The night was winding down and the waiters were gathering last minute dishes. The waitress that had served them all night held an expression that intrigued Jade.
Jason was off talking to Liam, Elijah and Oliver when Jade approached her. "You okay, hon? You've been smiling all night and now you're not. Did something happen?"
"I really like you. You seem like a great person from what I read online. You don't deserve this on your big day." Jade looked at her confused. The waitress looked around before handing Jade her phone.
Right there on the cover of TMZ in big bold letters 'Elizabeth Holland PREGNANT with Jason Taylor Tatum's baby.' Jade was confused, but as she read the words over and over again, she wanted to faint. She told herself to keep it together and keep reading for more information.
The article went on about Elizabeth telling Jason she was pregnant a few weeks after he had gotten married and that the baseball star had met up with her a few times to discuss it.
Eventually he told her to abort it as soon as possible. There was actual audio included of Elizabeth and Jason arguing and Jason saying to her that she had better abort the baby 'or else.'
Jade didn't know how to feel. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw up. Ultimately, she felt a numbness wash over her. The waitress looked at her with sad eyes and Jade made a note to ensure she got an enormous tip.
"Can you get the redhead over there for me?" She nodded her head and went over to get Jenna. The two came back and the waitress showed Jenna what Jade had read.
"What do I need to do? Tell me what you want done and I've got you." Jenna said ready to ride. "Get me out of here." Jade whispered earning a nod. The waitress showed them a back exit that led to the private parking lot where their cars were parked. Jenna had her purse and James' keys.
They were on the highway in no time. Jenna didn't like how quiet Jade was. She knew her best friend was raging on the inside or quickly crumbling under the weight of her anxiety. Neither was good.
"Gem, it's going to be okay. I know it doesn't seem like it now, but it will be okay. We'll figure out a plan and move however you want." Jade felt so many things, but stupid was the biggest one. She wasn't really mad about the baby. It came before she did though the media didn't know that.
She was mad about the blatant lies Jason fed her when her gut told her something was wrong. The shutting down of any discussion pertaining to his moods. Hell, even the nightmare at this point. They all made sense now.
She felt like an idiot and she was not that. Jason had proved to be a liar. Elizabeth told the media that they had met multiple times to discuss things. That was multiple times he lied whether under the guise of him being at practice or hanging with Luis.
Jade feared as the negative self talk drowned her how many other things were being hidden from her by her husband who had promised to be open and honest. Jason promised to be nothing like her father and he was proving the opposite.
Like her father he lied. Like her father he was having a child with someone else. It was too much to deal with and on the day that should've been the happiest. She felt sick and wound down the window for some air.
"Can I stay at your place for a little bit?" Jenna nodded as she looked at her. "However long." Jenna looked back at the road as she thought it all over. "Grounds for a divorce or just a Melnik beatdown? I'm just asking so I can get my stomping boots ready." Jade let out a small chuckle despite herself.
"The baby was conceived before he even knew me. It hurts not being the one to give him his first child, but it is what it is I guess." Jenna shook her head. "Don't do that. Don't try and use logic to invalidate your feelings. This baby may not have asked for this but it's going to impact you and your marriage forever. That sucks and it's okay to admit that."
Jade sighed as she looked out the window. "It's just too much, Jenn. I'm so hurt right now. He knows what lying does to me...what it does to any and every relationship period. You have nothing if there's no trust."
Jenna nodded her head in agreement. "So, no divorce?" Jade sighed loudly. "I've never wanted the stain of divorce. I said if I would ever be so enamored as to agree to marriage then it was for life." Jenna sighed at her best friend.
Jenna felt Jade put her feelings on the back burner for the sake of unhealthy expectations instilled by her mother when it came to love and marriage. "No divorce, but a much needed separation. I need some space and he needs to work on earning my forgiveness. He needs to sort out this Elizabeth shit as well."
Jenna nodded her head. "She's going to be a part of y'all's lives forever, Gem. Are you okay with that? Are you going to be able to handle that?" Jade thought long and hard on the question as Jenna pulled into her driveway.
