jalen"

Jalen: "You sure you don't want me there?"

Chrysti: "No"

Jalen: "But?"

A full minute passed before she responded.

Chrysti: "I don't want to be alone either"

Jalen closed his eyes for a second. He wanted to go to her. But he also knew Chrysti was stubborn—if she told him not to come, she meant it.

Jalen: "Stay on the phone with me then"

There was no response, but then, his phone started buzzing.

Jalen didn't hesitate. He answered immediately.

"Hey," he said, his voice low, careful not to wake Karla.

Chrysti was silent for a few seconds. Then, barely above a whisper...

"...Hey." Jalen laid back down, settling in.

"I'm here," he murmured. "Talk to me."

Chrysti sighed softly on the other end. "I don't even know what to say."

Jalen shook his head, voice gentle. "You don't have to say anything. Just stay on the phone with me."

There was another pause, but this time, it was different. Jalen could almost feel Chrysti relaxing, if just a little.

"...Okay," she finally whispered.

And so, Jalen stayed on the line with her. Neither of them spoke much, but they didn't have to.

She wasn't alone, and Jalen wasn't going anywhere until she fell asleep.

******************************************

The next day, while she's at work, Sydney Swanson gets a call from one of the last people she expected to hear from: her mother. Sydney sat at her desk, staring at her phone screen. The last time they spoke, things did not end well. Sydney had already braced herself for permanent distance between her and her parents after breaking their expectations, especially after Jalen stood by her side that day when they told her parents that she was pregnant.

Now, out of nowhere, her mother wanted to meet for lunch? Why now? What changed? After a few seconds of hesitation, Sydney answered the call right before it went to voicemail.

"Mom?" she said cautiously.

"Hi, sweetheart." Her mother's voice was soft but guarded. "I was wondering if you'd be willing to meet for lunch tomorrow. Just you and me. I want to talk."

Sydney's pulse sped up. She wasn't sure how to feel. Was this an olive branch, or was her mother just going to try and guilt-trip her all over again? Still, despite everything, she found herself wanting to say yes.

"Alright, Mom. Where and what time?"

Her mother gave her the details, no fancy restaurant, just a small café in Midtown at noon. The simplicity of the choice made Sydney even more curious. As she hung up, she sat back in her chair, exhaling deeply. She wasn't sure what to expect, but she knew one thing for sure. She wanted to tell Jalen about this.

******************************************

"Doesn't your mom hate my guts?" Jalen asked later that day at Sydney's place.

Sydney sighed, rolling her eyes as she leaned back against the kitchen counter. "Hate is a strong word," she said, crossing her arms.

Jalen gave her a look. "Sydney."

She groaned. "Okay, fine. Yes, she hates your guts. Happy?"

Jalen smirked. "Not exactly, but at least you're honest." He took a sip of his water before tilting his head. "So what's this about then? She suddenly have a change of heart?"

Sydney shook her head. "I don't know... That's what's bothering me. The last time we talked, she and Dad were pissed. You were there! And now, all of a sudden, she wants to have lunch?" She exhaled sharply. "It just feels off."

Jalen was silent for a moment, thinking. Then he shrugged. "You gonna go?"

Sydney hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah. I mean... she's still my mom. I don't want to assume the worst." She looked at him. "But if she starts with that guilt-trip crap, I swear, I'm walking out."

Jalen smiled a little. "That's my girl."

Sydney smirked before nudging him in the chest. "Oh, shut up." As much as she joked though, she still felt uneasy.

Jalen seemed to notice. "Hey," he said, reaching out and pulling her in closer. "No matter what happens tomorrow, just remember, you're not alone in this. You don't have to prove anything to her or your pops for that matter."

Sydney melted against him, closing her eyes for a moment. "I know," she whispered. "And that's why I love you."

Jalen kissed her forehead. "I love you too."

But as they stood there in silence, Sydney couldn't shake the feeling that tomorrow's lunch was going to be...complicated.

******************************************

Sydney had spent her entire life under the weight of her mother's expectations. From childhood, it was clear that her mother had a plan for her. Sydney was supposed to be the perfect, well-mannered daughter who would grow up to be the perfect, well-mannered wife to a respectable, Christian man with a stable job. Someone who would provide for her while she stayed home, raised children, and attended church every Sunday.

Her father, while sharing many of the same beliefs, had always been quieter about it. He mostly let her mother take the lead, stepping in only when necessary. Her mother was relentless though. When Sydney was in high school, her mother constantly drilled into her how important it was to remain "pure" for her future husband. How a good man wouldn't want a woman who had been "used up" before marriage. She talked about marriage as if it were the sole purpose of Sydney's existence, as if the only reason she should be focusing on school, health, and self-improvement was to be more desirable for a suitable husband.

Then she went to college, and her mother panicked. Sydney wasn't dating anyone seriously, and that worried her. "You're not getting any younger, Sydney." Her mother had said. Sydney was nineteen at the time.

Then she met Greg, and it was like her mother had won the lottery. A clean-cut, white, church-going, upper middle-class man with a solid job in sales and a decent enough personality. He wasn't exciting or particularly romantic, but he was safe. He was exactly the kind of man her mother wanted her to be with. For a while, Sydney played along. She tried to believe that maybe, just maybe, this life was what she wanted too. She ignored how bored she felt, how she and Greg had little to no passion, and how she felt more like a checklist being completed than a woman being loved.

Then she met Jalen. Sydney could still feel the moment their eyes first met at Lonnie's party, the way her whole body reacted before her mind could even process what was happening. He was the exact opposite of everything her mother wanted for her. A Black man, a contractor, a man who wasn't married to religion, and a man who didn't believe in outdated, gendered roles. Jalen made her feel alive in a way she never had before, and when they spent that first night together, she felt freedom for the first time.

But that freedom came with a cost.

When she told her parents that she had broken up with Greg, her mother was devastated. When she told them she was pregnant and that she and Jalen were not getting married, both of her parents lost it. The disappointment, the anger, the shame, it was all thrown at her like a verbal beating.

Now, months later, here she was, having called Sydney out of the blue asking to meet for lunch. Sydney had no idea what the hell to expect, but she knew one thing. She was not about to let her mother guilt-trip her into regretting the best decision she ever made.

On Saturday afternoon, Sydney arrived at The Southern Fork, an upscale yet cozy restaurant in Buckhead, dressed in a casual but polished outfit, a fitted beige sweater, maternity jeans, and brown ankle boots. She didn't know exactly why she agreed to meet her mother, but something in her gut told her she needed to see this through.

Her mother, Pamela Swanson, was already seated at a table near the window, sipping from a glass of water with lemon. She looked exactly the same, meticulously put together, not a single strand of her blonde bob out of place, wearing pearl earrings and a crisp navy blouse tucked into perfectly ironed slacks. She had the look of a woman who had spent her entire life caring about appearances.

Sydney took a deep breath before approaching.

"Mom," she greeted.

"Sydney," Pamela responded with a warm smile, standing to give her daughter a quick hug. Sydney noted how her mother always smelled like some kind of expensive floral perfume.

They sat down, and for the first few minutes, the conversation was pleasant, even normal. Pamela asked about her work, how she was feeling, if she was taking her prenatal vitamins. Sydney couldn't deny that part of her mother's concern was genuine, but Sydney had been down this road before. She knew her mother well enough to know that the real reason for this meeting was coming.

Sure enough, as soon as their salads arrived, Pamela lightly set her fork down and tilted her head.

"So, have you and Jalen given any thought to getting married?"

Sydney barely blinked. "No."

Pamela's face remained poised, but Sydney could tell she didn't like that answer.

"Well," Pamela started, maintaining a calm, almost practiced tone, "I just think, for the sake of the baby, it would be better if the two of you were legally a family."

Sydney held back a sigh. She knew this was coming.

"Mom, I love Jalen, but marriage is not on the table. We are fully committed to co-parenting and raising this baby together. That's not changing."

Pamela pursed her lips, nodding slowly. "I just worry about the stability, Sydney. You deserve a man who—"

Sydney had to cut her off. "Jalen is everything I deserve. He's kind. He's responsible. He's loving. He's been there for me since the second I found out I was pregnant. He's going to be an amazing father. What more do you want from him?"

Her mother folded her hands together, sighing. "It's not just about him, sweetheart. It's about you. You weren't raised to be a single mother. That's not the life I envisioned for you."

