Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
YOU WEREN’T INVITED
Aldrich
Aldrich was so absorbed in the football game he was watching that he didn’t hear Mars return. He did, however, notice Mars walk into the living room, his posture slouched, expression downcast, and flopped down onto the couch next to where he sat.
Mars sighed heavily, the sound weighted with disappointment, and muttered, “Hi, Uncle Aldrich.”
Aldrich turned down the volume and looked over at the young man. “You’re back early,” he commented.
“Yeah, he didn’t show up,” Mars grumbled, his voice tight, fingers drumming an agitated rhythm on the couch cushion.
Aldrich’s heart went out to him. Albert was completely unreliable.
“Sorry to hear that. Did you get a call or a text?”
This was the second time Albert had stood the kid up, but this time had to sting more. They were supposed to meet to celebrate Mars’ birthday.
Mars shook his head, his jaw ticking as he shrugged, “I should have known he’d pull this.” His shoulders hunched further, as if trying to shield himself from the sting of rejection.
That shit made Aldrich furious. After being an absent father all these years, you’d think Albert wouldn’t want to miss an opportunity to be there for his son. The muted anger in Aldrich’s chest tightened, and he had to consciously unclench his fists.
“Did you get something to eat?” Aldrich inquired.
“No, I waited for an hour, then drove around and came home.”
Aldrich’s expression softened, torn between comforting Mars and wanting to throttle Albert for being such a letdown. He was determined to at least salvage the evening for Mars. Shutting off the television, he suggested, “How about I make you one of those subs you like?”
“But you are watching the game,” Mars protested, his voice tinged with reluctance, as if he didn’t want to intrude on Aldrich’s enjoyment.
“It’s fine; I can watch it later.” Aldrich’s tone was gentle but firm, his gaze steady as he tried to ease Mars’ apprehension.
They had grown closer over the past months, especially since they spent so much time under the same roof. Mars was happy about becoming a big brother, mostly because he was relieved his mom had found someone who made her smile and was there for her.
“I’m glad you and the baby will be around when I go off to university,” Mars had confided one evening, his voice softer than usual. “I was kind of worried about her being alone.”
In the kitchen, Aldrich and Mars worked together preparing the subs, the warm aroma of toasted bread and melted cheese filling the air.
While they waited for them to finish in the oven, Mars finally opened up.
“I can’t believe he missed the first birthday celebration in seventeen years,” he said, his voice quiet, his hands fidgeting with the edge of his shirt.
He looked so vulnerable, his shoulders slightly hunched as if carrying a weight he wasn’t used to.
“I didn’t even want to go to the Game Room, but he insisted we would have fun.
Then I stood there waiting for him for over an hour.
” The bitterness in Mars’ tone was palpable; his jaw clenched as he stared at the floor.
Aldrich wrapped an arm around him, the gesture both protective and comforting, and chose his words carefully. He thought Albert was a rubbish person and an even worse father, but he would never trash him to his son. “You know this has nothing to do with you? This is totally on him.”
The kid was rightfully pissed off; he was tired of being let down.
“We aren’t even putting in the same effort. I’m over trying to get to know him.” Mars’ expression softened slightly, though the frustration still lingered in the set of his mouth. “Do you think Mom will understand?” he asked, his voice tight with worry.
The bond between Sorinah and Mars was one Aldrich always wanted to support and foster. Of the many things he found attractive about her, the way she showed up and loved her son was one he admired most. It made Aldrich look forward to co-parenting with her.
“I won’t speak for your mom. Talk to her. She’s always team Mars.”
He smiled, a small, relieved quirk of his lips. It was Sorinah’s mantra, one she said on repeat.
While they were eating their subs, Sorinah returned home from spending the evening with her sisters.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” Sorinah asked Mars hopefully, her eyes scanning his face for any sign of disappointment. She was always concerned when Albert and Mars spent time together.
“Yes, Mom. I actually had a great night.” He looked sheepishly at Aldrich, who remained silent. Mars hadn’t mentioned that his father hadn’t shown up.
By the following afternoon, Mars still hadn’t heard from Albert.
“I’ll tell Mom after my party,” he had pleaded with Aldrich, his shoulders slumping with resignation. It wasn’t how Aldrich would have handled things, but it was the kid’s party with his family. Mars wanted his mom to enjoy all the effort she had put into planning the get-together.
Sorinah had gone all out for Mars’ birthday.
She had hired Noir he thought he could just show up to a party he wasn’t invited to.
“What should we tell him?” Tatiana inquired.
Aldrich shook his head. “It’s alright; I’ll take care of it. Where is he?” He had held his tongue long enough. It was time to set Albert straight.
Aldrich let his brother know he had to step out and take care of a situation, then headed to the tunnel.
