"Dad, she is the one for me. I just know it."

"Have you spoken to her?"

"Yeah."

"And why isn't she here?"

"Because she is married to Max Martinez and they have a child together," Renee said as she stood and excused herself. "Sir, dinner was delicious. Thank you. I will be turning in for the night," Renee said.

Kwame stood as she left the dining room then turned to his son and slammed his hand down on the table. "What did I tell you about chasing married women? Did you learn anything from my mistake? Did you learn anything? A man will kill for a woman he loves, especially if she is worth having."

"Dad, she is not like any other girl I've ever met before. I have to have her."

Kwame shook his head "Your mother was killed because I had to have her. I couldn't just accept that she was with another man." He walked up to his son and pulled out a chair next to him. "Her husband loved her and he sacrificed for her. I am the reason that woman is not here today. I raped her and when she told her husband what had happened to her he came after me. He saw all these women around me, catering to me. He couldn't understand why I would rape a woman when so many were throwing themselves at me. I didn't have to say a word. I never knew he had come to kill me."

Kwame looked at his son and he rubbed his head. "I got her pregnant and her husband didn't know if it was his or not. For nine months he held in his pain and his anger. When you were born he knew immediately. He had a paternity test done. When he got the results proving what he already knew, he lost it. Your mother hid you in the back of a locked closet with a note. Her murdered body lay unrecognizable in front of that closet." Kwame stood and paced, trying to regain his composure.

"Dad, Mei's nineteen and married. They can't be in love."

"Look at me, son, I'm cursed because of what I caused."

"Dad, you got women at your disposal, fighting each other for your attention."

"I have no loving woman to spend the rest of my days with and no mother for my son."

"I don't need a mother," Samuel said.

"I sent you to that college to learn what I didn't teach you."

"Dad, look, I'm not a kid anymore. I know what I'm doing, but thanks for the advice." Samuel stood and left the dining room.

Kwame slammed his fist onto the dinner table." This is my fault," he mumbled to himself. He'd struggled with his sexual addiction and didn't want his son to end up making the same mistakes he'd made. Worried that his son was also chasing a girl that would put his future in jeopardy, Kwame was angry. He needed to calm down.

"Sir, is everything all right? Is there anything you need?" asked one of his servants. She was a tall brunette wearing high heels, a black bikini with a bowtie around her neck.

Kwame walked up to her and, without a word, he pulled the strings of her bikini as she willing sprawled herself out on the dinner table. Kwame made no hesitation taking her.

Thanksgiving It was Wednesday and everyone was busy getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner the following day. Cora hung out with Mei as she bathed Uriel to get him relaxed for his nap.

"Cora, I'm upset about you and Nelson. Why did you guys break up?"

"I know how guys like him are. They don't want a girlfriend when they're going away to college. I don't want to be that faithful fool he cheats on."

"So you broke up with him?" Mei asked.

"No, he broke up with me... the day before he left for college. He met me and said it was going to be too hard maintaining a long-distance relationship. 'Why don't we just be friends for right now?' he said." Cora tried not to cry.

"Cora, I'm sorry."

"Now it's good. I'm glad it happened this way."

"Yeah, but have you guys spoken since?" Mei asked.

"Well, the next day I was supposed to see him off. I decided to have my cell phone number changed. I told my parents not to give him my new number and to have him leave a message, should he call."

"Did he call?"

"When I didn't show on the day he left, he called. I made sure to stay away for the whole day. I went to Cocoa Beach and sat in my car and cried. I was a mess, but I refuse to let him know how much he hurt me."

"Cora, I admire your strength," Mei said as she pulled her son out of the bathtub. Cora helped her by wrapping a towel around Uriel.

"He called everyday for a month, begging my parents for my cell phone number. I gotta give my parents credit. They really liked him. Holding back my cell number was difficult for them and it broke their hearts; well, mainly my mom, but she understood and respected my decision. He knows where my college is which is why I've been thinking about changing to another college."

"Cora, that's extreme. Don't let him come between you and your education," Mei said as she walked to her bed and playfully laid Uriel on the mattress.

"I know, but I have other problems there, too," Cora added as she followed Mei.

"You know he is going to be here tomorrow."

"I know"

"Are you ready to see him?"

"No, I don't want to. I still cry everyday over him. I really loved him, Mei."

"Come here." Mei hugged her friend. "Listen to me. If he is worth it, he will walk across lava for you because he knows that you are worth the risk, understand?"

"Yeah," Cora cried.

"Be strong and don't let Max see you crying or upset over Nelson." Mei turned quickly to chase after her naked son as he crawled off the bed.

"He called the house yesterday. I didn't recognize the number and I answered. He was quiet, and just as I was about to hang up. He said my name. I couldn't hang up. I fought back my emotions and said, 'What?' He was, like, speechless. He asked if I was coming. I told him I wasn't sure, He started to ask me why I was avoiding him then I told him I had to go; that my date was waiting on me. I told him it was nice to hear from him and hung up."

