ᴍᴀɴʜᴀᴛᴛᴀɴ, ɴᴇᴡ ʏᴏʀᴋ
𝙾𝚖𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝙾𝚅

The next two days came fairly quickly. Kay spent his day regularly, dropping the kids off at school then heading to the studio, and coming home to his wife, however today he couldn't find it in him to focus and write any music. His mind had been blown on Dougie and Giselle's situation.

Ari had given her the warning. Kay knew. And he had given her a week. A week had come and gone.

And Giselle? She hadn't said a word to Dougie. Kay wasn't the type to make empty threats. He had given her time, let her make the choice herself, but now? Now, he was done waiting.

It was a cool evening when he pulled up to Dougie's place, his jaw tight as he stepped out of the car. Ari had begged him not to do this, had pleaded with him to stay out of it. But Kay wasn't wired like that. If the roles were reversed, he'd want to know.

So Dougie was going to find out.

Kay didn't even bother texting him before he knocked on the door. A few moments later, the door swung open, and there stood Dougie, dressed in sweats, his face slightly tired from a long day.

"What's good, bro?" Dougie stepped aside, letting Kay in.

Kay exhaled through his nose, stepping into the apartment. He didn't waste time.

"Sit down."

Dougie frowned, his expression shifting. "Nigga, what?"

"Sit down." Kay's tone left no room for argument.

"Nigga you in my house telling me to sit down." Dougie joked but telling by the look on his bestfriend's face, he knew something was wrong.

Dougie narrowed his eyes but finally sat on the couch, leaning back. "Aight, talk."

Kay ran a hand over his face, his frustration evident. "Listen. I ain't the type to get in another man's business. But this? This some shit I can't sit on."

Dougie sat up straighter, sensing the shift in Kay's energy. "What you mean?"

Kay sighed, locking eyes with him. "Giselle been fucking with Chris."

The room went still.

Dougie stared at him, unblinking, like he hadn't fully processed the words. "What? Chris who? Her ex? The nigga who used to sell bottles?"

Kay kept his gaze steady. "She been cheating on you with that nigga. For a while now."

The air in the room shifted, thick with tension. Dougie's expression didn't change at first—he just sat there, staring at nothing.

Then, without warning, he shot up from the couch, his breathing heavy. His fists clenched at his sides, and in one swift motion, he swung and punched the wall—hard. The impact echoed through the room, leaving a deep dent in the drywall.

Kay didn't flinch. He expected that reaction.

Dougie's chest rose and fell rapidly as he turned to face Kay, his eyes burning with anger and betrayal. "You serious right now?"

Kay gave him a look. "You think I'd come to you with some bullshit like this if I wasn't?"

Dougie ran a hand down his face, pacing back and forth. His mind was spinning. "Nah... Nah, she wouldn't do that to me." But even as he said it, doubt crept into his voice.

"She did," Kay said firmly. "She told Ari and I overheard. She ain't wanna tell you, but I wasn't about to let you be out here looking stupid."

Dougie let out a sharp breath, gripping his head. He felt like the floor had been ripped from under him. "How long?"

"I found out when was in DR. But it seems like them two been fucking for a minute."

Dougie let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Man, I fucking knew something was off. I knew it." His voice cracked slightly, but he swallowed it down. He wasn't about to break. "She barely even let me touch her anymore."

Kay stayed silent, letting him process.

After a moment, Dougie stopped pacing and turned to Kay, his eyes hard. "She upstairs right now."

Kay exhaled, knowing exactly where this was going. "Think before you do some dumb shit."

Dougie clenched his jaw. "Nah Kay. I'm buggin if I violate right now?"

Kay didn't answer immediately, and that only made Dougie's rage bubble over. He grabbed his phone and bolted up the stairs.

Heavy, angry footsteps pounded up the stairs. By the time she looked up, Dougie was already in the doorway, his entire body hot.