Sydney scoffed, shaking her head. "Oh, I know. You envisioned me barefoot in a kitchen with Greg, popping out babies while he worked at a dealership and played golf on Saturdays."

Pamela's expression faltered. "Sydney, don't be like that."

"I'm just telling the truth," Sydney countered. "You weren't actually upset about me being pregnant. You were upset about how it looked. About how I ruined your perfect little image of what my life was supposed to be."

Pamela let out a slow breath, her composed mask slipping just slightly. "I'm sorry if I made you feel that way. That was never my intention."

Sydney just looked at her mother, trying to gauge if that apology held real weight or if it was just another attempt to smooth things over. A moment of silence stretched between them.

Then, Pamela said something Sydney wasn't expecting.

"I would still like to be a part of my grandchild's life. And yours. If you'll allow me."

Sydney froze. That was not what she thought her mother was going to say.

Pamela continued, her tone softer. "I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but I do love you, Sydney. And this baby...this baby is part of our family, no matter what."

Sydney wasn't sure how to feel about that. Part of her had been prepared to fight, to defend herself, to argue with her mother until she walked away for good, but now she had to process the possibility of her mother actually trying to be involved, and whether she even wanted that.

"I don't know, Mom. You may not like the way I raise my child, especially if it's a girl. I'm not raising any daughter of mine to prepare to be 'the perfect wife', and I sure as hell will not tolerate anyone else putting those kinds of ideas in her head." Sydney said.

Pamela sighed, setting down her fork. "Sydney, that's not what I meant."

Sydney raised an eyebrow, leaning back in her seat. "Isn't it? Because last time we talked, you and Dad were more concerned about how this pregnancy looked than how I actually felt about it."

Pamela pursed her lips, looking down at her plate. "I won't lie to you. It was a shock, and yes, I reacted poorly." She hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "But that doesn't mean I don't love you, and it doesn't mean I won't love my grandchild."

Sydney folded her arms, the weight of years of resentment pressing on her chest. "You say that now. But the second I don't raise them the way you think I should, the judgment will start all over again." She shook her head. "I'm not doing that, Mom. I'm not letting you or anyone else try to mold my child into your idea of ‘the perfect person.' My child is going to be free to think for themselves, to be who they want to be, and to know that they never have to shrink themselves for anyone. You sure you can handle that?"

Pamela was quiet for a long moment. Then, with a deep breath, she met Sydney's gaze. "I may not understand all your choices, and I may not always agree with them, but I do want to be in your life, Sydney. And I do want to know my grandchild."

Sydney stared at her mother, trying to gauge whether this was real or just another attempt at control.

"...I don't trust you yet," she admitted. "I don't trust that you actually mean that, but if you're serious, then you're going to have to prove it."

Pamela nodded, accepting that answer. "I will."

Sydney wasn't sure if she believed her, but for the first time in a long time, she wanted to.

******************************************

"Do you think she's for real?" Jalen asked her later on the phone.

Sydney had called Jalen the minute she got in the car to fill him in on what her mother had said. She sighed, gripping the steering wheel as she switched lanes.

"I don't know. I want to believe her, but I'm not stupid. My mom has spent years trying to shape me into her perfect little housewife fantasy, and now all of a sudden, she wants to be a part of my life again? Feels too easy."

Jalen listened intently on the other end. "Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Like... what's the catch?"

Sydney let out a dry chuckle. "Exactly. I wouldn't put it past her to be playing the long game, trying to get back in my good graces just so she can start pushing that ‘Why don't you two just get married?' agenda again."

Jalen exhaled, shaking his head even though she couldn't see him. "I wouldn't put it past her either."

"I mean, maybe she's genuine. Maybe she really does just want to be in the baby's life, no strings attached. But honestly? I don't trust it yet." Sydney drummed her fingers against the steering wheel. "She's gonna have to prove to me that she's not just trying to get close so she can manipulate me."

"I get it," Jalen said. "You don't owe her blind trust, Syd. If she's serious, she'll show it."

Sydney sighed again, pulling into the parking deck at her apartment. "Yeah... I guess we'll see."

Jalen could hear the stress in her voice. "Listen, don't let this mess up the rest of your day. Just take it for what it is. She said her piece, now it's up to her to back it up. You don't gotta carry all that on your shoulders."

Sydney smiled faintly at his reassurance. "Yeah... you're right."

"I know I am," Jalen teased. "Now go dominate the rest of your day."

Sydney laughed, shaking her head as she grabbed her purse. "Alright, I'll text you later."

"Bet. Love you."

Sydney hesitated for half a second before responding, but when she did, her voice was softer. "Love you too."

Chapter 21

The following Sunday afternoon, Jalen was trying to relax and recharge. Sundays were supposed to be the days he could take time to himself since the rest of the week was spent being there for the seven women in his life.

Jalen was stretched out on his couch, controller in hand, locked in a heated Call of Duty match when his phone rang. He groaned, seeing Rodney's name flashing across the screen.

Man, I already know he's about to ask me for something.

Setting the controller down, Jalen sighed and answered. "What's up, Rod?"

"Bruh! You gotta roll with me tonight!" Rodney's voice came through the speaker, full of urgency.

Jalen shook his head. "Comon Bruh... I'm tired. My life has been a circus. I just want to play Call of Duty and chill the rest of the day."

"Bruh, they got the hottest women and the best vibes at this spot, and I need a wingman. Please?!"

Jalen leaned his head back on the couch. "What even is this club?"

"It's a new spot called The Ice and Flame Club. I went last month, and I went again last Sunday. It's fire, bruh. They got this whole 1940s vibe. Old-school glamour, live music, the whole nine."

Jalen rubbed his temple. "Rod, you don't even like jazz music. Why the hell are you suddenly obsessed with this place?"

Rodney took a dramatic breath. "Jalen. Jessica Robinson."

"...Who the hell is Jessica?"

Rodney scoffed like Jalen just disrespected the Queen of England. "Bruh..., Jessica Robinson is a goddess. She's the hottest woman to walk this earth. She performs there every so often, and she's scheduled to perform tonight. Men would kill for a chance to touch her."

Jalen chuckled. "You sound down bad."

Rodney didn't even deny it. "I am down bad, bruh! That's why you gotta roll with me!"

Jalen sighed, rubbing his face. "Man..."

"Come on! One night. Just one night! You need to get out, take a break from all the madness. Just chill, have a drink, and enjoy some fine-ass women. I promise you'll thank me."

Jalen groaned, knowing Rodney wasn't gonna let up. "...Fine. I'll go."

"YES!" Rodney shouted. "I'll pick you up at nine. Dress sharp. This ain't no throw-on-a-hoodie spot. You gotta clean up nice."

Jalen smirked. "I always clean up nice."

Rodney laughed. "You right, you right. Aight, bet. I'll text you when I'm on the way."

Jalen hung up, shaking his head. "Man, what the hell did I just sign up for?"

******************************************

Later that evening, Jalen stood in front of his bathroom mirror, buttoning up his silver dress shirt with a reluctant sigh. He adjusted the black blazer over his broad shoulders, the tailored fabric hugging his frame just right. His black slacks were crisp, and his shoes were polished to perfection.

As he smoothed out his collar, he eyed his reflection. Damn, I do clean up nice.

His phone buzzed on the counter.

Rodney: "I'm outside. Let's go, bruh. You ‘bout to witness history."

Jalen chuckled, shaking his head. History? Rodney was way too hype about this chick.

A few minutes later, he grabbed his keys and phone, heading outside.

******************************************

Rodney pulled up to The Ice and Flame Club at exactly 9:27 PM. Jalen stepped out, taking in the sight of the building. It was stunning, art deco architecture, glowing signage, and a vintage aesthetic that made it feel like they'd stepped back in time.

"You weren't kidding about the vibe," Jalen admitted as they approached the entrance. "This place is classy."

Rodney grinned, practically vibrating with excitement. "Told you! And we haven't even gotten inside yet."

The moment they entered, Jalen instantly felt the shift. The place oozed old-school sophistication. The interior was dimly lit with golden chandeliers, dark wooden accents, and plush red velvet seating. The air was thick with a mix of cologne, perfume, and the distant scent of expensive cigars. A live jazz band played softly in the background, setting the perfect sultry tone. Women floated through the space, draped in silk gowns, glittering dresses, and dramatic high heels. The men were equally sharp, wearing suits and ties, with a few rocking suspenders and fedoras to match the club's era-inspired theme. A black-and-white photo of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington hung near the entrance, emphasizing the venue's deep jazz roots.

