Gunner

Epilogue

heh heh

well good news! aaliyahs story can come out tuesday or earlier!

Lily

"LIL-"

"Stop, Gunner. Please don't talk to me" I block him from me as I sob.

"I'm so so-"

"Sorry's don't fix this, Gunner! We're married! We love each other! At least I thought that was mutual!" I push him away.

He tears up. "One thing lead to another an-"

"IF YOU WERE EVER LOYAL AND FAITHFUL, YOUR FIRST THOUGHT WOULD BE THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN INVITED HER OVER, LET ALONE FUCK HER!" I shout.

"I fucked up, I know! But I love you! You know that!" he tries to touch me, but I pull away. "It was a shitty mistake!"

"WHY?! IT TAKES STEPS TO INVITE A GIRL OVER, LET HER IN, TALK TO HER, KISS HER, AND FUCK HER! YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE DOING! IT'S JUST LIKE HOW YOU WERE YEARS AGO! YOU NEVER CHANGED. YOU'RE AN ABSOLUTE DIRTY LYING FUCKER! WE LITERALLY HAVE A CHILD!" I grow angrier and angrier.

"I CAN EXPLAIN!"

"DO IT!"

"YOU'RE ALWAYS BUSY-"

"OH SO I DON'T SATISFY YOU ANYMORE?! WELL SORRY I'M TOO BUSY TAKING CARE OF OUR DAUGHTER BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS WITH YOUR BROTHER! IF THAT'S EVEN WHERE YOU GO! YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN HOOKING UP WITH HER THIS WHOLE TIME!" tears stream down my face.

"Beautiful..." a tear escapes his eye.

"Do NOT CALL ME THAT!" I shout.

"Mommy? Daddy?" Aaliyah and her friends walk in.

I look at Gunner with my swollen, wet eyes. "I want a divorce, Gunner. Aaliyah stays with me" I pick up my daughter and hold Lorenzo's hand, walking out of the house with Parker following behind.

I lead them to the lake area and sit down on the bench by the dock.

"Why are you crying?" Lorenzo frowns.

"What's wrong?" Parker asks.

"Mommy?" Aaliyah adds on.

I cry harder and they say no more, just hugging me with their little arms.

**

"I can't believe this" Layla wipes her tears.

"I'm sorry Layla, but I'm fighting for my daughter. She's gonna be in my custody" I hold my guard up, leaving the courthouse.

"Lily" Gunner walks to me and I take a deep breath. "If you win... can I please see her?"

I whimper, holding back my tears. "She's your daughter too. I know she's gonna wanna see you and I won't take that away from her. I just don't want to see you. You have ruined my life and most likely ruined hers. You've been cheating for a month and not once have you had remorse or guilt? Not until I caught you. You were never sorry until then. I want Aaliyah in my hands as you're not ready for her. You never were" I get into my car, turning it on and driving to Lorenzo's house.

As soon as I pull in, the kids run to me. "You were gone for so long!!" Aaliyah hugs me. "Where's daddy?"

I shake my head. "Daddy won't be staying with us anymore"

"Lily..." Lorenzo's mom, Octavius, frowns. "She's too young-"

"But doesn't she have to know why he's not gonna be around anymore?" I tear up and she immediately hugs me. I sob into her chest. "I want this to be over. I wanna wake up from this horrible dream with my husband next to me to comfort me"

"I'm so sorry. I'm so so SO sorry. I wish I could end all of this" she rubs my back. "But you have your beautiful daughter. She's all you need. And, if it helps you, you can stay here with us until you get on your feet with looking for a house"

"Thank you so much, Octavius. But, I already have a simple house for Aaliyah and I" I pull away. "He chested for a whole month and that's the worse pain in the world. The man I fell in love with, the man I had a child with, got married to, cheated. Because I was always busy and didn't have time for his sexual needs. And that's something I dread to tell my little girl as she's old enough to understand"

"You're so strong, love. You've been through hell and back with that boy, but you can't change every player. He proved you wrong in every way he could. It's so unfair to you and your daughter he created with you" she frowns.

"We were suppose to be forever and nothing was ever suppose to get in the way. But that's stupidity for you" I wipe my tears. "I'm so glad A has Lorenzo. He really makes her happy"

"As does Aaliyah" she sadly smiles.

I look down and pick Aaliyah up. "Ready to see our new house?"

"Yeah" she smiles.

I hold her head against my chest as I silently break down.

**

"Aaliyah," I tuck her in.

"I miss daddy" she frowns.

I try to form words. "I do too... but, daddy hurt us. He turned his back against us and now we no longer love each other..." I lie at the last part.

"What does that mean?" she tilts her head.

I kiss her forehead. "You'll understand later. But promise me something, okay?"

"Okay" she holds my hand.

I take in a deep breath and let go. "Know your worth, baby. You are incredibly gorgeous and never settle for someone who doesn't see that in you. Be yourself and do that you love, drop the people who don't appreciate that. I love you and you are an amazing girl with a heart that can love anyone, but I need you to be careful with who you let in. Don't put someone in your heart when you know the intentions. You're only four, but you're incredibly smart. I love you, Aaliyah Hope Archer"

"I love you too, mommy. I promise" she sits up to hug me.

I squeeze her.

One thing I will give Gunner.

I will let Aaliyah forever carry on the Archer name.

But me? I won't.

I love you, Gunner.