Heyyyyy 😬.... How y'all doing

Omniscient POV

Three years later

"Ms.Ashley, could I get a popsicle?" Daisy asks. The now almost 8 year old girl was strongly taking

After her father. From her almond shaped eyes to her growing height you could tell that she was indeed Michaels daughter.

"Of course baby, but you gone have to wait before getting back into the pool." Ashley says before reaching into the cooler and handing the girl a popsicles. Ashley was dressed in a simple black one piece swimsuit with a mesh swim dress on top.

"Hey! Stop running by that pool. Gone in the grass with all that." Ashley to Aiden and Kehlani causing them to halt.

"Yes ma'am" they both say before they walk away from the pool. Being that the two were so close in

Age, they were practically attached to the hip. Everything one did the other was right beside them.

"How's that meat coming along sir I am starving. I can feel my stomach eating a hole through my spine." Ashley jokes walking up behind the man as he takes the racks of ribs off.

"Well suck it back in because it's done... I hope you got everything set up" Michael shakes his head at the woman

"Just worry about that food." She laughs before calling the kids over to her outside patio table and taking a seat. As much fun she tried to have she was drained.

Four months after Ashley left Israel at their home he was convicted. It was honestly unbelievable due to the lack of evidence and the clear motive the prosecutor had against him. It didn't help that once they ruled Cash as dead they found his will and he left everything to his "wife" Ashley their children. Ashley quickly inherited over 60 million in property, business and liquid assets combined. On thing was apparent and it was that cash played a part in every. Ashley ended up selling most of the properties mainly seeing no use to keep them. After splitting most the money into trusts for the kids she decided on being an at home mom. That didn't last long since now the kids spend most of their time at school.

Over the past years she had finally made the decision to divorce Israel. Ashley took her time coming to this decision. Feeling like their entire relationship was rushed maybe it was just the wrong time for them. She decided to make a trip to the prison he was at and tell him face to face.

"You okay?" Michael asks as he sits down across from her. She just nods her head. Ashley felt lightheaded at the moment but she didn't want to ruin the kids time.

"It's okay mommy" Kehlani says as she rests her head on her mother's arm. She was a spitting image of her father. Other than her darker complexion From her light eyes to his facial features you would've thought he spit her out. ,

"Go ahead in the house I think everyone is getting tired anyways." Michael says sending a light smile. She didn't want to be a party pooper. Today was Michaels day off and she invited him and Daisy over so they all could enjoy the nice summer day.

Michael had been a great friend to Ashley. He had been there for her this entire time.

Ashley took her time heading up the stairs to her bedroom. About two years ago she moved into a smaller home. It was around 4 bedrooms with 4.5 bathrooms; smaller than the estate she shared with her husband. The large home became overwhelming for her to be in without him. From the echoing through the large hallways to his cars that occupied the driveway it was too much. So Ashley found something smaller yet cosy for her family.

Climbing into bed she hissed at the pain in her legs and hands. The redness in the backs of her hands had grown causing more pain. She closed her eyes immediately as she hit the pillow but couldn't drift off due to the light coming in that blinded her through her eyelids.

"Ash... you good?" Michael pokes his head in.

"Yes I'm fine..." she lies straight through her teeth not even opening her eyes.

"Did you take your medicine today?" He says before walking into her bathroom and pulling out her daily meds.

"I was feeling better so I didn't want to take them. They make me feel even worse" Ashley sighs.

"Ashley you know you need to take them..." he hands her one of each of the pills. " where's the pain?"

"My hands today" Ashley says extending them allowing him to examine them.

"You gotta start taking this more seriously Ash. Lupus is nothing to play around with" Michael says to her. Ashley couldn't catch a break. After Izzy went away his suppliers and business partners still expected their piece of the pie so someone had to step up. Being that she was his wife they contacted her first. She didn't want to bring this to her cousin or uncle whom had began starting their new lives so she took it upon herself. Or in her words " she didn't want to put her issues on anyone else."