Jalen exhaled, impressed. "Alright, Rodney... you might've actually put me onto something."

Rodney smirked. "Man, we ain't even got to the best part. Let's hit the bar, get some drinks, and get a good spot before Jessica takes the stage. You gotta see her to believe it."

Jalen followed his boy to the bar, wondering just how legendary this woman really was. He already had seven gorgeous women in his life so his expectations were very low as to how impressed he could really be. The two ordered drinks, Rodney was fidgeting in his seat, practically bouncing with anticipation as he kept glancing toward the stage at the far end of the room. Jalen, meanwhile, leaned back, sipping his bourbon and ginger ale, taking in the atmosphere. He had to admit, this place had a vibe. The energy was intimate, classy, and electric all at once.

Then the lights dimmed, and the low hum of conversation around them quieted. A voice came over the loudspeaker, smooth and theatrical.

"Ladies and gentlemen... may we present,... the gorgeous and divine... Jessica... Robinson..."

Rodney tensed beside Jalen, nudging him hard in the arm. "Here she comes!" he whispered excitedly. Jalen just smirked and shook his head, amused at how giddy his boy was acting over a woman he had never even spoken to.

Then it happened. The stage remained in darkness, except for a single spotlight illuminating the curtain. From behind it, one single, long, toned leg stepped out, slow and deliberate. The red Christian Louboutin So Kate stiletto caught the light, gleaming with every shift of her foot. The energy in the room shifted immediately as if every man in the place suddenly forgot how to breathe.

Then, that voice...

Smooth, velvety, with a sultry richness that wrapped around the room like smoke. A voice that wasn't just heard but felt.

"You had plenty money, 1922..."

Rodney exhaled sharply. "Fuuuuck," he muttered under his breath.

Jalen was still unfazed. That is, until she fully stepped out from behind the curtain. And holy shit....Jessica Robinson was breathtaking.

She wasn't just beautiful. She was stunning to the point where she almost didn't seem real. She was like a woman out of time, a classic Hollywood goddess reborn in the modern day.

Her long, voluminous auburn-red hair was styled in soft, cascading waves that shimmered under the light, a glossy sheen accentuating the movement. Her high cheekbones, perfectly sculpted jawline, and large, almond-shaped green eyes made her look like she had stepped right out of a painting. Her lips, plump, painted a deep, rich red lipstick color, parted just enough to let her sultry notes escape effortlessly.

And then there was the dress. A strapless, form-fitting, sequined red gown that hugged every sinful curve of her hourglass body. The slit riding high up her thigh left just enough to the imagination while still taunting the mind. And those huge, round breasts? The dress looked like it was struggling to contain them.

She was a walking fantasy. A siren in human form.

"You let other women make a fool of you..."

And then Jalen felt it. That same warmth, the same pull in his chest and gut, the unexplainable yet undeniable force that he had now come to recognize. Jalen swallowed, his grip tightening around his glass. "Fuck, man...." He thought.

Rodney leaned closer, still lost in his daze. "This is the first time I've seen her without her gloves on," he murmured.

Even Jessica's hands matched the rest of her body's stunning aura. One of her wrists had several bright gold bracelets that gleamed in the light, and she had perfectly manicured long red-colored, almond-shaped acrylic nails. The nail color perfectly matched her dress, heels, and lipstick.

Jalen barely heard Rodney because he was realizing exactly what this meant. She was the eighth. Jessica Robinson was the final woman.

Jalen found himself leaning back in his chair, watching as Jessica commanded the stage with every subtle movement. Her presence was mesmerizing, her voice dripping with the kind of seductive confidence that could ensnare any man in the room.

"You sittin' down wonderin' what it's all about You ain't got no money, they will put you out Why don't you do right Like some other men do?"

Her emerald-green eyes scanned the crowd as she sang, locking onto different men, making them feel like they were the only ones in the room. Rodney was practically drooling, his hands clasped together in front of him like he was praying to the goddess on stage.

"Bruh..." Rodney muttered, shaking his head. "She's perfection."

Jalen smirked but didn't respond. He wasn't immune. Jessica was stunning, captivating, unreal, but Jalen had been around enough incredible women to know when something was dangerous.

Then it happened. Jessica's gaze landed on him. Unlike the fleeting glances she had given other men, this one lingered. She didn't just see him, she studied him, as if she was trying to memorize every inch of his face. The way her lips curled into a small, knowing smirk sent a shiver down Jalen's spine.

And then... she winked.

Rodney noticed immediately. "Oh, hell no. Did she just—?!"

Jalen exhaled through his nose, keeping his expression unreadable. "Relax, bruh."

"Relax?! She just singled you out! Do you understand how many dudes in here would sell their soul just to get a damn handshake from her?!"

Jessica continued her performance, but the exchange between them felt pointed. That look, that smirk, and of course that wink. Jessica had to be feeling it too. That same pull that had drawn Jalen to Sydney, Kristen, Megan, Rachel, Heidi, Karla, and Chrysti.

The Beyonder's Prophecy was on the verge of being complete.

******************************************

Jessica finished her song and then returned backstage. There was a roar of applause as the curtain closed behind her. Then the lights returned to their original setting and the club resumed its usual lively atmosphere of background music, conversations, and drinks flowing. Rodney was still buzzing with excitement, damn near shaking Jalen's arm.

"Bruh, listen, I need you to go back there and talk to her."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "Why the hell would I do that?"

Rodney looked at him like he was crazy. "Because she winked at you! Bro, you don't understand. She's never done that to anyone before. Ever. This is your shot!"

Jalen exhaled, rubbing his chin. Rodney had no idea what was actually happening. Jessica wasn't just a beautiful woman showing interest. She was the final piece to an insane, cosmic puzzle that had upended his entire life. Jalen had already accepted seven pregnancies, seven relationships, and the burden of being the father to the future saviors of the galaxy. Now, the last woman had appeared, and all he could do was brace himself for whatever was coming next.

Rodney kept pushing. "Just—just try, bro! What do you have to lose?!"

Rodney's insistence aside, Jalen knew that the prophecy dictated that he needed to find some way to talk to her. The problem was security wasn't going to let just anyone backstage. Jalen wondered how many men have been caught trying to sneak back there to see Jessica. He sat at the bar, thinking. There were two large bouncers posted at the hallway entrance leading to the dressing rooms. There was no way he could just walk in without them stopping him.

Then, an opportunity presented itself. A waitress carrying a tray of drinks passed by, heading toward the back. She disappeared behind the velvet curtain, nodding at the guards who let her through without question. Jalen smirked.

"That's my way in." He thought.

He acted quickly.

Rodney almost jumped out of his chair in excitement. "Yo, my boy is about to go holla Jessica Robinson! Oh my God—"

"Shut up, Rodney," Jalen muttered, making his way toward the backstage area.

He casually walked over to the bar near the back entrance. He grabbed an empty serving tray left behind by another waitress. Then, he waited, watching the timing of the staff coming in and out. After about five minutes, another busboy carrying a tray of empty glasses walked past. Jalen followed just a few steps behind him, making himself blend in. When they reached the bouncers, the busboy was waved through. Jalen acted like he belonged, giving a subtle nod to the guards. He kept walking, keeping his expression neutral, his posture confident.

And just like that... he was in.

Jalen moved quickly down the hallway, passing a few doors until he spotted the one labeled "Guest Dressing Room." This had to be her. He didn't hesitate. He set the tray down and then turned the handle and slipped inside before anyone could stop him.

The room was a mix of old-school Hollywood glam and modern luxury. A vanity mirror lined with warm lights reflected an array of makeup, perfumes, and jewelry. A plush red couch sat against one wall, and an elegant black-and-gold gown was draped over a chair.

Jessica was sitting in front of the mirror, removing her earrings. She froze when she saw his reflection in the mirror. She slowly turned around, her green eyes narrowing.

"Who the hell are you?" Jessica's sultry voice was laced with suspicion.

Jalen held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Relax. I just wanted to talk."

Jessica crossed her arms, eyeing him up and down. Her posture wasn't afraid. She clearly wasn't the type to get scared easily. Instead, she was studying him, trying to figure out if he was just another crazed fan or something else entirely.

