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DO YOU REMEMBER YESTERDAY CH.2

Maxwell Lord x Black!Female OC

Warning: mention of drug use and addiction. sexual themes.

WC: 6.5K+ No Minors.

Summery: Max and Amani finally makes amends, but there is more around the corner.

“ I’m interested in Amani.” Maxwell was determined not to show how nervous and uncomfortable he was in front of Amani’s mother. He wasn’t going to lie to himself either. He’s fucked up and he knows it, but he's willing to try.

She studied him for a minute, Her expression unwavering.

“I understand what happened between you and Charlotte. You really cared for her and she hurt you. While I am definitely not happy with the way she treated you and how she handled her emotions, she is a troubled girl.” she paused, holding a finger to her lips.

“However. . . I can only do so much as her stepmother. I would like to do more than what her father is willing to handle at the moment, but he’s insistent on sending her away to rehab again as always, and Amani has been taking it really hard.”

“I care about her so much,” he interrupted, “more than Charlotte, and I'm sorry if that makes me a bad person and you don’t want me around Amani, but being with her fills me with something more.”

Max balled his fist tight enough to make his palms bleed. “It gives me purpose.”

A soft chuckle echoed throughout the room. It reverberated from a soft tickle in the back of her throat into a sound that echoed so loud in the walls of Max’s mind. His heart fell to his stomach, his palms started sweating, and he wanted to rip himself apart.

“Max, I don’t think you're a bad person,” she started tenderly, “but you have your demons as well, but I know you're taking action to deal with them.”

Max strained to keep the tears in his eyes, his head pounding as fast as his heart.

“What--- ”

“I’ve noticed the small moments of when these dark thoughts tend to eat you up from the inside ou --- ”

“I’m not looking for someone to fix me!” he could say more in the moment. He could even do more in the moment but he didn't need to explain himself.

“All I know is I want to be with your daughter.”

~

Amani pushed the door into her apart with a sigh parting from her lips.

It was not a place she was particularly happy to be staying at. She only bought it after her declared temporary separation from Max, and it was hurting her.

The wide balcony that opened up over the city, the large windows that gave the apartment a spectacular glow in the mornings. The already expensive and chic furniture it was equipped with and its two and a half rooms of lushness, did nothing to her emotions in her emotionally devoid heart.

However, she was welcomed with the soft aroma of something familiar. Something that reminded her where her heart was.

“ I brought you leftovers from Luisa.” A low and level voice rumbled in her ear before strong lean arms wrapped around her in equal comfort.

“Mmmh, what would I do without you, Javi?”

“Probably waste away worse than you're doing now that you and Max barely see each other anymore.”

A sigh escaped her lips, but it wasn’t like the first. Instead of weary and tired it had lots of layers. It said you're right. It said I want you to stay. It said I know.

“Make me feel good.” Amani pleaded softly. Closing her eyes.

“No.’

Amani whirled to face him with a frown.

He was serious.

Why was he so serious?

“What's so different now compared to last week or the week before that? What's so–“

“Because I didn’t know how much you were hurting then compared to now,” he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her slowly into the counter, staring into her eyes, ”I didn't have to watch you almost say his name three nights in a row.”

His large hands wrapped around her jaw and squeezed until tears started to well in her eyes, “and if we have sex now your going to say his name and its going to hurt how we feel about each other in more easy than one.”

He let her go and turned around, not letting her see the waves of emotion that rise and fall on his face.

“ It would ruin our relationship forever.

“Javi, that’s not a decision you and I get to make, and if we both don’t want to ruin what we have, then it won’t get ruined.”

Javi turned, giving her his work face.

It was a face Amani had learned to hate. A skill Javi has learned throughout the years to close himself off emotionally and physically from the people in his life to protect his emotions. If there was one thing she hated, it was being shut out.

“I’m going to smoke a cigarette.”

Just because things between her and Max have been taking a toll on her emotions did not mean that either of them cared less about each other and Amani couldn’t cheat on him. She wouldn’t dare do anything like that, no matter how upset she was with him for what he did.

It wasn’t fair, but that was life. Not fair.

It's not fair for Max to do wrong in favor of “helping her and the family”, it wasn't fair for Javi to think the future of their relationship rested on his shoulders. It wasn;t fair that the strain between Max and Amani affected so many of the people around them. Life isn’t fair.

