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Chapter 3

𝔸𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕚 𝔻𝕚𝕠𝕣 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕤
📍ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕘𝕠 𝕀𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕠𝕚𝕤

“Mommy, I don’t want to go!” Kaden cried, dramatically throwing himself onto the floor in a fit of frustration.

Armani sighed tiredly as she sat on her bed, massaging each side of her neck with both hands. Kaden was now in that challenging toddler stage she had read about, where behavior often escalated, and she felt unsure how to handle it.

She didn't like the idea of whooping him; she preferred to let her mom take care of that. But she knew that sooner or later, she would have to step up and face the responsibility herself.

Diana walked into the room, holding a belt and shooting Kaden a stern look. He slowly got up from the floor, his head bowed, knowing he was in trouble.

"First, give your mom a hug and say you're sorry," she demanded. Kaden slowly walked over to Armani and wrapped his arms around her leg.

“Sorry, Mommy,” Kaden said, his voice small. Armani rubbed his back soothingly, but he glanced at the belt in his grandma’s hand and hugged her tighter.

"Now put those pants and shirt on so we can go. If I hear you acting up in here one more time, you're getting your butt whooped," she warned, pointing the belt at him.

"Yes, ma'am," Kaden replied, walking over to the outfit his mom had tried to dress him in. With Armani’s help, he slipped it on.

After helping Kaden with his outfit and shoes, Armani went to her closet to get dressed.

When she walked downstairs, she saw her mom and Kaden sitting on the couch, going over the ABCs.

"You’re doing so well, baby," Diana said, kissing his forehead as he smiled back at her.

"Are you all ready to go?" Armani asked as she picked up her purse and keys from the table.
"Yeah, did Jayda send you the address?" Diana asked. Armani nodded and headed out the door.

Jayda had invited them to a cookout her dad was hosting, and needing a break from the house, Armani and her mom decided to go.

"When we get there, you better act like you have some home training, you hear me?" Diana said, glancing back at Kaden. He nodded and replied, "Yes, ma'am," before turning his attention back to his iPad.

"I know you’ve been having a hard time," Diana said, glancing at her daughter, who looked exhausted.

"Yes, ma, I'm trying. I really am," Armani said, her voice cracking as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Baby, you need to learn to put your foot down when it comes to him," Diana said. "You also need to hurry up and tell his father that he has a son—he needs a father figure in his life."

"It's hard to discipline him, ma. I’m trying to practice gentle parenting," Armani pouted, feeling frustrated as she hated seeing her baby cry.

"Girl, please, you better start whooping his ass before he starts whooping yours," Diana said, giving her daughter a side-eye.

"Yeah, yeah, ma, I hear you," Armani replied, rolling her eyes.
___________

As they pulled into the driveway of a two-story house, Armani got out to lift a sleeping Kaden from his seat, while her mom grabbed the drinks and supplies she had brought along.

As Armani walked through the open door, she was immediately greeted by the smell of weed, which made her smile.

Since Kaden was born, she hadn’t smoked or drunk anything besides wine, and tonight, she was determined to have a good time.