I woke up this morning to yet another day without Haasan by my side in bed. I let out a sigh and reached over to his side of the bed, closing my eyes and imagining if he would suddenly appear and say good morning. But it wasn't the case. I turned onto my side and caught sight of our wedding picture, and it brought a smile to my face. That memory was something I knew would always make me happy.
I could remember our wedding day like it was yesterday. I was incredibly nervous, but as soon as I saw Haasan, it was like he was the only person in the room. Walking down the aisle, everything else seemed to fade away, and it felt as if God was shining a light on Haasan, showing me that he was the one I needed in my life. He was the one who could help me move past my past, both the good and the bad, and guide me towards a better future, where we could build a family together. But as time went on, that memory started to fade as Haasan grew more distant. Our time together became less about dates and more about arguments, and he would often spend time at his friends' houses instead of with me. His absence gave me more space to wonder if he was cheating, and I wasn't willing to tolerate that. I couldn't bear waking up alone in the mornings, worrying about his safety. The only reassurance that he was okay was if he came home to shower or if I saw the home alarm system disarmed while I was at work.
I got out of bed, slipped on my slippers, and made my way downstairs to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and grabbed the leftover bottle of red wine from last night when I was binge-watching Orange Is the New Black.
"It's too early to be drinking," a voice said, causing me to drop the bottle, which shattered into pieces on the floor. I wasn't in the mood to clean it up at that moment.
"Shit," I mumbled.
I looked over to see Serenity and Cash sitting in the living room, enjoying their breakfast. I took a whiff and sighed, smiling at the heavenly aroma of a good breakfast.
"I got your favorite," Serenity said, lifting a bag with the Freedom Wings logo.
It had been so long since I had a satisfying breakfast because Haasan was such a picky eater. The only thing he considered breakfast was oatmeal. I hadn't enjoyed sausage links or regular scrambled eggs for ages. Breakfast with Haasan was all about gluten-free, fat-free, and soul-free options—it was just horrible.
I walked over, grabbed the bag, and opened it, feeling the steam gently brush my face, as if it were kissing my cheek. Sausage links, scrambled eggs, toast, buttered grits, and a single piece of bacon. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of devouring it, but my mind was more focused on why Cash and Serenity were in my house. Whenever Serenity brought food with her own money or any gift, it meant she wanted something. That had been our dynamic since we were kids—Serenity would give me and my other sisters almost anything in exchange for a favor. I had specifically told her not to get involved with Cash, but knowing her, it was like talking to a fish.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, sitting down in the recliner, grabbing a plastic fork, and diving into the grits. I closed my eyes, savoring the taste of the buttery grits dancing on my tongue, which reminded me of my momma's cooking.
Cash grabbed the remote and turned on the TV to the news station. The news was reporting about the CEO who had been murdered in front of everyone at the party. I had a sinking feeling that the phones at work were ringing non-stop, with every person at the party being questioned until they could be cleared as suspects in the shooting. As I took another bite of sausage, I noticed a flash of Cash and Serenity in tight dresses on the screen, causing me to slightly choke. I quickly grabbed the orange juice that Serenity had brought me and chugged it down.
"Shit, Serenity, you know this is not a good look," I warned, and she made a solemn face, glancing at the TV and then at me.
"I need your help," she said. I sighed and put my plate on the table.
"What is it?" I asked, and Cash leaned forward, taking out a checkbook and raising his hand.
Cash clearly didn't understand how things worked around here.
"If it's for my sister's sake, I don't need the money," I declined, and Serenity scoffed.
"The devil is a lie, I already owe you," she turned to Cash, "Fifty grand, please."
I groaned, "What's going on?" From what I gathered from the news, I had a certain suspicion, and I prayed that Serenity wouldn't be named as a prime suspect for being at the scene.
"So, I'm handing the business to Serenity, and-" I interrupted her with a shocked expression, feeling the grits rise in my throat. As much as I loved my sister, she never seemed to learn her lesson. Five years in prison, and she didn't even care. She was going back to the illegal game like a bad crack addict. Despite knowing the business inside out, she preferred to handle it through drugs rather than pursuing a legitimate business.
"Dammit, Serenity, why not open a boutique or something?" I exclaimed, frustrated with her choices.
Serenity sat up straight in her seat, giving me the same convincing eyes she had during her trial. She had what you would call a resting bitch face, rarely showing any emotion. But during that trial, I felt like I saw every single emotion imaginable flash across her face. I had experienced similar emotions myself.
"Trust me," she said, using the exact words she had used back then.
