Page 70 of Forgotten Prejudice

“Why?”

“He needed space.”

I knew I hated that guy.

“Why would he need space from you?”

Ash shrugged, and I could feel his body tensing. “He’s struggling with a lot of things, and sometimes the pressure is hard on him, so he went there.”

I snorted. “What the fuck? Isn’t he a billionaire or something? Can’t he just get a massage—ouch!” I whined when he slapped the back of my head. “What was that for?”

“It’s for you being an asshole! A massage doesn’t cure depression.”

Oh, crap.

“So did you have a fight or something?” I asked.

“Yeah, and it ended with him leaving the house.”

Pissed off because listening to Ash speak about that idiot was worse than waking up with a shitty hangover, I grunted.

“So what was it about?”

Ash was quiet for almost a minute before speaking.

“I told him I wanted kids, and he said no.”

I had to pause from walking, then peeked at him over my shoulder.

“He said no?”

Ash nodded, and the defeat on his face pained me.

“What do you mean he said no? Isn’t it something you’re supposed to decide on together?”

Ash shrugged before pressing into me closer.

Never mind the fact I had no idea Ash even wanted kids, but to learn that he needed to give up on it because Soren didn’t want them? What the fuck?

“Maybe he’ll change his mind?” I said, trying to cheer him up as I continued walking.

“Soren isn’t the type of man to ever change his mind.”

His statement was so unbelievably cold that it sent shivers down my spine. Why was Ash with that guy? I then remembered the first time I’d met Soren. It was after Ash and I got stuck, and he came to our rescue. He told Ash to get in the car, and right there, I didn’t like him. Sure, I was high as a kite back then, but still sober enough to hate how controlling he was over my Ashy. After Ash got in the car, Soren told me all kinds of crap, but one thing I remembered even now.

He’s better off without the likes of you, and I’ll be damned if I let you or anyone else get in my way.

Back then, I thought the man was full of crap. Apparently, he wasn’t. Almost five years later, and he’d managed to do just that. To isolate Ash away from us, his family. I’d had a hand in it, too, but I knew it was bigger than me.

I placed my hand on top of Ash’s wrist, my thumb caressing his skin.

“Have you ever thought about breaking up with him?”

“I’d never break up with him. I love him,” he answered so fast and with such confidence, leaving no room for mistakes.

“But don’t you think your relationship is… unhealthy?”

“No one knows what goes on inside a relationship other than the couple themselves,” he answered coldly. “I don’t expect you or anyone else to understand why I’m with him.”