"...You're bold. Sneaking into my dressing room? You got a death wish or something?"

Jalen smirked, leaning against the door. "Nah, but something tells me you wouldn't have let me in if I knocked."

Jessica tilted her head slightly, watching him. There was something familiar about him, and she couldn't put her finger on why.

"You're funny. And you're not wrong," she admitted. "I don't entertain strange men in my space."

"Then why haven't you kicked me out yet?"

Jessica didn't answer immediately. It was a good question. There was something about him that made her hesitate, something pulling her in, and that unnerved her.

She narrowed her eyes. "...Who are you?"

Jalen took a step forward, meeting her gaze. "I'm Jalen. Jalen Moss."

Jessica exhaled slowly, running her tongue over her red lips. She was intrigued now, but she still wasn't about to drop her guard.

"You got ten seconds to tell me why you're here before I have security come in and rip your arms off."

Jalen just chuckled.

"Go ahead."

Jessica blinked. That wasn't the reaction she expected. Most men tried to impress her, flatter her, or shrink under her intensity. Jalen wasn't doing any of that, which pissed her off.

"You think I won't?" Jessica challenged.

Jalen tilted his head, eyes locked on hers. "No, I think you don't want to."

Silence. Jessica can't deny it. She doesn't. What the hell was happening? She didn't know this man, but for some reason, he was standing in her dressing room, looking at her like he'd known her forever, and what's worse, it didn't feel wrong. She hated how her body responded to him, how his presence alone was making her heart race. She was not some love-struck idiot. So she did what she does best. She regained control. She stood up and took a slow step forward, her red-soled heels clicking against the floor. Then another, until she was right in front of him.

"I don't like games, Jalen Moss." Jessica said softly, her voice dangerous.

Jalen doesn't move or flinch.

"Neither do I."

Jessica tilted her head, studying him.

"Then what do you want?"

Jalen's voice is steady.

"To talk."

Jessica smirked.

"You snuck past security just to talk? Sounds like bullshit."

Jalen smiled back. "Maybe."

Jessica let out a short laugh, half amused, half irritated. She still didn't know who the hell this man was, but for some reason... she wants to. Her eyes locked onto his. She felt something...something undeniable, but it made no damn sense. She wasn't the type of woman who let men in easily. She was used to attention, admiration, and controlling every interaction with men who wanted a piece of her, but this was different, and it frustrated her.

"So," she said, turning around and walking back to her chair, arms folded. "Did you sneak in here just to stroke my ego, try to have your way with me, or is there something else you want?"

Jalen eyes never left her. "Maybe I just wanted to see if the woman behind the voice is as mesmerizing as the one on stage."

Jessica's red lips curved into a dangerous smile. "That's bold."

"I tend to be." Jalen responded.

Jessica sat back down and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her vanity. "So, tell me, Jalen. What exactly makes you think you're so special?"

Jalen smiled again. "You tell me. You're the one who still hasn't kicked me out yet."

Silence. Jessica hated that he was right. She should've had security drag him out by now.

Jessica exhaled sharply, her long red acrylic nails tapping against the vanity. "I will kick you out if you don't stop bullshitting me with your cryptic lines."

"Okay. Fine." Jalen said, crossing his arms now. "Why did you wink at me?"

Jessica turned around to look at him again.

"Is that why you're here? Because of a stupid wink?"

"No. It's because I was with my friend who has seen all of your performances, and he said you've NEVER done that before. So, I'm asking, why me?"

Jessica froze for a second. Damn. He caught that? She had no intention of drawing attention to him like that. She barely even registered the wink when she did it. It was instinctual, like her body acted before her mind even processed it. Now this man, this stranger, was standing in her dressing room, staring at her like he had all the answers she didn't even know she needed.

She folded her arms again and tilted her head slightly. "So let me get this straight. You snuck past security, came into my dressing room, all because I winked at you?"

Jalen didn't back down. He stood his ground, arms crossed, staring right back at her.

"I ask you again, why me? Why, after dozens of performances, hundreds of people watching you, did you single me out? What made me different?"

Jessica felt her pulse quicken. She wasn't used to being questioned like this. Usually, she was the one in control. She set the tone and decided how the night went. Her lips parted slightly, but she had no answer, or at least, not one that made sense.

"I don't know," she admitted, and she hated that she had to say it.

Jalen took a slow step toward her. Deliberate and controlled. "That's not good enough."

Jessica exhaled sharply, annoyed at how easily he was getting under her skin. "Then take whatever answer you need and get the hell out."

Jalen studied her for a second, and then...he made that smirk. Jessica hated how that smirk made her feel.

"You felt it, didn't you?" he said smoothly. "The same thing I did."

Jessica's stomach tightened. She didn't answer because she didn't have to.

Jalen smiled harder. He looked down for a second before looking back up at her. He then uncrossed his arms.

"I'll go now." He said. "I'm sorry for bothering you. It was a pleasure to meet you Ms. Robinson."

Jessica watched as Jalen turned to go. She felt an immediate pull in her chest, something deep and frustratingly irrational screaming at her not to let him leave. But why? She had never been the kind of woman to chase a man. She'd never been the kind of woman to let anyone, especially a stranger, get into her head. Then just as he was about to open the door, she shut her eyes tightly before saying:

"Wait."

Jalen stopped, his hand hovering just above the door handle. He turned back, his expression unreadable.

"Yeah?"

Jessica stood up and folded her arms yet again, suddenly feeling exposed, vulnerable in a way she didn't like, but she couldn't ignore this feeling.

"You walked in here with all this confidence, like you already knew something I don't," she said, narrowing her green eyes at him. "So, tell me. What is it that you think I felt?"

Jalen studied her for a second before stepping forward again, just close enough to command the space but not invade hers.

"You really wanna know?"

Jessica held her ground. "Yes, enlighten me."

Jalen exhaled softly, shaking his head like even he couldn't believe he was about to say this.

"The second you looked at me, I felt like I'd known you my whole life," he said simply. "Like you were already mine, and the way you looked back at me?" He tilted his head. "Even if you don't want to admit it, you felt the same thing."

Jessica's pulse spiked. She forced herself not to react, not to let him see how much his words rattled her.

"You're awfully sure of yourself, aren't you?" she said, arching a brow.

Jalen smiled again. "I only say what I know."

Jessica scoffed, trying to play off the sudden heat creeping through her body. "Well, you don't know me, Jalen."

"Not yet."

That response sent a jolt through her. She clenched her jaw, turning away from him and sitting back down at her vanity, pretending to adjust her makeup even though she was already flawless. She needed a second to think. Jalen let the silence hang between them for a beat before finally sighing.

"Alright. I'll go for real this time," he said, moving toward the door again.

And then there it was again. That sinking feeling in Jessica's stomach at the thought of him leaving.

"Damn it." She thought.

"...What are you doing tomorrow night?" She suddenly said without turning around.

Jalen stopped again, looking over his shoulder.

"That depends. Why do you ask?"

Jessica swiveled back toward him, crossing her legs slowly, deliberately. "Because if you really think you ‘know' me, I want to see how well you handle sitting across from me for a whole meal."

Jalen chuckled lowly. "Are you asking me out on a date, Ms. Robinson?"

Jessica smirked now, finally regaining some of her usual control. "No. I'm testing you."

Jalen grinned. "Same thing."

Jessica rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the small, amused smile from forming on her lips.

"Fine. Tomorrow night. Seven-thirty," she said. "Meet me at the St. Regis Bar. And it's NOT a date."

Jalen smiled and nodded. "I'll be there."

And with that, he finally left. Jessica exhaled slowly, staring at the door long after he was gone.

"What the hell was that?" She thought.

******************************************

Bro! What happened in there?! Rodney asked Jalen, barely able to keep calm as Jalen returned to the bar. "Comon, don't get all tight lipped on me now!"

"I'm gonna catch an Uber home, bruh. I'll holla at you later." Jalen said, raising his hand to dap him.

He couldn't hide his smirk though.

"Na, bruh. You can't do that. Tell me what happened!" Rodney implored.

Rodney then scanned Jalen's face as he dapped him up.

"Wait... Did you... You got a date with her, didn't you? You bastard! You're gonna get to see her again, aren't you?!"

Jalen smirked and simply said, "‘Night, dawg."

****************************************** The next day Jalen had lunch with Sydney on her lunch break. Sydney was now more noticeably pregnant at six months. She still looked effortlessly stunning though.

