"My father never thought of me as a true man. He would always say I prefer womanly pursuits and that everything I did was going to turn me into a h.o.m.os.e.xual. My admission of such an a.s.sault would have confirmed his suspicions. I"m not interested in men, I want to clarify. I don"t hate the community that practices that, but I don"t want to be labeled something just because I don"t like the things that I"m supposed to. I couldn"t admit it, that would give him even more ammunition to degrade me." Henry was breathing heavily as this was something that brought him a lot of pain over the years. "It was just one of those things that I knew I would have to shoulder through to get over. I knew my father had failed me." "Conrad was definitely a bit too tough with you. He was always telling me you needed to be stronger than he. If he was alive, I"d like to have some choice words with him. What a horrid thing to say to a child. I know you"re not too fond of your parents because they weren"t there for you when you needed it, but they did have you in their hearts. I don"t know if Conrad was h.o.m.os.e.xual, but we know sure as h.e.l.l that he was ashamed of it." Nadius hung his head as he looked at his nephew. "In terms of their marriage, I can say that I always thought that Mingxia was an odd person for your father to marry. There is nothing wrong with a woman being very strong, but she was quite a block to your father when she wanted to be. I think when they both wanted the same thing, they were an unstoppable team. But, once they differed, they were divided. It would have been an excellent summer romance, but you know they decided to marry. Initially it was alright but overtime their continual b.u.t.ting of heads lead to them seeking solace in other people."
Henry perked up as he wondered. "Why didn"t they just separate and have different houses? Father could have entertained his mistress in another city so she wouldn"t have been bothered. I know many people in our circle who do just that and their wives are fine with it as long as their children receive the lion"s share of the inheritance. It"s not a good thing, but plenty of people do it."
Nadius vehemently shook his head. "Oh I how I wish such a thing would be acceptable to many women who are married to such men. I knew I could never and I found a partner to agree with me. I always think how lucky we are but you know Mingxia was Conrad"s perfect wife. He needed her to look a certain way to the outside world as he was also a public figure. He could not take her slaving attention on other men as she could only be his. Mingxia like the fire she was, refused to be controlled as she had her own money and a.s.sets that she had pre-nuptial agreed to keep separately. Smart woman, but not enough. Conrad would rage at her wherever he could find her. It didn"t matter if it was at the park or at the movies or even in this hallowed house over your grandfather"s body as it was attached to a ventilator. I"ve never seen such destruction after love as it was fire and fury all the time. I know you saw it too which is why we conspired to take you away from both of them."
"I understand your intentions were good, but I do believe in the long run I should have had a little more time." Henry stared off into s.p.a.ce as he considered the impact. "There was never any time."
Henry closed his eyes as he was transported back to being ten. He was standing next to his own terrified shivering body as his mini-self watched from a corner.
=//=
Conrad Wong imposing as a Bengal tiger raised his arm high above his head as he shouted. "Why did I even marry you? If you hadn"t been pregnant with that idiot I wouldn"t have even bothered. My cleaning maid has more feminine charm than you do. What kind of woman who is wife to a rich man goes and screams and yells like she"s selling me fish at a market in China! You brought my whole house and family name down when I met you! I wish you had never been born you idiotic woman. You disgust me with your fishy protruding belly and those warty things on your face."
In response, Mingxia had thrown back an insult and began to throw stilettos at him, while screaming that she wouldn"t have gained all that weight if it hadn"t been for Conrad"s private investigators and constant mistresses trying to get her to divorce him. Henry was still in his too stiff school uniform there while Michael hovered waiting for the fight to end. Henry even at ten had known that seeing such things would haunt him for the rest of his life but he knew too that not seeing it would bring the same. He could remember several others which had the same effect--no matter what he could never forget.
=//=
Back in the present, Henry really wanted to throw up again. He wasn"t sure if it was from the alcohol or the memory but it was discomfort supreme. He wondered if he should move, but the nausea pa.s.sed. His throat still felt tight as if he was still there watching it. He held up a hand to soothe his forehead. "I wish it was different. I do remember more than I"d like to admit, but I have no idea what it is that I"m seeing. I have a lot of fragments. Help me understand, Nadius. It"s just so strange to me that I want it to be clear. Give me your memories so I can put together these pieces and get a full picture of the two parents I was given by biology."