Her breath caught in her throat. "Why the fuck—"

"Shut the fuck up." His voice was ice cold, his face twisted with rage.

Giselle swallowed hard, her hands gripping the sheets. "What's wrong?"

"You know what the fuck is wrong," Dougie snapped, stepping closer. "You been fucking Chris."

Her face drained of color.

"I—"

"Don't lie to me, Giselle."

She shut her mouth, her lips pressing together.

Dougie let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "Wow. You really out here playing in my face, huh?" His breathing grew heavier, his chest rising and falling rapidly. "After everything I did for you. After everything I gave you."

"Dougie, I'm sorry," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.

"Sorry?" His voice dripped with venom. "Bitch, you sorry?"

Before she could react, his hand came down, fast and hard.

The slap landed across her face, knocking her head to the side. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, her cheek instantly stinging.

Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't get a chance to cry.

"Get the fuck out," Dougie spat, pointing toward the door.

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"You heard me," he barked. "Pack your shit and get the fuck out my house."

She stared at him, heart racing, hands shaking. "Dougie, please—"

"Get. The fuck. Out." His voice was eerily calm now, which somehow made it worse.

Giselle looked around as if searching for an escape, but there was none. She could barely breathe as she grabbed her duffel bag and started shoving clothes inside.

Dougie didn't even watch her pack. He just stood there, his jaw tight, hands clenched at his sides.

When she finally had her things, she turned to him one last time, her voice barely above a whisper. "I—"

"Don't say shit to me," he cut her off. "Just go."

Tears streamed down her face as she walked past him, her head down.

Kay was waiting downstairs. He heard everything, but he didn't say a word when she appeared. He could see the red mark on her cheek, could see the way she trembled. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head.

"C'mon."

Giselle hesitated.

Kay's eyes narrowed. "I said let's go."

She sniffled, nodding quickly before following him out the door. The two got in his car and Kay deeply sighed as Giselle cried in the passenger side.

The drive was silent. Giselle sat in the passenger seat, her head resting against the window, wiping away silent tears.

When they pulled up to Kay's house in Jersey, he parked but didn't move right away.

"This where you stayin' for now," he finally said, staring straight ahead. "At least until you figure your shit out."

Giselle turned to him, her voice hoarse. "Thank you."

Kay sighed, running a hand over his beard. "Don't thank me. I ain't doin' this for you—I just ain't the type to leave nobody out bad like that."

She nodded, swallowing hard.

They got out of the car, and Kay led her inside. The condo was minimal but clean, with sleek furniture and an expensive feel. He tossed his keys on the counter and leaned against it, arms crossed as he looked at her.

"Why'd you do it?" he asked bluntly.

Giselle hesitated, wrapping her arms around herself.

Kay tilted his head. "C'mon, you wanted to speak, right? Go ahead."

She let out a shaky breath. "I don't even know where to start."

"I'm listening."

"You know better then anyone how me and Dougie started out. We was just fucking, it was no relationship. He was fucking other people and so was I. Feelings got involved and we got together, but Kay be so real. 10 plus years later we in the same place. Dougie don't love me enough to make me his wife, that's why I don't know what he expected."

"You telling me this was all because you wanted to be his wife? I thought yall both was on the same page that Dougie not into that marriage shit. I thought you wasn't either.."

"I wasn't but like honestly." She let out a sigh. "My mom married. Divorced and remarried at that; happy as hell. I see you and Ari and I honestly want that. That's a love that can't just be broken. And I know Jo marrying Maya soon, he loves her."

"So you think Chris going to make you a wife?" He said before laughing. "Giselle, you like my little sister. We grew up together all that, I'm mad at you I won't lie but I love you enough to be real with you. Chris ain't a nigga you wanna call your husband."

She sniffled and looked up at him. "Why is that?"

"That's a conversation for another day. Look, It's getting late and I know Ari probably getting worried soon. We talk later." He said as she nodded. He left a curious Giselle alone in the house, sliding into his car.

