"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending"

Chris Omar Vaughn

"What's up, Kay?" I talked over the phone as soon as she picked up.

"Hey, Chris! How are you, I was just saying I need to call you. I miss everybody." It was nice to hear the pep in my little cousin's voice.

"Is that my sister?" Asked Jack. When I nodded, he shouted, "Hey, Kailyn! Miss you, ugly."

He returned to his games after they exchanged some familial words.

"What's up?" She asked me.

I relaxed on the sofa and continued the conversation.

"Not much, just checking on you."

"Oh, I'm good. You?"

Truthfully? I was far from okay. Today's the so called big day. I had no fucking clue what I was going to to do. I mean, I did, I devised a whole fucking plan but my nerves were through the roof. I tried acting causal at my parent's home as they prepared for the ceremony later, but my legs were shaking, my palms were sweaty, and I kept remembering the bruises he put on my girl.

Morgan texted me that she was okay and that's all I needed to know. I couldn't reply because I didn't want to give anything away, I needed her as clueless as possible so Malcolm wouldn't suspect a thing.

Everyone around me just acted like they were okay with this to support Morgan and I hated to see it.

"-How is she?" Kailyn's words snapped me out of my head.

I couldn't answer that without unloading my pent up emotions.

"Chris, help me for a second?" Dad appeared around the corner.

He looked at me with hopeful eyes and patted his hand on the wall as he waited for my response.

Jack and I, knowing he's been weird lately, gave each other a look.

I huffed and stood, saying goodbye to Kay so I could see whatever this guy wanted now.

Before I even turned the corner, Dad was jogging up the stairs so I followed, but carefully.

My eyes scanned the family portraits on the wall and all my artwork Mom kept over the years.
Every time I see the picture of me with braces and that early 2000s spikey boyband haircut I want to burn it.

"In here." Dad called out from their bedroom.

I rotated on the carpet and eyed him from a distance, seeing he was in the mirror struggling to tie a tie.

With my guard up, I sauntered inside and looked at my own reflection.

"Dad, you know how to tie a tie." I chuckled just because of how pathetic his attempt at getting me alone was.

He hung his head with a coy smile. "You got me."

In the next second, he successfully made a bow and buttoned the cuffs of his crisp white formal dress shirt.

"You're not dressed, yet?" He looked at the time on his watch as did I.

"Aren't you going?"

I just nodded, hands stuffed in my pockets as I held up the door to Mom's walk-in closet.

"Look, son," Dad sighed heavily like it pained him. "I have to apologize for last night."

"For Morgan or for the drinking? 'Cause you need to say that to her face. And if it's about you relapsing, then, save it for AA."

He scoffed. "Sobriety isn't a straight line, son. I thought just one drink would be fine and it usually is. Just, with all of this Malcolm shit and his drugs, it's been hard. Hard seeing the girl of your dreams with the likes of him, I mean. I want you to be happy first and foremost, don't you understand that?"

I pushed his hand off of my shoulder and stood over him. "And don't you understand by now that she makes me happy, it's you who keeps fucking everything up? I got it, Dad, I'm not twelve."

He pulled his lips into his mouth, palms sliding down his sides.

"I know. You were twelve the first time I left you. I guess that's why I still see you in that way, like my little boy, so I'm trying to play catch up. Son?"

I lifted my head to show him I'm listening so he could go on.

"Did you- was Malcolm-" he couldn't formulate his words to ask what he wanted but I think I knew what he was getting at.

"I only have one father. Malcolm was there but he never replaced you, don't worry."

I watched the corner of my father's lips quiver until he finally broke a smile.

"Uh, about Morgan, I want you to know that I do love her, I'd do anything for her. I just thought that keeping you apart was the best solution. I see now that nothing can keep you two apart."

He got that right.

"No offense, but you've said that before. Show it."

Dad frowned but nodded his head in acceptance. He put his hand out and I grabbed it, pulling him in for a hug instead of a handshake.

"Oh, good. You made up," Mom cooed, walking into the room. "and better stay this way. Chris, no more threatening your father. Carter, no more antagonizing your son. Now that that's settled, bring it in, Vaughn's!"

"Okay, okay, enough." I grumbled, stepping out of their arms.

I pushed my hair back and looked at my parents.

