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“I’m not your son”

“Well, biologically speaking—”

“I don’t have a father” Slayde’s fists tighten again, and I re “The man who raisedmore than a sperm donor”

Robert frowns “I wanted to be there for you I followed all your fights, all your matches I was so proud of you”

“Once I was an adult Where were you when I needed you? When I was seven years old being beaten for leaving a fucking Lego on the floor? When I was locked in a closet for hours for not knowing how to make breakfast?”

“My cousin was a fucked up loser,” Robert snaps, and for a limmer of the old Slayde reflected in his face “Trust me If he hadn’t died already—”

“He was an alcoholic as broken after the love of his life died” Slayde’s deed since I faced him in the courtroom “At least now I understand why he hated me so much”

“It doesn’t excuse what he did to you”

“I never said it did, but you knew about it You kneho I was and what I was going through You never did a thing to help me”

“How could I?” Robert holds his hands open in a plaintiff gesture that makes me sick “I was in no position to raise a kid I was alone and not in a good place an died”

“You could’ve sent the cops You could’ve done so to help me”

Bennett shakes his head, and I see the crazy rage spark in his eyes “NO! This isn’t about me This is about HIM!” He waves his arm at me “You survived You made it out of there and end!”

“I was a broken loser just like the drunk who raised e I went through h women like they orthless whores”

“Until Derek Alexander ended your life”

Slayde’s head snaps up at that “He didn’t end my life He started the chain of events that helped me find peace It’s more than you ever did”