Mustering up the broken pieces of her emotions, Amani brisked over to him in fury. Pulling him by his robe and making him face her. “Prove it.” she glared at him.

She wasn’t going to let him be right. He didn’t know everything. He was only being cruel because that's what Javi does when he’s upset. If he’s going down he has to take everyone else with him.

“Is that what you want hermosa?” he smiled, but his voice was agitated.

Amani kept glared at him.

Before she could let out her next breath, he was all over her. His lips chasing hers and not relieving pressure. Thick firm hands roamed her sides and along her body until one firm hand landed on her back. The other gripped her ass until she was firmly locked onto the firm warm plane of his chest.

He moved his lips to her neck making sure to get every scrap of skin his mouth could reach, and a whimper escaped her lips.

He held her tight in a way that she knew what he was saying. She knew what he was asking for. Stay….don't leave me.

With one last kiss that stole her breath, He laid her gently onto the plush cushioning of her couch. In contrast to his gentle movements, he yanked roughly onto the clothes that still covered her, throwing the expensive business wear into some forgotten corner of the penthouse.

With one swipe of a hand, his robe was loose and they were finally able to feel each other’s skin bare chested in each other's full glory. The warm deep tan of his skin held all the warmth of the world and it never failed to make her feel better in the worst of ways.

Warm thick fingers swiped through the wetness of her folds before making a move where she needed most.

“Please. . . don’t….” a moan deep within her chest escaped in a low ethereal sound that was music to his ears, making his fingers dance in feather light touches, “don't tease.” she choked.

His thumb put a delicious pressure on her clit and his warm thick fingers pumped into her at a moderate pleasurable pace that moved with purpose, but not fast enough to make her lose her mind.

Amani held him firmly to her chest as he gave him just what she needed, just what she wanted. Always so caring and always so attentive.

She kissed his neck in response. Biting and marking him the way he likes as a non verbal thank you as she washed his back in every moan, sigh, and whimper in praise.

Her back arched into his chest,and her legs began to shake, before a tidal wave of pleasure washed over her and raised her into another high beyond her belief, she cried out his name,

“Max!”

The guilt was instant. Loosening her grip, she tried to pull away.

Javi didn’t let her. He held her closer and pumped his fingers faster and harder, burying his head into the crook of her neck as he worked his fingers into her, panting her name and murmuring words of encouragement.

“That's it, pretty girl.” he panted in her ear. The warmness of his voice sending her into a trance, “ride my fingers. Take what you need.”

“Max,” she moaned again without thinking.

Javi noticed, and he made sure to rub his thumb in firm small circles around her clit. Pushing a third finger in, he hit the spot that made her walls flutter relentlessly.

“Say it again!”

She dug her nails into his back, but that wasn’t the response he wanted.

With a slap on her ass out of nowhere she yelped and jerked her hips, making his fingers push into her. She whimpered in response.

“I thought I told you to do something.”

Amani moaned, desperate to give him what he wanted, but she didn’t remember.

“Please. ..she gasped. I need more”

Javi shook his head as he felt pressure at the back of his eyes and a dull ache in his head. He shook away whatever sadness wanted to show in his eyes, holding it together for her.

He hit the same spot over and over again, dragging the pads of his fingers on the same spot, forcing another cry of Max's name from her lips.

Amani didn’t look at Javi as he eased onto her and laid his head on her shoulder.

“I told you so.” He grabbed the blanket off the backrest and draped it around them..

“What about you?'' She ignored his statement.

“You don’t want me to take care of you?”

“It can wait,” he draped an arm between her breast and pulled her close to his chest before kissing her on the top of her head, “Get some sleep.”

It wasn’t lost on Amani that he was holding her to sleep the same way Max did. Regardless of if he had to work the next day or leave for another business trip. No matter the thing or task Max had to do after, he never failed to hold her until she fell asleep.

And for the first time in a while she cried.

~

Amani stirred to a numb buzzing phone, small rays of sunrise escaped from the window onto her face. She pulled the blanket to her chin and nuzzled further into Javi’s shoulder.

“Get the phone.” she mumbled lowly into his skin.

“It’s your phone.” he huffed into her hair.