"Now, I need you two to do something for me..."

~~~

"Why do I have to wear this damn itchy thing?" Cleo complained the whole car ride.

"And the goddamn nose, I can't breathe?"

I took my eyes off the road for one second to watch her adjust the fake long black wig on her head.

"Because you're your sister and my date." I went over the plan again.

Cleo looked at her new self in the mirror again and couldn't believe the makeover Jasmine gave her. Izzy did the prosthetic forehead and button nose to give her the look of Sabrina's third rhinoplasty.

See, I needed to physically be at the wedding just in case, but there's no way Malcolm would allow that, and for good reason. I guess.
However, since he believes Morgan doesn't know I'm back and he thinks his "master plan" to set me up with Sabrina worked, I figured I'd show up with her as my plus one.

I was surprised to see this Kenny man working as valet for the event. An old foe already, my blood boiled when I laid eyes on him. He tried being prim and proper as if I forgot the middle aged man who called himself dating Kailyn.

I immediately stared him down but he didn't dare look back at me directly in the eyes.

"Thank you, sir." He said, bowing.

Did this motherfucker really just bow to me?

"Trying to fuck little girls didn't work out for you, huh?" I spat as he caught the keys to my truck.

"I'll park your car now, sir." He hurried into the driver's seat and pulled off carefully.

I didn't even have a thought that he'd do something irresponsible with my property because he was scared shitless and if I didn't get to him, Trey - Jasmine's brother- would.

Cleo fixed the bangs to her black wig and I laughed because it wasn't a good quality wig at all, but the best that Jasmine could find on such short notice.

Speaking of Jasmine, she was running around with a headset on when I found her.

I caught her arm. "Where's your girl?"

She scoffed, taking her attention off of whoever she was speaking to on the device.

"Hello to you, too. Yes, I look beautiful, thank you." Jasmine wouldn't be herself if she didn't give me at least a little sass. Since I left for New York, her and I were in a weird place. We mutually respected each other, but I knew she secretly still hated my guts for what I did to her best friend. Understandable, but I'm making up for that now so she should chill.

I chuckled, loosening up so she'd see that I care about her, too. "Jasmine, wow, you look great."

"Better than the bride, I'd argue." Jasmine fished for more compliments, smiling proudly with her dark eyes closed smugly.

"Let's not push it," I said stern. "Where is she?"

Jasmine folded her arms, the clipboard tucked in her armpit. "She's getting ready in tent three. It's over there."

I immediately turned my body to walk in that direction but Jasmine held the fabric of my jacket, making me look at her with concern. This jacket cost a lot.

My glare told her to release me and she did but not before giving me strict advice.

"You only have a few minutes with her," she said. "don't blow it."

"I'm still sticking with the plan. Obviously." I huffed, alluding to Cleo's appearance.

Jasmine dropped her shoulders having picked up something on her ear-piece.

"Go, go!" She shooed me away, checking the time on her Apple Watch.

Cleo stayed on my hip as I snuck around the grounds to find tent number three.

The place was like a circus, it was a whole production, Malcolm did not hold back. He really was serious about that damn legacy, huh?

All the wedding shit made me uneasy, seeing all this shit set-up for Morgan who was coerced into this. Most of all, I wanted her first time saying "I do" to be to me, if anybody.

I tried my best to go unseen as I snuck around the tents where the wedding party got ready for the ceremony.

I braced myself once I saw a black '3' printed small on the side of one large white tent.

Jasmine suddenly appeared and hardly gave me a second look to not draw suspicion.

She stood at the entrance, holding it open, as she barked orders. "Okay, if you apply any more makeup, she'll start to look worse. Thank you. Let's give her a minute, to go over vows and things?"

I appreciated her for being a team player here, or else I don't know how I would've gotten everyone out without alerting them before I approached Malcolm myself.

Once the makeup artists, hairstylist, and photographers all fled the space, Jasmine non-verbally signaled me over.

"Three minutes max. Don't upset her, or I'll upset you." Jasmine warned, patting my chest. I found it adorable she tried to be intimidating, but wished JB would come scoop her ass up and tell her to sit down somewhere.

I shook my head as I dusted off where her fingers left DNA behind, walking in.

Morgan instantly gasped upon seeing me. "Oh my gosh, you're here!"

She ran from the styling chair and jumped into my arms.

Her hair was in a low sleek bun, parted deep on the side, and she had on more makeup than I'd ever seen her in, but didn't look bad at all, just like a Bratz doll instead of her usual Barbie self.

The floral scents of her perfume traveled up my nose as I held her longer in a tight embrace.

I clenched my jaw over her head and tried to keep my composure before letting this whole operation blow up before our eyes.

I could've angrily just went up to Malcolm and killed him, but I'm not a killer, even if he deserved it.
No, I wanted to outsmart him, one-up him this time.

