"Ugh! Why do y'all insist on sleeping in my room when y'all have your own?" Juice exclaimed as she tripped over feet that belonged to her many cousins. She looked at her bed and then at the floor, shaking her head.

Tizon pulled a pillow from underneath someone and tossed it at Juice. "Shut up and take yo pissy ass to the bathroom! It's too early for you to be fussing."

Juice huffed and kicked him before walking into the bathroom. She didn't even bother turning the light on because she preferred to use it in the dark. Once she took care of her business, she washed her hands and walked back into her room. It was still dark outside, so she knew it was the middle of the night. She stepped over Tizon, who had his feet in his brother, Tyson's face. She laughed to herself and climbed back into her bed. She pushed Binky, who was laying on his back.

"Get off your back, Bink." She pushed him again because he's not supposed to be sleeping on his back because of his sleep apnea and asthma.

He groaned and rolled over, laying on her shoulder. Juice shook her head and grabbed her phone from the nightstand, squinting as the bright light blinded her. She looked at the time, seeing that it was two-thirty in the morning. It was the morning of Thanksgiving, and she knew she needed to go back to sleep. She was going to need all the rest she could get before getting in the kitchen in a few hours. Juice went through her social media apps and messages before placing her phone back on the nightstand and going back to sleep.

"Jay, what time are you heading to Juice's house?" Xavier asked his oldest son while he was getting one of the twins dressed for the long day.

"After I eat at Momo's and Paw's house. You know, I can't leave without eating her cooking, and plus, ma said we taking pictures before we leave, so I really can't leave until then."

Xavier shook his head because he knew he was telling the truth. Sonni just might have a fit if Jayden wasn't in the family pictures. She was all for him spending time with his girlfriend and her family, but their family festivities had to be completed first.

As you all can see, it was the morning of Thanksgiving and both families were in preparation for getting ready for their families' festivities. Over at the governor's mansion, Juice, or Orianne, was in the kitchen with her aunties preparing for dinner. Senior sent his kitchen staff home to be with their families for the holiday; he felt that it would've been selfish to keep them away. The holidays are all about being with your loved ones and spending time with them.

The doorbell sounded, causing Juice to sigh. Her family has been arriving all day, getting on her nerves. Drunk uncles, aunties, friends of the family, just about everybody. She slid the pan of chicken breast that she had just seasoned into the oven and shut it closed. She moved her auntie and walked to the sink to wash her hands before starting on the rice casserole.

"Juicy! Kayli is here!" Armis yelled as he opened the door. He mugged her because she was smiling flirtatiously at him. No matter how pretty she was, he or his cousins wouldn't cross the line because they knew what type of person she was and how she got her money. They also didn't do anything with her out of respect for their Juice. Because there's been plenty of time where all 12 or at least the oldest of the 12 could've flipped her. Their nickname for her was "hot pocket."

Juice frowned at the mention of Kayli's name. She wiped her hands on a towel and made her way to the front. She shook her head at the commotion coming from the downstairs man cave because she knew the poker game had started and it was only 10 in the morning. Approaching the door, she stepped in front of her oldest cousin, who wrapped his arm around her shoulder as she crossed her arms across her purple sports bra covered bra.

"Why are you here?" She blurted it out because she was confused.

Kayli looked confused as she stood at the threshold. "What you mean why I'm here? I eat with you guys every year?"

Juice shook her head in disbelief. "I don't know why you are acting confused or trying to play crazy because I told you that you weren't invited this year two months ago. My BOYFRIEND is coming, the one you don't like, and I don't need nor want him to be uncomfortable around you."

Kayli rolled her eyes and smacked her lips. "You've known this boy because he's definitely not a man for all of 5 minutes and now you're bouncing me out? I already told you that you're dumb anyway for being with him knowing he's got three babies. "Why do you want to be a step-mama at 21?"

Before Kayli could blink or utter another word, Juice had her right hand around her neck, snatching her up, pushing her chocolate brown coffin-shaped nails into her skin. She was pushing her nails in so hard, she drew blood. "Bitch, watch your mouth when it comes to me and mine! I've been sparing you for years, and I'm tired of it! You've taken my quietness and kindness for weakness, but nope. No more, that shit stops today! Do you know how many times I could've had you killed and swimming with the sharks? Huh?! My family doesn't like you, hasn't for years, but they tolerate you for me. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but I'm sick of you disrespecting me! Either you get your shit together and be a better friend, or leave me the fuck alone. The choice is yours."

