“Asher, you remember my parents.”
“Unfortunately,” he drawled. God, I wanted to kiss his pissy-on-my-behalf attitude.
Mother bristled and was the first to break their silence. “This is who you wrecked your life for? This … This …”
“Mind your words, Mother. Asher is my boyfriend, and you will not disrespect him in my home.”
“D-disrespect?” she sputtered. “And what of disrespecting us? You lied to our faces, then flaunted your homosexual lover in front of all our friends.”
“You can say boyfriend, right?” Asher grimaced. “It’s less of a mouthful.”
Instinctively, I stepped in front of Asher, hating that he was here for this. While I didn’t want to be, I’d had a lifetime of handling their garbage. Asher wasn’t having it, though. He came around me and stood at my side, grabbing my hand and squeezing in solidarity.
“You can’t be happy he found love? You can’t find it in your hearts to accept the generous and kind man you raised, no matter that hisloverhas a dick?” Asher accused.
I bit back my smile. “Thank you, Playboy. I got this,” I whispered.
“How dare you flagrantly flaunt your homosexual ways in front of your mother?” Father snarled.
I stood a little taller with Asher beside me. “You’re in my house, or did you forget? You came here, to me, and I will do as I please in my own home.”
“And apparently, in public too,” Mother snapped. “You kissing this … this—manis plastered all over the place.”
“Your point?” I asked to speed this along.
“Had you kept it in your pants in public, no one would’ve cared who you bedded in private.” Father huffed, turning red in the face. “Too late for that now.”
“You’re throwing your life away. You had prestige and clout. Now, you’ll have nothing.”
I cocked my head, letting Mother’s words fall away.
“You’ve ruined this family,” she went on. “Truman broke off the engagement with Mary, and Paul will forever be tied to this scandal.”
“You have your lies confused, Mother. I spoke with Mary and Paul before I made this public. They’re aware of my sexuality and accept me, love me, the same as always. They even like Asher. If you can’t, then that’s on you.”
“You can’t be serious,” she laughed. “You’re giving up your family name for a man?”
“I’m giving up nothing. If anything, I’m reaching for the stars. You are the ones who believe you have some sort of hold over me. Something you think I can’t live without and holding it ransom like a child with his favorite toy.”
Father squared his shoulders and lifted his chin. “You don’t care about your inheritance? Your career?”
I gritted my jaw and darted my gaze between them. “You seemed to have forgotten who you raised.” Using my most haughty sneer they taught me well, I lifted my chin. “Do what you must, but I will not follow your rules. I will not letyouset the precedent for my life.” I pointed at my chest. “I decide my future, not either of you.”
“I’ll not have a son of mine live his life as a queer.”
Asher flinched.
“Because you never knew about it didn’t mean I wasn’t living that way already. You’ve had a queer among you since I was born.”
“I’ll ruin you for this.” Father seethed, pointing a threatening finger toward my face. “You’ll never set foot inside my company again, and I’ll make damn sure you never work in the finance industry.”
I chuckled. “You only wish your reach was that far.”
Father put his arm around my mother’s shoulders. Her eyes glistened as if she might cry, but I wouldn’t let that get to me. They came here to insult Asher and me. They did this, and I would not shoulder the blame.
“You’re no longer welcome in this family,” Father said. “My will’s changes are effective come April. I will not take it back.”
“That’s your choice to make.” I squeezed Asher’s hand. “I’ve already made mine.”
