Chapter 17

This story contains topics such as talks of SA that may be sensitive or triggering to readers. Readers' discretion is advised. The scene will be marked with a ⚠️ and @ to indicate readers.

Family can be a complex web woven with love, loyalty, and frustration. There are moments of warmth and connection where bonds strengthen-and memories are cherished. Yet, intertwined with these moments are instances of disagreement where tension and patience run thin. A delicate balance between irritation and affection, where one moment they are filled with love and the next separated by differences. A relationship that is shaped by experiences. Kanan understood that families can be different, as that's how it was with human relationships. Each had their unique dynamics and challenges. While some may be close and in harmony, others struggle with conflicts.

In the confines of the hospital lobby, time appeared to stand still; the fluorescent lights cast a cold glow over the room. They sat on uncomfortable plastic chairs, their face etched with discomfort. The air was heavy, and no one spoke a word. A clicking of designer heels against the tiled floor drew everyone's attention. She exuded an aura of privilege, her disdainful gaze cutting through the sea of faces with precision on her target, Nathaniel. Her heavy makeup accentuated the sharp line of her features, while her short chestnut hair was in a bob cut. In one hand, she clutched a leather purse. As she approached Nathaniel, Kanan could see the trouble on the horizon.

Her expression hardened, "You son of a b*tch," She let out. There was no denying the venom in her voice as she delivered her cutting remark.

Despite the clinical surroundings, her presence filled the air with unease, casting a shadow over the corridors. "How dare you put your hands on my husband!?" She said. "I'll make sure you end up in prison if it's the last thing I do,"

Nathaniel scoffed. It was unfortunate, but this encounter offered Kanan a glimpse into Emily's life. Her parents, far from respectable, exuded an insufferable arrogance. They behaved as though they were entitled to treat others however they pleased, yet couldn't bear with the same treatment themselves.

"Make sure you book a cell for your husband," Nathaniel retorted. "He's the only criminal here," There was a new-found resolve in Nathaniel's demeanor, a sense that he no longer cared about the consequences and was determined to speak his mind.

"How long are you going to keep this up?" She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration. "My husband didn't do anything wrong. That lying, whoring b*tch seduced him for some pocket change." She huffed, clutching her designer purse tightly. "He's innocent. INNOCENT. That's why that wh*re ran away."

The situation left Kanan puzzled. There was a third party involved that held the key to the ongoing conflict. Nathaniel abruptly stood from his seat, his eyes finally confronting hers, anger rising inside him, his patience wearing thin. "I dare you to say that again," Nathaniel challenged, his voice laced with fury.

"What are you going to do!?" She shouted, voice filled with contempt as she looked him up and down. "Are you going to hit me too? Go on, act like the low-life scum you are." She jabbed her finger into Nathaniel's chest, taunting him further. "This is why nobody likes you."

Kanan held tightly onto Nathaniel's hand, feeling the tension radiating from him. The scene attracted onlookers, and Kanan knew it wouldn't be wise for Nathaniel to get into another fight. Despite his rising anger, he understood Nathaniel's frustration. Her vulgar speech grated Kanan's nerves, especially from someone who carried herself in false elegance. Her words couldn't be any more false, Kanan thought. Even if Nathaniel's family harbored resentment towards him, Kanan knew Nathaniel was loved deeply by him and Emily. Amid their family turmoil, Nathaniel was not without love.

"Mom," Emily finally spoke, her voice cutting through the tension. "You're going too far. We both know that he did it," She said firmly, confronting her mother. "You and Dad forced me to think that I was wrong. But not anymore,"

Emily's mother turned to face her, her expression contorted with rage. "You," She spat, delivering a stinging slap across Emily's cheek. Emily winced, her hand flying to her reddened cheek. "What were you doing while he was beating up your father?" Her accusatory gaze darted between Nathaniel and Emily. "I see you're still listening to his bullsh*t. Get your shit together, Emily. You'd abandoned your parents and continue to ruin our reputation by being manipulated by this fool." She hissed, her anger now aimed at her daughter. "You never were one to listen, always sneaking off to his house, ignoring your father's warning. You think we didn't know. You're a disgrace. I don't even want to see your face."

"This delusional b*tch just doesn't shut up," Nathaniel remarked. "Emily, leave!"

"The only place she's going-"

"Emily," Nathaniel interrupted firmly. Kanan asked Kaelan and Ayana to leave with Emily. As they left, Emily's mother attempted to restrain her. Nathaniel aggressively pushed her away. "I thought you said you didn't want to see her face. It shouldn't be a problem if she leaves."

"I'd mind my business if I were you," She warned Kanan. "I guess you weren't depressed enough to get a boyfriend. I can't believe we have a *** in the family." She muttered.

They exchanged glares. The situation spiraled downhill, and their words felt like codes to Kanan, further adding to his confusion. "You're making this whole corridor a pit of despair with that nasty behavior. Have the audacity to act decent in a public space. I can't believe they have such a vulgar person acting rich." However, it didn't stop him from getting involved after her disrespectful words. "Was it expensive to look this cheap? Also, should I charge your husband for assault? It seems like attacking people is your specialty."

"Now, Now," Intervened a voice belonging to Victoria, Nathaniel's mother. "Let's stop causing a public disturbance, shall we? It's unbecoming of people like us. Nathaniel, be a darling and leave; you're not helping the situation." She spoke sweetly, her voice laced with honey and inviting at first glance. Yet, beneath the surface lurked subtly hidden remarks in the guise of politeness. "And one more thing. Let's not forget that we've put this behind us. Nathaniel, I hope you'll stop making a fuss. It's been months? Years?." She smiled.