Juice dropped her and shook her head as she started coughing and rubbing her throat. She could care less if anything was wrong with her because she was sick of Kayli and her shit. She tried to think about the history they had together and the memories, but sometimes your respect and sanity are worth more than history. She laughed and slammed the door in her face.

"Aye! Snap out of it Juice." Armis snapped his fingers in her face until she came back to.

"Stop Nunu, I'm here. I didn't black out. Tell Auntie Shonda what happened and that I'm in my room." She swatted at his hands and walked around him, heading upstairs to her room. Pushing her door open, she shook her head once she saw Azaire and Quintarius playing her PlayStation while Vashun, Courtney, Karson, and Tizon were still pretty much asleep.

Her room was huge to the point that it had an extra room inside, set up like a living room. She grabbed her phone and climbed into her bed. She turned her fan on and slipped her AirPods into her ears. She thought about calling Jayden, but she ignored that thought, knowing she was going to be under him later, so she turned on some music and took a small nap.

"Aww! Look at my babies! Emmie looks so cute in her dress. I'm about to cry. " Sonni gushed at the sight, making her husband laugh and pull her into him. Jayden was seated on a white block with the twins in his arms while Em stood on the side of him with her hands on his shoulders.

They were currently at a small photography studio getting their family portraits taken. Being that Sonni doesn't have pictures from her childhood because of the house fire that occurred when she was a teenager, she said she was going to make sure her babies had pictures of everything. Each child has their very own scrapbook. Sonni walked onto the set and grabbed Silas from Jayden's arm while he held Sahil and stood up so Emmie could take her pictures. Sonni placed a hat on Em's head before stepping back.

A couple hours later, after Jayden ate and socialized with his family, he was finally pulling up to the Governor's Mansion. He shook his head at all the cars. He had managed to find a park at the end of the driveway after having trouble with finding one. He grabbed the bag from the passenger seat and climbed out of his Beamer. Jayden hit the keyfob before sliding his keys into his pocket. He informed Juice before hand that he was on the way, so he didn't bother notifying her that he had arrived.

Juice was honestly terrified. She knew Jayden was a good guy, but on the other hand, her family outside of her father and cousins didn't. After Jaiandre pulled that stunt of bringing another date to her daddy's function, it took everything in her to keep her father, uncles, and cousins from whooping his ass. Which was the start of his first spare, and unfortunately, he didn't get the memo then that what he and Juice had was over. I guess he knows now being that he's currently swimming with sharks. One thing the Wright family doesn't play about is Orianne Jr., the one and only heiress of the family.

Jayden approached the front door, rung the doorbell, and stepped back until it was opened by Juicy. She smiled wide and wrapped her arms around his neck, smiling in his face. "Hi pooh!"

He laughed at her tipsiness and wrapped his right arm around her waist, securing her in place. "Wassup, lovebug? You look and smell good. You got on my favorite perfume, but lemme see you."

He grabbed her hand and held it up as she stepped back and spun around, showing her physique that he loved. Juice's body was cladded in a cream one-sleeved bodysuit covered by a pair of chocolate brown high-waisted leather pants that flared out at the bottom. She had her "Jayden" pendant on, a pair of 2.5 carat diamond earrings occupying both ears, and her gold brown-faced Rolex on her left wrist with a gold tennis bracelet on her right wrist. After she took pictures with her cousins, she traded her heels for a pair of black Burberry slides.

Jayden shook his head as he watched her ass move in her pants as she led them into the house. He kicked the door closed and removed his jacket, passing it off to her. Juice looked at him and smirked as she hung his jacket up in her father's den, away from everybody else's stuff.

She stepped in front of him and cuffed his face, grinning. "We're matching."

Jay nodded his head and smirked. "Yea, Ma chose brown for our pictures this year. I was going to change after that, but then I remembered what you said you were putting on."

Juice shook her head, smiling as she rubbed her finger tips up and down the nape of his neck. Jayden was wearing a brown turtleneck followed by a pair of cream slacks. He had his signature gold chain around his neck with Sonni's and Em's names. On his left wrist was a brown Centrix Automatic Open Heart watch and a brown beaded stone bracelet to match.

"You hungry?" Juice asked, making him shake his head.

"Yes, I saved some room for what you cooked."

She laughed and nodded her head. "Come on, the boys have been asking for you. Go ahead into the second living room, and I'm going to bring you your plate. Do you remember where it is?"

"Give this to your daddy." Jay gave her the gift bag and kissed her cheek before parting ways. He approached the second living room as told and shook his head. All 12 were laid out, and he figured it was the niggaitis from the food.

"Fellas! Wake y'all asses up!" He yelled and held his hands up.

Tizon rolled off the couch and hit the floor, making a big thud sounded. "Fuck!"

