Chapter 18

Kanan realized the fickleness of human nature, how they believed what they wanted or what was convenient for them. As he listened to Nathaniel's recollection of the incident, Kanan's disdain for Nathaniel's family grew with each passing second. Reflecting on past interactions with Victoria, Nathaniel's brother, and Emily's parents, Kanan realized they lacked morals. They didn't hide their true colors, believing their polished exterior extended on a deeper level. They regard themselves as righteous in the things they do. It was no wonder why Nathaniel said what he said and did what he did. It showed Kanan that he could never know what a person was going through. He silently scolded himself for all the times he wished Nathaniel to open up to him. Kanan knew that no story was ever easy to tell. He knew that firsthand. The emotions and thoughts that came with it. The weight it placed on the heart.

"I saw Emily at the funeral," Nathaniel continued. Kanan had a lot he wanted to say, holding back his thoughts, allowing Nathaniel to speak without interruption. Kanan remembered during one of their dates how Nathaniel mentioned his admiration for his grandfather. He spoke of how his grandfather accepted and showered him in love when his parents didn't and would spoil him. Kanan could only imagine how Nathaniel felt after losing him during all that was happening. "We didn't say a word to each other. Looking back, I should've noticed how much pain she was in. I was preoccupied with my own emotions, but that is no excuse. I kept to myself for days until Emily called, asking for my help. It seemed that life was adamant in testing us." Nathaniel sighed.

"Her father kept her locked in her room. His excuse was teaching her a lesson for betraying him and making false accusations. Things got bad. When my mother stepped in, he stopped, claiming Emily had finally learned what he was teaching her. My attempts were fruitless, falling on deaf ears. My mother was the authority in our family, and I was powerless to change the situation. That was the beginning of the strife with my family."

"They hated me. I remembered the looks on their face whenever they saw me. The silence that would fill any room I went in. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hurt. It's hard being in a situation where you're betrayed and taken for a fool. What I didn't expect was my grandfather leaving me an inheritance. Why not add another layer to my already eventful life," Nathaniel attempted a joke, trying to lighten the solemn atmosphere. "Things got even more chaotic. They thought I didn't deserve what my grandfather gave me. Especially my brother, who got nothing. This house was a gift from him," Nathaniel explained, scrolling through his phone until he found what he was looking for. When he showed it to Kanan, he was surprised by what he saw. Nathaniel wasn't just wealthy; he was filthy rich. "And this. After everything settled, I moved here immediately. It took some time, but things between Emily and I got better. I would say we got closer."

"What about the store?" Kanan asked, remembering Nathaniel saying how it was related to Gina.

"That was something Gina wanted to do," Nathaniel explained. "After much convincing, we hoped we could both do the impossible. It wasn't open until after everything that happened. I still wanted to continue that dream. Emily secretly works there -though I don't know if it's a secret anymore- hoping to save up. She worked hard to persuade me to let her work there. She was a big help."

"Honestly, I'm disgusted by your family," Kanan said honestly. "I'm sorry that Gina and Emily had to go through that. And even you. Maybe that was why your grandfather left all of this for you; That he knew what you were going through, and this was his way of helping you when he was gone."

"That's why I'm thankful that I found you." Nathaniel chuckled. "I'm sorry that you got hit. That you had to see me like that."

"This is nothing," Kanan held his cheek. "You know what would make me feel even better?" Nathaniel shrugged. "A kiss,"

"Your wish is my command," Nathaniel fulfilled Kanan's wish for a kiss. But only a light kiss that brushed the surface of their desires because Nathaniel knew Kanan's cheek lingered with pain.

"Thank you for telling me," Kanan said, "I know it must have been hard."

"Thanks for listening," They fell into the bed. Cuddling each other after a long day. "I felt like I've been talking for hours."

Kanan chuckled, "It was hours well spent." They felt like they had gotten closer. Shedding another layer, revealing who they were to each other. "What are we going to do now?" Kanan asked.

"I don't want to think about it," Nathaniel admitted, tightening his arm around Kanan. "I just want to stay like this with you." Kanan kissed Nathaniel's forehead, hoping that his presence would provide him with peace of mind and comfort.

~~

There was a standard expected of kids from wealthy families. At least Nathaniel's family did. From the earliest years of his upbringing, Nathaniel had expectations placed on him by his parents. His demeanor, academic performance, and social interactions had to meet a certain level of excellence. Despite the constant pressure being burdensome, Nathaniel adhered to his family's expected standards. His younger self had the best years of his life. Despite the standard set by his parents, he cherished the time spent with his brothers, Richard and Johnathan. While Nathaniel may not have always met his parents' expectations, he always tried his best. Among his siblings, the eldest, Richard, was hailed as a genius, his intellect earning him recognition from their parents. Johnathan had a rebellious nature and often clashed with their expectations. Nathaniel respected his independent spirit and admired Richard's intellect. Despite the inevitable comparison between them, the siblings got along well.

As they got older, their perspective changed, as if realization had kicked in and expectations grew higher, fueling competition and rebellious behavior. They became self-aware of what was at stake. Richard changed into someone driven by the desire to impress and achieve, fueled by the exhilaration of success. Johnathan remained the family rebel, refusing to be molded and indifferent to their expectations. Nathaniel struggled internally with his identity and wanting to prove himself, yet feeling suffocated by their expectations.