I sighed, "Fine, but promise me you'll keep quiet. I can't keep bailing you out all the time," I held her hand and looked into her eyes. Losing Serenity to the system forever wasn't part of my plan.
"Don't worry, no one will ever know anything as long as she's under my watch," Cash interjected.
Even though I was Cash's lawyer, I had come to trust him. The man was as clean as a whistle, so it baffled me when he was charged with triple murder. It just didn't add up, and I was trying to piece together the puzzle. The more I looked at Cash, the more I saw similarities to Serenity, although Serenity was more inclined to cut your tongue off if you said the wrong thing.
"We need files on Mr. Mimsard or anyone associated with him, as well as anything relevant to the situation. I know you have connections. If not, I need you to represent a few of my associates who have petty charges against them. I'll pay ten grand per head to keep me out of prison or buy some more time to settle this," Cash explained. I leaned back and sighed, knowing it was a task I could handle.
"And I need you to get Ant and Trick out of jail," Serenity added. However, there were certain things that fell outside my jurisdiction.
Little Ant and Trick were Serenity's friends since their teenage years, and they all ran the streets together. Despite having college educations, it was only a matter of time before the law caught up with them. Little Ant and Trick were arrested for selling guns about two years before Serenity's own arrest. They were her closest friends, so I understood why she wanted me to help them.
"Serenity, I had little involvement in their case," I argued, but her solemn face showed she didn't want to hear that. I knew she loved her best friends, but there were limits to what I could do for her. I had to bend some rules and delve deep into secrets and personal lives to achieve what I wanted in this world.
"Just provide me with the names of the judges involved, and we'll work from there," Cash said. Then the door closed, and I turned around to see Haasan standing there, dressed in a tank top and basketball shorts. He looked like he hadn't slept much in the past few hours.
"It smells like Hennessy and broken dreams," Serenity remarked, covering her nose with her t-shirt.
Haasan glanced at her and cleared his throat, grabbing a glass and opening the fridge to pour himself some orange juice, ignoring the mess I had made earlier. He took a sip.
"I hate this guy, I swear," Serenity muttered, leaning back in her seat.
"I want a divorce," Haasan slurred, and my eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Excuse me?" Serenity and I exclaimed simultaneously.
It was as if he didn't care about the presence of visitors and wanted to blurt out the obvious. The news hit me like an oncoming truck without brakes, engulfed in flames. My mind went blank as he spoke.
"What the fuck do you mean you want a divorce? Do you know how much my sister has been through with your sorry ass?" Serenity snapped, defending me, which was true.
While my relationships with my sisters were strong, the same couldn't be said for our parents. They had always seen Haasan as bad news. From me missing family events to going against their wishes, especially my father's, it tore him apart when we grew distant. In fact, it was one of the main reasons Haasan and I eloped in the first place.
"You know what? In fact, go ahead. You don't really contribute anything around here," Serenity insulted.
"And I'm going to let some irresponsible drug dealer talk to me?" Haasan slurred, and Serenity shot him a disapproving look.
"I'll let that slide this time because you've had too many damn drinks," Serenity snapped.
At that moment, frustration overwhelmed me, and I couldn't tolerate Haasan's disrespectful behavior any longer. I stood up and turned toward him, anger coursing through my veins. "Get out!" I screamed.
He chuckled, clearly under the influence. "You see, that's where you're wrong. The name on this house is mine."
Taking a deep breath, I sighed, regretting the foolish decision I made years ago. "I'm not leaving this house," I declared firmly, my determination unwavering.
I had put in years of hard work to create a home that reflected my accomplishments, and I refused to be driven out by Haasan's desire for separation. This place was a symbol of my resilience and everything I had achieved, and I wouldn't give it up just because my husband wanted to separate.
"Why should I?" His voice slurred slightly as he leaned on the kitchen island.
Suddenly, I heard the unmistakable sound of a gun cocking, and my attention snapped to Serenity, who was holding it in her hand. She placed it down on the table, and I couldn't believe what I was witnessing.
"Haasan, I suggest you take some time alone elsewhere," Cash advised, his voice laced with caution. Haasan clicked his tongue in annoyance and stumbled out of the house, relieving some of the tension in the air.
"Write that check, and I'll make sure to handle it for you," I said, trying to regain some composure. Serenity smiled and extended her hand, prompting me to perform the intricate handshake our dad had taught us when we all lived together.
As I reflected on everything that had just transpired, I couldn't help but take a deep breath. My marriage was crumbling before my eyes, exposing the true essence of who I was. It was a harsh reality that I couldn't ignore.
Thanks for reading comments and votes are greatly appreciated 😊 - Misha