"Clumsy ass nigga." Tyson shook his head and removed his legs from the couch so Jayden could sit down. They slapped hands.

"Jay, I wanna buy 12 tickets for the grand opening." Armis said as he pulled his wallet out, only for Jayden to stop him.

"Juice, bought y'all tickets already even though I told her family didn't have to pay. But she smacked me with the six hundred and told me to shut up." Jay expressed and shook his head, making them laugh because they knew for a fact that he wasn't lying.

After Thanksgiving, graduation, and Christmas, the grand opening of his studio will be held on New Year's Eve. He figured, why not celebrate his new venture the right way? His studio will be the start of a new beginning for him, so bringing in the new year there is the perfect way in his eyes. The grand opening is open to the public, but in order to drink and eat, you have to purchase a $50 ticket. On the night of the event, you will receive a gold access card so you can have access to the open bar and unlimited food. It's also a safety precaution because his students and more kids will be in attendance as well because they will be having a showcase. So there's a 21+ ticket and an under-18 ticket.

In October, he quit his job at the restaurant per his parents' request so he could solely focus on finishing his matriculation and the studio. He's been planning the big shindig ever since.

"That definitely sounds like her, but isn't the money going towards your students' funding? Think of it as a donation." Armis tossed a wad of money into his lap, making him shake his head because Jayden knew he wasn't going to take "no" for an answer.

"Stop talking about me and quit harassing my boyfriend before I beat y'all up. Here you go, pooh." Juice made her presence known and handed Jayden his plate that consisted of chicken dumplings, sausage rice casserole, dressing, and string beans. All made by juice. She set his cup of sweet tea on the coffee table and took a seat on the coach beside him, pushing Tyson by his head so he could scoot over.

"Girl, you and your boyfriend can get these hands. Ain't nobody worried about y'all." Tizon scoffed and threw his hand up.

Juice threw a pillow at his head, making him fall off the loveseat again. She did shot-put all four years of high school, so she had quite an arm on her.

"Pa said he liked the cigars too. Damn near chopped one of my uncle's hands off for trying to go in the box." Juice shook her head before laying her head on Jayden's shoulder, making him nod his head as he devoured his food. He knew she could cook, but not this damn good. Nothing tops his parents' or grandparents' cooking though.

"This rice casserole is good." Jayden said as he spooned some more into his mouth.

Juice smiled and wiped some crumbs from his face. "Thank you, pooh!"

"Nigga, are you serious?! I told you to leave that damn girl alone! It's the fucking holiday and you're pulling me away from my family for this bullshit? Boy fuck your apology! You know, she's crazy! Now I've got to get ahead of this before the media spins it! Go home, Montez! Fuck!" Amris exclaimed as he tossed his phone across the room.

"Let me guess, Montez slept with Valarie again, and now she's trying to say he put his hands on heragain." Karson voiced putting emphasis on again, making everybody in the living room besides Jayden shake their heads because he didn't know who Montez was and he was too busy into his plate.

"Yes, man! I'm about to drop him as a client because I can't keep doing this. Every other day I got to issue a statement about this man. My other clients don't even bust my balls like this." Armis huffed and shook his head whilst standing.

Amris had a sports management company where he managed a select few athletes, and within his company he did everything from public relations to acting as their agents. He was good at what he did, so every athlete wanted him to be their manager, but he only accepted a certain amount every two years.

"Who is Montez?" Jayden whispered in Juice's ear. He was curious because Armis was pissed.

"Montez Jackson, the star wide receiver for the Eagles."

Jayden shook his head because he knew exactly who he was talking about. He was always in the media because of his longtime on-and-off girlfriend. She was either being crazy, talking on live, and messing up his cars, or she was putting her hands on him. Dysfunctional and toxic are the two words used to describe the two. People knew him more for his relationship than his talent because they were distracted.

Being that Jay was finished with his food, he stood up from the couch with his plate in hand and grabbed his now empty cup, heading to the kitchen. It's not the first time he's been to the mansion, but it is his first time being here with all the family around. He walked into the kitchen and all the talking stopped. He waved and threw his stuff away, then washed his hands before going by Orion Sr.

"Wassup pops?" They slapped hands and did the black hug.

Senior had stood and was about to introduced Jayden to everyone but before he could do so, Juice's screaming distracted them making both of them run to the front. The sounds of guns cocking were all you heard as family members moved around the house. They approached the commotion, and Senior's breath hitched as if he saw a ghost. His breath caught in his throat as he looked at the long stranger in front of him.

"Anastasia, you've got five seconds to get off my property."