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

Chapter 25: Cold Shoulders

JUSTIN

"I need to see them Scooter. She's not answering my calls." He was glaring but I didn't care, "I know this," I gestured around us to the recording booth, "Is important to you, but nothing is more important to me than my family. I won't sacrifice them for this job."

I went over the moment over and over. Scooter and I had set a studio session and halfway through the day somebody had turned on the news. The front of my house was plastered everywhere, so I told scooter I had to leave. That was all I had to say to him and he let my go. I must've sounded desperate.

As I pulled into the driveway, the bored photographers turned their lenses to me and I was blinded by flashing. I couldn't see how far up the driveway I was because I was blinded, so I put my cat in park, turned it off, and opened my door, pushing past the massive crowd that was gathered on the lawn and making my way to the front door. It was locked but it swung open as I approached and slammed behind me, a solid clack filled my ears as it was locked again behind me.

"Welcome home." I turned around and saw my eldest daughter, Krystal standing at the door. She had let me in. I opened my mouth to say something back but she brushed me off and left the room before I had a chance.

I kicked my shoes off and made my way into the living room. Braxton and Amelia were sitting on the couch watching an old Disney movie and when they heard my footsteps both turned their heads. Amelia jumped into the air and ran to hug my legs.

"Hi Daddy!" She gushed.

I ran my hands over her head, she was taller, "Hi Milly." Braxton still hadn't moved from the couch, "Hey bud."

"Nice to see you remember where home was." His words were still sinking in when he climbed off the sofa and sauntered away. Since when was he allowed to talk to me like that! Had they gotten no discipline since I had been gone?

Amelia was still hugging my legs when Connor walked into the room, a frown plastered on his face. When he saw me he nodded, like something had become obvious, "Hey," he mumbled. At the sound of his voice, Amelia let go of me and ran up to him. He swept her up in his arms and held her on his hip.

He had taken my place.

"Where's Serrina?" I mumbled, trying hard to not scream.

"She's in the shower." Connor but his cheek and I noticed that he was taller than me, "You don't have to wait. Just grab what you need and go." He was assuming that I planned to leave too.

"I want to talk to her."

He slowly nodded and turned away from me. As he walked away, Amelia still hanging to his body, I felt my stomach flip and my throat filled with bile.

They were moving on in life without me. I hadn't been gone very long, but it had been enough for them to move on and leave me behind.

I heard footsteps coming down the hall and looked up at Serrina. Her hair was wet and draped over her shoulder onto a towel and she was wearing a hoodie and shorts, her pregnant belly obvious to anybody who looked in her direction.

"What?" Her voice was cold and her eyes looked dark. She crossed her arms and shrugged at me, "Connor said you wanted to talk to me, so talk."

I bit my bottom lip and stared at her in shock, "How are you?" I began and when she scoffed and shook her head I quickly moved on, "I know things have been a little rough lately so I wanted to come check in on you guys."

She combed her fingers through her hair and raised her eyebrows like my words had surprised her, "A little rough?" She shook her head, "That's a very dramatic understatement."

"Well," I began, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Again, she shook her head and looked at me with disgust, "Honestly, Justin, the only thing you can do to help me right now is to leave. I'm doing fine and I don't think any of your kids want to see you after the way you've made them feel."

Suddenly my chest was tight and my breath was caught in my throat. I couldn't breathe and my heart was beating so hard I could hear it in my ears. I didn't know how to reply. She didn't want me anymore?

Then the sound of feet walking into the room snapped me out of my trance and I looked up, meeting eyes with my eldest daughter.

Krystal was standing in the mouth of the hallway staring at us with a sad look and the thought of her not wanting me here made me want to die. She had her arms across her chest and was staring at me with a look I didn't recognize.

"Honey, go find your sister." Serrina tried but Krystal didn't budge. The little girl she was a few months ago was gone and she was turning into an emotional teenage girl. Serrina tried again, "Krystal, I mean it, go."

"No," she shook her head a little bit and then took a deep breath, "Dad, I know you feel like this isn't your fault but it is. You left us alone. We don't need you here if you're just going to disappear again." Then she finished me off with the final blow, "The last thing we need to do is pick up the pieces after you break Amelia's heart again." She stood there for a second waiting for me to respond but I was frozen. My body wouldn't react. It wouldn't move.

I felt paralyzed.

Then a hand touched my shoulder and pushed me a little. I wasn't sure who it was but I had a strong feeling that it was Serrina. Finally I heard her voice,

"You should go before Braxton decides to say something too."

I slowly nodded and let her maneuver me through the halls and into the foyer. She helped me get my shoes on because I was too frozen to do it myself then she slipped my jacket on. I felt like a child who needed to be cared for. Once my jacket was on she took my face in her hands and I looked her in the eyes.

The one thing about her that made me feel like we were still teenagers in love were her eyes. They hadn't changed a bit and it woke me up.

"Show them you care." She whispered to me and then she sighed, "They just need to know you care."

The. She bent over and gently kissed me. It wasn't on my mouth but it wasn't quite my cheek either. It was on the crease of my mouth but still not straight on.

When she backed away our eyes met again and hers were softer than before. She was sad. "Make them believe you." I gently nodded and bent down to kiss her forehead. She didn't pull away and then I stepped past her and left the house, tears threatening to leave my eyes.