Yazmine grabbed Cherish's arm, stopping her before walking any further. "Cherish—"

"Hold up, let me speak to my uncle and Pops. Then, see if my babies here because I miss them." Cherish told her, Yazmine nodded letting Cherish walk off.

Cherish walked down the stairs leading to her uncle's man cave. Ben and Rissa got married almost three years ago. She loves him for her auntie. Ben is a nice man who plays no games when it comes to her aunt. Marcus is still reserved when it comes to Ben, but as long as Rissa is happy; Marcus is cordial for his mother's sake. Marcus's father is still present in his life, but he still has his reservations when it comes to Ben.

"Hold up! I know that's not my daughter?" Kincaid stood up when he noticed Cherish.

"Hey, pops." She smiled while hugging him. "I've been a little scared to see you. You know, given what I did."

"I'm sure enough people have told you how wrong you were. You don't need me to say it as well. At the end of the day, you're still my one and only daughter-in-law, no matter what." Kincaid smiled.

"That means a lot." Cherish told him before looking at her uncle.

"Hey, Uncle Ben. Let me find out this where you be hiding from my auntie." She hugged him.

"Trust me, she find herself down here more than me." Ben hugged Cherish back causing her to laugh.

looked around for Priest, and that's when she saw him, Truth, Shooter, Rarri, and Paris. There's something about Paris that Yazmine just didn't like. Cherish tries to see the good in people, which is why she believes Cherish was blinded to how much of a snake Paris just might be. Malaysia was playing with Truth's 6-year-old nephew, and Honesti was sitting on Priest's lap, drinking some strawberry milk. Yazmine guessed that Priest didn't know Cherish was there yet, so she walked over to him.

"You want me to close it?" Priest asked Honesti, referring to closing the bendy straw cup she was drinking her Strawberry Milk out of.

"Me can do it." Honesti said. Priest just smiled at her. He believed she could do it because he's seen her do unbelievable things. He was one of those fathers that was amazed by every little thing his daughters did, even when it's not that impressive.

"Yazzy!" Honesti smiled, when seeing Yazmine.

"Hey, my Honesti. You look so pretty." Yazmine smiled.

"Tank you." Honesti giggled.

Truth looked at Yazmine but didn't speak, and she didn't bother saying anything to him, either. She didn't care about him being in his feelings. She was low-key, blaming missing her visit with her mother on Truth having the type of dick that's always leaving her in a comatose state. So, in her mind, it's Truth's fault.

"What's up, sis." Shooter got up to hug Yazmine.

"Hey, brother."

"You know I don't play that sis shit, Shooter. Stop playing with me." Paris rolled her eyes, causing Yazmine to laugh. Paris was a joke to her.

"Watch yo mouth. Don't you see my daughter right here?" Priest frowned.

"What's funny, Yaz?" Paris asked, ignoring what Priest just said.

"It's Yazmine to you, and who are you? I can laugh if I want. You're a joke, saweetie." Yazmine laughed again before looking at Priest.

"Can I talk to you over here." Yazmine motioned her head. Priest stood with Honesti and walked a distance from the couch he was sitting on.

"What do you think you're doing, Soul?" Yazmine frowned at Priest.

"Holding my daughter." Priest said.

"You know dam—you know that's not what I'm talking about. Bringing ole girl here knowing this party is for Cherish. You disrespectful than a mug. I thought you were better than that. You bet not had her around her kids either." Yazmine continued to frown.

"Our kids. They mine as well, and you seem to know what you're talking about. No point in me defending myself. You're tripping, Yaz." Priest waved her off.

"Nah, you're tripping. If you brought her here for some revenge type stuff just to hurt my cousin—"

"That's for us, sis? You should know me better than that." Priest asked.

"Hell yeah, that's for us. If you're intentionally trying to hurt her by bringing a bit—a female dog you don't even want to her party is when we're going to have problems. You being too disrespectful. Not to mention childish and messy. Let's not forget, Cherish could've flirted with a whole nigga in front of you and chose not to."

"What are you talking about?"

"Stop acting like you don't know. When we were leaving, Marcus's label. She could've entertained Assad, but didn't because she had respect that you were right there. I guess she doesn't deserve your respect? At the end of the day, that's the mother of your daughters. Kids see things, and eventually, they're going to pick up on how you're treating their mother." Yazmine shook her head.

