Chapter 27 Room 217 (Lotus)
Lotus slammed the front gate behind her, fists clenched, teeth locked.
Her mama’s house filled with noise, drama, and emotional IOUs was choking her. Carole had cried, shouted, played victim, and still managed to hand over the keys like it was charity, not closure.
She couldn’t breathe in that space anymore.
I need air. I need quiet. I need to go out.
She didn’t pack a bag. Just her purse, charger, and enough rage to light the whole street on fire.
From the curb, she pulled out her phone and called an Uber.
20 minutes later was drop off at the Marriot Hotel.
The hotel room wasn’t much but it had silence. That was worth everything.
Lotus dropped onto the edge of the bed and finally checked her phone.
Lotus sat on the edge of her bed, the room dim except for the glow from her phone screen. Her body was still, but her mind was racing—rage, heartbreak, disbelief all colliding at once.
Then it hit her.
The whole time she thought she was protecting her family from that evil, scheming stepfather, the real thief had been standing right beside her—her own mother. Everything she sacrificed, all the nights she stayed up worrying, fighting, defending—she was protecting the perpetrator.
Her chest tightened as she started pacing back and forth across the room. Flashes ran through her head—nights in the hospital, her working double shifts to help with bills, missing her own life to babysit, clean, drive, and hold everyone together. Every “thank you” she never got. Every time her pain was dismissed. Every time she gave and they just took.
She was past hurt now. She was furious.
Her hands shook as she opened the family group chat her mother’s side of the family: Grandma, the three aunts, her cousins, her sister, her brother—everybody. She took a deep breath and started typing.
“So, I hope y’all enjoyed the money my father left me. I helped all of you watching your kids, loaning you money, tutoring some of your children, helping with your projects and events. I’ve always been there when you called. Never disrespected nobody, never gossiped, just worked my ass off. And this is how y’all repay me? Please delete my number. I’m done. Y’all can miss me with the bull.”
Within seconds, the chat started lighting up like fireworks.
Carole (Mom): Don’t listen to Lotus. The enemy is attacking her mental state, but Jesus is Lord and He has dominion over our family.
Grandma: What money are you talking about, baby? Your mother told us she won the lottery.
Aunt Tonya: What’s going on, Lo? This doesn’t sound like you. You okay?
Cousin Kay: I’m confused... what money?
Lotus’s hands were shaking, but her fingers flew across the screen.
“Since everyone’s confused, let me make it plain. My dad left me money and a house. That’s what Mom’s been using all these years to pay Grandma’s bills, fund the cookouts, the trips, the cruises. She been living off what was mine.”
The group chat went silent for a second. Then
Aunt Ursula: Jesus, take the wheel. Carole… is that true? Because Lotus ain’t the type to talk loosely or make stuff up.
Cam (Brother): Yup. It’s true. I found the folder myself.
Autumn (Sister): All Mommy’s guilty of is being a single woman who took care of her children. Don’t start this drama, Lotus.
Lotus’s anger snapped like a whip.
“Oh, please. I should’ve known you’d say some foolishness since your real daddy is Rufus.”
That set the whole chat on fire.
Aunt Tammy: Waiit..Rufus is her daddy?
Cousin Shanice: Hold up, what? How’s Lotus the middle child if they don’t all got the same daddy?
Carole (Mom): I’m not entertaining this nonsense. I’m calling the prayer group.
Aunt Tammy: Lotus, I’m about to call you right now.
Grandma: Lotus, answer the phone, baby. I’m calling you.
Her phone lit up with calls after calls ringing, buzzing, vibrating nonstop.
Lotus stared at it for a moment, her face unreadable. Then she hit “Silent,” tossed it on the bed, right after texted Jason:
“Meet at the Marriot Hotel. Room 217. Emergency. Now and bring something strong to drink.”
A moment later, the reply came through:
On my way. Few minutes out.
Lotus exhaled, fury still burning hot in her chest but underneath it was something different. Not fear. Not guilt. She was livid.
This wasn’t the same Lotus everybody could depend on. No, honey this was a whole new version. She felt herself slipping, transforming. “Oh I’m about to be the biggest Villain,” she whispered under her breath. And for the first time, it didn’t even scare her.
