Behind The Spotlight Chapter 93
"It's me, your Dad. I'm Axel. Did your mother not tell you about me?" Axel asked in a gentle tone, hoping to spark even a flicker of recognition or memory in the child's expression.
Considering that John was only two years old when Axel and Cynthia separated, it was understandable that he didn't remember much about his father. Memories at that age were fragile, fleeting and often lost with time.
"You're my Dad?"
John frowned and looked Axel over from head to toe. Axel was dressed in simple attire, but the branding was unmistakable. Despite his casual appearance, the quality of the fabric clearly marked it as designer clothing.
The car he was driving also looked brand new. On top of that, Axel was wearing an expensive-looking watch, a gift from a luxury sponsor. The watch was probably the most expensive thing on his body, and it gleamed subtly under the sunlight.
This didn't go unnoticed by Johnny. Even at a young age, he had developed a sharp sense of observation. Growing up poor had trained him to notice every detail that mattered.
"So you're saying you're my Dad?"
"I am. I've been looking for you and your mom for years. Have you been doing okay? How about we go to the hospital and get your bruises checked?" Axel asked with concern, trying to keep his voice steady even as emotion welled inside him.
"Fuck you! Fuck off! Don't come near me again!"
The kid's voice exploded with fury. He glared at Axel with a look that could kill. There was fire in his eyes, a deep, burning hatred that shook Axel to his core.
"John, what are you talking about? I'm here to see you. I wanted to tell you—"
"Shut the fuck up! Mom and I are suffering because of you. I hope you die! I don't want anything from you, you piece of shit! What, you think just because you're rich now, you can show up and pretend like nothing happened? Mom might be a bitch, but at least she never abandoned me!"
"What are you talking about?"
"Mom told me everything. She said you were a worthless piece of shit who left us. She said you never paid child support. She said you never even tried to contact us... Wait a second, aren't you that actor from The Accidental Wedding Crashers? Hah! Look at that! You bastard, you're living a happy life while my mom and I are out here trying to survive! Fuck you!"
John's face was red with emotion, his voice cracking, spit flying as he screamed.
Axel stood frozen, as if paralyzed.
"John, I think there's been a misunderstanding. I didn't do any of that. That's not true."
Axel took a cautious step forward, but John immediately backed away, his face twisted in disgust, as though Axel's very presence repulsed him.
"Don't ever show up again!"
The boy turned and stormed off, leaving Axel standing there, completely still. He stared at John's retreating figure until he was gone from view. The boy didn't look back, not even once. And that broke something deep inside Axel.
He didn't know what to say. He had come here just to meet his son, just to talk. But what he found in those eyes wasn't confusion or curiosity, it was hatred. A kind of hatred that words couldn't undo. He felt that if he tried to defend himself, he would only make things worse.
He stood there, rooted to the ground. He had dreamed of this moment of seeing his son again, but he had never imagined it would turn out like this.
......
...
...
The disco lights pulsed and shifted in bright patterns as people danced without a care. The atmosphere was wild, full of energy and flashing color.
Wyatt was on the dance floor, beer in hand, moving to the music with a woman who had taken a special interest in him. The two were dancing close and the air between them buzzed with flirtation. Just to be sure this time, Wyatt glanced at her neck and confirmed that there was no Adam's apple.
The woman danced seductively, grinding and twerking, pressing her body against his. It was forward, it was suggestive, and Wyatt welcomed the attention.
When he ordered an expensive drink, the woman quickly struck up a conversation. Wyatt might have been chubby, but money made him attractive. She was hoping to score a free drink, and Wyatt gladly obliged.
From that point on, she decided to play along. She leaned closer, her voice thick with charm, it didn't matter if she was faking it. She found out that Wyatt was actually a director, the man behind The Accidental Wedding Crashers and Week On A Cruise Ship.
Both were hit comedy films in recent years, box office successes that brought a lot of laughter. The woman was stunned. Her interest in Wyatt skyrocketed.
This was Los Angeles, where every beautiful face was chasing fame. In a city where dreams and delusions blurred, everyone was just one luck away from stardom, or so they believed.
She was one of those people. So far, she had failed. Life had slammed her down more times than she could count, but she refused to give up.
She had auditioned for countless roles, even in low-budget films, but always got the same response: "We'll let you know." And that call never came.
She even snuck into high-end parties, hoping to bump into a celebrity, a director, or anyone who might discover her. Once, she met an old man with money, but that only led to a one-night stand. Another dead end.
So now, with Wyatt in front of her, she decided not to waste the opportunity.
"So hey, how about we leave this place and have our own fun. What do you think?"
She raised her voice over the pounding bass, leaning closer so he could hear her.
"What did you say?"
"I said, how about we go somewhere else? I took a liking to you," she whispered into his ear, rubbing his chest gently. She realized he might actually have a bigger chest than she did. Still, she forced herself to play along.
"Whoa, girl. You're moving fast. You really like me that much?"
"Of course."
They kept dancing, their bodies moving to the rhythm.
"We don't even know each other yet. I already told you my name. Why don't you tell me yours?"
"I see what you're doing here, lover boy."
She smiled, grinding against him even though it made her skin crawl. Every instinct screamed for her to step back, but her ambition told her to keep going.
"I'm Cheval. I'm an actress. I live here in L.A., you know... just trying to get lucky." She winked, hinting that she'd do more than acting if it meant landing a role in one of Wyatt's films.
But instead of looking pleased, Wyatt's face slowly stiffened. His smile faded. He stared at Cheval for a long moment before sighing and shaking his head.
"I guess I'm really unlucky. Every time I try to flirt with someone, it always ends badly... Maybe I should stop looking for flings. Maybe I should look for something real. A healthy, long-term relationship. Yeah, maybe that's a better choice. I just want someone to love me."
He spoke softly, mostly to himself. His words were drowned out by the music, but they carried a heavy sincere loneliness.
The first time, it was an actress who used him to get into Week On A Cruise Ship, then dumped him right after landing the role.
The second time, it was a ladyboy in Thailand... Just remembering that sent a chill down his spine.
And now this.
Wyatt realized he wasn't built for this kind of scene. Maybe he was chasing the wrong kind of love in the wrong kind of places.