She recently had her nails manicured with periwinkle blue colored acrylic nails. Her blond hair cascaded down her shoulders and back in loose waves. Her makeup was flawless including her nude-colored lipstick. Even her maternity work outfit was stylish. Her heels were much shorter now given her pregnancy, but again, Jalen felt privileged to be next to her. They were sitting side by side in the booth so they could be more handsy and loving to each other.

"I spoke to my mom on the phone last night." Sydney said.

"Oh yeah? How was that?" Jalen replied as he took a bite of his philly cheesesteak sandwich.

Sydney exhaled. "She wants to meet with you one-on-one. Says she wants to get to know you better in a more civilized conversation this time."

Jalen swallowed his food before answering. "This is the same woman who hates my guts for being black and not marrying you, isn't it?" Jalen says chuckling.

Sydney sighed, rolling her eyes as she took a sip of her iced tea. "I never said she hated you for being black. I just said she—"

"—doesn't approve of me because I'm black and because I'm not Greg," Jalen finished with a smirk.

Sydney groaned and playfully nudged him with her elbow. "Okay, fine, maybe there's some mild racism mixed in there, but to be fair, she barely approved of Greg either because we weren't married yet."

Jalen raised an eyebrow. "And now she suddenly wants to have a heart-to-heart with me? The same guy she thinks knocked up her daughter and ruined her perfect 1950s dream life?"

Sydney sighed, running a hand through her wavy blonde hair. "Look, I don't know what her angle is yet, but she says she just wants to talk. No ambushes, no lectures. Just... a conversation."

Jalen studied her, noting the slight tension in her shoulders. "And you believe her?"

Sydney hesitated. "...I want to."

Jalen exhaled through his nose, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand. "So, what do you want me to do?"

Sydney turned her body slightly toward him, looking into his eyes. "I want you to meet with her."

Jalen tilted his head. "Seriously?"

"Yes," Sydney said firmly. "I know my mom. She's stubborn, she's judgmental, she's annoying as hell, but she's also my mom, and if there's even a chance that she's trying to make an effort... I need to at least give her that chance."

Jalen sighed, shaking his head but unable to say no to her. "Fine. I'll do it."

Sydney beamed, squeezing his hand. "Really?"

"Yeah, yeah," Jalen muttered. "But just so we're clear, I'm not kissing her ass, I'm not playing the ‘Yes, ma'am, no, ma'am' game, and I'm definitely not gonna pretend to be something I'm not just to make her feel better about you having my baby out of wedlock."

Sydney chuckled. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

Jalen smirked, then leaned in, kissing her softly. "You owe me for this."

Sydney smirked back. "Oh, trust me, baby, I'll make it worth your while."

Jalen hummed against her lips before pulling back. "Damn right you will. By the way, I'm going to be late coming over tonight." Jalen said thinking about his scheduled dinner date with Jessica. "Is that okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine." Sydney said without even pressing further.

Jalen raised an eyebrow at her lack of curiosity. "That's it? No ‘Where are you gonna be?' No ‘Why are you gonna be late?'"

Sydney smirked, popping a fry into her mouth. "Nope."

Jalen leaned back in the booth, eyeing her suspiciously. "You don't wanna know, or you already know?"

Sydney shrugged, licking a bit of salt off her fingertip. "I assume it's either work-related, one of the other girls, or some new situation you haven't told me about yet." She gave him a playful glance. "And knowing you, if it was something shady, you wouldn't have told me at all."

Jalen shook his head, chuckling. "Damn, you know me too well."

Sydney smirked and leaned in, her voice teasing. "I do know you, and I also know that when you're ready to tell me, you will. So I don't need to pry."

Jalen stared at her for a beat, appreciating her trust in him. "You're something else, you know that?"

Sydney winked, stealing one of his fries. "That's why you love me."

"You're definitely right about that." Jalen said smiling.

They sat in silence for a minute as they continued to eat their food. Jalen thought about something that's been weighing on him and decided that now was as good a time as ever to tell Sydney about and get her input.

"There is something I would like your opinion on..." Jalen said softly.

"What is it?" Sydney asks.

Jalen hesitates. Then...he tells Sydney about...Chrysti. He tells Sydney how he and Chrysti met, connected, how Chrysti knows about Sydney and the other women, how he got her pregnant, how Chrysti is torn about trusting Jalen and embracing his crazy situation because of past betrayals from men in her life, how she almost got an abortion, and how he has no idea if she'll every truly trust him even though he knows she cares for him.

Sydney listened intently; her expression unreadable as Jalen laid everything out over the course of about fifteen minutes. She didn't interrupt or react with immediate judgment. When he finally finished, letting out a deep breath, Sydney stared down at her half-eaten fries, her manicured fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"Well... damn," she finally said, looking up at him with a thoughtful expression.

"That's it? Well, damn?" Jalen asked, searching her face for more.

Sydney sighed, shifting slightly in her seat. "I mean... I don't know what you want me to say. I could be mad that you waited this long to tell me, but honestly? I get it. She's different from the rest of us. It's not just about adjusting to the situation. She's actively fighting herself over it and knowing that she almost..." Sydney trailed off, exhaling slowly before looking Jalen dead in the eyes. "That's heavy."

Jalen nodded. "I know, and I don't know what else to do to show her she can trust me."

Sydney studied him for a moment, her blue eyes softening. "Jalen, you're already doing it. You're showing up. You're checking on her. You rushed to her side when she was at her lowest. That's everything to someone like her." She reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. "But you also have to understand that you can't make her trust you. That's her decision. If she chooses to run, there's nothing you can do but let her."

Jalen's jaw tightened. He hated the thought of losing Chrysti, but Sydney was right, just like she always was.

Sydney squeezed his hand. "The best thing you can do is keep being the man you are, and when she's ready, she'll see you for what you really are. A good man."

Jalen swallowed hard, nodding. "Yeah... yeah, I hear you."

Sydney tilted her head, giving him a small smirk. "You know, I should be charging you for therapy at this point."

Jalen laughed, squeezing her hand back. "Nah, you love giving me advice."

Sydney shrugged, grinning. "I do, but only because you actually listen."

Jalen looked at her, appreciation filling his chest. Sydney had always been his safe place, the one he could tell anything, and once again, she had helped him see things a little clearer.

"By the way", Jalen added, "I promise you that I am not seeking these women out. This just keeps happening to me... I know it sounds like bullshit but it's the truth."

Sydney smirked, shaking her head as she sipped her tea. "Oh, trust me, I know you're not seeking them out. You don't have the energy for that."

Jalen chuckled, rubbing his face. "Right? I barely have time to breathe as it is."

Sydney tilted her head, giving him a knowing look. "But you are embracing it."

Jalen paused, then sighed. "Yeah... I guess I am."

Sydney leaned in a little, her voice softening. "And I get it. You feel the pull. It's not like you're chasing random women. Every single one of us, me, Kristen, Megan, Rachel, Karla, Heidi... and now Chrysti, something bigger is happening here. You'd have to be an idiot to ignore it."

Jalen stared at Sydney for a second because she wasn't wrong. In fact, she was exactly right. Jalen wasn't allowed to tell her about the prophecy, but it was as if Sydney was the only other person that somehow knew that this was all part of a cosmic fate pulling them all together.

Jalen exhaled. "Yeah, but sometimes I feel crazy. Like... why me? Why is this happening to me?"

Sydney shrugged. "Maybe you were chosen for a reason. Maybe there's something about you that makes you the right person for this."

Jalen let that sit for a moment. He had thought about that before, but hearing Sydney say it made it feel... even more real.

Sydney squeezed his hand again, smirking. "You're built for this, J. And honestly? You're handling it better than any man I know would."

Jalen scoffed. "Better? I feel like I'm barely holding it together."

Sydney laughed. "And yet, here you are. Still standing, and with seven women still in love with you."

Jalen exhaled, shaking his head. "I don't know if I should be proud of that or terrified."

Sydney grinned; her blue eyes gleaming. "Why not both?"

******************************************

At 7:33 pm Jalen pulled up to the St. Regis Bar to meet Jessica for their scheduled 'date', even though Jessica had refused to call it a date. He wasn't sure what to expect from the night. Jessica had been distant, guarded, and borderline hostile when they first met, understandably so given how he'd just barged into her dressing room uninvited. Yet, despite that, she still invited him to meet her tonight.

