“Hey Sadie, we're still on for today right?”“Yes. I'm getting ready right now,” Sadie replied excitedly.“Alright, see you soon.”She had called me to plan a friend date and it couldn't have come at a better time. I was so excited to tell her all about everything that had happened with Oscar and how I’d met Deandra who was going to make Oscar wish he was never born.It was like a blur how fast I got ready and drove to the cafe we were meeting. I was buzzing with excitement at the thought of regaling my friend with stories of the drama in my life. That's what friends did right?I spotted her up ahead. She was talking to a man and they looked like they were arguing. Whatever I was about must have been a touchy subject because of how hard they were going at it.I started to rush over in case she needed help but the closer I got to the more familiar the man looked. Something in the back of my mind was telling me things weren't quite right.The man's profile was just too familiar but I

“What the hell is wrong with you?” I screamed, angry tears flooding my eyes. My leg was throbbing where she'd hit me. “What’s wrong with me? You're really asking me that question? Are you not the pretender? Are you not a snake? You came in like a thief in the night and stole everything I worked for. My blood sweat and tears, everything went up in flames. Because of you,” she seethed through her teeth, pointing her metal bat at me.Despite the consuming pain, I knew I had to think. She actually hit me; with her car and her bat. I still had bits of class sticking out of my arms. I was bloodied and bruised and could barely defend myself. With the way she was glaring at me, I knew I would have to. But I needed to keep her talking long enough till I could at least get on my feet.“You're lying and you know it. Not a drop of your blood, sweat or tears were shed. You wanted a free ride to the top by riding Mosley. Where's your dignity for Christ sake?”I'd managed to sit up without her re

Jesse left and Petra followed after giving me one final astonished look. Celia watched him go with so much pain etched on her face. I couldn’t find it in me to feel sorry for her even though I knew I should.She was a mother whose son could barely stand to be around her. That ordinarily would be such a sad situation but knowing Celia, she put herself in this situation and probably deserved way worse than him just walking away.“Don’t worry about him, mom,” Oscar said. “That’s how he’s always been. Acting like a spoiled brat. Let him go.”Celia was staring longingly at the door, seeming like she wasn’t even hearing anything Oscar was saying. “I’ll be back,” she blurted out, leaving before Oscar could offer any protest.“I don’t know why she bothers with him.” Oscar scoffed. Multiple feet shuffled over. My neck was less painful then so I craned it up, just enough to see Tristan and Sadie trudged over.“Remi, my dear, I’m so sorry about this. I feel terrible. If I hadn’t–”“Tristan stop

The ride was silent for most of the way. Celia had been wailing but stopped when we kept ignoring her. Oscar was probably battling his own inner turmoil of defying his dearest mother.The silence was finally broken by Celia.“My own son can’t stand being in the same room with me, yet here you are. How is that, Remi? How is it that you are able to forgive Oscar so easily?” she asked, her voice dripping with bitterness.I froze. Of all things, that question wasn’t on the list of things I’d expected.“My son who I carried for nine months and fed from my own breast can’t find it in his heart to forgive me. He wants nothing to do with me–” She tried to stifle a sob. “–but you, Remi, you found a way, didn’t you? Or maybe you have an ulterior motive.”She was digging and striking gold every time. My brain was scrambled. How the hell had she hit the mark so quickly? She was going to blow this whole thing up before it even started.The tracker in my pocket suddenly felt like it weighed a milli