Okay, you guys... Made a cover for the new book! Tell me what you think!

I'm hoping to write four more chapters and then publish the sequel 😁

And I know I promised a chapter sooner, but like I said before, I'm super busy.

Comment & vote, you know how much it means to me. Love you ❤

~ShoamEmily

~

29th of October, 2007
Michael is 49, Angela is 43

Michael: I walked into the bedroom while looking at my watch.

We were already late, and now Angela was being held up in the bathroom, too.

"Babe?" I called as I knocked on the bathroom door. "What's going on in there?"

I could've sworn I heard her sniffling before she spoke. "Nothing, I'll be right out."

Sighing, I took a seat on our bed and waited impatiently.

After a couple of minutes, Angela walked out. I examined her face and clearly saw the brand new touch ups she applied to her face.

"Ready to go?" I asked.

She nodded slightly and gave me a weak smile.

"You sure?"

"Yes, Michael. Can we just go already?"

"Of course."

Angela hurried to leave the room, making me follow her.

Something didn't feel right about her, and I was going to find out why.

~

Angela: I tapped my fingers nervously on my knee as I tried to calm myself down.

We can't have another baby yet.

"Angela." I heard Michael call.

"Mmhm?"

"Are you sure you're okay?"

I nodded, "I'm perfectly fine."

"Come on," he leaned down and placed his lips next to my ear. "You can't fool me, I know you. What aren't you telling me?"

"Michael, honey, I'm okay. Just relax." I tried reassuring him once again, but failed.

"I'll find out one way or another."

I should tell him... But I can't. He doesn't need anything else to disturb his mind today.

I sighed, "Why are you so persistent?"

"Because we both need to be focused today and you're looking very distracted."

"I'm fine," I kissed his cheek. "I promise."

Michael grinned at me but I could see the worry in his eyes.

He doesn't need to know yet. It's for the best.

~

Michael: "All rise."

I stood, along with everyone else in the courtroom.

After the judge instructed us to sit down, she turned to Debbie's lawyer. "I understand you have a new witness, Ms. Goodwin?"

"Yes. She has brought me new evidence that I'm sure would intensify my client's side of the story."

"Please proceed."

Debbie's lawyer looked at us before speaking. "I call to the stand Rosalinda Jane Brown. Ms. Brown, if you may."

"What?" Angela's face became pale.

"Did you know about this?" I asked her.

"No, how could I? We haven't spoken since she came to apologize."

I saw Rosa walk quickly and take her seat next to the judge.

"Ms. Brown," Debbie's lawyer continued. "What can you tell me about Mr. and Mrs. Jackson's behavior around each other, with what you have witnessed over the past few years as a close family member?"

"Objection! How is this relevant to the case, your honor?" Rob said.

The judge nodded. "He's right, Ms. Goodwin. Please proceed with a relevant question."

"I'm sorry, your honor. Tell me, Ms. Brown. Do you know what this is?"

Ms. Goodwin pressed a button on a little remote, and a picture popped up on the TV that stood next to the witness stand.

I saw Angela's eyes widen. "Oh, no."

"Yes, I do. This is my former brother-in-law's Will." Rosa said.

Debbie's lawyer smirked before giving the judge what looked like a copy.

"Do you mind reading it to us, Ms. Brown?" she asked.

As Rosa read the very familiar words Jake wrote, I was feeling defeated. Everyone in the courtroom gasped when she got to the part he asked Angela to marry me and give me a child.

"Now tell me, your honor," Debbie's lawyer went on after Rosa finished. "Who will you give these kids to? A soon-to-be married couple, or to these so-called parents, who lied not only to these children, but to their families, and the entire world about their relationship?"

Murmurs from behind us were getting louder and louder until the judge demanded order.

And I sat there, completely shocked by just what happened.

"Would you like me to proceed, Michael?" Rob whispered in my ear.

Angela grabbed my arm and I snapped out of my trance.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." she mumbled before covering her mouth.

Her face became even paler, and she hurried to run out of the courtroom.

"Mr. Jackson," the judge called. "Do you want to go after your... Um, wife?"

I nodded. She declared a 15 minute break until session is restored, making me go after Angela. But I stopped in my tracks when Prince and Paris looked at me, confused, after my mother explained to them what happened.

"Are they taking us away, daddy?" Paris questioned in a small voice.

"I- I don't know, sweetie." I answered.

It was the first time in my life that I couldn't give my children a certain answer for a question they had.

"You should go see how Angela's doing, Michael." mother said.

I held back the tears as I gave my kids a kiss on their foreheads, and left the courtroom.

My heart felt heavy in my chest and I stopped walking for a few moments.

"Sir," Javon came from behind me. "You look awful, you should sit down."

"No," I panted. "I gotta find Angela, I-"

"Sit down, sir." he ordered while taking me to a chair nearby.

But all of a sudden my vision blurred, and I felt a sharp pain in my head.

The last thing I heard was Javon calling for me before I blacked out.

~

Angela: I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand before flushing down the toilet.

I'm such a mess.

Slowly, I stood up and unlocked the bathroom stall door.

I quickly washed my face, hoping I looked somewhat decent enough to go back into the courtroom.

As I was washing my face another flush was heard. I looked in the mirror and saw my sister coming out of the stall.

My blood boiled.

"You little bitch..." I hissed and moved closer to her. "Do you know what you just did?!"

She sighed and washed her hands.

"You're ignoring me? Really, Rosa? After just helping Debbie like that? Why would you do it?"

"Why?" Rosa snickered. "Because I knew something was going on. And when I found Jake's will... Everything was clear."

I shook my head, "You have no idea what you did... Because of you two little kids are going to be taken away from the most loving father ever, and will have to be forced to live with that... That manipulative bitch."

"It's better than living with parents who have been lying to everyone for the last three years." she rolled her eyes.

I felt another wave of nausea coming and hurried to run into the closest stall.

Someone pulled my hair up. I guessed it was Rosa since we were the only two people in the bathroom.

"Don't touch me." I groaned.

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm just helping you."

I didn't have much time to protest since the rest of the contents of my stomach were making their way out of my body.

"Are you pregnant or something?" Rosa asked.

I nodded quickly before flushing the toilet, again.

"What- Does Michael know?"

"No, I found out this morning. I thought it was just food poisoning, but I was wrong. Stupid Venice. I shouldn't have taken him there."

I heard a siren outside and decided to ignore it.

I was about to ask her how the hell she even found Jake's will, but I was cut off by our mother who ran into the bathroom.

"Angela!" she said frantically. "You have to come with me, something happened, something bad... It's Michael-"

Rosa grabbed her arm, "Mamma, talk slowly. What happened to Michael?"

"We don't know, he collapsed when he went looking for you. They're about to take him to the hospital, it looks bad."

I froze. "Michael-"

"...Needs you right now." my mother hurried to take my hand and lead me outside.

She helped me find my way to where they were rolling Michael into the ambulance.

"Go be with him. I'll see you at the hospital, il mio amore (my love)." mom blew me a kiss before quickly leaving to find my kids.

"Are you coming, Mrs. Jackson?" one of the paramedics asked.

I nodded and he helped up. Finally, I took a glance at Michael. He was pale, like the life was sucked out of him.

How did this happen? He's never been the one to be sick. It's always me inside the ambulance.

"He's breathing." the paramedic assured me, probably noticing my tears. He took my hand and placed it on Michael's heart.

"Do you feel that? His heartbeat is strong. He'll be absolutely fine."

I smiled slightly but I couldn't bring myself to believe him.