Security informed him that Albert was waiting on the other side of the entrance and that they had told him someone from the event would be out to speak to him.
Albert probably thought it would be Sorinah since that was who he had asked for.
Well, too bad, motherfucker, not this time, Aldrich thought.
When Aldrich approached, Albert frowned. He probably thought he could sweet-talk Sorinah into letting him in. He was dressed for the occasion and held a large gift bag.
Aldrich and Albert had met a few times before. Those encounters were brief, with Aldrich accompanying Sorinah as a reminder that she had moved on and was no longer available.
“Oh, it’s you.”
Aldrich wasted no time in getting to the point. “Yes, it’s me. Why are you here?”
“It’s my son’s birthday party,” Albert replied, his voice defensive.
“You remember you have a son now, do you?” Aldrich taunted, his jaw tightening.
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Albert shot back.
“It means where were you last night when Mars waited for over an hour for you?” Aldrich’s voice grew colder.
“Something came up,” Albert muttered.
“Fuck that. We prioritise what’s important to us.
Stop letting Mars down.” As he spoke, Aldrich stepped closer, the space between them shrinking.
“How about you remember he is your son when you make plans with him? Don’t leave him hanging.
As a matter of fact, be thirty minutes early.
If you can’t do that, don’t set that kid up. Do better.”
“I don’t need lectures from you, wannabe stepfather,” Albert sneered. “I showed up tonight to surprise him and make up for last night.”
“You weren’t invited,” Aldrich spat out, pointing his finger in the shorter man’s face. “…tonight. This event is for family and friends, and you are neither.” Aldrich’s tone was icy as he opened the door leading to the street, his jaw tight with suppressed anger. “Now get the fuck out.”
Albert stepped through the door, his posture stiff but his expression smug. “I’ll go, but my son and his mom are gonna be pissed when they hear you turned me away.”
“Is that how you think this is going to play out? Stop using ‘your son’ as a pawn to try to get closer to Sorinah.” Aldrich’s voice was low, but the warning in it was sharp.
A sinister smile took over Albert’s features. “Oh, that’s what is bothering you. That Sorinah and I are getting close.”
Although Aldrich knew it was a damn lie, the implication was enough to trigger him. His fists clenched at the suggestion, his shoulders tensing as he fought to keep his composure.
Sensing he had hit a nerve, Albert felt emboldened.
He jeered, “Since you are so interested in parenting my son,” Albert’s voice dripped with sarcasm, his smirk twisting his features as he leaned against the wall, his posture casual but his eyes sharp with malice.
“You shouldn’t mind if I have a hand in helping raise your child. ”
Aldrich’s jaw clenched as he fought to keep his composure. The air felt heavy, charged with the tension between them.
“Maybe after I tell her about this conversation, and she sends you packing, I can step in.” Albert’s tone was smug, his gaze flicking over Aldrich as if he were already imagining victory.
“I missed her pregnancy with Mars, and I have to say, carrying a baby looks sexy on her.”
Aldrich’s restraint snapped. With a growl, he lunged forward, grabbing Albert by the collar and shoving him against the wall, the sound of fabric straining under his grip echoing in the quiet space.
“I know you think you’re clever, but if you were, you would know not to fuck with me, Albert.
Stay in your lane before I unearth all your skeletons,” His voice was a harsh whisper, his breath hot against Albert’s face.
Frustration boiled over, and Aldrich’s fist connected with Albert’s stomach in a sharp, precise motion.
Albert grunted, doubling over and sliding to the floor, his hands clutching his abdomen as he gasped for air.
The faint satisfaction Aldrich felt was overshadowed by the weight of his own anger, his chest heaving as he fought the urge to strike again.
He was tired of taking the high road and allowing Sorinah to deal with Albert.
“Stay the fuck away from my family.” Aldrich’s voice rose, his words laced with a quiet fury. “Maybe you should focus on your girls, and the baby you have on the way.”
Albert’s eyes widened in surprise.
Aldrich walked away a few steps, then stopped and backtracked. Kneeling over Albert, who remained curled on the ground, Aldrich’s expression was cold as he spoke. “You know what? On second thought, I’m going to empty your closet. Get all those skeletons out in the open.”
With a deep breath, Aldrich straightened; his decision gave him a sense of grim satisfaction.
He headed back to the party, his steps purposeful, nodding at Security who had been watching but hadn’t intervened.
His brother, Ambrose, fell into step beside him.
“I followed you because you had that look on your face. Do you feel better now that you finally laid hands on him?”
Aldrich smiled, a hint of dark humour in his eyes. “Yes, I do. I’m ready to have a few drinks and dance with my woman.” An early celebration, he thought, as he imagined the satisfaction of dismantling Albert’s world tomorrow.