Besides, with everyone there, I wanted to expose him publicly. Most people in attendance were paid to go, blackmailed, or solely in support of Morgan, anyway; so needless to say, I'm not the only one with a bone to pick with Malcolm Alexander Jameson.

"I didn't think you were coming." Morgan breathed out. Her voice trembled with nerves, but she had no reason to be, I was about to put an end to all of this.

I squared her bare shoulders and rubbed my hands down them, looking right into her worried blue-green eyes.

I swallowed hard, trying to articulate my words. "Are you okay, have you seen him yet this morning?"

Morgan shook her head and began to pace in this nude shapewear.

Focus, Chris. After this, you can fuck her every way from Sunday. Focus.

I gulped and removed my eyes from her ass in the spanx.

She pulled on a white robe and twiddled with her fingers.

"Bad luck." Morgan reminded me of the superstition where the bride and groom can't see each other before the wedding. I nodded.

"You look beautiful," I offered, stalking towards her body in the oversized mirror. "Here, let me help you."

She stood still, handing me a pair of diamond earrings because, as Morgan often told Kailyn and Jasmine, women should always wear a pair of earrings.

Once I put them in her ears, Morgan smiled small. She looked up at me, dripping in diamonds now, and laughed.

"This is so stupid." She cracked, staring at herself in the mirror. Her smile and light mood gradually faded the longer she looked at her reflection.

I turned her body to face mine and took in this new look of hers again.

"One minute!" Jasmine's voice warned us from outside the tent. I growled under my breath at Morgan's annoying best friend who's shadow we watched stay on the other side of the tent.

"Chris," Morgan spoke in a soft voice, taking my hands. "I do not want to walk down the alter to that man. Please - and I can't believe I'm saying this but - please tell me you're about to do something crazy."

My Adam's apple raised in my throat when I swallowed hard again. "When this is done, we're going to move in together, and you're going to have your puppy, and we'll live happily ever after, like you always wanted, alright?"

The corners of her full, painted lips curled up before she gave me a trusting nod.

"I love you." She murmured, clinging to my body in a hug. Her words were reassuring and all the strength I needed moving forward. I didn't take those three words from her lightly.

I pressed my lips to her forehead and kept them there for a second longer than usual.

When I pulled away, I sealed my lips and just took in her beauty one more time.

"Say it back right now, Christopher." Morgan demanded, making me drop my head and laugh at her pouting.

"I love you, too, Ann." I let go of her small hands and began inching out of the tent.

"TIME IS UP!" Jasmine bossed, peeking her head inside.

I cut my eyes to Morgan who looked just as fed up with Jasmine as I was.

Morgan shook her head. "She really wants to get married, I think this is more about her than me."

An idea hit me. I said, "Maybe she will, soon."

"Yeah, maybe..." Morgan voiced lowly, but was oblivious to the thought I just had.

Jasmine, the makeup team, photographers, and hairstylist all pooled back inside of the tent and rushed me out.

I was back in the daylight and got back into the right headspace to execute the scheme.

When another woman with headpiece who was dressed in a light blue pantsuit sped past me, shouting demands, I figured she was the official wedding planner. You know, who Jasmine thought she was.

"Excuse me." I said to the lady.

Her facial features were strong and her icy blue eyes looked tired, all those layers of clumpy mascara couldn't even awaken them.

"What, what?! Quick. Who are you, what do you want?" She grumbled angrily. I gave her overall attitude a pass because this was a stressful job, I'm sure, and she'd done such a great job with the venue.

I read the company name on her clipboard: Fidelity. The same group who put their rehearsal dinner together or whatever the fuck.
Nevermind that, though, I needed an answer.

"Where's Malcolm?" I asked.

Her sparse eyebrow popped. "And you are?" She questioned, flipping through a guest list.

"His nephew."

She paused on the pages and eyed me. "Why didn't you just say so? He's been expecting you. Tent one, Christian."

"It's Christopher-" I barked after her as she strutted away in small, thick heels over the grass.

Christ.

I shook my head and trekked to tent one to face the devil himself.

As I made way to the far tent, I watched my parents, with their arms linked, both give me an assuring thumbs up like 'you got this.' Although, you could see the fear in my mother's eyes, and the rage in my father's.

I busted into Malcolm's tent and found him taking a cigar from the case.

"Christopher?" My eyes panned to him as he grinned in the vanity.

"Cigar, my boy?" He offered, holding it out.

I could've put my hands on him right there.

"Uncle," I had to play it cool. "Heard you were looking for me?"

"I was curious, definitely. Didn't think you would have the gall to show your face at my wedding ceremony." He said, pouring a drink.

I sat on the couch and took the cigar, letting him light it for me while it was between my teeth.

Malcolm had a chuckle and sat back on the couch parallel to mine.

I crossed my ankle over my knee and parted my lips to let the smoke out.

"Why's that?" I questioned him.

Malcolm's face twisted as he ashed his cigar in the lowball glass full of tequila.

