When Love Break Ties

Chapter 23: Confrontation with His Parents

Nathan had never felt as exhausted as he did now. The tension from last night's disastrous dinner with Abby and his parents still clung to him like an unshakeable fog. It had been awkward, painfully so, and Abby's disdainful attitude toward his family had left everyone on edge. But he knew that the worst was yet to come. His father had asked him to meet for coffee, and Nathan could sense the looming confrontation. His stomach twisted with apprehension.

He didn't have to wait long. As soon as he walked into the café, his father, Miguel Salvador, was already seated at a table in the corner, his hands clasped together, a grim expression etched on his face. His mother wasn't there, and Nathan was relieved. He wasn't sure if he could handle both of them at once.

"Nathan," his father said, gesturing for him to sit down.

Nathan took a deep breath and sat across from him, trying to brace himself for whatever was coming. The silence stretched between them for what felt like an eternity before his father finally spoke.

"We need to talk," Miguel began, his voice low and measured, but Nathan could hear the tension underneath. "About Abby. About your relationship."

Nathan's heart sank. He had been dreading this conversation, but he knew it was inevitable. His father was never one to beat around the bush, and after Abby's behavior last night, it was clear that things were coming to a head.

"What about it?" Nathan asked, though he already knew the answer.

His father sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Nathan, we've always supported you in everything you do. But this...this relationship with Abby, it's...concerning."

Nathan felt a flicker of irritation. "Concerning? How?"

His father gave him a hard look. "She was rude to us last night, Nathan. She made it very clear that she doesn't respect us, and frankly, I'm worried about how this is affecting you."

Nathan clenched his fists under the table. He had expected criticism, but hearing his father openly question his relationship with Abby was like a punch to the gut. "She wasn't being rude. She was just...defensive. You don't know her like I do. She's been through a lot with her family, and that makes her...wary."

Miguel shook his head, clearly unconvinced. "Nathan, I understand that she's had a difficult past. But that doesn't excuse the way she treated us. We're your family, and she acted as if we were the enemy."

Nathan felt a surge of frustration rising in his chest. "You don't get it. Abby's family has treated her horribly, and she's just trying to protect herself. She doesn't trust easily, and she's not going to open up to you overnight."

His father's gaze hardened. "And what about you, Nathan? Are you protecting yourself? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like Abby's bitterness is starting to affect you. You've changed since you've been with her."

Nathan's pulse quickened, his mind racing. Had he changed? He thought about the distance he had started to feel from his parents, the growing sense of resentment that had taken root inside him. But wasn't that normal? Wasn't that part of growing up, part of carving out his own path? He wasn't a child anymore. He didn't need his parents dictating his life.

"I haven't changed," Nathan said defensively. "I'm just...I'm seeing things differently now. Maybe you and Mom have been too controlling, and I didn't realize it until now."

Miguel's eyes widened in shock, and Nathan immediately regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth. His father looked hurt, genuinely hurt, and that realization made Nathan's stomach churn.

"Too controlling?" Miguel repeated, his voice thick with disbelief. "Nathan, we've only ever wanted what's best for you. We've supported you in everything—your writing, your career, your choices. How can you say we've been controlling?"

Nathan opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. He hadn't meant to lash out like that. He wasn't sure if he even believed what he'd said. But Abby's words about family—how they could be suffocating, how they could manipulate you without you even realizing it—kept echoing in his mind.

"I don't know," Nathan said quietly, his voice faltering. "Maybe it's just...Abby's right. Families can be toxic. They can control you without you even realizing it."

His father leaned forward, his expression growing more serious. "Nathan, do you hear yourself? This isn't you. You're not someone who turns their back on family. We've always been close. We've always been there for each other."

Nathan looked away, unable to meet his father's gaze. His heart was pounding, torn between the love he had for his parents and the pull he felt toward Abby's worldview. For the first time in his life, he was truly questioning everything he had ever believed about family, about loyalty, about love.

"You're letting Abby's bitterness cloud your judgment," Miguel continued, his voice softening. "I know you love her, but love shouldn't make you resent the people who've always been there for you."

Nathan's throat tightened. He didn't know what to say. He loved Abby, he really did, but the growing distance between him and his parents was undeniable. And the worst part was, he wasn't sure if that distance was something he had created or if it had always been there, waiting to surface.

"Do you really think we've been controlling?" his father asked, his voice filled with quiet pain. "Or is that what Abby wants you to believe?"

The question hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Nathan felt his chest constrict. He didn't know how to answer that. He had always respected his parents, always appreciated their support. But Abby's words had planted a seed of doubt, and now that seed was growing, twisting his thoughts and feelings in ways he couldn't fully understand.

"I don't know," Nathan said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what to think anymore."

Miguel sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Nathan, I'm not going to pretend that we're perfect. We've made mistakes, and maybe we've pushed you too hard at times. But we love you, and we want what's best for you. All I'm asking is that you don't let someone else's anger toward their own family ruin what we have."

Nathan swallowed hard, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. He wanted to believe his father, to believe that his family wasn't the enemy, but the influence of Abby's perspective was so strong. She had opened his eyes to the idea that not all families were as loving and supportive as his own, and in doing so, she had made him question everything he thought he knew about his own relationships.

"I need time," Nathan said quietly, not meeting his father's eyes.

Miguel nodded slowly, though the sadness in his eyes was clear. "Take all the time you need, son. But remember, we're always here for you. No matter what."

Nathan's chest ached with guilt as his father stood up, leaving a few bills on the table to cover the coffee they hadn't even touched. As his father walked away, the weight of the conversation settled heavily on Nathan's shoulders.

Alone at the table, Nathan stared down at the coffee cup in front of him, his mind spinning. He had never felt so lost. Abby's influence had taken root in his mind, reshaping his views on family, love, and loyalty. But now, after the confrontation with his father, he wasn't sure where he stood anymore.

He loved Abby, but he also loved his family. And the more he tried to reconcile the two, the more impossible it seemed. The rift between them was growing wider by the day, and Nathan was terrified that if he didn't make a choice soon, he would lose everything—his family, his relationship, and, perhaps, even himself.

As he sat there, alone with his thoughts, Nathan realized that no matter what choice he made, there would be no easy path forward.