“Ria, what—”
“I’m not done! I want to help children who can’t read or write. And with my fame, I can bring awareness to special needs children. This is my new goal, my new aim, and I’m going to do it because I have a man by my side who’s going to help and support our baby and me through every stage of our new lives.”
“Wait! What? Did you say…baby? Oh Lord, Ria, please tell me you did not saythatword?” Mom says, and my hand instinctively moves to my stomach, and Nate moves in, embracing my hand on my tummy.
“Yes, Mom, I’m pregnant.”
“No-no, Ria, no. I won’t allow it! You having a baby to this… this sex-driven drug lord! I forbid it. You go to the hospital right now and have it taken care of. This fantasy you have ofhimtaking care of you is ridiculous, ludicrous, preposterous, nonsensical, stupid—”
“Mom, just stop!” I glare at her and shake my head.
Nate steps forward quickly. “Mrs. Bloomfield, I know you have preconceived ideas of who I am and what I stand for, but I’m neither a drug lord nor sex-driven.” He breaks free from me and walks up to Mom, who stands tall in defiance. “With all due respect, I know you don’t like rock stars because of Kade and his history with Ria. I get it, I do. I hate the motherfucker, too, for what he did to her. But to be honest, I’m glad they broke up. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the most amazing, special gift I have, which is your daughter and our baby growing inside her. Ria and our child mean everything…everythingto me. I won’t waste this opportunity. They’re my life. I’m going to spend every second of every day making them happy. I will give them everything theyneed,every time, without fail. They will want for nothing.” His lips pull up in a smile. “Trust me, I love your daughter more than life itself. Our baby will grow up with two parents who love each other and adore our child. We’d love your blessing, but either way, we’re doing this, with or without it. There will be no termination, no breakup, and Ria and I will live happily ever after with you in our lives or without you. That choice is yours.”
I pull my lips in with my teeth, wanting to break out into a fit of applause at Nate’s speech, but knowing that would be highly inappropriate, I refrain and smile at him instead. I love that he stood up for me at just the right moment. He’s the pillar of strength I need, and I love him for it.
“Ria, I don’t support this. I can’t. You’re a superstar. You need to bring in the money and work as we taught you. This is your life, not some dream you want to create now somehow.”
“Ariella, that’s enough,” Patrick mutters, trying to rein her in.
I slump my body and sigh. “That life, the Zaria life, that’s the lifeyou and Patrickwanted, not me. I was a puppet hanging fromyourstrings. I didn’t know I was along for the ride until the strings were cut. If I’ve fallen from your grace, Mom, then I’m sorry, but I can’t be Zaria anymore.”
“My princess. Be happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you,” Patrick reassures me in support, and my heart warms. He may not be my dad, but he’s always been in my corner.
“Butweneed the money,” she yells, and I look to Patrick, who frowns and glances down at the ground in shame.
“And there it is. You don’t care about me, Mom. You only care aboutyourlifestyle. You only care aboutyourworth. You only care about howyoufeel. Well, how about this? Keep in contact with Marcus, my manager. He will allot you an allowance every month, but as for keeping in contact with me and your grandchild, you can count that out. I’m done, Mom,” I say,grabbing Nate’s hand as he looks at me sternly. I nod to him, and he winces, but I tighten my hand and pull him toward the door.
“Ria!”
“Goodbye, Mom,” I call out as we head for the living room.
“Zaria Shafir, you cannot do this to me,” she calls back.
My entire body riddles with goose bumps, not because I feel like I’m doing the wrong thing, but because I feel like I'm finally free for the first time since coming to America. I’m free to do what I want.
“Zaria!” her voice fades into the distance as we make it out the front door and down to the car.
We quickly hop inside, and the driver puts it into gear. But before we can pull out, Nate says, “Wait!” Then looks at me. “Babe, before we speed off and never come back, I just want to ensure you’re in this one hundred percent?”
I turn to him and smile so wide I feel like my cheeks will burst. “Nate, I’ve never been so sure of anythingin my life!Take me toourhome.”
Without further question, he gives our driver the go-ahead, pulling down the driveway and out onto the road.
“Ourhome. I like the way that sounds,” Nate says with a smile that reaches his eyes, and he reaches over, laying his hand on my thigh.
After we leave Mom and Patrick’s, Nate tells me we’re making a stop but won’t say where. “You know, I think your idea about helping special needs kids is something that could be expanded on with a little help from someone we both know,” he says.
After a short drive, we pull into a quaint little suburban house, although it does have a tall fence around it with a guard, and I wonder who he’s taking me to see.
“Am I going to know these people?” I ask, and he smiles.
“Yep, quite well. Just hear me out when we get inside, okay?” he states, and instantly, I tense up. My day’s already been pretty fucking full-on, and I don’t need any more drama.
We slide out of the car and head to the gate, where the guard nods to Nate and lets us through. It’s almost dusk, and the sun is setting in its hues of pink and turquoise over the Hills. I love LA and the beauty it brings. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
When we reach the door, I squeeze Nate’s hand with uneasiness.
Nate gently knocks, and not too long later, the door creaks open, and to my surprise, Danger is standing there, shirtless as always, wearing a pair of shorts like he’s been working out.