“ I never said it wasn’t”

Grumbling, Javi picked up the phone, “Javi. . . . Yeah, Max she’s right here,” Amani rose out of bead and whipped her head around, '' I took care of her for you. . .yeah.. . .you should probably ask her that yourself. . .you know how she is when you're not around. . .yeah. . .I understand. . . .here,” he handed her the phone.

“Are you ready to pick up Allister from my mothers.”

Amani bit her lip. Savoring the sound of his voice, making sure she remembers it later. “I will be, how far are you out?” her voice croaked on the last word making her internally cringe.

“Not far, but I'll stop for coffee to give you some time.”

“Okay. . . “

There was a stretch of silence. Neither one of them saying anything.

“I. . .I'll see you when you get here, Max.”

“Sure thing.”

Amani stared at her phone after hearing the ending dial that said he was gone.

“Go get ready, hermosa,” Javi wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the head.

“Why are you already dressed?” She looked him up and down and saw he had already shoved on his jeans and held his shirt in his hands.

“I don’t think Max can't handle seeing me and you like this at the moment.’

Amani frowned.

This thing they had has always been a little confusing for her. It was hard to wrap her head around at first because if she’s only dating Max, what is Javi? Does he date other people? If he does end up staying with someone, do they have to add a fourth person to their life, or does she and the supposedly fourth take turns with Max and Javi?

There was something they decided not to tell her when she was younger, but she was much older now and the conversation was definitely coming up soon.

“Don’t do that.”

“I don’t know what you're talking about.’ Amani calmly got up and wrapped herself in the blanket.

“You're overthinking it.”

Amani bit her lip. “Did you and Max have sex with Charlette?”

Javi’s eyes darkened and that honestly surprised her.

“I never liked Charlotte,” his voice was clipped and mild mannered, “Only Max did, so no . . .”

He momentarily paused. “No offense to your sister.”

“Just. . .asking. . .” she replied weakly.

“You asked us both these questions years ago already? Are you changing your mind?”

Amani’s heart dropped.

“Javi sit.” She quickly sat down and patted the seat beside her.

“ I’m not breaking up with Max, and I don't want to. Nothing can truly tear us apart from one another. I have to stand up for myself in this and make him realize some things. He’s been struggling with the same demons forever, but it's time to let them go. We have Allister now, and he can’t be the same man he was in the past. Things have to change. . .” She reached out and held Javi’s hand.

“I’m sorry I didn’t think about how my feelings and decisions would affect you in this. It must be scary to see both of us apart for so long and I don’t think we actually sat down with you and included you in all of this, and I feel horrible about it.”

She blinked a few tears away, ignoring how they were running down her face.

“I want Max to realize he doesn’t have to do bad things to be the man he wants to be. That I'm proud of him more than words can describe and I know he’s going to be a good dad for Allister because he isn’t his father, but I did not get to tell him any of those things yet, because he’s out stealing shit and selling it to the highest bidder.”

Javi gently brushed the tears away with a thumb.

“I. .I understand. You. . .don't need to cry.”

“I’m okay. Max is okay. We're all going to be okay.”

Amani didn’t know if he was reassuring her or himself, but she let him have his moment. Anything he needed.

“I told Luisa I was taking the food over to Max’s and that I wasn't going to see you until the twins' birthday.. . .That’s why I'm dressed to leave earlier.” he said, changing the subject.

‘Javi–”

“--you still love me?”

Max was not supposed to be here and he was not supposed to hear this conversation. Yet, Mani couldn’t tell herself she regretted it. She didn’t know how to face him. Later. . .it had to be later. . .not like this. . . not right now. . .

Max set the cup holder of coffee and a small pastry bag on the counter before making his way to face them both.

“Let me take a shower. We can talk about it in the car.

~

Amani wished Javi was in the car with them. She wanted to put this conversation off until she was ready. Whether that meant emotionally or once things in her life calmed down she was not sure.

“You said you still loved me in there. ..” he shifted in his seat and adjusted to a one hand grip on the wheel, his right hand landing on the arm rest, “did you mean it, or were you just calming Javi down?”

The glance he gave her as his eyes momentarily left the road was quick but weighted, or was that her imagination.

“Max,” she sighed, taking a sip of the coffee he brought her, “is this Starbucks?”

“It was convenient.” he frowned.

“It always is.” Amani muttered to herself.

She might as well rip the band aid off.

“Did you hear everything?”