It was during high school Nathaniel took the title of family disgrace from Johnathan when he came to terms with his sexuality-that he was gay. His parents quickly discovered his sexuality when they caught him kissing his friend, who was, in fact, his boyfriend at the time. It wasn't the way Nathaniel envisioned himself coming out- if he ever even wanted to. It was surprising how people's views could change at the drop of a hat. The look in his parent's eyes shifted after that day.

Johnathan told him he didn't care what he did, and Nathaniel supposed he was grateful for that. It marked the beginning of his mother's quest to find him a girlfriend, introducing him to her friend's daughter. Nathaniel would constantly explain to her that this wasn't who he was, but she wouldn't listen, believing that Nathaniel would outgrow this phase of his life. His father, a man of few words, barely said a word to him, but his actions spoke loudly. Nathaniel figured he no longer wanted to interact with his "disgusting" son. To them, Nathaniel was a messier stain than Johnathan could ever be. Johnathan, on the other hand, had the potential to change. Maybe one day, he could break free from his rebellious streak and conform to their expectations.

Such was the weight of bearing the Beaumont name; they shouldn't tarnish the family's reputation. Nathaniel maintained a silent existence. The repulsiveness they maintained underneath the surface was impossible to ignore. Still, he went about life, navigating life's uncertainties as he contemplated what to do. That was until he met Gina, a flickering light in his life. Nathaniel felt he was facing constant tests, enduring one trial after another. Having lost hope once before, he was determined not to falter in the face of a new trial.

Nathaniel was on his way to the Beaumont family house. He skipped breakfast, his stomach filled with anxiety. Victoria's urgent call summoned him to a "family meeting" about the altercation between him and Emily's father. The last family meeting ended in a one-sided battle, with everyone ganging up on him, leaving him defeated.

Nathaniel reassured Kanan that everything would be okay, declining his offer to accompany him. Nathaniel didn't want Kanan to face the toxicity of his family once more. Nathaniel attended the meeting to make a stand, realizing that if he didn't do it now, then he never would. The Beaumonts were a constant source of pain in Nathaniel's life, and he had a gut feeling that this would be his final interaction with them. Nathaniel pulled into the familiar driveway, his gaze lingering upon the house containing cherished and painful memories. He wondered the possibilities of his grandfather's presence if it would make this less challenging. A text from Kanan interrupted his thoughts, stating that Kanan had taken a taxi home.

It reminded Nathaniel that he needed to apologize to Kaelan and Ayana and check in with Emily again. He chuckled, knowing he would receive an earful from Kaelan, but he didn't mind. He knew it was coming from a place of genuine worry. Honestly, Nathaniel felt embarrassed. Despite boldly proclaiming his love for Kanan, he couldn't help but feel ashamed for allowing something like that to happen. He entered the familiar house, his feet guiding him to the study. Rich, dark wood covered the walls. A mahogany desk sat in the middle of the room. Behind it, a leather-backed chair, while matching sets of smaller chairs lined the outer area of the desk, inviting guests to sit and converse. The shelves lining the wall behind the desk housed leather-bound books-from classic literature to first editions of timeless classics. As Nathaniel entered the spacious study room, his eyes swept over the attendees. Victoria Beaumont sat at the head of the mahogany table, her gaze fixed upon him. Benjamin Beaumont stood to the side of the room, his gaze fixed outside, a cup of whiskey in hand. Charlotte William-Beaumount, Emily's mother, occupied the smaller leather seat, gazing coldly upon Nathaniel, her fingers tapping the arm of the chair as a sign of her impatience and frustration. Lastly, Richard Beaumont, with a smug look on his face. Missing was Richard's wife and Howard William, Emily's father, and the topic of today's discussion.

"Sit," Victoria commanded.

Nathaniel took his seat, easing himself into the leather, crossing his legs, showcasing his relaxed demeanor. Charlotte scoffed, "Look at him," She said. "He's not even the slightest remorseful about what he's done."

"I see you're wearing hypocrisy again today, my dear Aunty," Nathaniel said mischievously. "It looks good on you."

"I knew he would cause trouble the moment he picked up another one," Richard added. "He had a mouth on him befitting of the trash he picks up. What sweet words did this one whisper in your ears to make you hospitalize Howard?"

"I'd worry about myself if I were you," Nathaniel replied. "Last I checked, you were this close to having divorce attached to you. I guess success doesn't make you a good husband and makes you even less of a person. But I guess that applies to all of you." Nathaniel looked around. "And that person who "insulted" you is my boyfriend. He's richer in quality than you could ever be. You might want to take a page from his book to save your marriage."

"Nathaniel," Benjamin interjected, finally facing his son. "I don't care what you do outside of this house, but when it affects the family, it becomes a problem." It had been so long since Nathaniel faced his father. The man seemed so unfamiliar in his eyes. "Why did you do it?"

"Why?" Nathaniel scoffed. "You all know why. If he'd been rotting in prison, then I wouldn't have to send him to the hospital."

"How long are you going to keep this up? Stop accusing-"

Nathaniel cut Charlotte off. "I'll keep it up for as long as it takes. You did this last time," He pointed at them in the room. "You stood behind that son of bitch and made it seem like Emily-and I was lying out of our ass. You made it seem like I was the problem. And for what? Family reputation? Loyalty? Well fuck that." Nathaniel kicked the coffee table before him, causing the cups to shake. "I should've beat the life out of him a long time ago."

Nathaniel steeled his nerves. He knew this discussion would be a heated exchange of words laden with emotions and unresolved conflict.