Con artist

The rift

The morning after the auction, I sat in Elijah's apartment, sipping on a cup of tea that had long since gone cold. My mind was buzzing with the events of the previous night—how close I had come to completing Pierre's job, how I could feel the walls of deception closing in on me. But the text from Elijah was what haunted me the most."I need to talk to you. It's important." The uncertainty in those words had been enough to make me pull back from the con and leave the auction early, but I hadn't told Pierre that. I hadn't told Elijah either.I was still lost in thought when Elijah walked in, his face serious. He sat across from me, his expression conflicted. Something had happened."What's going on?" I asked, my voice betraying the nervousness I was trying to hide.He ran a hand through his hair, hesitating before he spoke. "I told my parents about us. About you."My heart skipped a beat. We had talked about this before, how his parents were traditional, devout Christians. His father was a well-respected pastor, known for his strong opinions and even stronger faith. Elijah's mother was softer, gentler, the one who always tried to keep peace in the family. I hadn't met them yet, but I knew how important their approval was to Elijah."What did they say?" I asked carefully, trying to gauge the mood.He sighed, his eyes dropping to the table. "My mom... she was supportive. She wants me to be happy, and she told me she's willing to give you a chance, despite everything. But my dad..."My stomach twisted. I had expected some resistance, but hearing it from Elijah's lips made it real. "What about your dad?"Elijah looked up, his eyes filled with frustration and hurt. "He doesn't approve. He thinks... he thinks you're not good for me."I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me. I had been bracing for this moment, but now that it was here, it was worse than I'd imagined. "Why? What did he say?"Elijah hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "He thinks I should be with someone from the church, someone who shares my beliefs and my values. He doesn't know you, Natasha. He doesn't understand who you really are, but he's convinced that because you're not a 'church girl,' you're going to lead me down the wrong path."I swallowed the lump in my throat. Part of me wanted to lash out, to defend myself, to scream that I wasn't the person his father thought I was. But the other part of me—the part that knew the truth—felt like maybe Elijah's father was right. How could I argue with him when I had been lying to Elijah this whole time?"I'm sorry," I whispered, not knowing what else to say.Elijah reached across the table and took my hand, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles. "Don't be sorry. You didn't do anything wrong. My dad... he's just stuck in his ways. He wants to control everything, even my relationships.""Did you tell him about the baby?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Elijah nodded, his jaw tightening. "Yeah. He wasn't happy about that either. He thinks I've 'ruined my future,' but my mom... she stood up for us."---*Earlier that Day*Elijah stood in the living room of his parents' home, feeling a sense of dread as he prepared to tell them about Natasha. He had been avoiding this conversation for weeks, knowing how his father would react, but after learning about the pregnancy, he couldn't keep it a secret any longer.His father, Pastor David, sat in his usual armchair, reading a thick, leather-bound Bible. His mother, Grace, was in the kitchen, humming softly to herself as she prepared lunch. Elijah had always admired the balance between them—his father's strict authority and his mother's quiet warmth—but today, that balance felt more like a ticking time bomb.Elijah cleared his throat, stepping into the room. "Dad, Mom, I need to talk to you. It's... it's important."Pastor David looked up from his Bible, his brow furrowing. "What is it, son?"Grace appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel. She smiled warmly at Elijah, sensing the tension but choosing to offer comfort first. "What's on your mind, dear?"Elijah swallowed, his palms sweaty. "It's about Natasha."Pastor David's expression darkened instantly. "Natasha? The girl you've been seeing?""Yes," Elijah confirmed, standing straighter, determined to defend the woman he loved. "I'm serious about her, Dad. I love her. And we're having a baby."There was a moment of silence, and then Pastor David set his Bible aside, standing up slowly. His eyes were cold, his voice steady but laced with disappointment. "A baby? With that girl? Elijah, this is not what we raised you for."Grace gasped softly, her hand flying to her mouth. She wasn't angry, just surprised. "Elijah, a baby? I didn't know...""I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," Elijah said, looking at his mother with pleading eyes. "I didn't want to upset anyone, but this is happening. I love Natasha, and I want to be with her. She's going to be the mother of my child."Pastor David crossed his arms, his face hard. "She's not from the church, Elijah. She doesn't share your faith. How can you build a life with someone who doesn't walk the same path as you?"Elijah's fists clenched at his sides. "She's a good person, Dad. She's had a hard life, but that doesn't make her any less worthy of love. I love her, and I want to raise our child together.""Love isn't enough," Pastor David said, his voice rising. "You need a partner who will help you stay on the righteous path, not someone who will drag you away from it."Grace stepped forward, placing a hand on her husband's arm. "David, please, let's hear him out."He shook his head, his expression firm. "No, Grace. This isn't up for debate. Elijah is making a mistake, and I won't stand by and watch him throw his life away for some girl who isn't even part of our faith."Elijah felt his heart pounding in his chest. "You don't even know her," he said, his voice filled with frustration. "You're judging her without giving her a chance.""And I don't need to know her," Pastor David shot back. "I can see the path she's leading you down, and it's not a good one. You need to leave her, Elijah. End this relationship before it's too late."Grace stepped between them, her eyes filled with empathy as she looked at her son. "Elijah, I know this is hard, but your father... he just wants what's best for you."Elijah shook his head. "What's best for me is to be with Natasha. I love her, and we're going to have a family."Grace turned to her husband, her voice soft but firm. "David, our son is a grown man. We can't control who he loves. We should support him, even if we don't understand his choice."Pastor David's face hardened even more. "Support him? Support this? I won't."Grace sighed, looking back at Elijah. "Elijah, your father needs time to process this. But I'll stand by you. I'll meet Natasha, and I'll be there for you both. No matter what."Elijah felt a wave of relief, but the tension between him and his father was undeniable. He knew this wasn't over.---*Back in the Present*"I'm sorry it went like that," Elijah said, his voice soft as he squeezed my hand. "But my mom wants to meet you. She's on our side, Nat."I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. "I don't want to come between you and your dad.""You're not," he said firmly. "This is his issue, not ours. I'm not leaving you, Natasha. No matter what he says."As much as I wanted to believe him, the doubt lingered. How long could Elijah stand against his father's disapproval before the pressure became too much? How long could I keep hiding my past before it destroyed everything?