Amani felt like she could see the wheels turning in his head. Deciding if he wanted to lie to her or not. It was something she has grown uncomfortably used to, not because it's wrong to lie to the person who loves you, but because a small part of her worries about what other people might think.

Is she okay if the love of her life is turning out to be a bad man? Did she ignore all the red flags from her youth up until now? Is she some gullible fool?

“Yes.”

Amani looked at him for a second.

“I know my word does not have as much worth as it did in the past, but I don’t have anything else to lose at the moment.”

“Max, I haven't left you. I--”

“You don’t get to fucking say that anymore!” He yelled, banging his fist on the dashboard with one hand on the wheel.

“You're gone! You aren’t talking to me, you hardly look at me anymore, and you can barely be in the same room as me! It was only a month ago when I helped you get over Charlotte's most recent relapse, and eventually you didn’t want me there either!”

His voice cracked, “You aren’t at home anymore unless it's to take Allister with you at your apartment.”

“. . .You left.”

“Just because I am not with you physically does not mean I am out of your life forever. I have not thought about leaving you and I will not think about leaving you. On top of my love for you is Allister, and I could not think of hurting him in any way.”

She turned and looked at him.

“I don’t want you to do what you're doing now, because I know you're still doing it even if you don't want to talk about it. I’m not coming back home until you stop!”

Amani’s ears were ringing from all the shouting. She leaned back in her seat and bounced her leg, willing herself to keep it together. Only a few more minutes, and she would see her son again. Things were better when he was around.

Her and Max did not fight. All of their energy was focused on keeping their baby safe and happy.

“I haven’t done anything like that since you left. I’m legal, all the way”

Amani turned and looked at him. Not trusting herself to say anything.

“I didn’t say anything because I did have all these plans for whatever I wanted. Legally or illegally, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Into when it was what drove you away. I made a promise to never do anything to ever hurt you, but,” he pulled the car to a stop as they reached their destination, “I didn’t say anything about it because I’m not sorry.”

Amani opened her mouth but he waved a hand to stop her.

“I’m not sorry for wanting whatever it takes to support and provide for my family. I know it's wrong dealing in shady business, but that's what rich people do. Everyone from every side has been telling me this as business advice so I took it and I did what I had to do with it.”

Max undid his seatbelt and grabbed her arm. Willing her to look at him and he spoke.

“Everything your father had was passed down to him from his family and he passed that down to you. I don't have that, and As far as I know I don't have anything to pass down to that little boy in my Mother’s arms.

“I am not sorry for that.”

Amani grabbed his hand and wrapped it in hers. She ignored Max’s surprised expression and brushed his knuckles with her lips. She closed her eyes and savored the moment of having him close to her again.

“We could have built something together. Why did you never think of that? You want something big and I want something innovative. We could have built that empire, we could have moved mountains together. You didn’t have to go out on your own and it didn’t have to be something dangerous.”

“But those dangerous people are the same people we went to high school with. The same people you ran track and played soccer with. The ones who sat beside you in class and helped get ready for prom with.”

Amani whipped a tear threatening to fall down her face.

She kissed Max’s knuckles and shed him quietly.

“It’s not about that Max. . . I was only angry under the presumption you were doing something illegal. I only left because of that as well, so it wouldn’t be fair for me to stay upset at you for that. It wouldn't be fair to be angry at you for a whole new reason.

Amani cupped his face and brushed his cheek with her thumb.

“But we will talk about an apology later. I want to see my son.”

Max kissed her hand. His face was expressionless, but it was enough information for her.

Getting out of the car he opened her door and helped her out. Before making it to the door of his Mother’s, they both had on their best smiles.

“Max! My precious boy! Amani! It has been so long it's so good to see you! I am so happy to see the two of you together! I know baby Allister is happy to see his Mommy and Daddy too!” she cooed.

Alister raised his tiny feet and hands out in joy at seeing his parents. He kicked his feet and babbled in joy as loud as he could, reaching out his arms towards his mother.

“Ally! I missed you so much! I bet you were the sweetest most nicest boy for your Abuela.”

“Yes, he absolutely was.” She tickled Allister's belly, making him twist away in laughter. “Let me get my things and we can go. Let Max get him settled in the car and you can come and help me grab my things.”

Max raised his eyebrows in a small warning, and Amani gave him a nod as a silent, I’ll be okay.

