The C.E.O'S shattered heart (MxM, C.E.O X C.E.O)

Chapter 27. My past.

Alexei grabbed my hand, then said, "You don't have to tell Chance anything if you don't want to, Zachariel. I never questioned him when he started dating Briac." Chance groaned, then yelled, "You didn't question me because we grew up together, Alexei. You know me better than anyone. We stood beside each other through thick and thin. I don't know why you won't let me question Zachariel. Don't you realize that I'm doing this to protect you?" My heart started to beat faster when I realized that Alexei's father was watching me. Alexandre probably thought that I enjoyed the drama that I had created. I sighed, then said, "Calm down, Chance. I'll be honest with you from now on." Alexei didn't seem happy with my decision. He stood up in anger, then uttered, "I know that you mean well, Chance, but this has to stop. I won't let you pressure Zachariel into doing something unnecessary."

I pulled Alexei down, then said, "Let Chance have his way, Alexei. I'm sure that he's not the only one who's curious about my past. You and your father have just made up. I don't want him to think that I'm deceiving you. Chance's behavior doesn't sit well with me either, but I understand his feelings. The sooner we get this out of our way, the better." Alexei groaned, then uttered, "Promise me that you'll stop when your mind becomes clouded with bad thoughts, Zachariel." I smiled at Alexei, then responded to him with, "I promise not to let anything cloud my judgment, Alexei." Alexei placed a kiss on my temple to encourage me. I composed myself, then said to Chance, "The story of my life is not for the faint of heart, Chance, but I'll tell you everything anyway. Alexei only knows a few things about my past. So some things will be a surprise to him too. I don't want any pity from you or anyone else after I finish telling my story. No one has to worry about me. I've already moved on. I've learned early on in life that there is no use in wallowing in self-pity."

Chance nodded, then uttered, "I understand, Zach. Go ahead. I won't interrupt you." I nodded, then stated, "The police entrusted me to Rick Davis when they failed to find my parents. Rick was the director of the St. Joseph orphanage. He was a greedy man and accepted as many children as he could. I was neglected as a result of it. I was lucky that one of the older girls took a liking to me. Mary fed me and bathed me whenever she could. I somehow survived three years without getting sick. I was severely underweight, but I was alive. I can't eat properly to this day because of it. I had always been a curious child. I didn't need people to keep me entertained. I listened carefully when the older kids watched kid's programs. Mary was surprised when I learned how to read and count by watching television."

"Things were going great despite everything, but tragedy then struck. The girl who took care of me eloped with her boyfriend. I couldn't blame her for wanting a better life. I had to fend for myself after she left. I stole food from the kitchen to survive. I loved tinkering since I was a child. You could always find me in a dark corner somewhere repairing or constructing something. I got often overlooked as a result of it. Rick only remembered me when he got drunk. His wife Sophia forgot that I existed. She never talked to me. Rick had a habit of saying that I had a pretty face whenever he saw me. He always stated that I didn't need an education to make money. He told me that my face would make him millions in the future. I never understood his sentiment. I was an underfed and ugly child. I managed to build a toy wagon when I was four years old. I carried groceries and other stuff into the house with it. Rick refused to buy school supplies for me when it was time for me to attend school. I decided to do something about it myself. There were many senior citizens in our neighborhood. They always had trouble carrying their stuff. I came up with a brilliant idea to assist them for compensation."

"My small business took off before I knew it. I did everything I could to make money. I even performed light cleaning for some of the elderly to earn extra cash. I saved most of my income. I wanted to get out of that hell hole as soon as possible. I wasn't greedy like Rick. I helped other kids like Paul Remington with the money that I earned too. I was just a child, but I was already planning my career. I had learned many things from the senior citizens that I looked after and wanted to put them into practice. I never stood still. I participated in a lot of academic competitions and won many awards. My life changed when I met Andrew Waltz in high school. I didn't even know that I was gay back then. I fell hard for him. My life suddenly revolved around pleasing Andrew. It was the first time that I had someone to call my own. So I wanted to do everything to make him happy. Andrew's parents were religious people. They disowned him when they found out that he was gay. I worked two jobs to support him."