He said after today, “He’s untouchable.
” Aaliyah felt cold.
“Untable? That sounded like someone doing more than cheating.
That sounded like someone using power.
” Aaliyah’s eyes narrowed.
“Immani,” she said softly.
“Does Darren have debt?” Immani laughed through tears.
“Debt?” she repeated.
“Girl, Darren has sharks.
” “Not debt, sharks.
” Aliyah’s breath caught.
Immani leaned closer.
voice low.
“Two months ago,” she whispered.
“A man came here looking for him.
A man with a scar down his cheek.
He said if Darren doesn’t pay, he’ll take what matters.
” Aaliyah’s chest tightened.
“What matters?” she repeated.
Ammani looked toward the hallway where the child was playing.
“Her,” she whispered.
Aaliyah’s throat closed.
Ammani continued, “Bitter now, and Darren kept saying, Just hold on.
I’m about to marry money.
I’m about to marry influence.
Then nobody can touch us.
Aaliyah’s eyes burned.
So that was it.
Darren wasn’t just cheating.
He was using her.
Using her family, using her father’s name like armor.
Immani wiped her face.
Aliyah’s voice dropped.
He was going to marry me, Aliyah whispered.
And keep you hidden.
Immani’s eyes hardened like steel.
No, she said.
He was going to marry you and erase me.
Aliyah stared at her.
Immani stared back.
Then something silent passed between them.
A decision.
Aliyah whispered.
We stop him.
Immani nodded once.
Yes, she said.
Together.
Aliyia swallowed.
How? She asked.
Immani’s mouth tightened.
We make the truth walk into that church, she said.
And we make it loud.
Aliyia breathed in.
Her hands shook, but her eyes cleared.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Okay, we do it.
” Immani looked at her daughter again, then back at Aiyah.
“But you need to understand,” she said, voice, shaking with anger now.
“He’s not going to beg nicely.
When men like Darren get exposed, they don’t just lose.
They try to drag you down with them.
” Aaliyah’s jaw tightened.
“Let him try,” she whispered.
Immani studied her.
Then she nodded like she respected her now.
“All right,” she said.
“Then listen.
” Immani stepped back inside and grabbed a folder from a drawer.
She handed it to Aliyah.
“What is this?” Aliyah asked.
“Receipts?” Immani said.
“Screenshots, messages.
The times he sent me money.
The times he threatened me.
The times he said your father’s name like it was a key.
” Aliyah’s eyes widened.
My father’s name,” she whispered.
Immani nodded.
“He said Senator Monroe can make things disappear,” she said.
“He said marrying you means doors open.
He said it like he was already wearing your last name.
” Aaliyah felt something hot rise in her chest.
Not sadness, rage.
Because Darren wasn’t just breaking her heart.
He was coming for her family.
Aaliyah turned sharply and walked back to Malik.
Foulder clutched in her hands.
Malik’s eyes widened when he saw her face.
“What?” he asked.
Aliyah’s voice was low, shaking.
“Dangerous.
” “He used my father,” she whispered.
“He’s using my family name like it’s protection.
” Malik’s jaw tightened.
“I suspected,” he said quietly.
Aaliyah stared at him.
“You suspected?” she repeated.
Malik nodded.
“I’ve been watching,” he admitted.
“I’ve been recording.
” Aaliyah’s eyes widened.
What do you mean recording? Malik pulled out his phone.
He opened an audio file.
He pressed play.
Darren’s voice filled the air.
Power protects.
That’s the point.
Aaliyah’s breath caught.
Malik paused it.
I have more.
Malik said.
Dash cam audio.
His calls.
His usual place.
I didn’t trust him, so I started building a file because I’ve seen what happens when men like that marry into families like yours.
Aaliyah’s throat tightened.
She realized Malik didn’t do this to be dramatic.
He did it to save her.
Aliyah swallowed hard, then spoke, voice steady now.
“I’m going back,” she said.
Malik blinked.
“To the wedding?” he asked.
Aliyah nodded once.
“Yes,” she said.
“I’m walking down that aisle.
” Malik’s eyes widened.
“Ma’am.
” Aliyia cut him off.
“I’m not walking down that aisle as a bride,” she said.
“I’m walking down that aisle as a witness.
” Malik stared at her, then slowly nodded.
“Okay,” he said.
“Then we do it right.
” Aliyah’s chest rose and fell.
She looked back at the little house.
Immani stood in the doorway holding her daughter’s hand.
Their eyes met.
Aliyah nodded once.