"You need to stay out of they business." Truth chimed in. "You really don't know what you're talking about—"

While Truth couldn't hear the extent of the conversation, he knew what Yazmine was going on about.

"You need to shut the F up talking to me. Either you care about my cousin or you don't. I thought she was lil sis to you? You know he is being disrespectful right now. Of all the places he brought her here to Cherish's party. Like l said, childish and messy."

"He didn't bring her to Cherish's party. Paris did." Truth told her, defending Priest.

"The supposed best friend?" Yazmine looked at Paris. She honestly wanted to beat Paris ass one good time, but never had a definite reason to.

"Don't do that, Truth." Paris rolled her eyes. "I didn't bring her nowhere. I told her where the party is at since she thought Soul was lying. She came here on her own about ten minutes ago. Don't put that on me."

"You sound so stupid. Knowing this your "best friend's" party?" Yazmine scoffed.

"Crystal is Soul's woman. I'm Shooter's woman, of course we were going to be around each other. She's cool. I didn't think Cherish would have a problem with it." Paris stated. That's exactly what Yazmine meant by Cherish being blinded by Paris being a snake.

"Look, Yaz. I may be mad at your cousin, but I wouldn't have a female around our daughters when I just met them myself. I told Crystal I have kids not long after finding out, but she only knew who they were because Honesti wouldn't let me out of her sight and Malaysia calling me daddy when she got here. Even then, I didn't introduce them. She hasn't spoken a word to them." Priest sighed.

"F-U-C-K all four of y'all." Yazmine walked away to find Cherish. She didn't feel bad for accusing Priest because he still could have told Crystal to leave, which only told her one thing. He wanted Cherish to see Crystal first; he knew it'll hurt her.

Yazmine wasn't trying to defend Cherish's actions, but she very well couldn't sit back and let Priest intentionally hurt Cherish in any way possible. Once again, she didn't know what took place a few nights ago, but it seems like hurting her should've ended that night. Yazmine knew Cherish is a grown woman who can definitely hold her own. That's her cousin, her best friend, her sister. Right or wrong; she will always have Cherish's back.

"Girl, don't nobody care." Paris mumbled.

"Yeah, keep mumbling." Yazmine said over her shoulder.

"What I do?" Shooter yelled after Yazmine.

Truth just shook his head. He had half the mind to grab Yazmine up and take her into one of the many rooms the house has, but he wasn't about to sweat her if she didn't want to be with him.

was talking to her aunt, and Patience again, who stopped her on the way to looking for her kids when Crystal approached her. Cherish thought it was weird how everyone was looking at Crystal, but she shook it off.

"You're Cherish Smith." Crystal smiled.

"Did the banner saying Welcome Home, Cherish slip your mind?" Patience rolled her eyes. "Who party did you think you were coming to?"

"Hey, Mrs. Blackmon." Crystal nervously spoke. Crystal knew better than to call Patience anything other than Mrs. Blackmon. Patience didn't know what Priest was thinking bringing Crystal there, but she had an idea.

Cherish chuckled, "That's me. And you are?"

"Oh, I'm Crystal. When I say I love your clothing line, I mean it. I would ask my man for money and spend it all at your store. Of course, I'll have to order it online since you didn't have a store here, but I am so happy you have decided to open one here. I already have my outfit picked out for the fashion show and your grand opening. I'm thinking vintage Chanel. I just started shopping from your line like a month ago—" Crystal was cut off by Yazmine.

"Stop lying, hoe. Excuse my language, auntie and momma B. Every since I met you two years ago, Crystal, you've been rocking something from her store. There's no point in making yourself appear as someone you're not." Yazmine rolled her eyes. Cherish looked between the two because she wondered how they all knew Crystal and seemed not to like her. No one ever said a name when Priest's "girlfriend" was mentioned, and she never saw a picture or anything of Crystal, which is why she didn't know who she was.

"I don't believe I was talking to you. It's just like you to act ghetto in front of a famous designer." Crystal turned up her nose. "I apologize for this ratchet-ness, she has no home training."

"Bitch—" Yazmine started to say, but Cherish cut her off.

"Listen, Connie—"

"Crystal." Crystal corrected Cherish.

"Right. Anyway, I don't need you apologizing for my cousin. She's not ghetto, and she's not ratchet either. Everyone is giving you that look which has me confused. Who are you here with?" Cherish said.