Jalen stepped inside, his eyes scanning the dimly lit room. It was a high-end spot, the kind of place where the music was just loud enough to create ambiance but low enough to allow intimate conversations. The scent of expensive cologne and perfume lingered in the air, and the clientele was dressed in their best. Men in tailored suits, women in elegant cocktail dresses.

Then he saw her. Jessica Robinson sat at a corner table, legs crossed, a cocktail glass in hand. Even in this setting, she looked like she belonged on a stage. Her auburn hair was styled in cascading waves over one shoulder, her strapless emerald green dress hugging her curves effortlessly. Like the red dress the previous night, this dress also had a high slit that showcased her toned leg, and of course, she was wearing Christian Louboutin So Kate heels again, this time in a deep, glossy green to match her dress.

Jalen smiled to himself. "She really does put on a show, even offstage." He thought.

As he approached the table, she looked up at him with those piercing green eyes, tilting her head slightly.

"You're late," she said coolly.

Jalen checked his watch. 7:33.

"By three minutes," he countered, sliding into the seat across from her. "You keep a stopwatch on me now?"

Jessica took a slow sip from her drink, her red lips pressing against the rim of the glass before she set it down.

"I like to see if men value my time," she said.

Jalen chuckled. "And what's the verdict?"

Jessica leaned back in her chair, looking him over. "Jury's still out."

Jalen smirked, leaning forward slightly. "You know, for someone who claims this isn't a date, you sure dressed like you're trying to kill a man tonight."

Jessica raised an eyebrow. "I dress for myself, Jalen."

"And yet..." Jalen's eyes deliberately trailed over her, taking in the details like the way the dress hugged her body, the meticulous way her nails were done, the way she wore her confidence like armor. "You did wink at me first."

Jessica rolled her eyes but couldn't quite hide the amused glint in them.

"So, what exactly is this, Jessica?" Jalen asked, his tone shifting slightly. "You could've ignored me. Could've let security drag me out of your dressing room, but you didn't. You invited me to meet you here. So, tell me..." He leaned in just a little closer, his voice lowering. "Why?"

For the first time, Jessica hesitated. For all her confidence, all her mystery, there was a flicker of uncertainty behind her gaze. She didn't have an answer. At least, not one she was willing to say out loud. Instead, she took another sip of her drink and changed the subject.

"I want to know what exactly you want from me."

Jalen smiled, leaning back in his chair. "That's funny, because, again, you were the one who invited me here."

Jessica's lips pressed together for a brief second before she lifted her glass again, taking a slow, deliberate sip.

"And you were the one who barged into my dressing room," she shot back, "And... maybe I was curious.

Jalen tilted his head, studying her. "Curious about what?"

Jessica met his gaze, her green eyes searching his for something, though even she might not have known what.

"About why you were so damn persistent," she admitted, swirling the liquid in her glass. "Why you came into my dressing room, why you keep looking at me like I'm supposed to mean something to you."

Jalen didn't respond right away. He let her words settle between them, let her hear them for herself. Then, he spoke.

"Because you do mean something to me."

Jessica blinked. For a fraction of a second, her mask slipped just enough for Jalen to catch a glimpse of something deeper.

She scoffed, shaking her head. "That's ridiculous. You don't even know me."

Jalen leaned forward slightly, voice calm but firm. "You're right. I don't, but that doesn't change what I feel when I look at you."

Jessica went silent. She had felt it too. The moment she first saw him in the club, the moment she winked at him without even realizing what she was doing. That pull. It made no sense. It defied logic, reason, everything she believed about how people connected.

She set her glass down, crossing one leg over the other. "Alright, let's say I do believe you," she said, her tone still carrying an edge of skepticism. "What exactly does that mean?"

Jalen exhaled through his nose, debating how much to say. He obviously couldn't tell her about the Beyonder or the prophecy, so he gave her a version of the truth instead.

"It means I'm not walking away from this," he said simply. "Not from you."

Jessica stared at him for a long moment, unreadable. Then, she did something Jalen hadn't expected. She smirked.

"That so?" she said, resting her chin on her hand, her red nails tapping lightly against her cheek.

Jalen nodded. "That's so."

Jessica let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head as she reached for her glass again.

"Well, Jalen..." she said smoothly, lifting her drink. "You'd better buckle up."

And with that, she took another sip, her smirk never fading.

"You said I don't know you," Jalen began, "I'd like to change that, but I'm not here know the Jessica on stage and the one who men would give their left nut to touch. I want to know the Jessica who said ‘hold on' when I was about to leave her dressing room."

Jessica's smirk faltered, just slightly. For a moment, she said nothing, just tapping a fingernail against the base of her glass. Jalen could see the internal battle play out in her expression, an instinct to brush him off warring against something deeper and something she didn't fully understand.

Finally, she exhaled through her nose, setting her drink down. "You're persistent, I'll give you that."

Jalen leaned back, a slow, confident smile forming. "I've been told that before."

Jessica rolled her eyes but didn't look away. "You want to know me, huh? The real me?"

"I do."

She studied him, trying to find the flaw, the angle. "Why?"

Jalen shrugged. "Because I can tell you don't let many people in, and I want to know the woman behind all the mystery."

Jessica chuckled, shaking her head. "You think I'm mysterious?"

"A little," Jalen admitted. "You give people exactly what you want them to see. Never more, never less."

Jessica tilted her head, arching a brow. "And what makes you think you deserve to see more?"

Jalen smirked. "I never said I deserved it. I said I wanted it."

Jessica bit her lip, as if considering. Then, she leaned forward slightly, her green eyes locking onto his. "And if I let you in? What then?"

Jalen didn't hesitate. "Then I do my best to show you that you don't have to keep that guard up around me."

Jessica went still. For a second, something flickered in her expression, something that almost looked like vulnerability. But then, just as quickly, she pushed it back down, masking it with an amused smirk.

"You've got a hell of a mouth on you," she said, reaching for her drink again.

Jalen grinned. "You have no idea."

Jessica chuckled again, shaking her head before taking a sip. For the first time since they sat down, she let the silence settle between them, comfortable rather than defensive. Finally, she leaned back in her chair, crossing one leg over the other.

"Alright, Jalen," she said, tapping her nails against the table. "Tell me something real about you first."

Jalen nodded, accepting the challenge.

Jalen exhaled, taking a sip of his drink before setting it down. "Alright. I've been falling in love with women faster than I ever thought possible. I'm not a player, I'm not a liar, and I don't lead people on, but for some reason... I keep finding myself in these deep, undeniable connections, and I can't walk away from them."

Jessica's brows lifted slightly. "That so?"

"Yeah." Jalen held her gaze. "And I think you already know I'm not bullshitting you."

Jessica studied him for a long moment, as if she were trying to pick apart his words, searching for the angle, but something in Jalen's expression, his steady confidence and lack of hesitation, kept her from finding it.

"...Hmph," she finally muttered, taking another sip of her drink.

Jalen smirked. "You believe me, don't you?"

Jessica scoffed. "I don't believe anything just yet."

"But you feel it."

Jessica's lips parted slightly, but she didn't respond. Instead, she looked away, pretending to adjust her napkin.

Jalen leaned forward slightly, voice lower. "I felt it too, Jessica. That's why I walked into your dressing room."

Jessica swallowed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, you do."

Jessica exhaled sharply through her nose, shaking her head. "You're annoying, you know that?"

Jalen grinned. "You're not the first to say that."

Jessica stared at him for another long moment, then reached for her drink again, taking a slow sip before setting it down.

"...Tell me about the first time you fell in love," she said suddenly.

Jalen tilted his head slightly, surprised by the shift but didn't hesitate.

"You asking for the first time I thought I was in love, or the first time I really was?"

Jessica smirked, intrigued. "Both."

Jalen exhaled, leaning back. "Alright then... buckle up."

*******************************

Jalen told her about the first time he thought he was in love, which was four years ago with a woman named Zaya, who was a year older than him and was also very beautiful. Jalen told Jessica how he would do anything for Zaya and how it took him over a year to figure out that she was milking that in order to take advantage of his love and kindness. Jessica listened intently, swirling her drink as Jalen spoke.

"Zaya knew exactly what she was doing," Jalen continued, shaking his head slightly. "She would hit me up for favors, play sweet, keep me on the hook, but she never really gave me her, and I was too caught up in the idea of what we could be to see it for what it was."