"Wow," Mei said as Max entered the room. "So you see, Cora, that's how you make egg drop soup."

"I have got to try that. So the egg isn't raw?" Cora said holding in the laughter as she helped Mei dress Uriel.

"Mei makes the best egg drop soup," Max said, walking across the room and grabbing something from the dresser before heading back out.

"Cora, you're doing the right thing. 'We should just be friends,' that Jack... ah, donkey," Mei said quickly correcting herself as Uriel looked at her.

"Jack donkey," Uriel repeated.

"It amazes me how they pick up all the bad words," Mei grumbled. "Now I have to explain this to his father. Why his son is calling people Jack donkey," Mei complained as Cora laughed.

Max walked back into the room. His timing was perfect for Mei. "Babe," Mei called out, "Can you get him a bottle?"

"Sure." He left and returned a few minutes later holding a bottle out for Uriel to grab. "When do you want to go shopping?" he asked.

"I don't know, maybe after Thanksgiving. It's crazy right now," Mei replied.

"Hey, Mei," Makayla said, walking into their suite.

"Hey, Cuz." Mei smiled.

"Hey, Cora, how are you?" Makayla greeted.

"Good. Congrats on your marriage."

"Aw, thanks."

"Mei, your mom and sister are here. Do you want me to send them up?" Makayla asked.

"Yeah," Mei said unenthusiastic.

"Is something wrong?" Makayla asked.

"No. It's just hard. I have so many negative memories attached to her," Mei replied.

"You want me to tell her you're busy?" Max said, trying to defend his wife's feelings.

"No, she's still my mother, babe." Mei laughed.

"It's okay, Makayla. Send her up, thanks."

"Hey, Cora do you mind taking Uriel for a second? I want to talk to Mei," Max said.

"Sure." Cora took Uriel and left the room, closing the door behind her.

"Max, I'm fine," Mei said, getting up from the bed.

Max quickly took her by the waist and pulled her close. "I just missed you." Max lifted her chin to kiss her.

"I can't believe you did that." Mei smiled.

"Hey, this mansion is getting crazier by the second. I just needed a little taste of you." Max smiled kissing his way down her neck.

"Stop it. My mom is heading up here right now."

"I'm ready to go back to the crazy island," Max whispered in Mei's ear.

There was a knock at the door and Mei knew it was her mother. "Go get your son. She's going to want to see him." Mei looked into her husbands captivating grey eyes.

He kissed her one more time before opening the door for Mei's mother. He greeted her kindly before leaving the room.

Mei smiled at her mom as she walked across the room to give her a hug.

"Come have a seat. Max went to go get Uriel." Mei led her mother to a couch in the lounge area of their room.

"This is really nice," Song said, sitting down on the black leather couch.

"Will you be having Thanksgiving dinner with us tomorrow?" Mei asked.

"Well, that's why I came here to see you today. I'm not sure that I will be able to make it tomorrow," Song replied nervously.

Max entered the room holding Uriel up like an airplane. After a series of swoops he landed him in his grandmother's arms.

"Hey, where is Ariaha?" Max asked his mother-in-law.

"She is hanging out with her grandmother downstairs," Song replied, hugging her grandson. "He got so big."

"You should come tomorrow and spend some time with your grandson. He doesn't get to see you."

"I will be downstairs helping Dad plan tomorrow's dinner. I think he is trying to please everyone's unique cravings," Max said, not really wanting to get involved in their conversation.

"Okay, we'll be down in a little," Mei replied.

"Mei," Song began.

"What's wrong, Mom?" Mei asked.

"Your sister wants to see her father tomorrow."

It hurt Mei to think about Thomas Paulard, her stepfather who was determined to kill her and her baby. "Well, I can understand. It's her father," Mei said softly.

"The prison will be having a Thanksgiving Day thing for the inmates and families. Thomas would really like to see his daughter."

"And you... do you want to see him?" Mei asked sternly.

"We have been seeing a family counselor and a marriage counselor."

"Marriage... why would you need a marriage...?"

"Thomas is still Ariaha's father and I don't want her to miss out on having a father."

"You're speaking of the man who murdered my father and tried to kill me and my son... your grandson."

"Mei, I didn't come here to fight with you."

"Why did you come here? You obviously care more for that man than you do me." Mei stood and took her son away from her mother.

"Mei, don't take it like this."

"How am I supposed to take it?" Mei paced as she rubbed her sons back.

"You don't understand. You've only been married for what, a year? And look at you guys. You don't have problems. You don't know what a real marriage is all about. Max spoils you like any other rich man with money. Eventually the reality is going to seep in. He will get tired of you and start looking at other women. Or not wanting to be around you so much, sending you on shopping trips so he can have some fun on the side. I know how men think. He loves you today, but what about tomorrow? What about after two or three kids?"

"Wow, so the truth finally comes out. This is how you feel about my marriage? What is it that bothers you, and don't hold back this time. Let it rip," Mei said sarcastically.