"Well, considering you were fucking my fiancé behind my back?"

I smiled crooked then paused. "I don't know what you mean."

"Of course not. You wouldn't do that, right, nephew?"

"Wouldn't think of it." What I said made Malcolm smile and eventually laugh.

He choked for a second and then took a drink, eyes on me the entire sequence.

"Well, aren't you going to congratulate me?"

I clenched my jaw, eye twitching as I noticed him stick a hand out for me to shake.

I shut my eyes for a second to gain some poise.

He's testing you. Now's not the time. Stick to the motherfucking plan, don't let him throw you off.

The muscles around my mouth spasmed, turning my frown to a sly smirk.

When I stood, Malcolm did, too. I adjusted my jacket and he fixed his tie, eyes narrowed on my conflicted face.

"Congratulations." I said to Malcolm, catching him by surprise when I shook his supple hand. That's what I didn't like about him the most, the way his hands remained clean no matter how much dirt he did.
Those were the very hands that violated my- he touched Morgan and I wasn't going to let that go.

I squeezed his hand, my vision starting to blur.

"Thanks." Malcolm's voice struggled the harder I squeezed but he didn't want to admit I was hurting him.

This isn't the plan, I thought in my head.

Actually, I don't care anymore.

"WHO THE FUCK LET YOU IN HERE?!" Commotion suddenly arose outside the tent.

"That sounds like Morgan." Malcolm said his thoughts aloud the second I released him at the sound of all the yelling.

He ran out and I followed because she was more my business than his.

I planted my feet in the ground to take in the scene.

It was Morgan arguing with Cleo, who she thought was Sabrina. Cleo didn't let Morgan get close enough to show her that she wasn't actually Sabrina, though.

Cleo ran in circles around Jasmine and X's bodies, trying not to let Morgan see who she really was. I appreciated her commitment to the plan and character but knew Morgan would absolutely take her anger out on my supposed plus one once she got her hands on her.

"Sabrina?" Malcolm started to laugh and slow-clap.

Jabari held Morgan back so she wouldn't attack his colleague's infamous daughter.

Everyone gathered around to witness the chaos the bride had caused. The whole town was in attendance and dressed their best.

Mom looked at me with her teeth gritted like she was angry. "Do something." I read her tight lips.

I flailed my arms. What the fuck could I without blowing our cover?

Nevermind. Fuck it.

"Morgan, look at me," I whispered once I stood in her face. "That's not Sabrina. It's not her. That's Cleo."

Cleo, seeing our cover was blown after all, removed the ratty wig and special fx.

"Well just forget all of my hard work." Izzy mumbled sarcastically, kicking up the grass.

Morgan relaxed and JB finally let her arms go.

"Oh." She said calmly. "Sorry, Cleo."

"No, no. Don't worry about it. For such a skinny girl, you are damn fast; had me scared." Cleo caught her breath, waving Morgan off.

"I'm sorry. Cleo?" Malcolm jawed, standing in the middle of everyone.

I exhaled deeply, facing the man who I once wasn't ashamed to call my Godfather.

His eyes flickered with confusion as he tried piecing everything together.

"Cleo Bowie, Shawn's daughter. I'm sure you know exactly who that is." Cleo huffed, crossing her tattooed arms.

I watched his face crack. "No." Malcolm mouthed, disassociating.

"It's done, Malcolm," I spoke up. "It's over. You, your business here, this marriage."

It's been a long time coming, and goddamn did that feel good to get off my chest.

He threw the flaps of his long tailcoat behind his back and angrily nodded, peering back at everyone who watched this all unfold.

Morgan stepped forward and looked at me with large eyes because this was the last thing she expected.

"He's been putting his hands on her for months!" My mother spat.

I snapped my neck wondering what the hell she was doing.

"And pushing drugs through the streets, poisoning our children!" Sherry rallied.

"He killed my little sister!" Madi, who hardly looked like herself anymore, suddenly appeared to weep and scream at the man responsible for Maya's very unfortunate death.

I watched Morgan give Madi a hug, and forgot that Malcolm was even the problem here. Their exchanged warmed everyone's hearts I'm sure, but mine mostly, just shows how sweet Morgan is no matter what.

"Enough is enough, Malcolm." My dad spoke up from the crowd. He slightly pushed Morgan's body to the side so he could be front and center.

Malcolm, rubbing his chin, just listened. He looked defeated, cornered, and there was no where to run.

"The whole town is here. We signed petitions, we're sick and tired. Now you can just pack your things and go, you're not welcome here anymore."

"And most of all, Morgan is not yours. This wedding is off." Mom added, stepping forward to be at her husband's side.

Morgan stood between them and grinned big with this look of acceptance and new found hope.

I watched the three of them hug it out as the bystanders all cheered.

"Okay." Malcolm carped but threw his hands up. "You win after all, Chris. I know when I'm not wanted. I'll just be on my way."

He turned finally and began walking away, arms at his sides.

"Well that was easy." Cleo sighed with relief, saying what everyone was probably thinking.

"On second thought..." Malcolm quickly turned and pulled out a gun.

I immediately shifted directions to run for Morgan but it was too late. He pulled the trigger.