Jessica arched a brow. "So, what finally made you wake up?"

Jalen exhaled through his nose, smirking wryly. "She got engaged to another guy, while she was still keeping me around as her emotional backup. I only found out when she posted the ring on Instagram. And even then, she had the audacity to call me crying, saying she ‘felt bad' but still wanted me in her life."

Jessica let out a sharp laugh. "Wow. That's insane."

"Yeah." Jalen nodded. "That's when I learned that love, real love, isn't just about what you're willing to do for someone. It's also about what they're willing to do for you too. The love you express for someone should be reciprocated if you're supposed to be in a relationship together. Zaya was never willing to do a damn thing for me unless it benefited her."

Jessica studied him, lips pursed. "...That's rough."

Jalen shrugged. "It was, but it was a lesson I needed."

Jessica tapped her red nails against the glass, her gaze flickering with something thoughtful. "And what about the first time you were really in love?"

Jalen's smirk softened. He leaned back, rubbing his jaw.

"That one's a little more complicated," he admitted.

Jessica tilted her head. "I've got time."

Jalen exhaled, staring at his drink for a moment before looking back at her.

"...Her name is Sydney."

*******************************

Jalen told Jessica all about Sydney Swanson, but he didn't stop there. He told her about all seven women: Sydney, Megan Westward, Rachel DeSantos, Karla Silva, Heidi Horner, and even Chrysti Oliviera. Jalen figured that it was best to lay it all out there now so that Jessica knew the full truth about who he was and his situation. If he ended up losing her because of that, then so be it, even if it did mean the end of the world down the line.

Jessica listened in silence as Jalen laid everything bare. He didn't sugarcoat anything. He told her about how he met each of them, how his feelings developed, and how, despite the insanity of it all, he had committed himself to being there for every single one of them. He even told them how six of the women had all met and formed a bit of a bond. When he finished, Jessica didn't speak right away. She just stared at him, her green eyes studying his face as if searching for a catch, some kind of deception.

"...You're serious."

"Dead serious."

Jessica exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "You're out here juggling seven women, seven, and somehow, they all know about each other? And they're... what? Just okay with it?"

Jalen nodded. "More or less now, but definitely not all at first. It wasn't easy, but we've found a way to make it work."

Jessica let out a sharp laugh, shaking her head. "You do realize how insane that sounds, right?"

"Oh, trust me, I know," Jalen said with a smirk. "But it's my life, and I've learned that I don't get to fight what's already been set in motion."

Jessica narrowed her eyes. "And what about me? What if I say I don't want any part of this madness?"

Jalen met her gaze without hesitation. "Then I'll respect that. No pressure, no expectations, but at least now you know everything about me before you make that decision."

Jessica held his stare, her expression unreadable. For the first time in a long time, she was utterly speechless. A minute later she finally spoke again.

"And all of them are pregnant with your children?" She asks, still trying to wrap her head around this insane situation.

"Yes." Jalen said plainly, not shying away from it.

Jessica let out a deep breath and shook her head. "This is insane. Absolutely insane. Seven women. Seven babies. And you're just out here acting like it's normal?"

Jalen chuckled, but there was no arrogance in it. "It's not normal. I know that, but it is my reality."

Jessica ran a hand through her glossy red hair, staring at him like he had just told her he was an alien from another planet. "And they're... what? Happy? They don't mind sharing you?"

Jalen leaned forward slightly. "It took time. It wasn't easy, but they all came to accept that I love each of them in their own way, and they love me too. I take care of them. I show up for them. I make sure they feel valued. Respected. Safe."

Jessica scoffed, folding her arms. "Safe? You've got a whole-ass harem, Jalen. That doesn't exactly scream ‘safe' to me."

Jalen exhaled. "I get it. Trust me, I do. And I'm not here to convince you of anything. I just wanted you to know the truth, so you can decide for yourself where you stand."

Jessica stared at him for a long moment, her vibrant green eyes flickering with something unreadable. "And let's say, for argument's sake, that I was interested despite the absurdity of all this. That I did feel... whatever this thing is when I looked at you. You seriously think I'd just be okay with all this?"

Jalen met her gaze evenly. "I don't expect you to be, but I know you felt something too, and I think that's why you asked me to dinner tonight, whether you want to admit it or not."

Jessica's jaw tightened. She hated how right he sounded. She had felt something. Something she couldn't explain and didn't want to explain. Now, she had to figure out what the hell she was going to do about it.

"For the record, I meant it when I said it took time. Kristen and Rachel cried when I told them about the others and they still aren't one hundred percent comfortable with it yet, but they're getting there. Sydney, Megan, Karla, and Heidi understood what it was and chose to accept my situation even though it wasn't easy. Chrysti though... I don't know if Chrysti will ever truly accept it. She's having a really tough time with it, but she knows that I love her and that I will always be there for her, and that goes for the others too."

Jalen paused as he scanned Jessica's face. She still had a look of utter disbelief that this situation was real.

Jalen continued, "And if you and I ever get to that point, I would make sure you felt the love you deserve too."

Jessica listened, arms still crossed, fingers lightly tapping against her forearm as she processed his words. She could hear the sincerity in his voice. He wasn't just feeding her some line. He actually believed what he was saying. That didn't make it any less crazy, though.

"You really think love is enough to make this work?" Jessica asked, her voice quieter now, more measured.

Jalen nodded. "Love, respect, honesty..., and consistency. It's not just about love, Jessica. It's about showing up. Every single day. And yeah, it's a lot, but I wouldn't do this if I wasn't ready to do it the right way."

Jessica tilted her head, studying him. "And you think I could just... slip into this situation like it's nothing?"

"No," Jalen admitted. "I don't think it would be easy for you. Hell, I don't think it would be easy for anyone. But I also think there's something between us, something neither of us can explain, and I'm not the type of man to run from that."

Jessica exhaled, glancing down at the table before looking back up at him. "You really are serious about all this, huh?"

Jalen smirked slightly. "Dead serious."

Jessica's lips parted slightly, then closed again. She didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to tell him he was insane, to walk away and never look back. Then there was another part that wasn't ready to let go just yet, and she couldn't figure out why.

"I can't believe I'm still sitting here." Jessica said.

"That should tell you something." Jalen said smiling.

Jessica scoffed, shaking her head. "Don't get cocky."

Jalen chuckled. "Too late."

Jessica exhaled, leaning back in her chair. "You know, most men would have lied about all this, or at least sugarcoated it. You just laid it all out there like it was nothing."

"It's not nothing," Jalen said simply. "I'm not trying to trick you or sell you on something fake. You deserve to know exactly what you'd be stepping into before you even think about messing around with me."

Jessica studied him again, this time with a different kind of intensity. She had met a lot of men in her life, rich men, powerful men, men who would do anything for a chance to be with her, but Jalen wasn't begging or trying to convince her. He was just... being real. That was harder to walk away from than she wanted to admit.

Jessica sighed, swirling her drink in her glass before setting it down. "This is the dumbest thing I've ever considered."

Jalen grinned. "You haven't even considered it yet."

Jessica rolled her eyes. "Shut up."

Jalen just kept smiling, leaning back in his seat. "Take your time, Jessica. I'm not going anywhere."

Jessica hated how much she liked the sound of that.

"We still haven't talked about you though. The real you." Jalen said.

Jessica arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. "What do you want to know?"

Jalen tilted his head slightly. "The real you. Not the woman who makes men lose their minds when she steps on stage. Not the woman with the perfect voice, the perfect look, the perfect presence." He leaned in just a little, his voice softer but steady. "I want to know Jessica. What makes you laugh? What pisses you off? What do you dream about when you're not standing under a spotlight?"

Jessica hesitated, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. She was used to men wanting her, but they wanted the fantasy. The unattainable. The goddess on stage. No one ever really asked about her. The woman underneath all the glamor.

"You know, for someone who's supposedly juggling seven women and seven babies, you ask a lot of deep questions," she said, trying to deflect.

Jalen smirked. "And yet, you're still sitting here."

Jessica exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "You're so annoying."

"I'm patient," Jalen corrected. "And genuinely curious."

Jessica stared at him for a long moment. Then, without looking up, she spoke.

