Chapter 31: He Is a Scumbag

Felix Ford wilted at the sudden news that he had to go to school.

Hayden Grant gave him a strange look and asked Amanda Vance what was wrong. After hearing the reason, he laughed shamelessly. "So there is something you’re afraid of, after all."

’He’d thought the kid was fearless.’

"It’s fine. You’ll be free after just a dozen or so years of school."

Felix Ford drooped even more, shooting him a reproachful look. He certainly didn’t feel comforted.

Seeing him like this, Hayden Grant’s smile widened. He stopped teasing him and, after a moment, turned to Amanda Vance. "Megan," he said with a grin, "there’s a party tomorrow. Be my date?"

Amanda Vance raised an eyebrow. "Need me to help you ward off admirers again?"

"You know it." Hayden Grant propped his chin on his hand, grinning at her. "Everyone knows you’re the only flower I want to pick."

"Get lost." Rolling her eyes at him, Amanda Vance nodded. "Alright, where is it?"

"The Ford Family estate. That guy Shawn Ford’s house." His voice was filled with disdain at the mention. He really didn’t want to set foot on his turf, but their two families had always done business together. This time, his old man had given him a direct order, so he had to go.

Amanda Vance was a little surprised too.

Seeing her interest, Hayden Grant elaborated. "They’re calling it a party, but it’s actually a matchmaking event. The Ford family’s matriarch is trying to choose a wife for her son."

Seeing his resentful look, Amanda Vance teased, "Don’t tell me they’re trying to pick one for you, too."

Hayden Grant gave her a woeful look. "You’re still laughing? My poor, sincere heart is being utterly trampled."

He clutched his chest dramatically, earning another eye-roll from Amanda Vance.

Felix Ford’s ears had perked up the moment Hayden mentioned the Ford family. Hearing that his grandmother was holding another matchmaking party, his small fists clenched. A moment later, they limply relaxed, and he hung his head in disappointment. ’He just knew it. Dad never gave up on finding him a stepmom.’

’In that case, he didn’t want him anymore either.’

’He could just go and have babies with his precious wife.’

’He’d be perfectly fine just staying with his mom.’

Even as he thought this, his heart ached, and his eyes began to redden.

Noticing his distress, Amanda Vance asked, "What’s wrong?"

Felix Ford shook his head. "Nothing."

’Dad was grumpy and didn’t care about him, but Mom was cool and beautiful. She was so gentle, too, even telling him bedtime stories. It was much better to be with Mom.’

At this thought, he cheered up again.

A child’s moods change in a flash. Amanda Vance wasn’t quite sure what had upset him moments before, but seeing him happy again, she didn’t press the issue. "Do you want to come along tomorrow?"

Felix Ford shook his head. ’He didn’t want to go. If he went, he might never come back.’

Amanda Vance felt the same way. ’There would be too many people at the party, and he would surely be bored by the adults’ posturing and fake pleasantries.’

’Still, what to do with him tomorrow was a problem. She wasn’t comfortable leaving him home alone.’

"My older brother isn’t going tomorrow. We can have him look after Felix," Hayden Grant offered, noticing her concern.

Amanda Vance looked at Felix Ford, and only after seeing him nod did she agree.

That evening, Amanda Vance told him he would be sleeping in his own room. Before, at the Vance family estate, she’d worried he might be bullied. But now, in their own home, there was nothing to fear. Besides, he was old enough to have his own room.

He never expected to receive such devastating news right before bed. Seeing the firm look in her eyes, he knew the matter wasn’t up for debate. So, Felix Ford could only propose a condition, trying to negotiate the best possible terms for himself.

"Then Mommy has to tell me a bedtime story every single night."

"Deal."

Seeing her agree, Felix Ford couldn’t help but break into a smile.

After his bath, wrapped in a towel, he leaned against Amanda Vance and suddenly asked, "Mommy, how did you and Daddy meet?"

She hadn’t expected this question. Amanda Vance froze for a second, then stroked his head. She suddenly recalled the "family portrait" she’d seen in his storybook. ’Jean... he’s always wanted a father, hasn’t he?’

After a moment’s thought, she began, her voice feigning sorrow. "Your daddy and I were childhood sweethearts. We got married right after we graduated from college, and then we had you. I thought we would be happy forever... but I never imagined that one day, while crossing the street, your daddy would be in a car accident. He left us forever. Jean, Mommy didn’t tell you before because I was afraid it would make you too sad. But I’ve come to realize... even though he’s gone, he’s watching over us from heaven. He’ll always be by our side. So you don’t have to be sad. The pain will pass eventually."

Felix Ford listened intently at first, but his mouth slowly fell agape as she spoke. ’Dad... Daddy’s dead?’

He stared at her in astonishment, his little brain struggling to keep up. ’Then who was he with all that time? A ghost?’

Seeing his expression, Amanda Vance hesitated. ’She wondered if Jean would buy this story.’

’With how smart he is, he’s probably already guessed that she’s spouting nonsense.’

Clearing her throat, she put down the book and got off the bed. "Alright, it’s late. You should get to sleep now. Good night."

With that, she hurried out.

Felix Ford stared blankly after her. ’Why did he get the feeling Mommy seemed a bit guilty?’

’He suddenly remembered how, on the day he saw Dad’s photo at school, Mommy hadn’t reacted at all—as if she were looking at a total stranger. So... Mommy doesn’t actually know Daddy?’

’How could that be possible?’

The sudden shock was too much; he felt like his little brain was completely overloaded. He drifted into a muddled sleep.

The next day, he had already forgotten his bedtime worries. He put on his little backpack and took a car to the Grant family’s home. Inside, Amanda Vance had packed some snacks and a few storybooks for him to read if he got bored.

"You be a good boy. Mommy will come for you as soon as I’m finished with my business."

"Okay."

After exchanging a few words with Harrison Grant, she and Hayden left.

"Do I need to get styled or anything?" Amanda Vance asked Hayden Grant. ’Since it’s a party, shouldn’t they dress more formally?’

"Nah, you could show up in anything and still put all the other women to shame. Let’s give them a fighting chance."

’He had his own ulterior motives. His mother wanted him to find a date at the party, so he was bringing Megan. This way, all those guys who had their eyes on her would know to back off.’

’Ever since the race, a lot of people had been asking him about her.’

’Hmph. As if any of them were worthy of her.’

Unaware of his thoughts, Amanda Vance just nodded at his words and didn’t press the matter.

"Let’s take that car," Hayden Grant said, his fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel.

Amanda Vance shot him an amused glance. "Do you really hate Shawn Ford that much?"

’Showing up to a Ford family party in a car won from them... she could only imagine the look on Shawn Ford’s face wouldn’t be pleasant.’

"It’s not him I hate," Hayden Grant tsked. "Shawn Ford is nothing, just a playboy who fools around all day. The real headache is his older brother, that guy Samuel Ford. You have no idea. He’s the stuff of nightmares for all of us, the proverbial ’perfect child from next door.’ My own dear parents love nothing more than to lecture me about how great he is. Tsk."

He shook his head at the thought.

’Samuel Ford was a year older than him, so they didn’t really hang out. It wasn’t a grudge, exactly. It was just that after years of his own parents constantly comparing him to Samuel, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed.’

"Oh, right, Megan. Stay away from him." Recalling the magnetic pull Samuel Ford’s face had on women, Hayden suddenly grew wary and began badmouthing him without a second thought. "He’s a complete scumbag. He tricked some poor girl into having his son, then only took the kid. No one even knows who the mother is. The rumor is he ’kept the son and got rid of the mother’ because he looked down on her family’s status. Just paid her off and sent her away."