Page 141 of A King’s Obsession

For a moment, the room grew quiet.

“And she gave me a beautiful little girl who apparently thinks my money belongs to her.”

Everybody laughed again.

From somewhere near the front, Liora yelled, “It does, Daddy!”

I covered my face, already knowing everybody was looking at our daughter.

Malachi bent over laughing.

Ezra shook his head, smiling so hard his cheeks lifted.

“See? That's my damn problem right there.” He pointed toward Liora, who was sitting there looking proud of herself.

He waited for the laughter to settle before looking at me again.

“Jru, baby, I'm proud of you. Proud of the mother you are, the woman you've become, and the businesswoman you worked your ass off to be. This restaurant wouldn't be what it is without you.”

My eyes started burning. I pressed my lips together, trying to hold back the tears as Ashlynn reached over and squeezed my hand.

“And I know I ain't always been the easiest nigga to love.”

“Ain't that the truth!” Malachi hollered, leaning back in his chair with a grin.

Ezra turned toward him. “Nigga, shut the fuck up before I tell everybody how Ashlynn run your household.”

The entire room lost it.

Ashlynn lifted her glass. “Tell 'em, E!” She laughed, completely unbothered by the fact that her husband was glaring at her.

Malachi pointed at his wife. “You supposed to be on my side!”

“Boy, please.” She waved him off before taking another sip of her drink.

Ezra laughed before turning back to me.

“But through all the bullshit, my wife never stopped being herself. And that's what I love most about her.”

He raised his glass, looking around the room before his gaze returned to me.

“To my wife, my daughter, our family, and everything we've built. May we keep growing, keep loving, and keep finding reasons to celebrate.”

Everyone raised their glasses.

I wiped beneath my eyes before my makeup could run.

That damn man.

---

Later that night, after the last guests had gone and our exhausted daughter had fallen asleep in her car seat, Ezra and I finally made it home.

I kicked off my heels the second we walked into our bedroom, groaning when my bare feet touched the floor.

“Jesus, my feet hurt.”

Ezra chuckled as he placed Liora's little purse on the dresser. “That's what happens when you insist on wearing them tall-ass shoes.”