"I honestly don't think so. The baby is a part of him, so I can't just ignore them, but her." Jade shook her head. "She was with Jason before me and I can't help but think from what I've read about her that she feels entitled to him somehow. Giving him his first child is only going to strengthen that belief and it scares me."
Jade looked at the Jenna and the expression on her face saddened Jenna immensely. "This wasn't supposed to be my narrative, Jenn. I can't help but listen to the voice inside my head that's laughing at me for thinking I could have real and honest love." Jade broke down and Jenna held her close.
"We don't have to figure everything out tonight. Let's go inside. Get you showered and changed and then off to bed. Your ass is too fat to wear any of my clothes, so I'll go grab you a duffel bag in the morning."
Jade nodded her head with a watery chuckle before looking at her best friend. "Don't fight him, Jenn. I know you want to and I love you for that. You're my biggest supporter and most avid defender, but please don't make this worse by getting arrested for assault." Jenna held up her hands. "No fighting."
Jason and James couldn't find Jade or Jenna anywhere. The remaining guests were family and close friends. "You haven't found her yet?" Hannah Jean asked worriedly.
"Excuse me," Jason flagged down the girl he remembered as their waitress. "Have you seen my wife?" He was not expecting the girl to scoff at him. "Wife. You don't deserve her." Jason glared at her. "Excuse me?" She turned away from him after telling him to check his phone.
They all heard her comments and followed suit. What they found shocked them all. "Jason." Hannah Jean sighed disappointedly. James just shook his head while Harry fumed.
He couldn't yell and shout like he wanted as Layla was sleeping in his lap. They all began to get up. "We're going to have a talk, boy. Believe that." Harry said before marching off with Hannah Jean and Layla in his arms.
Quinn marched up to Jason and slapped the shit out of him. Liam could tell she wanted to do more and held her back. Jason held his cheek as he watched them walk out also.
James stood there in front of him and Jason hated the disappointed look in his eyes. "That's what she was talking about at your bachelor party, wasn't it?" Jason nodded eventually.
"You lied to me. To Jade. To all of us. Don't you think we could've gotten ahead of this if we'd known! Don't you think Jade deserved to hear the truth from her husband instead of the media on her wedding day?"
Jason held his head in his hands. "She has a recording of you telling her to abort your kid, Taylor! How do you think your child is going to feel when they get older and learn their father didn't want them? How do you think the media is looking at you now?"
Jason felt like he was sinking in quicksand. He looked at James with broken eyes. "I can't lose her, James. I can't." James shook his head as he scoffed. "You should've thought about that before lying to her for weeks."
Jason felt so deflated. "How would you feel if she lied to you about something this big? How would you feel if it came out in the public eye for the world to see on your wedding day? A world that is already judging her for marrying your sorry ass in the first place."
Jason felt his tears pour and it did nothing to move James. James wanted to say he was surprised, but he wasn't. He knew that karma would have the final say and Jason Taylor Tatum wasn't a man to drum up good karma prior to Jade McCoy.
"I know Jade and I know Quinn and the two women don't hate much, but they do hate liars. I can't imagine what she's going through right now, but I have a feeling she's safe and with my fiancé. Do everyone a favor and just regroup tonight. Figure out what you're going to do about Elizabeth and your child because they're obviously not going anywhere."
Jason sobbed quietly. "Elizabeth has always been a fame whore. You should've known by not giving her the attention she craved she would throw a tantrum on a global stage."
James let out a sigh. "Fact is, you're stuck with her for at least eighteen years. Child support, family events, the list goes on Taylor. Deal with that first then see if Jade is willing to speak with you after the dust has settled."
Jason watched as his brother walked out leaving him all alone. The day was so perfect. He could still hear Jade's laugh and see her bright smile. It was all ruined now.
Elizabeth Holland had ruined it for them and she was going to pay. Jason grabbed his keys and made his way to his car. He outran the paparazzi following him and took the back roads to Elizabeth's condo.