Nathaniel departed with heavy steps as he stepped past them. Despite the lack of update from the doctor, they left upon Victoria's request. Kanan knew that it was far from over. Emily's mother seemed like the type who would not let it end like this. Kanan couldn't help but feel surprised they hadn't been kicked out earlier for the public disturbance they caused.

In silence, they made their way to the parking lot. "I'll drive," Kanan offered. Nathaniel was in no shape to drive. He tossed Kanan his car keys without a word, his frustration evident in his actions. Nathaniel aggressively opened and slammed the door shut. He reclined his seat, covering his eyes with his arm, in a silent retreat.

Before driving off, Kanan called Kaelan. "Everything okay?" He answered after the first ring.

"Yes," Kanan replied, glancing at Nathaniel beside him. "We're leaving the hospital. Where are you guys?"

"We're at your apartment. I've been worried out of my mind and pissed off about this whole situation. What the hell is going on?" Frustration was evident in his voice as he spoke. Kanan sensed his anger earlier at Nathaniel's house. His vexed expression and silent demeanor spoke volumes, influencing his decision-making and resulting in his reluctance to leave the hospital.

"I wish I had answers, Kaelan," Kanan sighed, uncertain. "Where's Emily?" He knew the situation might've taken a toll on her. Her father's hospitalization, along with her mother's humiliating actions and Nathaniel's unexpected behavior, likely left her overwhelmed.

"She's with Ayana," Kaelan informed him. "She barely got her to calm down. I'll have to use your room for tonight."

Kanan rubbed his forehead, exhausted and frustrated. "Ok. I'll call you later. Take care of Emily for me."

"Put some ice on your cheek," Kaelan added before ending the call. Amid the chaos, Kanan realized he hadn't noticed the pain from the punch he got, as if the tension had overridden the physical discomfort.

"Nathan," Kanan said softly.

"I'm sorry," He replied. "Give me some time, please."

Kanan decided to give him some time. The journey to Nathaniel's house was silent. Kanan kept his eyes on the road despite his whirling thoughts and emotions. Nathaniel sat quietly beside him, his gaze fixated on the passing scenery. The weight of the day's events hung between them. The living room was a mess, with droplets of blood staining the floor. They headed up to Nathaniel's bedroom, each taking a shower. Kanan attended to the swelling on his cheek while Nathaniel treated the small scraps on his knuckles.

Afterward, they sat on the edge of the bed. The ongoing silence was unbearable for Kanan. That was when Nathaniel finally spoke, "Have you ever hated someone so much you wanted to kill them," His words sent a shiver down Kanan's spine. Little did he know, those words were the raw emotions of something hidden. Kanan shook his head in response.

"I had a friend named Gina," He began, voice filled with nostalgia. "We met during a time of my life when I was at a crossroads, unsure what to do. We became best friends. She came to our house a few times, the family house where we went for my mother's birthday, not the house I reside in now. She even got along well with Emily, which was typical of her friendly nature."

"Anyway, I invited her to an event we were having." Nathaniel continued, his voice wavering slightly. "We wanted to approach it with a laid-back attitude, unlike those other guests who were taking it all too seriously and spending thousands just for a few hours. Gina was also curious to experience a high society party." He explained, taking a deep breath.

"I took a moment to talk with my Grandfather, the only person who smiled genuinely at me in that house besides Emily." Nathaniel's hand trembled as he recounted the memory." But then, I lost track of her during the party. I searched everywhere and finally found her and Emily at the far end of the backyard." Kanan listened attentively, noticing the tremor in Nathaniel's hand, and offered silent support by taking his hand.

@⚠️@

"She was a mess, and Emily wore a horrid expression, both crying. I began to question them, and as they remained silent, my anger grew. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Emily was the one to tell me. I knew it must've been hard. Her father had assaulted Gina. Emily came across them. Her father had forced himself on Gina, her clothes a mess. He even hit her as she resisted. Emily happened upon the scene before he took it any further. I lost my composure in an instant and stormed inside. The man dared to stand about, champagne in hand, as if nothing had happened."

Upon hearing the shocking and repulsive revelation, Kanan's stomach churned. His mind raced, unable to grasp the sheer horror they had to endure. He couldn't phantom the depths of their suffering, the trauma they carried. As he remembered Nathaniel's actions, he realized the depths of his raw emotions that led him to lash out. Kanan knew he would've acted the same way, driven by the urge to protect those he cared about even if he had to walk through the fiery pits of hell.

"All I know was that I was screaming and throwing punches. My brother was the one to restrain me. Emily's mother threw insults at me. And then there was my mother, the hostess, standing by my father's side as she cursed me for causing a scene and that I was embarrassing the family. I thought: didn't they hear the words coming out of my mouth? Do they not understand the gravity of the situation? She told me to leave and cool my head. I took Gina and left. But the next day, I didn't let it rest. I confronted him again. Emily's mother demanded evidence. Her father claimed Gina threw herself at him. They spewed bullshit about how he didn't assault her since he wasn't intimate with her. That he hit her in an attempt to get her off him."Nathaniel's held a mix of sorrow and anger. His eyes reflected the pain of reliving those moments.

"My mother swore up and down that I embarrassed her at the party, that I'd tarnish the family's reputation even more. They blamed Gina instead of him. Of course, we reported the incident, but nothing came of it. Emily spoke up, but it brought a world of problems for her. Gina ended up moving away, and our friendship shattered. She said she didn't hate me, but she had withdrawn herself. I kept blaming myself." Nathaniel said. "After the incident, my grandfather passed away, and I sunk further into the abyss."