"Wait, this is your cousin? As in, you two share the same blood?" Crystal sized up Yazmine before looking at Cherish. Once again, Cherish was confused by Crystal sizing Yazmine up. Yazmine was far from ugly, wasn't a broke bitch even if she struggled at times, and always keeps herself up. Saying that to be said, Crystal was hating. "Definitely don't see it. You're the rich cousin, so she must be the broke one."

"You want to be about that bourgeois so badly. I rather be broke than have nothing but prostitution going for myself. That's all you are; a prostitute that's only with him for his money. I mean, let's face the facts. He doesn't love you. Don't even want to be with you. After engaging in some sexual activity, you do get money afterward. Oh, and saweetie, that condo he fucks you at isn't his house. It's his, but not his home. You knew that, right?" Yazmine laughed. Cherish wondered who he that Yazmine is referring to is. Was it someone Truth used to mess with or something?

"Crystal, what the fuck are you doing? Who told you to be walking around my people's house?" Priest frowned. Right then, Cherish had her answer.

"No bad wowd, daddy." Honesti covered his mouth.

"Daddy sorry." Priest kissed Honesti's cheek before she leaped out of his arms when seeing Cherish.

"Mommy!"

Cherish caught her before kissing her all over her face. "I missed you, Pooh." Cherish repeatedly kissed her cheek as Honesti giggled. "You look so pretty."

"Me missed you." Honesti kissed Cherish.

"I'm not used to you being gone. Have you gotten bigger?" Cherish joked.

"Me still wittle." Honesti hugged Cherish's neck.

"Mommy?" Crystal turned up her nose again. "Wait a minute, this is the bitch you cheated on me with? That you got secret kids with? Did you really bring me to this hoe party?"

"Don't show out, Crystal. Don't be calling her out of her name." Priest frowned. "I didn't bring you anywhere, and you know it."

"You were just fangirling a minute ago, Christina, so humble yourself. I really don't care about you disrespecting me, but you will not cuss in front of my daughter." Cherish rolled her eyes. "Really Soul?"

"Really Soul, what? If anything, I should be mad. I'm his woman, you're just the baby mama." Crystal stated.

"I'll never be a baby mama. If you want to get technical, you're not his woman. You're just someone he's settling with and has been since he met you. Y'all cute or whatever." Cherish smiled. Yeah, her heart was aching, but she would not let them think she was bothered, which is why she didn't mention Priest supposedly breaking up with Crystal. She'd be damned if she gives Crystal something to brag about.

Cherish pushed past Priest and walked away. She had half the mind to just leave and go across the yard to her own house. She couldn't believe that Priest brought his woman to her party. Despite what Priest said, who else would bring her? Cherish had no idea her best friend was responsible for Crystal being at her party.

"Heyyyyyyy, mommmmmy!" Malaysia ran and hugged her. "I like your hair. You so pretty."

"My Snuggle-bug. You're so pretty too. Speaking of hair who did yours?" Cherish had to ask because she knew like hell Crystal bet not.

"My daddy. He did mine and Honesti's. Well, tried." Malaysia laughed.

"You missed me? Because I miss you so much." Cherish crouched down, with Honesti still in her arms, to hug Malaysia.

Kissing Cherish's cheek, Malaysia smiled. "Yes. I missed you a lot, mommy. I'm having so much fun with my daddy, we should all live with him. His house is sooooooo big. There's enough room."

Girl, go take a nap with that nonsense. Cherish wanted to say.

"I heard daddy say a bad word about you, but he said he didn't mean it. Don't be mad at him, mommy." Malaysia whispered in Cherish's ear, she was really just done with Priest. She never once spoke badly about him to their daughter, not even when Malaysia was close by. The day she was unpacking, Malaysia's room door was closed.

Cherish continued to talk with her daughter before Malaysia ran back to play with Rarri's son. She walked over to Truth, Shooter, Rarri, and Paris, then stopped.

"Hey, BestFren." Paris got up and hugged Cherish. "Damn, it's like that? First, I find out you have kids. Then that you somehow snuck back here and gave Soul this lil cutie, yet I'm one of the last ones to find out when I'm your whole best friend."

"I know that's not Rarri." Cherish smiled, completely ignoring what Paris said. She wasn't about to engage in Paris's foolishness today. Rarri got up, hugging her.

"I didn't even recognize you, sis." Rarri smiled.

"I'll take that as a compliment. How you been? I heard you're into rapping now."

"You already know it's a compliment. As for rapping, I am. Marcus going to produce my first mixtape then my album. You gotta stop by to hear it. It's definitely fire." Rarri said.