"When I was a little girl, I wanted to be an actress," she admitted. "Not a singer. I wanted to be in movies, tell stories, make people feel something. But..." she let out a dry laugh. "Turns out Hollywood isn't exactly rolling out the red carpet for women who look like me."

Jalen frowned. "What do you mean?"

Jessica sighed, finally looking up at him. "Jalen, be real. Do you know how many red-haired, green-eyed, hourglass-figured women actually make it in Hollywood without getting typecast as some over-the-top sex symbol or comic relief?"

Jalen thought about it for a second. "...Not many."

"Exactly." She leaned back, crossing her arms. "I was either too much or not enough. So I shifted gears. Singing came easier. The persona? That was easy too. If men wanted to fantasize about me, fine—I'd let them. It paid the bills."

Jalen didn't miss the slight bitterness in her tone. "But it wasn't your dream."

Jessica's jaw tightened slightly. "No. It wasn't."

A beat of silence passed between them.

Jalen drummed his fingers against the table. "So why not try again? Now?"

Jessica laughed. "You make it sound so simple."

"Maybe it is."

Jessica scoffed. "Jalen, come on—"

"I'm serious," he interrupted. "You still have the talent. The look. The ability. The only thing stopping you is the fact that you convinced yourself you already lost."

Jessica stared at him, lips parting slightly.

Jalen shrugged. "And hey, if you really don't want it anymore, that's fine. But if you do? Then I think you owe it to yourself to try."

Jessica hated the way her heart reacted to that.

"You really believe in yourself that much, don't you?" she muttered.

Jalen grinned. "I believe in you that much."

Jessica didn't even realize she was holding her breath.

"My real name isn't Jessica Robinson," she suddenly admitted. "It's Jennifer Rollins."

Jalen's eyebrows lifted slightly, but he didn't interrupt.

"I changed it when I was 21. Dropped out of college, left my family behind, and reinvented myself. Do you know how many people told me I'd never make it? That I wasn't ‘marketable enough'?" She scoffed, shaking her head. "So I became Jessica Robinson. The woman you saw on stage. The woman every man in that club would kill for a second of attention from. The woman who sells."

Jalen didn't say anything right away, letting her words settle. Then, after a beat, he asked, "And what did Jennifer want?"

Jessica blinked. She hadn't expected that question. She should've, but she didn't.

"I..." she started, but the words got caught in her throat. She had spent so long playing the role that she had almost forgotten the answer herself.

She looked away, trying to regain her composure. "Jennifer wanted freedom. Control over her own life. And now?" She forced a smirk. "Jessica has it."

Jalen tilted his head slightly. "Do you?"

Jessica's smirk faltered. Jalen didn't push, but she felt the weight of the question. She let out a slow breath and reached for her glass, but instead of drinking, she just held it, her fingers playing with the stem.

"You're dangerous, Jalen," she murmured.

He smirked. "You said that already."

"And I meant it." She set the glass down and met his eyes again. "I don't know what this is between us, and I sure as hell don't know if I want to find out, but you're not like the other men who sit in that club and stare at me like a damn prize. That much, I do know."

Jalen leaned back, studying her for a moment. "So what now?"

Jessica exhaled, leaning back in her own chair.

"I don't know," she admitted.

For the first time in a long time, Jessica Robinson, or rather, Jennifer Rollins, had no idea what to do.

"So, I feel like I should call you Jennifer now because that sounds like the real you," Jalen says, "Unless you're saying Jessica is now the real you."

Jessica pauses at that. She looks away, stirring her drink slowly, as if trying to find the answer in the swirl of liquid.

"...I don't know," she finally says. "Jennifer was... small-town. The girl who people overlooked. The one who was told she was pretty but ‘not in the right way' for the things she wanted. Jessica... she's powerful. She walks into a room, and every man stops breathing. Every woman wants to be her. She gets what she wants."

She turns back to Jalen, her green eyes sharp. "Jessica built this life for me. But... sometimes I feel like I left Jennifer behind entirely, and I don't know if I should bring her back."

Jalen watches her carefully, thinking. "Maybe you don't have to choose," he says. "Maybe Jessica is just Jennifer... finally getting what she always deserved."

Something in her face shifts. She exhales, and for the first time since they sat down, she doesn't look like Jessica Robinson, the untouchable goddess. She looks like a woman figuring herself out in real time.

"You really are dangerous," she says, shaking her head. "You have a way of making people say things they weren't planning to."

Jalen smirks. "Or maybe you just finally had someone worth telling the truth to."

Jessica doesn't respond right away. But she doesn't deny it either.

"No man has ever wanted to know me like this before."

"Then they didn't want to know you then and they weren't worth your time. I'm not here saying I'm your perfect man, but I do know that the man you deserve should appreciate both Jessica and Jennifer."

Jessica looks at him, really looks at him. For a moment, she almost seems... exposed. Not in the glamorous way she usually presents herself, not in the way men usually see her, but in a way that makes her feel raw, like she's standing on the edge of something terrifyingly real.

She exhales, shaking her head slightly. "You say that like it's easy," she murmurs. "Like I can just be both and it won't matter."

Jalen tilts his head. "Why wouldn't it?"

She lets out a soft laugh, but there's no humor in it. "Because men love Jessica. They worship her. They pay just to sit in a room and watch her. But Jennifer? She was the girl guys didn't take seriously. The one they entertained for a little while until they found something better."

Jalen leans forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. "Then they were fools." His voice is steady, sure. "Because I'm sitting here right now, talking to you, not the woman on stage, not the untouchable fantasy, you. And I see someone worth knowing; not because of a dress, or a stage, or the way you make a crowd feel, but because of who you are when all that's stripped away."

Jessica's breath hitches slightly. She grips her wine glass a little tighter, as if grounding herself. "Jalen..."

"I'm not here to play games with you," he says, his voice softer now. "I won't lie to you. I won't promise you something I can't give. But what I will do... is be honest. And right now, honestly? I think you're incredible. Both versions of you."

Silence stretches between them, thick with something unspoken. For the first time in years, Jessica feels like someone is looking at her without expectations. Without wanting something from her.

"Why? Why would you care? Especially when you have seven other women that you already care about."

Jalen doesn't hesitate. He holds her gaze, his voice steady and sure.

"Because I don't do halfway with people. If I care, I care, and whether I have one woman in my life or eight, that doesn't change who I am or how I love. I don't spread myself thin, Jessica. I give everything to the people who matter to me."

She exhales sharply, looking away for a moment as if trying to regain her composure. "But why me?" she presses, her voice quieter now. "You barely know me. Why would you even want to?"

Jalen leans in slightly, his tone soft but firm. "Because the moment you told me your real name, the moment you let me see even a piece of the real you, I knew you were worth it, I think you know that too."

Jessica swallows, her fingers tightening around the stem of her wine glass. "I don't know if I can believe that," she whispers.

Jalen tilts his head. "Then let me prove it."

Neither of them speak for a moment. Jessica doesn't know what to say. Jalen finally chimes in again.

"So I've now been on a date with Jessica Robinson, and she's even more incredible than I thought. But I want my next date to be with Jennifer Rollins. How do we make that happen?

She stares at him, her lips slightly parted, caught somewhere between disbelief and something deeper, something she isn't ready to name.

"You really don't quit, do you?" she murmurs, swirling the wine in her glass, watching the liquid move as if it holds the answer she's searching for.

Jalen smirks. "Not when I see something worth holding on to."

She exhales, shaking her head. "You don't even know what you're asking for."

Jalen leans forward, resting his forearms on the table, closing the space between them just a bit. "I'm asking for you. Just you. Jennifer Rollins."

Jessica bites her lip, clearly warring with herself. "I don't even know if I know who Jennifer is anymore."

Jalen shrugs, his eyes steady on hers. "Then let's find out together."

A tense silence lingers between them, charged with something unspoken. Finally, she exhales and meets his gaze, vulnerability flickering in her green eyes.

"Alright," she says, almost cautiously. "You get one date.

Jalen grins.

*******************************

Jalen got to his truck door after having escorted Jessica to her ride and made sure she left safely. They had exchanged phone numbers so they could schedule their date later.

Jalen was just about to get in when out of the corner of his eye, he saw a man in a large brown trench coat and skull cap approaching him from the shadows. Then suddenly...

*BANG!*

A shot rang out from under his sleeve with Jalen getting hit squarely in the abdomen. Jalen backed into his truck, clutching his stomach and slumped down to the ground.

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