Friends Forever Or Not 2 The Betrayal Continues

Chapter 7

At the emergency room, the nurse asked Yara what had happened. Yara said she fell down the stairs. Her mother wanted her to say she was beaten. So someone at the hospital would call the police. Lilith wanted to call the police on the way to the hospital, but Yara said no; she just wanted to put this behind her. Hugo told her not to be because Yara brought this on herself.

Lilith is upset because Hugo did exactly as he said he would do. He dropped her and Yara off at the emergency room door. Hugo was driving away before the nurse closed the car door after helping Yara get into a wheelchair.

Yara's thoughts went to Oril and what he’ll do and say if he finds out about the letter. He has already warned about their son. He still doesn't know that she told Dexter that Daxter was his son. Dexter always thought Daxter was named after him because that's what Yara had told him. Oril's deceased father was named Daxter.

Her wrist and elbow were broken, and her ankle and knee were broken. So now they're waiting for orthopedic technologists to come to put casts on her arm and leg.

Lilith has to know the reason Yara isn’t reporting Americus. When they’re alone, she asks her the reason. Yara said it was because she just wants to put all of this behind her. The hearing with Kaleigh is the last part of her and Dexter. When Lilth asked her what she knew about Americus. She didn't realize the technologists had walked into the room until she heard the man say"Americus. Silverheels."

Yara shakes her head and looks down at the floor when her mother says, “Yes, do you know her?”

The orthopedic technologist nods and looks at her with a slight frown, “Yes, who doesn’t know the number one power couple in Hollywood. She’s married to that handsome actor Cristiano. And she’s the President of her family’s movie studio. Americus is lucky as hell. She was born rich, then she married a handsome, rich man. Some say whe you cross her that you can hang it up. Oh yeah, don’t screw with her husband, her children, or anyone else in her family. Let's not forget her friends. If you do, then you’re on her list for the rest of your life. Who knows what she does, but some have gone bankrupt and lost everything they own. So I've heard. “ The woman looks at the door, then back at Yara and Lilth. “She and two of her friends beat the crap out of one of our doctors a few days ago, right here in this very hospital. They admitted to the crime. But didn’t get arrested. Now tell me what kind of power is that. Wait, did she do this? " She points at Yara's leg.

"No, she fell. My daughter can be so clumsy sometimes," Lilith quickly says while looking at Yara, shaking her head, looking at the woman.

****

After Dexter’s funeral, the repast was at Kaleigh’s house. It was only for family and close friends. Kaleigh asked Cristinao if she could speak with him. He said yes, and they walked on the patio. Cristiano had a feeling this was coming. Americus told him that Kaleigh would want to know more about his and Dexter’s luncheon.

It's quiet for a few minutes, so Cristino says. "Dexter invited me to lunch that day to give him advice on your and his marriage. He wanted to save your marriage. He had a fear of losing you."

"Why didn't he have to have all those damn affairs? And help his parents trick me out of my money. Dexter was quite the charmer; he swept me off my feet the first time I met him. It wasn't like your and Americus's first encounter, which was love at first sight. But it was pretty close. At least for me, it was. Cristiano, I loved that man with everything in me. Don't ask me why. I don't know the reason, but I did. He didn't show his bad side to me until a few months after we were married. But Americus and Tanesha saw straight through him. Even tried to warn me in their own way. But I was set on marrying that man," She shakes her head, "I was so blind."

Cristiano looks across the yard thinking, "We all saw straight through him. Yep, you were blind. Blind as hell." He looks at her. "Don't think about any of that. You have learned from that. It's time for you to put all the bad things Dexter did behind you and think only about the good things he has done and thee good times. I know for sure he regretted what he had done. I don't know what happened that horrible day that made him snap. The only thing I know is that he was scared as hell to lose you."

She exhaled, "Thank you for today, and for giving Dexter some advice. I did notice he had changed. But the bad outweighed the good he was starting to do. There was no future for him and me." Kaleigh tries to hold her tread back but can't.

Cristiano hugs her. "Everything will be fine. You have all of us, and we're always here for you and the children."

Back in the living room, Americus, Taneasha, and Zuleyka are discussing the man Americus was talking to at the chapel. Tanesha can’t believe he came back. He swore the day Kaleigh announced she was marrying Dexter, he would never return.

Zuleyka looks at Kaleigh and Cristiano, then at Americus. "What happened between Kalrigh and the handsome man?"

"He has been in love with Kaleigh since we were in elementary school. He didn't have the nerve until we were in high school to confess to her. The day he was finally about to tell Kaleigh he loved her, he saw her walking hand in hand with Pernell. He was crushed. He left to attend a school in Paris, so he would have to see them together. Then, when Pernell left, he couldn't leave school at that time. When he returned, she was with Dexter." Americus looks at Cristiano and Kaleigh, who are walking towards them.

"Bad luck. Now maybe he'll get his chance. Damn, he still has some competition." Tanesha frowns. "Too bad we have to keep him a secret from Kaleigh."

Zuleyka is looking at Kaleigh. "I don't know about that, the way he was looking at Kaleigh. He's playing for keeps, and I believe he might get his love this time. How did he know about Dexter? Who is he?"

"I called him. He had me promise him that if Dexter or any man laid a hand on Kaleigh, I would let him know. I kept my promise. I alway keep my promise. I didn't expect him to fly here from Paris. Well, maybe not so soon. As for who he is, that was Stellan Brandon, my first and favorite cousin." Americus says as Kaleigh and Cristiano are approaching them.

Zuleyka wasn't expecting him to be Americus's cousin. But now that she thinks about Cristiano didn't seem to be upset or kill the man when he saw her hugging him. Also, Stellan has that same European and Indigenous appearance as Americus.

Courtney and Ferris joined them at the same time Cristiano and Kaleigh did. Ferris gives Courtney his condolences about his sister. Zuleyka also gives her condolences, hugged him, and asked when the funeral was.

Tanesha said it's tomorrow, and it's a graveside service in Flagstaff.

"Seems like these last few weeks we all have lost a family member," he says when his thoughts are briefly on Galinda.

"That's true. Thank you all for being here today. When you took those ghunghtas out, that was at the right time. But I was prepared to hear the gossip." Kaleigh is looking at her kids.

"We have your backs. Always." Americus wraps her arms around Cristiano. "We're family."

"That's right." Kaleigh's attention went to Courtney. "So what time does the plane leave tomorrow?"

Ferris takes Zuleyka's hand. "Kaleigh, you took the words out of our mouths. We don't want to be late. We know how Americus is when you're late. Cristiano would leave us."

"Ten." Cristiano chuckled. Looking at Americus, she's pointing at Ferris.