Chapter 10 Father Finds Out #3
"You can be angry with Nathaniel. You can be angry with me. But you don't get to have this conversation as though I'm not part of it."
Richard stared at his son.
Nathaniel stepped back.
Evan noticed.
"Nathaniel."
Nathaniel met his eyes.
"I'm here."
"I know."
Nathaniel understood what Evan was asking without saying it.
Let me speak.
So Nathaniel remained silent.
Richard looked at Evan.
"Do you understand what you've done?"
Evan's expression tightened.
"I understand that you're hurt."
"I'm not asking whether I'm hurt."
"I know."
"Then answer me."
Evan took a breath.
"I chose him."
Richard stared at him.
"You were twenty-three."
"I am still twenty-three."
"That doesn't make it right."
"It doesn't make it wrong either."
Richard's face hardened.
"You don't understand what you're risking."
"I do."
"You don't know what it's like to be married for decades."
"I'm not claiming I do."
"You don't know what it's like to build a family."
"I'm learning."
"You don't know what you want."
Evan's eyes flashed.
"I know exactly what I want."
Richard fell silent.
Evan continued.
"I want my own life. I want my career. I want my independence. And I want Nathaniel."
Richard shook his head.
"You think this is romantic."
"No."
Evan's voice softened.
"I think it's complicated."
He looked at Nathaniel briefly.
"But complicated doesn't mean meaningless."
Richard looked between them.
"Did he ever pressure you?"
"No."
"Did he use money to convince you?"
"No."
"Did he threaten you?"
"No."
"Did he make you feel like you owed him?"
"No."
Richard's voice cracked.
"Then why?"
Evan's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I love him."
Richard looked away.
Evan continued.
"I loved him before the pregnancy."
Nathaniel's chest tightened.
"I wanted him before I knew I was carrying his child."
Richard remained silent.
"And when I found out, I didn't stay with him because I was afraid."
Evan placed one hand over his stomach.
"I stayed because I still wanted him."
Richard stared at him.
Evan's voice became firmer.
"The baby didn't make me love him."
Nathaniel lowered his gaze.
Evan continued.
"The baby made everything more complicated. It didn't create what was already there."
Richard's shoulders dropped slightly.
"You should have told me."
"I know."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I was afraid you would decide that I wasn't capable of knowing my own feelings."
Richard's face showed pain.
"Maybe I was afraid too."
Evan nodded.
"I know."
Richard looked at Nathaniel.
"And you?"
Nathaniel met his eyes.
"I love him."
Richard's jaw tightened.
"I don't know if I can forgive you."
Nathaniel nodded.
"I won't ask you to."
"I don't know if I can accept this."
"I won't pressure you."
"You expect me to watch my son build a life with you?"
"I expect nothing from you."
Richard stared at him.
Nathaniel continued.
"Evan is your son. You have the right to have feelings about this. You have the right to be angry with me. But I will not manipulate you into accepting us."
Richard's eyes narrowed.
"And if I tell you to end it?"
Nathaniel looked at Evan.
Then back at Richard.
"I won't."
Richard's expression hardened.
"Then you choose him over our friendship."
Nathaniel swallowed.
"I choose not to make Evan choose between us."
The words hung in the room.
Evan looked at him.
Nathaniel stepped back again.
"This is Evan's life."
Richard looked at his son.
Evan stood between them, his face wet with tears but his posture steady.
"I don't want to lose you, Dad."
Richard's expression cracked.
"But I'm not going to give up Nathaniel to keep you from being angry."
Richard looked away.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Finally, Richard walked toward the door.
"I need time."
Evan nodded.
"Take it."
Richard stopped with his hand on the door.
He didn't turn around.
"I love you."
Evan's voice broke.
"I love you too."
Richard left.
The door closed.
Nathaniel remained silent.
Evan wiped his face.
"That went well."
Nathaniel looked at him.
"It could have gone worse."
Evan gave a tired laugh.
"That's not exactly comforting."
Nathaniel stepped closer.
"Are you all right?"
Evan nodded.
"I'm hurt."
"I know."
"But I'm not sorry."
Nathaniel reached for his hand.
"I know."
Evan squeezed his fingers.
"You didn't defend yourself enough."
Nathaniel looked at him.
"I wasn't going to speak over you."
Evan's expression softened.
"Thank you."
Nathaniel held his hand.
"I meant what I said. I won't pressure your father."
"I know."
"I won't manipulate him."
"I know."
"And I won't make you choose."
Evan looked at him.
"Good."
Nathaniel brought Evan's hand to his lips.
Richard's anger remained.
Their friendship remained broken for now.
Nothing had been resolved.
But Nathaniel knew one thing with certainty.
He would not fight Evan's father by taking control of Evan's life.
He would stand beside Evan.
And if Evan continued choosing him, Nathaniel would continue choosing Evan.
Not because he had won an argument.
Not because Richard had given permission.
But because Evan had made his choice for himself.
And Nathaniel would respect it.
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