Page 92 of Scandalous Games

“He died two years ago from cancer,” he replies, with not a trace of emotion. It’s as if he’s declaring a mere fact. I’m shocked he even answered. “And no, we weren’t close.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You never knew him.”

“I’m still sorry for your loss and that you had to go through it,” I say, hoping I sound soothing. “It’s never easy to lose a family member, no matter if you were close or not.”

I stare blankly at the menu while regretting why I even asked. I had to go and open my mouth just when his mood lifted. No wonder he’s a private person. I feel terrible for believing he was intentionally hiding information about his life. I’m even more startled when he speaks again.

“I had a father but never a family, Bianca.” His voice is firm and once our gazes collide, he continues, “My mother died giving birth to me and rather than just her, I lost both my parents that day. My dad dedicated any love he had left to the army while I grew up with nannies that I lost count of while moving from one city to another. Most kids’ childhood memories are of family trips, bonding over sports with their dad, and all I have are of packing my bags every few months, sometimes even weeks, saying goodbye to yet another city while staring out the window of a train. My father was a cold and rigid man who believed emotions were for a lesser man and I was a burden he had to carry around. The only reason I know he’s gone is because his lawyer sent me his will.”

The man he describes is nothing like the one Niall told me about. He worshiped the guy and said he was the father he never had. It’s disturbing to hear a parent could neglect their own son while being everything to another.

Was this the reason behind the animosity between Niall and Dash? It’s like I’m seeing the past replay in a new reality that I couldn’t have predicted.

Tears sting my eyes. One escapes and emotions clog my throat as I listen to every heartbreaking word he says. However, it’s not pity but only sadness I feel for the little boy who never had a loving family.

My parents have flaws but at least they gave us a home filled with equally happy and sad memories. Unlike him, I was never alone.

Dash is not as invincible and ruthless as I made him out to be.

Just like me, he’s guarded, imperfect, and has demons in his past he hides beneath his rough and sharp edges. Nevertheless, he is also strong, intelligent, and has made a name for himself when most would have drowned in sorrow.

“It’s his loss, Dash,” I fiercely tell him. I don’t know if it makes me a bad person but I hate his dead father. My heart freezes when Dash’s gaze softens, like he didn’t expect it and he continues to stare with such intensity that every noise fades into the background.

“You might be the only person who believes that, kitten,” he says in a hollow voice.

Just then, the waiter arrives with the food and our connection breaks. The haunting look, now gone, and I take it as a sign he’s done sharing for today. But no matter what, I can’t erase what he said at the end. It’s sad to think he believes he doesn’t deserve to be his father’s son, when it should be the opposite.

I promise myself I’ll show him how wrong he is. The same way he’s unknowingly made me want to let go of the past.

The rest of our lunch passes by smoothly without any more heavy talk and it’s pleasant. From the scenic beauty, the people, to the freaking weather, everything about Paris is breathtaking and unforgettable. The atmosphere feels magical and I’ve never felt the love in the air more potently than here, in Paris, as I glance at cute couples, and families enjoying themselves.

It gives me hope for the first time in years, reminding me I was a hopeless romantic for a reason. Maybe that girl is still alive inside me.

As I wait for Dash while he’s gone inside the restaurant, my eyes land on a young couple a distance away as they walk on the bridge. The boy has his arm around her shoulders as he whispers to her. At the same time, he shows something in his other hand, which makes the girl smile bright. She shakes her head at whatever he said but he looks adamant, making me highly intrigued. I watch as he guides her to a corner and I smile in awe when he sneakily places what has to be a lock, not afraid of the fact that they’re breaking a rule. I don’t know whether to be worried or laugh at their boldness. Nevertheless, it’s beyond cute.

Love is crazy…I tell myself.

I’m so lost in them, I don’t even notice Dash coming back until he says, “Shall we go, wifey?”

I turn to him after the couple disappears while hoping I didn’t get caught at my day stalking. He stands tall and broad, peering down at me and it’s like a rush of déjà vu to the first time he surprised me and called me wifey.

It’s only been a week and he has managed to turn my world upside down. He came into my life like a tidal wave. Stealthily and powerfully. One minute, I was single, and now I have a fiancé that I share a home with, who apparently loves to spoil me rotten.

“I’m starting to get annoyed with the fact that you keep sneaking up on me, Dash,” I grumble.

He chuckles low, making me desperate to hear the sound of his actual laugh. “I obviously need to do a better job of having your attention on me constantly, especially when you’re alone.”

As if he isn’t already haunting my mind twenty-four seven. It’s become a sickness I want no cure of. I’m as aware of him as the beating heart inside my chest.

Grabbing my hand, we make our way to the car and just as we reach it, he lets me go. I frown when he starts walking backward.

“I forgot something,” he informs me. “Wait here.”

Almost ten minutes later, he returns and as he jogs toward me, women ogle him like they want to lick him up. Once he’s by my side, I flash them my ring finger with a satisfied smirk. They look away with embarrassment written all over their cheeks.

“Kitten,” Dash rasps, amusement and desire in his voice. “Did you just give them the finger?”

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