He shook his head at her inability to change her doors passcode as he made his way inside. He heard Jack Harlow playing throughout the house and rolled his eyes.
He found her in her living room laughing happily as she scrolled through her phone. He was certain she was reading comments from her fans in support of what she did. It angered him even more.
Jason reveled in the frightened gasped that left her lips as his hand squeezed her throat. "You really thought you were going to pull that shit and get away with it, huh?" Elizabeth clawed at his fingers.
"I know you want to see me as miserable as you are, but that's not going to happen. I will still have my wife despite your attempts at breaking us up."
Elizabeth tried to pry his hands away. He knew she was being dramatic. If he wanted to really hurt her he would've.
"When this baby is born, I will be granted full custody because every judge in the state of Texas will know how unfit you'd be as a mother when I'm through. You're never modeling again because I'm already working on having you blacklisted."
Jason chuckled as she whimpered. "The possibilities of ruining your life Elizabeth Holland are endless. You wanted my attention, bitch. Well now you've fucking got it." He shoved her forward onto the floor before walking out.
He had listened to James. Jason sorted things out with Elizabeth and the baby as far as he was concerned. He meant what he said. He would get full custody of his child and he and Jade would raise it like a family.
He trusted in this, because there was no way he was letting Jade go and the baby unfortunately wasn't going anywhere either.
By the time he got home he ensured that every fashion house and brand either refused to work with Elizabeth or were starting the process of dropping her altogether.
He knew it wouldn't trace back to him. He knew too many people and their secrets. Fact was, Jason didn't get his connections just from baseball stardom. He got them as a business prodigy and son of Harry Tatum.
His house was ridiculously quiet. He missed the off-key singing of his wife. The smells of amazing cuisine cooked by her in one of his shirts. He knew he'd go crazy if he stayed there any longer and walked over to James and Jenna's.
He rang the bell incessantly and knocked on the door. He knew Layla was with his parents so he didn't feel bad. "Have you lost your fucking mind?" Jenna growled opening the door. "I need to see her." Jenna sucked her teeth loudly.
"That's not happening until she wants to and trust me asshole she doesn't want to!" Jason shook his head. "I need to talk to her. I need to get her to understand-" Jason was so focused on his request that he didn't see Jenna rear her arm back until her fist connected with his eye and then his jaw.
Jason was stunned. Jenna was tiny but punched like a 6'3" bear. "There is nothing to understand, Jason. You lied. You hurt my best friend and now I'm going to hurt you." Jenna said pulling her hair in to a ponytail.
"I promised her I wouldn't fight you, but I guess we're both liars." Jenna lunged for him before she felt herself getting lifted and huffed angrily. "Go home, Taylor. Sleep and do as I told you." James slammed the door in his brother's face before taking his angry fiancé to bed.
Jason made his way back home. Just like before he couldn't take the silence. He'd even take Jade's snores at the moment. He ended up in the media room and put on She's the Man.
Jade loved that movie despite him making fun of her for it. It just made him miss her more so he foolishly opted to go through his phone. He wanted to know what people were saying, especially about Jade.
He wasn't all that shocked at what he saw. Some people told her to jump ship as they felt bad for her, but most felt she was a dumbass for staying with him knowing everything.
They reiterated that Jason Taylor Tatum was the bad boy with fuck ups and side pieces miles long. According to many, she got what was so obviously coming. Their words angered him. He prayed she didn't look. He knew it would further hurt her and his chances of reconciliation.
Jason had to fix this. He had to get Jade to forgive him. He just had to. Jason settled right there on the couch knowing sleep would not come easily. He spent his energy focusing on his wife with thoughts of winning her forgiveness swarming inside his head.
Jason went to James' first thing in the morning. He banged on the door and rang the bell like a crazy person. "You need to stop." James said after opening the door. "I need to speak with her." James shook his head.