After many nights of figuring out how to successfully do the job izzy was used to, she finally did. Of course she did things her way but it was still exhausting. It didn't make things better with her psych meds and then to find out almost two years later she had lupus. Ashley felt like she couldn't win.

"I know... I've just been so tired with Israel's businesses and the kids... it's just so hard to do alone" Ashley breaks down. Michael knew she had to take over his companies but he didn't know the details.

"You're not alone ash. You got me, your family, even his family. And I already suggested you find somebody to manage his stuff you don't have to be superwoman all the time." Ashley just stays quiet. She didn't want to burden her family with her issues she was too stubborn. Her parents had started their lives together after his ugly divorce. Bri and Alek were thriving with their growing family while Uncle Alexei and Paris were off traveling. Her brother, Chris, was off being a star in the NBA. Israel's parents still called to check in but they lived across the country and only came certain times a year. Everyone was living out their lives and she didn't want to cause a halt in any of it. And then there was Michael. He had always been there for Ashley from the nights she was heart broken and wanted to end it all. He had seen her mental state grow stronger as time went on. Even with her harboring the struggles of being a single parent and business owner he couldn't have been more proud of her.

"Where are the kids?" Ashley changed the subject

"Downstairs watching frozen 2... you know the girls always gang up on lil man" Michael laughs thinking about the children bickering back and forth.

"They do my baby so wrong" Ashley pouts. She was glad to have Michael around. Even though they were just friends he treated her kids as her own and vise versa. Daisys mother ended up giving up custody of her so she had to come down there to live and Ashley being the big hearted person she is welcomed her in. The kids three were inseparable.

"He secretly likes that movie." Michael laughs laying back onto her bed.

"Yeah he does. I caught him humming into the unknown when he was in the bath" Ashley laughs with the man. She looks over to him watching his dimples align his cheeks as his deep chuckles leave his throat.

"Thank you" Ashley whispers

"For what?"

"Being here... I don't know what I would've done without you." She turns over to completely face him. He catches her eyes staring at him before they are cut off by children yelling.

"Daddy!"

"Mr.Michael"

"Dwight Schrute" Kehlani yells at the end. The girl was entirely too advanced for her age. At the young age of almost four she referred to the office and the Big Bang theory as her favorite shows and loved to watch them with her bestie Michael.

"The munchkins are calling" Ashley chuckles.

"I'm coming!" He yells out before stretching his back

"Don't hurt yourself old man." Ashley laughs at him

"Yeah yeah whatever woman... get some rest Daisy probably won't let us leave tonight so don't worry about the kids." He says before kissing her forehead and traveling to the blinds and closing them.

Ashley POV

"Oh let me see my baby" I coo out to Bri's large belly

"Ashley please I am not in the mood." She walks away from the door leaving me to enter the house alone. I laugh at her before entering their home. It was a very homey contemporary style house with earth tones through out.

"So how does it feel to almost pop a baby out your cooch"I joke with her.

"Bitch terrible. This baby is heavy as hell, I can't see my feet I'm ready to be done." She sits down crossing her arms with a pout. " I would offer you something to drink but you know where everything is." She says placing her hand over her belly.

"Let me see your ring" I ask wanting to see her wedding ring again.

"Bitch you been asking me that for the past three years if this shit come up missing I know who to go to." She shakes her head before extending her hand displaying the antique yellow Diamond. I loved looking at it due to the memories it brought back. The ring was my grandmothers own. She never stopped wearing it she said it would always honor their love and commitment to each other.

once my cousin told us he would be giving it to Bri I couldn't agree more. Their love was unconditional, true. Looking down at the ring also reminded me of mine. Other than when his family comes around I haven't taken mine out of my jewelry box in about a year. For the first year and a half I didn't want to take it off. I thought that if I took it off I was giving up on my marriage. But then I realized I couldn't be the only one trying to save something that was holding on from a thread. I know it's only so much he can locked up but even through phone calls he spoke to the kids and barely me. Rarely asking how I was only making small talk or asking about his businesses. Even when I took the kids to see him it was like he couldn't even look at me.

