I was going to report my mother to the police, create a whole investigation to clear Jericho and I's names, and put her in prison. However, I realized she still had control over my siblings, so I revised my plan.

Dad gets to have my siblings at his new house Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I'll go over and tell them everything; mom can't hurt them if they report the abuse and terrorizing she's been doing for years. Once I have their true testimonies, once they get on board, I have all the evidence I need.

Plus, Jericho has a video, a video he's kept onto for god knows how long, and he only decided to tell me after I told him what I was going to do. The video is probably about Jericho; no one got beaten up like Jericho did; as I said, I've only been beaten once. I won't watch til we get in court.

Also, the police showed up at our door for Derek's death; I had a solid alibi, and so did Vincent, even though he killed Derek, so... it's either the police are dumb, or Vincent manipulated them.

I don't care either way; I still have my pookie with me.

"Where are you going?" Vincent asked, lounging on the couch with Loki.

"I'm going to my dad's house. My siblings are there."

"How? Aren't they still getting divorced?"

I sighed and nodded. "They already are; it went by quick because my mother wanted it too, she's been disgraced, and she wants out."

Vincent scoffed but didn't say anything.

I walked over to him and placed a kiss on his lips. "I'll see you later, pookie."

I pulled away, but he grabbed my waist, kissing me deeper. "You know," Vincent whispered. "I wouldn't mind if you got pregnant."

I shook my head. "We gotta marry in the hands of the lord, Vincent." I joked.

"You're such a loser,"

"Shut up, silly."

"Goofy," he retorted.

"Alright, you're done. I'm not doing this again with you." I got up and turned around, but as soon as I did, Vincent smacked my ass and chuckled. "You–You think this is funny–you know what, wait til I come back."

Vincent laughed. "Alright then."

"Alright then." I mocked before walking out.

•┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈•

I knocked on the door, and unnecessary overthinking going on in my head...what if they actually do hate me? They don't; I haven't done anything to them, but it's nerve-wracking; it's like the time I came to the family house to talk to my mother about divorcing Derek.

The door opened, A'raya had opened the door, and her eyes were wide. "Oh, A'roya! I'm so sorry." She crashed into me, hugging me tightly as I sighed in relief.

"I didn't mean to. I was forced. Mom would hurt White more if I didn't testify against you. I figured you–you and Jericho wouldn't mind."

I hugged her back. "No, I don't. You do whatever it takes to protect the younger one, you understand me?"

A'raya nodded. "I do."

"You're not getting any older, which reminds me, do you still want to marry that man?"

A'raya nodded eagerly. "Yes, you better not ruin my chances." A'raya pulled me inside as I scoffed.

"A'raya, what if he's an asshole or an abusive person."

"I could always divorce him. You set a real precedent in this family, you and Jericho; if he does touch me, I have two older siblings, a dad, and three younger siblings for support."

I smiled. "I'm glad you know."

A'raya smiled back, leading to the living room where everyone was. "Guys, guess who's here?"

Everyone's head turned up. "Hey guys, I've missed you a lot." I smiled.

King, Lucky, and White all ran up to me, almost knocking me done.

"We're so sorry," White cries. "We thought we'd never see you again!"

"I'm fine, but are you guys? Where's dad."

"White asked him if we could get a dog, and he said why not." Lucky explained.

"Yea! We're two dogs!" White jumped happily.

I smiled; speaking of dogs, I should ask Vincent to buy me one. "What breed?"

"A labradoodle and a dalmatian, he has A'raya babysitting us, ain't nobody listens to her," King said.

A'raya put him in a chokehold while he starts screaming, 'big gorilla on the loose.'

Lucky and White laughed as King got his ass beat.

"Jeez, I was joking, you fool."

A'raya side-eyed him. "Don't play."

"Not that I'm not happy, but why'd you come here and break the rules? You could go to jail."

I sighed, sitting down on the couch. "I have an idea, something that'll put our mother in prison."

"We won't see her again?" White asked.

I shook my head.

"What do we have to do?" A'raya asked.

"I want you to tell them everything."

King and Lucky looked at each and furrowed their brows.

"A'roya, if it doesn't work, mom will–"

"I have video evidence. I just need your testimonies to get rid of the restraining order. Jericho gave me a video."

"So, we'll never see her again?" Lucky asked.

I nodded.