“Have you made your decision, mija. You know I would never judge you for whatever decision you will make? I will love you all the same.”

“You don’t have to be so dramatic Mama Luisa. I was never planning to leave him.”

“You weren’t? Surely you know most people will not believe you.”

If there was one thing the Maxwells have in common it surely is the trait of being carelessly blunt when they want to be.

“All I ever wanted was for Max to respect me. It wasn’t so much what he was doing behind my back, but how he disrespects me whenever I confront him about it. He thinks the fate of our family relies on his shoulders only. I know what he’s been fighting internally about being a father, but it's not something he’s ever been alone in. He has had you his entire life to deal with them and he now has me, but somehow in the adult phase of our relationship he is pushing me out, and I can't take it.

“But I can’t take seeing you suffer from my own pain.”

Amani frowned.

“Max, tell me what you are up to? This has happened more than once today, and it doesn’t look like a coincidence.”

“I’ll head to the car. Thank you mija for helping me gather my things.”

“I made a promise to myself and your mother I would never do that. I had to let you leave me, and I had to find a way to deal with it on my own.”

“But you don’t–”

“--yes, I do.” he placed both of his hands on her shoulders, keeping her from turning or looking away.

“Some burdens people have to carry alone. To put that on you in hopes that I might get better is too much. I had to do a lot of internal work on myself before I could ever fight for you to come back into my life. It’s the same reason Charlotte doesn’t want you visiting her or calling her while she’s in Rehab this time.

“But why is it too much to just say you're sorry to me? What can’t you say it?”

Max smiled at her. He smiled at her.

He smiled at her and it was driving her crazy.

“What are you looking at me like that for? I'm confronting you about something! I'm standing my ground and I am asking for respect!”

Max just sat there looking at her.

She was starting to go crazy.

“What Max! What!”

“Come here.” Max held out his hand and jerked his head towards the door.

The last thing she wanted to do was go outside, but something was willing her to go along with this nonsense.

Amani twisted the doorknob and Max immediately covered her eyes with his hands.

“Max, what are you up to?” she sighed. Utterly defeated and bent to his will. She gives up. Whatever he has going on she’ll go along with it. She has come this far and they have made more progress today than they have in a long time.

“No peeking.” was all she got in response.

Amani let Max lead her to the same backyard she has seen hundreds of times for family gatherings. From reunions to birthday parties.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, Max. I’m–”

Speechless. She was speechless. In the front yard hundreds of little sparklers were stuck in the ground to spell two words, taking up the entire yard.

I’m sorry.

In the O were several gift bags which made Amani narrow her eyes.

“I know it's not much for everything I put you through, but I wanted to say. I’m sorry.”

He walked out in front of the sparklers arms spread out wide he yelled at the top of his lungs.

“I am so sorry Amani Chandler-Jones for hurting you!”

“Talk yo’ shit nigga!”

“Do what it takes to get that girl back!”

Were two of several things that were said out of many windows.

“Thank you gentleman! That means a lot to me!” Max yelled back as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

It all made Amani laugh. She couldn’t have one separately tearful moment without something absurd and unexpected happening.

“Let me get a piece of dat ass!”

“You can come down here and get these hands!”

“You can’t fight! Square ass looking–”

“Why don’t you come down here and find out for yourself!”

“Can you two do this tomorrow you're ruining my moment!”

“Come on Mani, you know I was just playing! Yall both know good and well, he dont’ look like he from here no moe!”

“We love you TT! Tell your grandma I said hey!” Amani waved.

Max looked at her, and her stomach started tying knots. A feeling she remembers from when they first met. How he used to make her feel every time she saw him.

“I couldn’t say sorry in the car because I had already planned this. I know I might have hurt your feelings and seemed shity, but I had to go down hard to keep this a secret.”

“You can never do anything normally can’t you?”

“I didn't work hard for all my money so I could make this moment normal. I’m going all in or I'm not doing it.”

Max picked up all the bags and brought them over to her, the sparkles finally blown out.

“Now you're going to open up all these gifts, so we can go to a two year olds birthday party, to watch spoiled rich baby's run around and play games, and eat cake.”

“Don’t forget about the parent drama we’re going to have to sit through. Someone is either going to say Chase’s wife stole the party idea or they are going to steal it for their child’s birthday.”

“Don’t remind me. Last year some dad kept showing pictures of his completely renovated backyard with a giant girl and a tacky large pool.

