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Chapter 8

*unedited*

"Where have you been?" Sincere demanded the moment Armani stepped through her mother’s front door, his voice sharp with concern.

Armani rolled her eyes, brushing past him without a word. He trailed closely behind, firing off more questions, his frustration growing as she continued to ignore him.

The tension between them was palpable, but Armani kept her focus ahead, determined not to engage.

As she entered the living room, her steps slowed. The sight before her took her by surprise everyone was there, all eyes on her. Confusion clouded her expression. Why were they all gathered?

Their faces softened with visible relief the moment they saw her, as if her presence alone had lifted a weight from the room.

The air was thick with unspoken worry, and Armani could feel the heaviness settle in her chest. She didn’t know what she’d walked into, but the anxious glances exchanged between them hinted at something serious.

"What's going on?" she finally asked, her voice softer, the confusion giving way to unease.

"Hey, baby," Diana cooed softly, rubbing Armani's five-month belly, which had grown noticeably bigger than expected.

"Sweetheart, have you talked to the doctor about how fast you're growing?" Diana asked, her tone laced with concern as she gently felt around Armani’s stomach.

Armani shook her head. "Every time I go to an appointment, I forget. I'm sure it’s just because I've been eating too much," she said, trying to brush it off with a small smile.

"Way too much," Sincere muttered under his breath, but Armani heard him loud and clear. Without hesitation, she grabbed the remote from the table and flung it at his head.

Seyven burst out laughing, slapping his knee. "He ain't lying! She be calling me at two in the morning," he added, shaking his head with a grin.

Junior chimed in, nodding enthusiastically. "Talking about, 'Sincere’s not answering the phoneee,'" he mocked, dragging the words out dramatically, sending the room into more laughter.

"All of y’all can go to hell," Armani snapped, crossing her arms as her annoyance grew. But her outburst only made them laugh harder.

She sighed, exasperated, feeling both irritated and strangely comforted by the chaos of the people who knew her best.

Despite her frustration, there was warmth in the room, even if they were all getting on her last nerve.

She glanced around the living room, taking in the familiar faces, before turning her attention back to Sincere.

"Where’s my baby at?" she asked, referring to Kaden, her voice laced with a mix of urgency and affection.

Sincere licked his lips, his gaze shifting as he searched her face for a moment. "He’s upstairs, mama," he replied, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth, flashing a grin that showcased his top row of diamond-studded teeth.

"Stopp!" Armani groaned, looking away and squeezing her thighs together in an attempt to compose herself. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as Sincere chuckled behind her.

He knew her hormones were all over the place, especially after how she had jumped on him when he dropped Kaden off a few days ago.

Despite how much he wanted to give in to the moment, he resisted, knowing they needed to have a serious conversation about their relationship and feelings.

"So what’s going on, Sin? You didn’t tell us why we’re all here," Ant spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention to Sincere.

The room fell silent, the lighthearted banter fading as the weight of the question hung in the air. All eyes were now on Sincere, and the tension shifted from playful to serious.