"Wait, wait, wait," A'raya said, confusion written on her face. "Where's Jericho."

I sighed. "He's in the hospital. He'll be released tomorrow on Friday."

White whimpered, tears in her eyes as Lucky hugged her. "What happened to him."

I don't want to tell them he's been overdosing.....I can't.

I shook my head, pushing back tears.

Why the hell am I crying?

"Jericho's fine, he's been very stressed, and Phoebe was worried for him. He's alive, don't worry, I'll bring him next time."

"Please don't lie to us." King frowned.

"What really happened?" A'raya asked.

"I–I, fuck, you guys are smart....but I'm sorry, I won't tell you. There's a lot going on. You guys are still young; you don't deserve this." I teared up again.

They hugged me again, and I held them tightly. "I'll get you away from that woman, I promise."

•┈••✦ ❤ ✦••┈•

I felt pretty good; they agreed to testify. I'm feeling happy. I'm engaged to a man I'm madly in love with, my dad got his freedom, my siblings will also get their freedom, Phoebe and Jericho will also get married, not to mention I'll be a doctor by thirty-one if I work hard.

My life is going so well. I could cry and all of this because I met a Vampire.

I was thinking about all of this driving back home when Elora texted in the group chat. I stopped at a red light and opened the message.

He proposed! I said yes, btw!

She sent a picture of the beautiful ring. It was rose gold, roses engraved on the side of the morganite gem, and diamonds as the side stones.

I know what morganite is because I went ring shopping with Vincent, though I won't tell them yet, Elora should have her time to shine.

"Vincent!" I squealed, walking through the door.

"Yes?" He walked out of the bedroom.

"Look!" I showed Vincent the picture of Elora's ring.

He took my phone and looked closer.

"Vincent's so cute; look at how peaceful he looks—A'roya, why are you taking pictures of me while I sleep?"

I gasped, taking my phone from his hands. "I only showed you Elora's ring, you fool. Stop looking at my messages!" I whined.

"Ugh, I feel so unsafe." He faked a shudder.

I stared at him with an are-you-serious look. "Let's be so fucking for real right now."

"I am. You scare me." Vincent laughed when I started pushing him.

"Stupid nigger," I mumbled. "Look at her ring and stop being foolish."

Vincent sighed and looked at the picture this time, then he looked at my ring and then back at the photo.

"God fucking damn, your ring is so fucking ugly."

My jaw dropped. "I like it."

"I should never let you pick out things like this because what I'm looking at is a ring. Your ring looks so cheap."

"Then why did you buy it?!"

Vincent shrugged. "Bruh, you said that was the one, but I regret letting you choose; your taste is an ass."

"You're an ass." I retorted.

"Elora's ring is beautiful, and then look at the ring you chose."

I crossed my arms. "Vincent, I like my ring."

"Keep it; I'm buying a new one as the wedding ring."

I groaned. "And if I don't like it?"

"Then you have no taste."

"Vincent." I glared at him. "Your wasting money on a ring, you bought me one, and I love it."

Vincent grabbed my arm with the ring on it and observed it. "I'm wasting money on you. I'm going to make sure it's worth it. This shitty piece of metal isn't doing you any justice."

"So dramatic for what?"

Vincent rolled his eyes. "I'm not dramatic. I just have sense."

"And I don't?"

Vincent stared at me with a mischievous smirk. "No."

He started running away.

"Vincent, come back. Let's have a talk."

"No." He laughed. "I'm not dumb, like you."

My jaw dropped. "Really, Vincent?" I asked menacingly. "You're pushing it, and when I catch you on them streets, it's gonna get wild."

"What's wild is that low IQ–ah!" Vincent screamed.

I stopped running toward him, and he covered his mouth. "Vincent–"

"A'roya don't, just don't."

I couldn't hold into the laugh that came after. "He said 'ah!'" I laughed, holding my stomach. "A grown-ass man."

"I'm calling the police. I feel so unsafe with you. You're so scary."

"Says the Vampire." I retorted.

"Exactly, you make Vampires scared."

"You know what, nigga," I side-eyed him, and he back-tracked.

"I'm sorry," He laughed.

I chased after him anyway as he screamed, 'I'm sorry!' I jumped on his back and attacked him with pillows. "I'm calling the police." He said when I got off him.

I laughed. "You're so stupid."

"I wouldn't talk if I were you."

I turned back. "Really nigga?"