"Please, James. You're my brother!" James sighed at him. "I'm also her brother-in-law and on her side with this. You fucked up, Taylor. Give her the space to figure things out. It's the least you can do."
The sane side of James knew his brother was right. It urged him to listen, but the desperate side that wanted Jade back in his arms prevailed. He began yelling for her causing James to groan.
"She's not here ass wipe." Jenna called out as she walked down the stairs. "Where is she?" Jason asked worriedly causing Jenna to snort. "As if I'd ever tell you. Get the fuck off our property bitch boy!"
Jason was getting tired of their door slamming in his face. "Where could she be?" Jason had no clue where she'd gone and hoped she was safe. The paparazzi would be like sharks at sea and she was the drop of blood they needed.
He sent her yet another ignored text, but he hoped she was getting them. Her phone was either off or she could have blocked him. Either way he was at a loss. He just needed to talk to her. She needed to see things from his viewpoint then everything would be alright again.
Jade found herself sitting on a loveseat across the last person she wanted to entertain. Elizabeth Holland had somehow gotten her number and called her at 6 am. Jade figured she was still in a state of shock as she agreed to meet Elizabeth at her condo the following hour.
"I know this is a lot." Jade let out a snort. "Didn't seem to stop you from releasing your business on my wedding day for the world to see." Elizabeth folded her lips. "I was just trying to be heard." Jade nodded her head. "Well Elizabeth the world is listening, so what do you have to say?" The blonde looked at her pensively.
She expected more from the Black woman. She prepared herself for a fight and had cameras ready throughout the room to send to TMZ. That was all she saw on Worldstar, but Jade was proving to be a different kind of Black.
"What do you want? Why am I here?" Jade questioned irritated that she obviously wasted her time. She would much rather be in bed crying her eyes out like she had all night.
"Jason and I are connected for life now. He's going to have responsibilities to me that I don't really see you fitting in." Jade let out a laugh that shocked the model.
"Jason has a duty to his child not you. Last I checked, I am Mrs. Tatum and that means this child will be my stepchild. That's how I fit in and that's where I'll stay as Jason's wife."
Jade stood up with a scoff. "He doesn't want you, Elizabeth and honestly, I don't think he ever did. I don't think he ever wanted any of you. You were a play thing that lucked up and got pregnant. You'll get the court approved child support. The baby will not want for anything, but as far as any involvement with my husband outside of your child that doesn't exist."
"He's not who he claims to be." Elizabeth called out as Jade reached for the doorknob. "Oh, trust me, I know. Jason isn't perfect, but he's not the villain you all are trying to make him out to be either."
Jade opened the door before turning back. "He lied to me and that will be rectified, but your obvious plan of breaking us up was futile. I'm not going anywhere, Elizabeth, so get used to me." Jade stormed out leaving the blonde where she sat.
Elizabeth couldn't lie. She wanted to see them break up. Originally, she wanted Jason back and all to herself. She couldn't see why he would ditch her for some trash ass Black bitch.
She deserved the life he afforded, so she leaked the news and did a full spread with TMZ. She felt good about her decision until he ambushed her the previous night.
Elizabeth forgot how scary Jason could be when threatened or caged. When he left, she checked her neck for bruising and found none unfortunately. She spent a few more hours online before she started getting rejection notices from fashion houses and brands all over the nation. She knew in that instant that she fucked up.
By 4am she was dropped by Calvin Klein. By 4:30 am three local brands had trashed their ad campaigns with her. Jason had made good on his promise. She had his attention and she no longer wanted any of it.
Her plan was to talk to Jade and get her on her side somehow. She wanted her to convince Jason to fix what he started, but seeing her with the large diamond on her hand and the regal air she exuded made Elizabeth green with envy.
She didn't get what she wanted, but she hoped that she had done enough to put a wrench in their lovesick plans. Elizabeth wanted Jade to suffer for stealing the life she deserved, but she wanted Jason to suffer more for ruining the life she had built for herself.
They would pay. They would all pay and the baby growing in her stomach would be her meal ticket to revenge.