More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
There would be no more crying, especially not over a man who didn’t see me. Didn’t understand my value. Couldn’t discipline himself enough to stop inflicting pain on me. Refused to right his wrongs and free me from the cage he’d locked me in. Those days, they didn’t exist in my world anymore.
My fragility was never supposed to be in jeopardy. My softness was never supposed to be up for sale. My vulnerability, my sensitivity were not tailored for the auctioning block they’d been on for two years. Reclaiming it all was my new destiny.
Though I loved Phillip, I loved myself so much deeper. And when the smoke cleared, it would be the only love that mattered. The only love that would remain standing. The only love that would weather the storm. The only love that would survive the fire.
“You’ve worked so hard for everything you’ve accomplished. Do not give it up so easily. Now that your emotions have been eliminated from the equation, your mind can have its way. That’s most important: acting with your head, not your heart. This way, even if he wins, it won’t be much.”
“When God sends you the man he created for you, to love and cherish you without having to be told to. Someone who listens to your heart and can accommodate its girth. You’re a lover, Vallei. I know it because I am your mother, and you are me, every bit of me. The misuse of your heart is unfair. But God will send you love, baby. You just wait.”
Remember, baby, a man’s foolish ways are not a measurement of your love or what you deserve. There’s only one man who has the power to measure any part of your life at any point. His name is Jesus. Find peace knowing that Phillip has lost the best thing that he could’ve ever wished upon a star for. You are more than this situation. You are more than the pain you feel right now. You are loved. You are appreciated. You are worthy. You are healed. I declare it for you, Vallei.”
“Listen, my best advice is to never let anyone get in the way of finding your forever love. Not even your husband.”
“Pretty face. Pretty body. Pretty heart. Pretty titties. Pretty pussy. Just Pretty. But I’m not interested in the pretty parts of you right now, Vallei. I am in search of your depths. The filthy, downright disgusting parts. Can you tap into them, or should I go fishing until I find them?”
“That shit is reserved for a woman that is all mine, Pretty. When that day comes, I’m going to fuck you until you can’t walk straight for a full week. Until the housekeeper is cleaning your vomit from the floor. Until your skin is raw from the ropes that you unsuccessfully try to escape because the pleasure is far too much for your body to handle. Until you’re soaking wet. Until you’re begging me for mercy.”
“Maybe you were loved. You just ain’t gone ever be loved like I can love you, so it will make every effort any other nigga has ever put forward feel minuscule. And that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Because once you let me, for real, won’t be a nigga on God’s green earth that can out-love you like me. I’d bet my last dime on it.”
I lowered her to her feet. She landed as softly as I wanted her living.
So, I need you to chill, Pretty. Because when you call, I’m coming.
“When you cry, I’m dropping everything to see ’bout you. When you need me, I’m there. When you miss me, I will cross the ocean to get to you. I’m invested; heart, dick, and dome. I need you to understand that. You have control of me.
He could either shut the fuck up and watch Pretty leave with a nigga that meant her well, or he could shut the fuck up and watch Pretty leave with a nigga that meant her well. The third option was for him to watch her walk away with a pistol shoved in his mouth if he couldn’t shut the fuck up. It was simple.