Page 88 of Set me Free

"What happened?" Her voice was urgent, filled with concern.

I told her everything. I told her about the accident. I told her about my baby and finally I told her about the betrayal.

Sienna didn’t hesitate. "I’m coming."

And then, the line went dead. I curled onto my side, clutching my stomach, and cried myself to sleep.

By morning, my mother was here. The second she walked into the hospital room, her presence filled the space.

"Baby," she whispered, her voice softer than I had ever heard it. I couldn’t say anything. I just collapsed into her arms, sobbing. She held me tight, rubbing slow, comforting circles on my back. "I got you," she murmured. "Everything’s gonna be okay."

And for the first time in years, I actually believed her.

We were discharged quickly, my mama handling everything. I was in a daze, eyes blank and unmoving. I felt dead inside. How did this happen? Why was this happening? How could Creed do this to me?

From what he told me, he’d never cheated on Gianna during their entire relationship. I believed him, believed it when he told me he would ever cheat on me either. I believed he was loyal to me, never thought he’d do this.

On the way out, we ran into the last person I wanted to see. Creed. And, of course, his damn mama was with him.

Tasha started speaking first, her expression set in something fake and forced. "Serenity, sweetheart, I?—"

Sienna was not having it.

"Don’t you dare," she snapped, stepping in front of me like a shield. "You better be lucky I need to take care of my daughter, or I’d make an even bigger scene in this mutha fucka." I could hear every bit of the Brooklyn accent coming out of her. Normally she was cool, calm, and collected. But in this moment she was mama bear and she was ready for a fight.

Creed looked broken, his light brown eyes desperate as they locked onto mine. "Baby, please," he whispered. "Just talk to me."

I clenched my jaw. I wanted to break down, to let him pull me into his arms, to believe his apologies. But I wouldn’t. I couldn’t.

Instead, I turned to him coldly. "We don’t have anything to talk about." I had made myself clear yesterday.

Something flashed in his eyes—something painful. He reached into his pocket and handed me my cellphone.

"The police dropped it off yesterday," he said quietly. "I thought you lost it." I took it, gripping it tight, then walked past him.

The pain in my chest was unbearable, but I forced myself not to look back. Because I knew if I did I might never leave.

The private jet was quiet, the hum of the engine the only sound. I sat by the window, staring out into the sky, my fingers clutching my ultrasound photo. Tears slipped down my cheeks silently. My mother sat across from me, watching me closely.

"Everything is going to be okay," she said softly.

I nodded, wanting to believe that was true. But deep down? I wasn’t so sure.

The next fewweeks in Atlanta were a blur. I ignored every single one of Creed’s calls. I buried myself in my mother’s condo, surrounded by her staff, her assistants, her people. Then my daddy and Sevyn showed up.

I told them about the baby. They were supportive—but worried. Because I wasn’t myself anymore. I was spiraling. I was sinking and I didn’t know how to stop it.

One night, I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. I had been debating something for weeks. Whether or not I should even keep this baby. Not because I didn’t love them— but because I didn’t know if I was strong enough. I had never planned on doing this alone. I had never thought this would be my reality.

But then… I thought about Creed’s mother, Gianna. Gianna’s ugly mother. And suddenly, I knew. I would never let them win. They had taken so much from me already and all because of what? Because I loved a man who didn’t deserve me.

So the next morning I booked a flight, and I packed my bags. And I told my mother— "I’m going back to New York."

She tried to talk me out of it. Told me I should stay with her or go home to California. She told me I should heal. But I couldn’t. Because I needed to be home. I needed my girls.

Late that night when I stepped into my penthouse, I barely had time to drop my bags before I was surrounded. Averi. Egypt and Arielle. They hugged me tight, and I finally let myself fall apart. I told them everything. I told them about the baby, and I told them I wasn’t sure if I should keep it. And they just held me and comforted me through my emotions. They all knew how much I loved that man, so it was only right I be as devastated about this situation as I was,

"No matter what you decide," Arielle whispered. "We got you."

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