He could not believe what was going on with his life.

The baby was on the way, but he did not know if he could continue with Riyah with what she had done. He wanted to forgive her, but right now, they were sleeping in separate rooms.

The reality show went on but without him. Of course, Riyah lied and said everything was happy in their relationship and he was busy with work. He felt like the only thing he was good for to her was ratings in the show. Views and likes on her social media.

In the end, his talent was being overlooked. All he was now was that reality show guy linked up with Riyah the superstar.

Did he have real feelings for her? Did he love her? Could he marry her?

He needed time away from her.

"Tone I love you!" Riyah was all up in his face as he packed some things. "I only did this for us! Rattling in the show means more viewers, which means more sponsors, which means more money."

"But if you lie to me...put yourself and our baby at risk..." He stopped and shook his head. Everything with Riyah was so planned out. Everything was going her way and he was just along for the ride. "Did you plan all this?"

"Plan what? The staler thing? Yes, but-"

"No, I'm talking even more. Did you plan us? The baby? Meeting me at the hotel bar?"

She stood there with a blank stare on her face. Then she looked away and rubbed her stomach. That was a move to soften him up a bit, but it only made him more upset.

Their whole life was a lie.

"Riyah, I need to get away. Decide if I want this. You?"

"What?" Now it was time for waterworks, because she knew crying would get to him. "Yes, I planned meeting you at your hotel. I wanted you since I saw you Grammy night so yes, I made sure I knew where you were by following you on your page. But...but I did it because I knew we were meant to be."

He was happily in love with Nola less than a year ago. When he met Riyah at the Grammys he never thought he wanted to be with her. He thought he would be with Nola forever. Part of him thought their breakup was temporary. Nola needed time after everything her family went through.

Losing a sister. Changing her whole life from wanting to become a doctor to now, studying criminals. She said she had no time for love. Maybe now.

"I need to go back home to Springfield." He finished packing, ignoring Riyah's cries.

"Tone, I love you. I swear! I didn't plan on falling in love with you, that just happened because you're this awesome guy. So wholesome and sensitive. Unlike all these other Hollywood guys. You haven't let the fame get to you."

"And you have."

"I know, I know," she sniffed. "I want to change. I'll do better. Baby, please! Don't leave me."

He zipped his luggage and turned to her. "Give me some time."

"Don't you love me?"

He was not sure what love was anymore.

He left without answering her and caught a first-class flight back home to Springfield. It was a cold contrast from sunny California to frigid Missouri. At his mother's new house to hide out from Hollyweird. The people who would do anything for fame. Would he ever fit into that world?

After a few days of sulking, his mother finally tried to snap him out of it.

"I ain't gonna tell you what to do, but I know you're hurt by whatever that girl did to you."

He had not told his mother that Riyah faked being stalked, and tried to kidnap herself, had him drag his ex out there only because she wanted to put on a show for the cameras and her fans. It all made him look and feel like an idiot as well. How could he have gotten himself played?

"All I need to know, is that still my grandbaby, right?"

With the lies Riyah told, he was not a hundred percent sure. He wanted it to be his. Even if they could not make things work, he would be there for his kid.

"Ma, I just need time away from all that. Just hang around with my peeps and live my normal life again."

"Sorry baby boy, nothing about you will ever be normal again. You chose to chase this fame, and now that you have it, you're sitting here with your lip poked out." His mother crossed her arms across her chest. "You have the money, some success, some fame, that pretty little girl in L.A...and still, you're not happy."

He ran a hand through his locs. "Because I don't love her!" he blurted out. "I still love Nola."

His mother only nodded and said nothing. They stood there in silence. He wanted his mother to tell him what to do. Should he run to Nola and tell her how he felt, or go back to Riyah and make the best of the situation?

"Ma? Say something."

"Not what you want to hear. Nola already told you how she felt, nothing is going to change that. And no one says you have to be in love with someone having your child."

"That's the way it should be. That's the way I wanted it to be. I wanted Nola to be my everything. My wife. Mother of my child. Now what?"

His mother shrugged. "That's for you to figure out."

His mother was no help. Now he had to solve this all on his own.

He sulked around the house for a few more days before he left his house and headed to the mall. The Ice Kingdom Mall because there he could have fond memories of Nola and him when it first opened. Her sisters' mall, part of Kitty and Icee's legacy. He would have loved to create something like that with Nola.

Build an empire, in his hometown. A nonprofit like Icee's, and maybe a few other businesses that made a lot of money and did a lot of good for the community. With Nola by his side, she could also help by starting something she cared about. Icee and Kitty were the King and Queen of Springfield, but he and Nola would be the Prince and Princess.

After roaming the mall, he left and drove around town, finding himself pulled up in front of the Kelly home. He wondered if Nola was home. He picked up his phone and called her.

Nothing. It went to voicemail.

He sat there in the car, unable to move. He thought about Riyah and the baby. He did care for her a lot. Maybe he went into the relationship all wrong, pure lust. It was exhilarating being with someone like Riyah, who the world admired. She loved the spotlight and with her help, he gained a lot of traction with his music.

She could be good for him in that way.

His phone binged and it was a text from Nola

why are you parked in front of my house?

Need to see you

The front door to the house swung open and Nola stood there in baggy sweats and a too big for her pullover hoodie. Even with those close, she looked sexy to him.

He got out of the car and headed up the stairs and to the door.

"You okay?"

"Boy, get in here, it's too cold out here."

He stepped into the house, instant memories of being there numerous times, but the last was when she dumped him.

"Why are you in town?" she asked him as she locked the door. "Wait, wait...let me guess. Something to do with Riyah and all this mess she made. Hmmm?"

"NoNo, why didn't you tell me before you left? I didn't get any kind of explanation but from Victor weeks later."

"Nola chuckled. "So Riyah did not upfront tell you? Figures."

"But you're my friend, you could have told me yourself."

"Oh, okay," she looked him up and down. "Blame me for all your mishaps. What? You've come over here to tell me you're still in love with me, let's get back together and I will help ya' raise that girl's baby. Be a stepmom and err'thang, huh?

He did not like this new Nola. She never spoke in country grammar, nor did she ever speak to him so condescending.

"So I take it there is still no chance and us getting back together?"

"Boy, please! Why are you still chasing a fake ass American Deam? You're not Icee and I'm not Kitty. You're better off staying with Riyah and having a fairytale pretend life with her. I ain't the one!"

There was his answer, not what he wanted to hear but he knew to move on now.

"I can perhaps grow to love Riyah. I can't leave her now that she's having my baby."

"Then don't." Nola let out a sigh. "Look Tone, I see you're struggling with this. Stop! You're one of the good guys. A dream guy. Just stop trying to be like someone else and make your own path. Do things your way, even if it's not the way you always wanted. You do care for Riyah, I can see that. Yes, you're hurt by what she did, good. Fix it! Fix her! Together. People have stayed together with less drama."

After he left Nola, he headed back to his mother's place, packed, and headed back to L.A., to be with the woman who would be in his life no matter what. What was the worst that could happen?

They would continue to pretend to be a big happy family, for the fans, and make millions off it. That would be his empire.

A/N: I'm actually bored with Tone and his storyline so this will be his last chapter even though there is a lot more book left. He succumbed to the Hollywood lifestyle and guess what, get the money, I ain't mad.