Page 22 of Merc

Even before I saw the videos, I’d kind of made up in my mind to end things. Finding out that he was cheating only solidified I was making the right decision to remove him from my life.

I had purposefully chosen a weekday afternoon to go and grab a few things plus my car, so I was surprised when I went inside and found him in the bedroom. He immediately leaped from bed and started toward me, but I lifted my hands to stop him.

“I’ve been waiting for you to come home,” he said. “There’s a lot we need to discuss.”

“No there’s not, actually. You cheated and we’re over.”

As I headed to the closet, he followed me. “I know that might have looked bad, but Asia was just keeping me company while you were gone. That’s it.”

Laughing, I pulled my rolling luggage out of the closet and placed it on the bed.

“You’re lying.”

“Bae, I’m telling you the truth.” Steven grabbed my hand. “There was nothing going on between me and Asia before you left.”

I hadn’t told him about me seeing her TikTok, so I could understand why he thought he could get away with lying. The crazy thing was, I didn’t even have the energy to go back and forth with him. I didn’t have the energy to watch him scramble and try and finesse the truth.

“Steve, it’s clear you are attached to that woman. Be with her and leave me the hell alone.”

For a while, he just stood there and stared at me. I couldn’t believe I didn’t see the signs. How he randomly stopped bringing China here and opted to spend time with her outside of the house. How he somehow grew busier at work but never seemed to make more money. How we stopped having sex and going out and he was totally okay with it.

“So you’re just going to leave me? You’re not even going to try and work this out?” he asked as I started to gather things from the bathroom.

God. I hated I’d even moved in with him. We’d been staying together for the last year. It happened right after he gifted me with the building for my store. It was crazy because he’d been acting suspicious and secretive, and I thought it was because he was about to propose. The building was even better. I was so grateful I agreed to move in with him, even though I’d been against it for a while.

The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. That was when he started acting sketchy and staying out more. That was also when Asia started getting real cocky and limiting the time China could be with us here. Now I couldn’t help but wonder if Steven gifted me with the store because of guilt or as a way to keep me with him if and when I found out about his cheating.

When I ignored him, he continued. “Fine. If you don’t want me, then you don’t want nothing that I gave you. So I hope you’re ready to pack all your shit tonight, because you can’t come back after this.”

Amusement filled me as I tossed my things into my bag. “Okay, that’s fine, Steve.”

“And the music store too.”

Now that made me pause and finally give him the attention he wanted. “What?”

“That’s in my name. I leased that building for you. So if you don’t want me, you don’t want the store either.”

I stared at him as confusion filled me. I couldn’t believe he was serious. With a chuckle, I placed my hand on my hip. “You don’t know shit about running a vinyl music store. What reason would you have to keep it other than to hurt me?”

“That’s more than enough for me.”

My smile fell as I pulled in a deep breath. “So let me get this straight.” Putting my hands in prayer position, I looked toward the ceiling. “You cheat on me, and when I find out and leave you, you decide to force me to stay with you or lose the thing I love the most?”

He took slow steps in my direction. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.” Steven was so confident I would agree that he began to take my clothing out of my bag. “I can fix this if you give me a chance. You’ve worked hard to turn that store into what it is. I know you’re not going to be dumb enough to give that up just because I made a mistake.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Steven.” I snatched my clothes out of his arms. “I won’t be bullied into staying with you. So if you want to cause me even more pain by taking my store away from me, fine. I’ll rebuild without you.”

With a shrug, he walked away. I said I wouldn’t cry in front of this man, so I was glad he left. I was cool with leaving our home. What I wasn’t prepared for was for him to take my store from me. Even though the business was mine, the building was in his name. Since he was paying to own it, if he wanted me out, I had no choice but to leave.

I jogged into the bathroom and slammed the door behind me as my tears started to pour. Sliding down it, I asked God why this was happening to me. It was one thing for me to lose the man I loved and thought I’d be with forever, but now, I was losing my passion and joy too. When I was composed enough, I asked my parents and Innvy to come help me pack. The sooner I got away from this man… the better.

I loved my people.

As soon as my parents arrived, my mood was lifted.

They’d brought several of my cousins and aunts and uncles along too.

What started as them helping me pack my things turned into a moving out party. We were well into the night, drinking, dancing, and enjoying ourselves. Steven left quickly when my cousins arrived because he didn’t want no smoke, and all I could do was laugh.

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