Cross the Line, Cross Them Out

...The bookstore manager seized Thomas Morrow's arm, his voice low but firm. "Sir, please keep it down. You're disturbing the other readers."Thomas's eyebrows twisted into knots of rage. He jerked his arm free with a violent shake, growling, "Didn't you hear me? I'm your boss's boyfriend, and you want me to whisper? I can get you fired in a minute!"He smoothed the wrinkles from his silk cuffs, then cast a disdainful glance at my simply short-sleeved shirt. "That kid and his father are clearly contagious. Clear the store and sanitize every surface."His arrogance was staggering.My son, Simon Hays, hadn't uttered a word or coughed once. He was quietly reading and hadn't affected anyone.This guy was deliberately causing trouble.The manager rolled his eyes discreetly, then leaned in close to me and whispered, "Sir, shall we escort this lunatic, who's impersonating you, out of the store?"I shook my head calmly. The blatant discrimination against Simon already had my blood boiling, bu

Thomas's head snapped sideways, his cheek instantly swelling red.He stared in stunned silence for a heartbeat, then roared with rage. "You dare hit me? I'll smash your face in!"He charged like a maddened bull, slamming his palm into my forehead. Pain exploded across my skull, making my vision swim.The other volunteers finally snapped out of their shock. Some seized his arms; others grabbed his legs.He shrieked shrilly, thrashing against them. "Let go of me! Imogen will make sure every one of you regrets it!"The courtyard dissolved into pandemonium. Then a parent bellowed over the chaos, "Stop it! Abraham is Imogen's husband! Hit him again, and we're calling the police!"Thomas froze, his eyes bulging in disbelief. "What did you say? I am her real boyfriend!"He swung wildly once more. I blocked the blow and delivered another stinging slap across his face."You're out of your mind!" I snapped. "Our kid is already six years old. Shall I fetch the marriage certificate for you

I was determined to secure justice for Simon.He had been the target of cruel teasing at school for his lip shape. The other kids would mock him relentlessly, and it had been hard for him to cope.It had taken a lot of effort on my part to help him find peace with himself and understand that this wasn't an illness. It was something treatable, and he wasn't some odd child.This morning, fresh from surgery, he had looked up at me with shining eyes and asked, "Dad, will I finally be like the other kids now?"He had eagerly gone to the bookstore and kept quiet. The manager had praised him for being such a good boy.But then, Thomas walked in, accusing Simon of having a contagious disease, causing everyone nearby to step back in alarm.Then he demanded that Simon be kicked out of the store. The worst part? In front of everyone, he yanked off Simon's mask, exposing his face and sending his fragile self-esteem plummeting to new lows.Ever since that incident, Simon had been withdrawn and down

Imogen froze, but she didn't insist, going home with me instead.I lay in bed, but sleep eluded me. One decision crystallized: tomorrow, I'd get to the bottom of this matter, no matter how unacceptable the truth might be. I couldn't let this doubt fester indefinitely.I had always been a decisive person. If it weren't for the seven years of marriage and Simon, I would've demanded an explanation the first time Thomas appeared.In my younger days, no one could deceive or hide from me. But now, too many factors demanded caution—especially when the situation remained maddeningly ambiguous.The next morning, I headed straight to Imogen's company.I wasn't sure what Thomas did for a living, so I decided to start looking at the nearest sources. But as soon as I walked through the lobby doors, I spotted a familiar figure arguing heatedly with the receptionist."What do you mean I need an appointment?" Thomas huffed. "I'm your CEO's boyfriend. Just take me up there right now. She's not an