Page 110 of Forbidden Game

“Why can’t they just remove you as the heir and be done with it?”

“There’s a bunch of politics,” he sighs. “I own twenty percent of the company as it currently stands. My grandfather is fighting with the board over it and doesn’t want to rock the boat just yet.”

“Wait, your grandfather supports this whole thing?”

“Yeah. He told me he doesn’t see any value in my career as a gamer.”

Oh God. That is awful. I know how close he is to his family. I can’t even begin to imagine how blindsided he must have felt. I know his parents are supportive, so I’d just assumed that everyone in his life was. I thought he had it easy compared to the others.

I didn’t know how wrong I’d been.

“I’m so sorry, Parker.” I reach out and hold his hand in mine.

“He gave me a choice. Step into my role as the heir and work at the company or forfeit my shares and, essentially, my Covington inheritance.”

I suck in a breath.

Dread pools in my stomach. Family is everything to Parker; there’s no way he could accept being thrown out of it.

I start to get mad.

Why would he keep this from me? From all of us?

This would affect everything.

Why didn’t he trust us, trust me?

“What did you pick?”

“Neither, for now.”

“What?”

“I made him a deal. He’s trying to force my hand because he thinks gaming isn’t serious. So, I told him I would prove otherwise. I would prove that I am the best at what I do and that it matters. I told him I would win this championship. He said if I could do that, he would stop the board from taking my shares, that I could still be part of the Covington conglomerate even if I didn’t work for them. I was going to have the best of both worlds. Turns out I can’t have my cake and eat it too.” He curls onto his side and tugs my hand close to his chest. “I lost to Creep. If I lose to him again, I lose everything.”

Now it all makes sense.

I lie down on the bed and curl into a fetal position to match him, lining our bodies up as mirrors. Our hands are clasped between us, a connection of strength to ground ourselves.

“You’re not going to lose, Parker.”

“You can’t promise that,” he whispers.

“Okay, sure. I can’t guarantee that you’ll win. But I sure as hell can make sure that you compete to the best of your ability. I can make sure that you train so hard that when you step onto that stage, the likelihood of you losing is so low, it doesn’t even register on the radar.”

“And if I still lose?”

“If you still lose…then I’ll respect whatever your decision is.” The words taste like acid in my mouth.

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“I mean if you decide to work for your family, I’ll support you.”

He frowns, and his hands tighten on mine. “I wouldn’t do that. I could never leave The System behind. I’d be miserable if I didn’t game. It would be like living without my soul. I’d be a wandering husk of myself.”

“Oh.”

“And I wouldn’t be able to see you every day if I left. I’m not sure I would survive without you in my life.”

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