“Ugh, those pools are so tacky. Please, tell me we are never getting a pool. I never want to be those type of people.”

“You're telling me, we're taking Allister to the mountains. Not a beach.”

~

Paparazzi was everywhere outside the gate of her brother Chase’s house. He was never fussy about that type of thing, but Amani knew better.

Her older step brother was always an attention seeker. He could never handle it if no one cared about whatever he was doing.

Amani would have said something to Max about Chase’s typical behavior, but his mother was in the car and so was their one year old baby.

“All these camera flashes are making my head hurt.”

“Better get used to it Mama Luisa, because Chase probably brought a few inside to capture every moment of the twins' birthday party.”

“What if you and Max had twins? Wouldn't that be lovely?”

“You're literally holding our first child.”

“It's always nice to have another.”

Amani rolled her eyes and Max grabbed her hand and kissed it.

“Baby steps Mama. Besides, we both have very active careers.”

Walking to the door was harder than they thought it would be.

Questions about Charlotte were being thrown around. Comments about their family’s future? If she and Max were having trouble? Were they back together?

“Max! Amani! You made it!”

“Allister is so cute! He’s so big now!”

“Bethany! It's nice to see you again too!”

“How old are the kids this year, two?”

Amani had asked a genuine and polite question, but Beth hadn’t answered. She looked down at Max’s hand on her waist, how close they were standing together, and the recent collection of gold jewelry that adorned her neck and ears, missing the matching bracelet on her wrist.

“Oh you know how kids grow.” she said absentmindedly, walking into the house, she kept looking back at them from time to time with a sly smile on her face.

Amani actually liked Bethany a lot. Probably, more than her own brother, but right now she was testing her.

“There goes a moment to let everyone know we’re okay on a day that isn’t about anyone else.” Max said in her ear before kissing her head.

“I don't even want to think about it. She’s on her way to tell every mother, cousin, and aunt about us. Can we ever have one thing?”

“You expect this from the man and woman who stole our wedding day?”

Amani playfully hit him on the chest.

“Do you really believe that?”

“He literally proposed to his girlfriend after I opened my heart and said I wanted to propose to you! We were supposed to get married first with the big house and have all the expensive birthday parties! Not them!”

Amani bopped him on the nose. “It's probably better things turned out this way. Were better for it.”

“Yeah, Max rested his chin on her head, and wrapped his arms around her from behind, letting Bethany and his mother pass them.

“We also have more money at this point in our lives than they did, so our wedding is going to be bigger, better, and more tasteful.”

Max chuckled. She felt it rise from the middle of his chest to the pit of his stomach.

He tilted her chin up and kissed her on the mouth.

His lips were always soft. A contrast to the firm set of his jaw as he presses his mouth against hers, asking for more, and she gives it to him. She gives it to him and more, asking for something in return with the same eagerness.

“Are you two done yet?”

Amani doesn’t take her eyes off Max for a second, ignoring the voice of one of her friends.

She smiled.

“Let's go eat an overpriced children’s cake and pretend not to hate my brother and his wife’s friends.”

~

Lyla can honestly say that becoming a mother to two older children was not hard for her. They had a special upbringing much different from her first child Amani, and they did not quite accept her at first, but that didn’t have an affect on the love she had for them in her heart.

Losing a mother is never easy, but losing a mother at such a young age is another thing entirely.

“Lyla!”

The door opened and her husband made his way to the bed taking off his slippers.

“Today was a handful,” he drew the covers back, not minding the sheets, and draped them over himself, “ I can’t wait to get old with you and leave all that work stuff for the kids to fight over.”

Lyla twirled with the bracelet on her wrist, saying a quick prayer for courage.

“I talked to Max today.”

Charles hesitated before sitting on the bed and taking off his shoes.

“That Max. . . He's not a terribly bad kid, but I can’t say I like him. Nor his relationship with our daughter. I think she’ll be better without him.”

“More likely he is better off without her.”

“Lyla what–”

“Don’t lie to me Charles the boy came here and told me everything she did to him. He even said he came to talk to you about Charlotte using him for her image and you told him that it would be good for him.”

Charles sighed before turning around to look at his wife.

“I didn’t know what to do,” he said dejectedly, “ Every man wants to believe in the good side of his children, especially his daughter. I can believe she turned to drugs after the death of her mother, but I don’t see what can make her manipulate this bright and capable young man.”

