We Can Return

19) Echoes of the Past

Tay's POV

I was sitting in my office, nervously drumming my fingers on the desk. It had been weeks since I saw New at his first autograph session, and I couldn't stop thinking about him since. I needed to know more. I hired a private detective to find out what happened to New after our breakup.

The phone rang, and I quickly picked up the receiver. "Mr. Tay, I have information for you," the detective's voice said. "I sent you an email with a detailed report."

I opened the email and started reading. The report was long and detailed. New, now known as Ben Smith, had moved to the USA and become a successful writer. He lived there with Gun and Krist, who had also changed their names to James and Christian Smith. Together, they founded the S.G.W Company and built a new life.

But that wasn't all. The report also contained information about their children. New had a son, Gulf, who was a talented athlete. As I read this, I felt a mix of emotions. Joy that New had found success and happiness, but also anger and disappointment. How could he hide from me that we had a son?

Anger was building up inside me. I couldn't believe New had hidden such an important thing from me. New was mine, and no one else had the right to him or our son. How dare New live with other men and not inform me that we had a son?

I decided I had to follow New. I found out that he hardly ever left the house. That played into my hands. I started following Gulf, who was often out for training.

One day, when Gulf was playing football, I noticed that Win and Saint left early and left him there alone. This was my chance. I waited until Gulf finished training, and then I approached him.

"Gulf," I called out to him as he was leaving the field. "Can we talk?"

Gulf looked at me in surprise. "Who are you?"

"I'm Tay, your father," I said, watching his expression change from surprise to confusion and then to anger.

Gulf's POV

"What?" I shouted. "You're not my father. My father is New, and you're just a stranger."

Tay frowned. "Gulf, I am your biological father. I have a right to you and a right to be part of your life."

"No, you don't," I replied sharply. "You were never there when I needed you. Momma N is the one who raised me, who was always by my side. You're just someone who showed up now and thinks he can change everything."

Tay looked at me angrily. "Gulf, I am your father and I have a right to know you. You can't just reject me."

"I don't want to know you," I replied firmly. "You are the one who left New and me. You have no right to come back now and want to be part of my life."

Tay got angry. "Gulf, you have no idea what happened between me and New. You can't judge me without knowing the whole truth. New left me, not the other way around."

For a moment, I thought about it because it was new information for me, but memories of nights when I saw Momma N crying secretly and how the other Mommas comforted him flashed through my mind.

"I don't care about your truth," I replied. "I have my family and you don't belong in it."

Tay looked at me with anger in his eyes. "Gulf, I won't give up. I will fight to know you and be part of your life, whether you like it or not."

I turned and walked away without looking back. I felt my heart pounding with anger and disappointment. Tay had no right to show up now and want to be my father. I had my family and Tay didn't belong in it.