𝑵𝒐 𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 ™

𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣

Karma had left New York what felt like a lifetime ago, packing up her life and heading out with Eva to start fresh in Pennsylvania. The two of them had built a little home together, and it wasn't too far from New York, just a two-hour drive if they needed to reconnect. But Karma wasn't thinking about connections—not with the past she'd left behind.

Eva leaned back in their kitchen chair, legs crossed and a mischievous grin playing on her lips as she bounced Carmen on her knee. Carmen giggled, her little curls bouncing around her face, unaware of the tension brewing between the two women.

"When you gon' tell him, babes?" Eva pressed, fixing Karma with a pointed look. She tapped Carmen's nose playfully, but her eyes never left her best friend's face. "He deserves to know."

Karma rolled her eyes, though the sting of the question dug deeper than she'd let on. "Girl, I don't know, and it don't matter."

"Don't matter?" Eva's eyebrows shot up as she shifted Carmen to her other knee. "So, what? She gon' grow up with no pops? You evil or what?"

Karma's jaw clenched. "It ain't like that," she muttered, turning away to busy herself with cleaning up. "I'm doin' what I gotta do."

"Mhmm," Eva said, clearly not buying it. "Whatever you say, sis. But that don't change what it is."

The conversation was cut short when Eva's phone buzzed, lighting up with a message. She read it, her eyes widening in surprise. "You not gon' believe this," she started, setting her phone down. "DD, Notti, and Ddot? They havin' an album release party back in the city. I got the invite."

Karma paused, her back to Eva, fingers wrapped tightly around the dish towel. She forced herself to stay calm, but her heart started beating faster. "Good for you. You go have fun then," she said dismissively.

"Girl, you sound dumb," Eva shot back, setting Carmen down and standing up. "You comin' too. Yes, the fuck you are."

"Nah, Eva," Karma said, shaking her head. "I'm not poppin' up. I'm good right here."

But Eva was already grabbing her keys, not hearing a word. "Pack your bags, Karma. We're leavin' tonight. Ain't no way you duckin' this."

The trip back to New York felt shorter than it was. Karma's mind raced the whole drive, running through every possible outcome. She hadn't seen David in years—not since she walked away. And now she was returning with the biggest secret of all. Carmen. Their child.

Karma glanced in the rearview mirror, watching her daughter nap peacefully in the car seat. A wave of fear and regret washed over her. How was she supposed to tell David? What would he say? What would he do?

"Hey," Eva said gently, breaking the silence. "Whatever happens, I got you."

Karma nodded, though her stomach twisted. "Thanks," she whispered. She wasn't sure if she was ready to face David, but there was no turning back now. They'd be in New York in less than two hours. And one way or another, everything was about to change .