She didn’t text nobody back. She just sat there, staring at that phone, thinking about how her mama been playing in her face all these years. Every lie, every fake tear, every guilt trip—running through her mind like a bad movie she couldn’t turn off. Hell, she even started remembering random stuff from way back, like when somebody mistreated her in first grade. She was taking it all the way back.
That’s when it hit her. Being nice? Being loyal? That only ever got her used, drained, and struggling. “Maan,” she muttered, shaking her head, “I been protecting the same people that been feeding off me.”
Her chest felt tight. Her thoughts got darker. “Fuck everybody,” she whispered. “Every last one of ’em. Vultures.”
She started going in blocking everybody in her phone one by one. Cousins, aunts, mama, all of ’em. When the last name disappeared from her contact list, she felt a strange peace quiet, heavy, but clean.
She went to run herself a bath. The hot water steamed up the mirror, and when she wiped it clear, her reflection stared back tired eyes, trembling lips, but something stronger underneath. For a moment, she saw her father in her own face. The same calm eyes, the same quiet strength.
He was her hero, the one person who ever made her feel safe. Just seeing his reflection in hers broke something open. The anger softened into grief, and before she knew it, tears were falling.
She leaned against the counter, whispering to the mirror, “Daddy, I miss you so much.”
And as the first tear hit the sink, she found herself softly singing to her own reflection:
“It’s been a long day without you, my friend…
And I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again…”
Her voice cracked on the last word. The bathroom filled with steam, grief, and memory. But for the first time in years—she wasn’t crying for them.
She was crying for her.
Right before she could slip off the hotel robe, there was a knock at the door.
Knock. Knock-knock.
Lotus froze. Her heart jumped. Then she heard his voice—low, steady.
“Lo, it’s me.”
Jason.
She pulled the robe tight and opened the door. The hallway light spilled in, hitting her face. Jason’s breath caught. He’d never seen her like this before. Lotus was always the one who looked put together edges laid, nails done, smile ready even when her world was on fire. But tonight? She looked like someone who had walked through hell barefoot. Her eyes were swollen, makeup smudged, hair pulled back in a messy bun. Exhaustion clung to her like perfume.
“Damn, baby…” he said softly, stepping closer. His hoodie was half-zipped, gym bag still slung over his shoulder, but all that faded when he saw her face. “Cam told me what happened. You alright?”
Lotus didn’t even answer right away—she just stared at him, the corner of her mouth twitching like she wanted to speak but couldn’t. Then finally, her voice cracked.
“No,” she whispered, pressing her forehead against his chest. “I’m not. If I’d stayed in that house one more minute, I might’ve burned it down.”
Jason wrapped his arms around her tight, one hand on the back of her head, the other rubbing slow circles on her back. “It’s alright, Lo. You safe now. Breathe.”
They sat down on the edge of the bed. The silence hung thick at first, then the words started pouring out of her everything. The folder, the stolen inheritance, her mama’s gaslighting, the fake testimonies, the property off Pinewood and 9th.
Jason didn’t interrupt. Just nodded, taking it all in, his eyes locked on hers the whole time. When she finished, he sighed, heavy and low.
“Damn,” he muttered. “They really did you dirty.”
Lotus leaned back, staring at the ceiling, her voice flat.
“Dirty don’t even cover it, J. I been protecting demons thinking they was family.”
Jason reached over, took her hand, thumb tracing her knuckles. “You don’t gotta protect nobody no more, Lo. You did your part. Now it’s time you protect you.”
For the first time all night, Lotus didn’t argue. She just nodded—quiet, raw, and finally… still.
“That’s wild,” he muttered. “You ain’t deserve that, Lo. I’m proud for finally putting your foot down.”
But something was off.
The way his eyes flicked to her bag when she mentioned the deed.
The pause before he asked, “That the only property she mentioned?”
How quick he changed the subject after.
Lotus clocked every micro-shift. Said nothing.
That night, she let him hold her. Let him whisper sweet nothings.
But her mind was wide awake, filing away receipts.