Kay exhaled as he leaned back in the driver's seat, gripping the wheel tightly. His mind was still wired from everything that went down tonight. Dougie's rage, Giselle's tears, the weight of being the one to break the news—it was a lot.

He wasn't about to regret it, though. That wasn't how he moved.

Still, as he drove through the quiet streets, the adrenaline slowly wore off, leaving him with exhaustion creeping in. The whole situation was messy as hell. He hated being in the middle of shit like this.

He checked the time. It was late. Ari was probably already in bed.

Pulling up to their home, he put the car in park and sat there for a second, rubbing his hand over his face.

He knew Ari wasn't going to be thrilled about what happened. She never liked drama, never liked being in the middle of conflict. And now? She was stuck between her best friend and her husband.

As soon as he stepped inside, he found Ari sitting on the couch, curled up under a blanket with her phone in her hand. The TV was on, but she wasn't really watching it.

"Hi," she said in a dull tone, barely looking up.

Kay sighed. He could already tell where this was headed.

"Wassup," he muttered, walking over and pulling her in for a kiss.

She kissed him back but pulled away almost instantly, shifting like she had to get up. But Kay wasn't having that. He pushed her lightly back down, his gaze narrowing.

"What's your issue?"

Ari inhaled deeply, looking away before finally speaking. "Giselle just called me."

"Okay?" His voice was steady, but his patience was thin.

"She said you told Dougie."

Kay ran a hand over his beard. "Yeah. And? I told you I was telling him."

"Dougie ended up slapping her."

Kay smirked slightly, shaking his head. "Yeah, he slapped the shit out of her. What you expect?"

Ari's jaw tightened. "It wasn't your place, Kay."

He scoffed, looking at her like she was crazy. "It wasn't my place? If I ain't tell him, Giselle would've kept playin' in his face."

Ari sighed, trying to keep her voice calm. She didn't want to argue. "Okay. Where did you take her?"

"My crib in Jersey." Kay leaned back against the couch, rubbing his temple. "I know Dougie gon' come over one of these days. I don't want them two fightin' again."

Ari nodded slowly. "Okay. Thank you."

Kay just hummed in response.

A beat of silence passed between them before he glanced at her again.

"Ari, bro, I'm already tired. I had a long day, don't start."

Ari rolled her eyes.

"Yo, bro, I don't give a fuck if you mad at me." Her voice mimicked his tone, making his lip twitch. "God forbid if I was to ever cheat on you, you'd go crazy wanting Giselle to tell you. Dougie's my mans—I was going to tell him regardless."

He had a point, but she wasn't about to say that out loud.

"I'm not mad," she added. "I understand why you did it."

"So why you moving weird?"

Ari bit the inside of her cheek, hesitating. "Just like how I put you in a weird position... you kinda put me in one. Giselle is my best friend, and you're my husband. Now she seems mad at me."

Kay let out a dry chuckle. "Mad at you for what? You told her to go fuck her ex? She'll get over it. This ain't your fault."

Ari knew he was right, but that didn't make it any easier. Giselle had sounded hurt on the phone, like she had expected Ari to take her side. But how could she?

Before she could respond, a small voice cut through the room.

"Daddy?"

Kay turned to see their daughter standing at the doorway in her pajamas, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

He softened instantly. "Yeah, baby?"

"You guys aren't fighting, right?" Kennedy said.

"Nah, never," Kay assured her. "What happened?"

The little girl perked up slightly. "Sebastian just got me flowers."

Kay blinked. "What?"

Ari smiled, tucking her feet under her. "Aww, really, baby?"

Their daughter nodded excitedly. "Yeah! They're pink and white. He said I'm his favorite person in class."

Kay sighed deeply, shaking his head. "Y'all stressin' me out in this crib."

Ari laughed, watching as he stood up and walked over, scooping their daughter into his arms.

"C'mon, troublemaker," he muttered, carrying her off to bed.