"Where is my big headed cousin anyways" I pop a piece of candy into my mouth.

"He should be getting here in a little. I'm so glad he's taking off for a few months" Bri sighs in relief. I am happy for them. Alek went legit as promised and kissed goodbye to his illegal ways while Bri opened her shop and was thriving.

"Don't be doing too much... we don't need you hurting yourself or that baby" I say rubbing her belly. The two decided to wait to find out the gender which I thought was adorable.

"Don't be worried about me. What's going on with you?" She asks me

"Girl same old as always. Lani is such as smart ass and Aidens hearing isn't getting better or worse it's pretty much staying the same..." I say in reference to my sons latest doctors appointment.

"How about little Daisy she's so gorgeous"

"Oh she ain't a baby any more but she is heaven sent. She helps around the house like she lives there girl. I just took her to the nail salon the other day you should've seen her in the massage chairs" I feel my face light up as I remember her acting like it was the best thing ever.

"And her daddy?" Bri side eyes me

"Don't even do that you know that's nothing."

"Is there?"

"Yes Bri we are just two friends trying to raise kids that happen to be... together.... all the time."

"At this point y'all coparents. You raising Daisy and he helping raising those two seeds."

"I mean that's not a bad thing is it?" I ask her

"Not necessarily no. But if your crazy ass husband finds out he will think it is."

" I filed." I break out for the first time since talking to my lawyer.

"I'm sorry?" Bri says asking me to speak louder.

"I filed for divorce." I look to my nails. Filing was the hardest thing I think I've ever had to do because at the end of the day I love this man. Even after everything we've been through I feel like a fool for still wanting to stay.

"Oh Ashley... please don't do this right now you know I don't like to cry."

"I'm sorry I just can't keep living like this. He barely even talks to me. I know I ignored him for the first few months after he got locked up but I tried Bri. I try to talk to him when he calls but he only talks to the kids. I write him about everything I get nothing back. I even told him I am willing to move past him cheating Bri. Move past him getting another woman pregnant at the same time I was. Just a few petty "I'm going through a lot or I'll write you as soon as I can"." I feel tears escaping my eyes. " I'm sorry I shouldn't be doing this to you while your pregnant" I wipe the tears before standing up.

"I need to go pick up the kids" I look down to my phone.

"Ashley don't go. Please don't shut me out again " she shouts from behind me and I exit the house before getting into my suv.

"Ashley.." I hear Sara's voice say in my head

"Please no" I whisper to myself trying to drown her voice out. I got rid of her so I thought she was gone for good. She tried to get me to do unspeakable things and almost succeeded.

"Hey" I hear a loud knock on my window. I look over to see alek with a goofy grin on his face. That's something he had been doing a lot more of these days; smiling.

"You okay?" He asks looking concerning as I roll down my window.

"I'm fine I was headed to go pick up the kids" I reply to him.

"Brianna didn't want to go? She keeps asking about them"

" Umm I'm not sure I had to run a few errands too so I didn't want to have her out too much" I lie as his face falls in concern.

"Get out the car" he opens the car door waiting for me to get out

"I need to go get the kids"

"At 12? They don't get out until 3 and they have music lessons after." He says as my face falls in defeat. "Come on cousin" he helps me out the car before we walk back into his house.

"Ashley please don't do that again" Bri hugs me as tight as the stomach will allow her.

"Sit down. You aren't running this time" Bri says as she takes a seat next to her husband.

"What's going on?" Alek asks stealing a grape from bri's bowl.

"She filed for divorce"

"I thought you said everything was going fine" Alek looks up as I curl my lips in shrugging me shoulders.

"Well... if you're sure this is what you want then we are here for you" Alek says to me with soft eyes.

