Forever Yours (Book 4 of 4) (Justin Bieber Love Story) ✔️

Chapter 24: The Beginning of The End

~ 21 Weeks Pregnant ~

SERRINA

The car was eerily quiet this morning. All of us were tired. We had sat up all night brainstorming names for the baby. So far we didn't have much. Amelia kept suggesting Lilo because of her new obsession with Lilo and Stitch and the twins weren't being helpful in deterring it. Connor was doing his best to convince her Lilo wasn't a good name, but there was only so many things you could say to a 5 year old without hurting their feelings.

A song that had been playing came to an end and the announcer began speaking. Normally, I tuned it out and focused on driving but her introduction made me listen.

"Justin Bieber slips up on his family matters during his first live interview? Oops! Sorry Biebes, we still love you! More about that after traffic!" I felt my heart pounding in my chest and my hands clenched the steering wheel so I wouldn't scream.

What could he have said now?

Braxton turned in the front seat to look at me but I couldn't bring myself to make eye contact. I saw him turn around to give his twin sister a look and then Krystal mentioned her headphones for Amelia.

I was glad to look in the mirror and see that they had stuffed the tiny buds into Amelia's ears by the time the announcer came back. She sounded very excited to talk.

"So last night Justin Bieber had his first live interview to promote his music and he just kept making slips about his private life."

And other announcer, this time a guy, piped into the conversation, "I heard about that. Apparently he couldn't keep his mouth shut about his wife. He announced that she is pregnant with their next kid but left us all wondering, if he's making music, who's helping raise his kids?"

"That's what I thought," the first said, "I mean, I understand the urge to make music again but I can't help wondering if maybe he should've waited."

"To have another baby or come back to the industry?" The guy laughed like it was a joke.

"Both. Sources have been saying there's a wedge in their marriage right now. His reps haven't answered any questions so I can only assume that it's true. Maybe him making music again is a way he's escaping his marriage."

The guy was still chuckling, "Well, you never know with these types of marriages. They met when they were teens and had a bit of a shotgun wedding - or as close to a shotgun wedding as possible. They had already had 3 kids."

This time the woman laughed, "That's true, maybe they were just not meant to be. People drift apart. I just hope the kids aren't stuck in the middle of they get a divorce. That would be bad."

"Yeah, those kids are probably going through hell right now. I can't imagine how they feel about-" I slammed my fist into the radio and it went silent. I saw Braxton jump at my sudden outburst and let out a deep breath to keep myself from screaming.

They could talk about me and Justin as much as they wanted. I don't care, but don't talk about my kids. They have lives outside of the news and now, they would never get away from this life. I wanted to punch something, preferably Justin for putting them in this scenario, but I also wanted to cry. I bit the insides of my cheeks and continued to drive.

"Mom," I heard from the backseat. Krystal was scared, "Are you okay?"

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "Yeah, baby." I nodded and bit my bottom lip as my voice began to shake, "I'm fine."

And as much of a lie as that was right now, I would make it the truth for my kids because they needed me to be okay.

Then I saw it, and I was no longer okay.

We were still a few blocked away from the school but the streets were completely lined with people, all ages and races with their cameras strapped to their chests. The closer we got to the school the denser the crowds got. A few noticed us and the flashes began. Cameras were poured at the car and all the kids were too fascinated to know about getting away from the windows.

"Are these for us?" I heard Braxton whisper and could hear in his voice that he was scared. I gently nodded because I knew he was looking at me.

"Guys keep your heads down. Don't look at them." I looked in the backseat and saw Amelia staring wide eyed at the cameras. Her headphones were still in, "Krystal, cover your sister."

Krystal did as I said and slid her jacket off, wrapping it around her younger sisters head and then ducking under it herself.

I turned to look at Braxton and was filled with an overwhelming sadness when I saw his gritted teeth and tearing up eyes. It made me want to scream.

Without a second thought, I made sure the road was clear and did a 180 turn, heading back the way I came and preparing myself for the shit storm that was to come.

*****

Dinner had become a time where we didn't talk. We all say in silence as Connor attempted to make conversation, usually succeeding with Amelia, but the twins and myself kept quiet. Tonight was no different.

Connor and Amelia had been talking about a TV show that she had began watching and how it was the best show in the world when Krystal threw her fork on the ground and hurried her face in her hands. I leaped out of my chair and over to hers, turning her body to face me and then pulling her to my chest. She wrapped her arms around my body and sobbed. Nobody spoke.

We must have been like that for a while because when she finally pulled away from me and I crouched down to her level my feet were hurting, "You okay?"

She shook her head and pouted her lip, twitching one cheek, "No." I reached up and ran my hand over her head, "Why doesn't dad care anymore?"

"He cares," Braxton said from across the table. His voice made Krystal look up and she glared at him, "Just because he works doesn't amen he doesn't care."

"Do you remember the last time he sat down and ate dinner with us?" She snapped back, "What about the last time he helped with homework? We didn't even know he was going to make music. He doesn't tell us anything." She turned to me and shook her head, "How can he be our dad and Justin Bieber?"

I didn't know what to say. I couldn't defend him because she was right. He couldn't be both, or at least he was proving that he couldn't. I gently shook my head and she stood up from the table and stormed up the stairs. I heard her bedroom door slam and knew that there was nothing for me to say. I couldn't make this better.

"Braxton, Amelia, finish your dinner then clean up. Just put everything in the sink." I left the room without saying anything else because I was terrified I was going to cry. As soon as I was in my room I shut the door and dropped to the floor. I cradled my stomach and began to sob.

The door opened a few seconds later and I didn't have the energy to hide. If my kids walked in they were going to see me and I didn't have the energy to care. I just kept sobbing.

Then a hand touched the centre of my back and I knew it was Connor. I turned around and he took me into his arms, sitting down beside me and pulling my body into his lap. He ran his hand through my hair over and over as I fell apart in his embrace, not sure if I was ever going to be able to put myself back together.

This was the beginning of the end for our family and the thought of it made me feel more broken than I had ever thought was possible.