“She’s scared and alone Charles.”

“But what makes her feel so alone! We are her family and we are here for her! I’ll pay for all the therapy, all the rehab, all the medication she may need to get better!”

“She's A teenager, and all that grief and pain form being an addict on top of losing a mother isn’t a good combination. When you're a teenager by itself the world feels so big and everything hurts a hundred times more. That doesn’t make anything she’s done right, Charles.”

“. . . It’s just the explanation.”

“That doesn’t explain why Max would ever agree to what nonsense idea she presented him with.”

“Because he didn’t know about any plan. He was genuinely in love with her until something happened and he found out her true intentions.”

“Is that what he told you today? Only his side of the story!”

Lyla stood up from the bed and briskly walked towards the balcony. She opened the door for some air.

She wanted nothing more than to take the pain in this family way, but she can;lt do it by herself, but she’d let hell freeze over before her daughter suffers from somebody else's demons.

“Charles this isn't about any side!”

Charles followed her onto the balcony and she pretended to ignore him. She couldn’t dare look at him in this moment.

“As he fell in love with Mani as he fell out of love with Charlotte.” she sniffled.

“What do you mean he’s in love with Mani?”

“You’d let him near her? After everything?”

“He’s a child Charles! They’re all children. He said he used to want some type of revenge against her, but after spending so much time with Amani and seeing her love for Charlotte, he let it go.”

“But do you honestly believe him? Why would he say any of that?”

“It's not really in what he said Charles. It's in what he didn't say.”

“He said. . .He said he learned to see Charlotte from a different perspective through Amani’s eyes, and he couldn't bring himself to do anything to hurt her. . .” She sniffed again. “So he let it go.”

“What did Charlotte do to this boy Charles?”

“Well after the modeling agency told her to get off hard drugs before she comes back as a break before she gets clean. Somehow the information was linked to the press, and people weren’t talking about her in the papers or on tv like they used to. “ he sighed.

“Charlotte took it pretty hard and wanted me to do something about it. I found a random image consultant, and she told us all Charlotte had to do was date someone better than her, and make a statement that she was going on a sabbatical or vacation to get better and reconnect with nature and God and that the press would love it.”

“Oh, Charles.”

“As far as I know, the plan was getting the result Charlotte wanted, so I focused back on my work. I thought everyone was happy. I didn’t know she was hurting the boy–”

“Max! Don’t call him boy. It’s dehumanizing and degrading Charles. You should know better.” Lyla calmly interrupted. “As you were saying.”

Charles gave Lyla a sad smile before continuing.

“When Max came to me and started saying She was making him unhappy, and that she was spending time with other people. I brushed him off and told him to handle it like a man.”

“I. .I had no idea she was using again. I didn’t know she was literally sleeping with and dating other people while taking Max to all these places for photos and interviews. I thought it was regular child dating . .stuff.”

“Charles, he was so hurt and lost. But most of all. . . he never did anything to let the media and public know. He could have ran to tmz or somewhere. He could have sued us for emotional damage in return or something else just as serious.. . “

“Charles, this all could have turned out worse.”

“How is Mani holding up through all this?”

Lyla couldn’t stop herself from crying. She wanted to be strong for her family or show some type of stability that everyone else could rely on, but she was only human, and every human has a breaking point.

‘She was so excited to have a big sister and Charlotte has done so much for her to adjust to this new life of hers. All she knows is that her big sister is being taken away from her. Even if she ended up taking care of Charlotte through some of the problems she’s having with addiction. She only saw it as helping Charlotte like she helped her. .”

“Oh, Lyla.” Charles hugged and rocked her from side to side, rubbing her back in gentle and reassuring strokes. “I'm so sorry. I should have done more.”

“She didn’t want Charlotte to go to rehab again. She doesn't know how many things we’ve tried before sending her there, and she does like Max, but she’s afraid of putting her heart out there again.. . Charlotte let her down.”

“Lyla, I don’t want to argue with you.”

He wrapped his arms around her from behind and looked out at the cloudy sky over the moon.

“I can’t say I’m happy with this information, but I will trust you with whatever decision you want to make, but I want to keep talking with you about this about our family.

“We both may not make the best decision about everything, but no one can say we didn’t try.”

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