Black Rose

Forty two

"You can't be serious, Mr. Abdu. How can you do this to me after all this time?" I queried in a hush tone, not wanting other people nearby to hear the argument I was currently having with my lawyer. "Ok, you know what, that's perfectly fine, just refund me my money back and you'll be forgotten."

I hung up the phone, tossing it on the table. Sighing, I played around with the pasta on my plate, not even hungry after that conversation. Raine took notice of my sudden change after the call. "What happened?"

"He's stepping down as my lawyer." My voice cracked. "Apparently your parent's attorney dug up his past, blackmailing him into closing the case. And he chickened out on me."

"That son of a bitch." Raine shook his head in disbelief. How can you just back out of a case after getting this far?

"Just when I thought we were about to finally face a judge, he pulls this stunt on me. Six months of my time and energy...wasted." I slammed the fork down harder than I intended to, causing a few heads to turn our way, but I could care less.

Raine reached across the table, holding my hands into his. "It's not wasted, baby. I'll look into getting you another lawyer. One that's actually acknowledged and has a list of positive credentials."

"I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, but you and I both know you don't want to do that for the simple fact that you don't want me to take your parents to court. You never did but you still supported me, so that's all I can ask for. I'm just going to let it go and let God deal with them how he sees fit." I shrugged, giving up completely. This has to be a sign, telling me it's not worth it. There have been too many obstacles keeping us from standing in a court room and I've ignored them all. I just know this is a sign.

"It's not about what I want though." Raine started. "If you want to continue on with the case, tell me and I'll get on it immediately."

Thinking about it, I shook my head. "No, I'm wiping my hands clean of the entire ordeal. Obviously, money is power, and they have that over me. There isn't anything else I can do and quite frankly, I don't want to anymore." I shrugged, sipping my lemon water.

These past months have been hell and taking a toll on my mental and body, physically. Three weeks ago, right after new years day, Raine and I had a scare. Mr. Abdu called me with more bad news about scandalous Wynter and Sunlyn. They had managed to push the court date back to this month, February, and that was the final straw for me. My stress level skyrocketed through the roof, sending me into one of the worst breakdowns I've had thus far and I almost miscarriage, hadn't Raine and Kelsi been there to calm me down enough and get me to the hospital. Dr. Lauren put me on bedrest until further notice, but I begged Raine to take me out to lunch today. Knowing that I put my babies in danger because of Raine's idiotic parents was enough for me to recognize my limits and ease up on myself about the case. However, apart of me wanted to continue since I waited this long to get the ball rolling. But after, this sudden news, Mr. Abdu pulled on me, I'm washing my hands with the Merciers and letting the chips fall where they may. They may think they've won, but I will have the last laugh whether their punishment is by my hands or not.

"I went to see them yesterday." Raine blurted out after neither of us spoke up. didn't have anything nice to say nor do I care to hear his reason behind the visit, but I'll listen because I have respect for him. "Instead of ignoring them like I've been doing, I finally told them how I felt about the unfortunate situation. I can't forgive them for this. Not right now. No time soon to be honest. My mom was crying, begging and pleading for me to forgive them and make it right, then once she saw her dramatics didn't move me in the slightest, she switched up from desperate to cursing me out. As for my dad, his entire existence pissed me off. The nigga didn't show an ounce of remorse. He didn't open his mouth to speak to me. My parents are messed up in the head, Mel. They need professional help—help I can't give them. The last thing I said to them was, I wanted no parts of them until they realized their mistake and sincerely want to make it right between us all."