When Love Break Ties

Chapter 16: Legal Issues Resurface

Nathan sat on the edge of the bed, his hands clasped tightly as he watched Abby pace back and forth across their small apartment in Tokyo. She was on the phone with her lawyer, her voice tense and sharp, the conversation revolving around the latest development in her family's ongoing legal disputes. It wasn't the first time Nathan had witnessed Abby like this, but today felt different—there was an edge to her tone, a kind of desperation that worried him.

He had been living in Tokyo for nearly six months now, and in that time, he had seen how deeply these family issues affected Abby. Her relationship with her parents was strained, to say the least, and the legal battles that had been dragging on for years seemed to fuel her bitterness. Nathan had always tried to be supportive, to listen when she needed to vent, but lately, it had become harder for him to ignore the toll it was taking on both of them.

Abby finally ended the call and slumped onto the couch, rubbing her temples. "I can't believe they're dragging this out again," she muttered. "It's like they can't let go. They just want to keep punishing me."

Nathan stood up and walked over to her, sitting down beside her. "What happened?"

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "My parents are pushing for more delays in the case. It's like they don't care how much this is affecting me. They just want to keep me tied up in this mess for as long as possible."

Nathan frowned, unsure of how to respond. He had heard bits and pieces of the legal issues before—something about property disputes, inheritance, and family feuds that had spiraled out of control. Abby had distanced herself from her family long ago, but the legal battles kept pulling her back in, reminding her of the toxic dynamics she had tried so hard to escape.

"I'm sorry you're going through this," Nathan said softly. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Abby shook her head, her expression hardening. "There's nothing anyone can do. My parents are impossible to deal with. They don't care about what's fair or right—they just want to control everything."

Nathan nodded, though he felt a growing unease. He had always known that Abby's relationship with her family was complicated, but as the legal battles intensified, he found himself caught in the crossfire. He wanted to be there for her, but the bitterness she carried toward her family was starting to seep into their relationship, coloring how she viewed everything—even how she saw his own family.

"Have you thought about trying to talk to them?" Nathan asked carefully, knowing it was a risky suggestion. "Maybe if you could find some common ground—"

Abby cut him off with a sharp laugh. "Common ground? With my parents? You don't know them, Nathan. They're not like your family. They're manipulative, vindictive. They don't care about me—they just want to win."

Nathan winced at her words. He had tried to understand Abby's perspective, but it was becoming harder to reconcile the image she painted of her family with his own experiences. His family wasn't perfect, but they were far from the toxic environment Abby described. And yet, every time Abby talked about her parents, it made Nathan question his own relationships, planting seeds of doubt about the intentions of his family.

He shifted uncomfortably on the couch. "I'm just trying to help, Abby. I don't want you to go through this alone."

Abby softened slightly, her shoulders relaxing as she looked at him. "I know you mean well. But you don't understand what it's like. My parents are toxic, Nathan. They've done nothing but hurt me. I can't go back to them."

Nathan nodded, though he still wasn't entirely convinced. He wanted to believe that there was a way to resolve things without resorting to bitterness and anger, but every time he brought it up, Abby shut down the conversation. It was like she had built a wall around herself, and no amount of reasoning could break through it.