" I'm sorry guys I really need to pee.." Bri says as she slowly rises from the couch. We stay quiet as she leaves the room

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask a staring Alek

"I think there's something going on we don't know" he says lowly before placing his palm onto his chin.

"How much more could there be to it?" I grow annoyed at the topic

"A lot more Ash. You know Israel won't willingly ignore you for 5 minutes let alone 3 years ."

"Do I? Because last time I checked he has been." I snap

"Okay and what happened the last time you tried to get someone who worked in the prison to keep an eye out? No one would." He makes a point " when's the last time you heard of a guard turning down a bribe? Never because it's unheard of"

"So what do you think I should do?" I push my curled hair from my face.

"When's visitation?"

"Two weeks" I reply remembering that his parents are coming down a few days before as they usually do.

"Examine his body language and if he is looking frantically towards guards in shit. Somebody might have something against him." He says lowly in his native tongue "now as much as I want to help my little cousin, if he is in trouble you'll be on your own. I have no ties or connections anymore you'll have to talk to your uncle."

"Thank you alek and I wish we weren't even having this conversation right now" I place my head in my palms.

"Talk to me"

" I just wish we could be happy you know. Living in our house watching to kids run around. He would be doing music of course and as much as I'd complain about him being gone I'd just be happy he was still mine." I stare off picturing the kids playing with their father as I tell them to stop running before they hurt themselves. Israel's would brightly smile at me and look at me like he actually loved me.

"Aiden! Come pick this damn iPad up. If you break it you not getting another one." I state strictly to the boy. He runs on ten all day.

"Lani go get me your hair box so I can do your hair for school in the morning" I had just gave the two their baths and they are still running around as if they hadn't had a long day.

"Lani." I say again as she chases her brother ignoring me. "Kehlani Aurelia James go get that box i ain't gone say it again" I raise my voice to her As she trips over Aidens iPad causing her to fall. I curse as I watch her begin to cry. I examine her to see she is completely fine.

"Come on lani baby show mommy where it hurts" I try to calm her down.

"NO NO NO I WANT DADDY" she cries louder as Aiden just watches the site. I am taken back by her saying that. She'll usually tell me she wants to talk to her daddy but she's never had a tantrum like this.

"Lani..." I say as I try to console her

"I WANT MY DADDY!" She says as hot tears run down her face. I hurry and wipe the stray tear that fell from my face before trying to gain control of the situation.

"Lani it's okay we have mommy..." Aiden says squatting down next to his sister.

"B-but I want daddy. Why can't daddy be home" she hiccups.

"Daddy has some spend some time with some friends before he comes home remember?" He says as I feel like a failed parent "mommy said we see daddy in a few weeks"

"Would that be okay Lani? If we go see daddy in a few weeks?" I ask her as she calms down.

"can we go now?" She asks

"We can't go now baby it's late so he might be sleeping but I'll see if we can go sooner" the remainder of the night I spent deep in my thoughts as I prepared them for school the next day.

I looked down to my phone seeing a incoming call from Demetrius. He is a guy I have run everything when I am not available.

"Boss lady"

"It's almost 2 am Demetrius..." I state

" shipment came early... somebody tipped the DEA that it'll be here tomorrow night so we gotta go clear that shit out." He says

"Once again it's two am. You can handle it."

"Angelo is there... says he wanted the deliver it to you so he can make sure you're still in charge. You know that nigga weird as hell" he says as I roll my eyes. Angelo is my supplier. Gives great shit but is as odd as a damn number that can't split in half.

"Alright meet me at in 30 mins" I say before calling a babysitter. She was a college student who didn't mind being on call. Of course I only called when I absolutely needed her because I didn't want to interrupt her schooling but I made sure she was paid well.

"Well you look gorgeous ms.Ashley... what you about to get into" she says eyeing my simply but classy black attire. I made sure I looked like a million dollars whenever I conducted business because... well because I wanted to feel like one of those bad bitches out of the movies.