"I will. Why you didn't bring lil sis?"

"She was mad when I talked to her, but she had plans with her lil friend, anyway." Rarri frowned a little.

Cherish chuckled, "Her boyfriend?"

"Oh, by the way, I'm definitely on Soul's side." Paris interrupted. Paris didn't like how Cherish ignored her and kept not one, but two secrets from her.

"Okay, Paris." Cherish shrugged, not caring.

"Told you that H-O-E is a snake. Who says that? Like, ain't this your "best friend"? Talking about sides when she doesn't even know the full story?" Yazmine said from behind Cherish. Yazmine didn't care, she'd go against the world if that meant standing behind her cousin. She knew Cherish would do the same.

"You be wanting to say something to me so bad. I was talking to my best friend." Paris said to Yazmine.

"I don't give two f's about your fake self. You don't know what's going on to be choosing sides. Too busy tryna D-ride Soul. I'm convinced you low-key wanna do him. Watch her Shooter." Yazmine frowned.

"Yaz, please don't entertain it." Cherish sighed.

"Nah, Soul was telling the truth. He didn't bring Crystal here." Yazmine said. "Your "best friend" did."

"You did what?" Cherish frowned.

"Once again, I didn't bring her anywhere. I only told her that Soul wasn't lying about attending a party and told her where it'll be. I'm sorry, BestFren." Paris sighed. Cherish was at a lost for words. She'd never argue in front of her daughters. So, the conversation between her and Paris will have to wait.

Truth's energy was weird, so Cherish didn't bother speaking to him since he didn't speak to her, either. She guessed he chose whose side he's on as well, even though to her there were no sides. She never once pretended she wasn't in the wrong. But of course, his loyalties lie with his best friend. She wasn't about to speak to Shooter either until he did. Not wanting to be rude, she spoke back. By then, Priest and Crystal walked over. Priest sat down and Crystal tried to sit in his lap. It was all very childish to her. They all looked at Cherish, and she looked every bit of unbothered, even though it was secretly killing a piece of her heart.

"My daddy." Honesti pouted. She got down from Cherish's arms and went to Priest, which caused him to move Crystal. "Me no like ha."

"Lil girl—"

"Don't get your feelings hurt, Crystal. I'm not about to play with you about my kids. If you're going to act like this, then there's the door." Priest mugged her. He really doesn't know what he was thinking when he called Crystal to get back with her. That's not who he wanted, and he could've been single. But Yazmine wasn't wrong. He was childishly trying to hurt Cherish in any way he could. Cherish may have fooled the others with that fake unbothered look, but he could always see right through her.

"Nah, Lil girl what?" Cherish folded her arms. "Go ahead and finish what you were about to say. Please don't pull the old Cherish out of me. " Cherish then looked at Priest, who was just staring at her. "This really the type you got around our daughters?"

"Hel—nah. Just chill." Priest told Cherish, who only rolled her eyes in response.

"I'm sorry, baby." Crystal started saying. Crystal leaned to kiss Priest while Honesti wasn't looking, but Priest moved his head back.

"Don't play with me, Crystal." Priest gave her a look.

"You know how territorial I can get. I love you, Soul." Crystal rubbed the back of his neck.

Priest looked at Cherish, who only shook her head. He knew if he said those words back it'll hurt, Cherish. While Crystal should be used to him not saying it back, she was hoping he would to rub it in Cherish's face. "That's nice." Priest replied as Crystal frowned. He couldn't go through with saying those words to her. Not even to hurt the woman he truly loves.

"That's nice." Yazmine laughed. "I'm embarrassed for you. Come on, cousin."

"Please keep that energy, brother." Cherish said to Truth before walking away with Yazmine. "Oh, and don't even think about coming to my fashion show or my grand opening, Clarissa." Cherish looked back and said to Crystal.

"My name is Crystal." Crystal rolled her eyes.

"Shut the f—shut up, Crystal." Priest frowned.

Shooter wanted to ask Truth why he didn't speak to Cherish, but he wasn't about to in front of Crystal to give her something else to talk about. Neither he nor Truth liked Crystal. Truth, on the other hand, couldn't believe he treated Cherish like that. Though he said nothing, his actions did the talking for him.

Malaysia ran over to Priest and looked at Crystal. "Um, daddy. Who is she?"

"I'm your daddy's—" Crystal started to say.