Page 77 of Forgotten Prejudice

I huffed. “Yeah, sure, man. Whatever—”

“You have a son, don’t you?” he cut in, his words straddling me before he went on. “You also have a failed marriage, and while you don’t care for that girl, you do for the child, don’t you?”

As I remained quiet, he spun his racket in his hand before he began tracing the strings with his fingers. “How would you feel if you lost all access to him?”

My blood boiled at his threats, and the world began closing in on me. “Y-You can’t do that,” I hissed through my rage and was horrified when I saw the glint behind his wicked eyes.

“I have a recording of you assaulting me with your fists and also evidence of you breaking into my house and peeking at me and my partner engaging in sexual activities. I have more than enough evidence to have you arrested and convicted for crimes you couldn’t even begin to imagine. Which, naturally, would get sweet little Paris out of your unqualified arms in the blink of an eye.”

Unable to respond, I kept standing there with my feet nailed to the ground. At least, that’s how it felt because I couldn’t move a single muscle. But as Soren began walking away, an idea popped into my head.

“Let’s play another game,” I shouted at him, my voice scraping my sore throat. “If you win, I’ll stay out of your life. But if I win, you’ll break up with him.”

Soren stopped from walking and held my stare, his face serious. I swallowed hard, ready for his answer, when he suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. And as he continued rolling with laughter, my shame grew bigger, turning into a stone in the pit of my stomach.

“My God, aren’t you a funny one,” he said once he calmed down, wiping off tears from the corner of his eyes. “What do you think this is? Some cheap romantic drama?”

Each word was another stab into my already bleeding ego, making me feel as small as an ant.

“You’re a child if you truly believe I’d bet over what is already mine.” He put his racket back inside his bag and then picked it up. “Now then, I must go,” he said while checking his watch before glancing at me over his shoulder. “Let’s hope you’re wise enough to listen.” With that, he walked away and left me alone with an unbearable ultimatum.

Ash versus Paris.

A choice I didn’t ever imagine I’d ever have to make.

I spotted Mel’s car parked in front of the house once I reached home. Exhausted after today, I killed my bike’s engine and rolled off it with a heavy grunt. Soren’s words haunted me like demons, leaving me utterly lost.

After he left me on that damn tennis court, it was the first time in a long while I craved a drink or a good high, and only for the sake of silencing my problems, even just for a little bit. But instead of driving off to the nearest bar, I went to see Paris. The second he saw me and that beautiful smile of his popped on his face, I remembered why I got sober to begin with and promised myself to stay strong.

Now, a few hours later, I still felt like shit, but at least I’d accepted reality and understood my place. Running up the steps leading to the house, all I could think about was the hot shower I’d take.

But before that, I stopped at the kitchen to greet Mel and Aiden. Sure, I wasn’t in the mood, but I didn’t want to be rude.

“Hey, guys,” I said, only they didn’t answer and instead looked like they’d just seen a ghost.

Eventually, Mel glanced up from where she was sitting by the dining table and gave me a barely there smile, as if only to acknowledge me, before looking away.

My nerves kicked in.

“What’s going on?” I asked Aiden, who pushed away from the wall he leaned against and came to stand closer.

“Ash was here earlier, letting us know he’s moving away.”

Even though Soren had already told me they were moving, my heart still clenched just now. Hearing it coming from Aiden was a harsh confirmation of what I already knew.

“Moving away? That vile man is stealing him away!” Mel hissed from where she was sitting, her voice cracking at the end as she swallowed a sob.

Aiden’s jaw tensed at the sound of her weak cry, and he sighed.

“They’re moving to New York. Ash was here earlier to invite us to a party they’re hosting next week.”

Not knowing what to say because I felt dead inside, I shrugged. “That sucks…”

Aiden placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed me tight.

“You see, after Ash left, Mel and I sat down to talk, and we thought that maybe you could speak to him?” While talking, Aiden looked me straight in the eyes. He seemed so hopeful, and it hurt because I knew it was in vain.

“Ash cares about you, and I saw how you got close again in those few days he spent here. I mean, it was the first time since he moved in with Soren that he stuck around for so long. It must mean something, right?”