Episode Four:The Truth He Never Told
793 Words
“The reason he left you.”
The words hung in the air like a threat.
Natasha’s heart pounded. Her eyes stayed locked on Joel.
“Say it,” she whispered.
Joel’s voice came low, controlled. “Gregory, leave.”
But Gregory didn’t move.
Instead, he smiled.
“Don’t you think she deserves to know?” he asked.
“I said leave.”
“And I said no.”
Natasha stepped forward, her voice sharper. “Enough. Both of you.”
Silence followed.
“No more half-truths,” she said. “If there’s something I should know, I’ll hear it now.”
Joel’s jaw tightened.
Gregory exhaled slowly.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s stop pretending.”
“Five years ago,” Gregory began, “the night Joel disappeared—he didn’t leave because he wanted to.”
Natasha frowned. “Then why?”
Gregory’s eyes flicked to Joel.
“Because he was forced to.”
“That’s not true,” Joel cut in.
“It is,” Gregory replied. “You just don’t like how it sounds.”
Natasha’s chest tightened. “Forced by who?”
Gregory took a step closer.
“By his family.”
Joel’s voice dropped. “Careful.”
“Or what?” Gregory shrugged. “You’ll lie again?”
Natasha looked at Joel. “Is that true?”
He didn’t answer.
That silence…
It said enough.
“There were expectations,” Gregory continued. “You didn’t fit them.”
Natasha felt something twist. “So he just walked away?”
“He chose power over you.”
“That’s enough,” Joel snapped.
But Natasha didn’t look away.
“Did you?” she asked.
Joel met her gaze.
“It’s more complicated than that.”
Natasha let out a small laugh. “It always is with you.”
“No,” she cut him off. “Don’t.”
Gregory watched them.
“You see?” he said. “Nothing’s changed.”
Joel turned on him. “You’ve said enough.”
“Not yet.”
Natasha’s voice trembled, but was steady. “What else?”
“You really want everything?” Gregory asked.
“Yes.”
Joel stepped forward. “You don’t.”
“I do.”
Gregory sighed. “Fine. Let’s talk about the deal he made.”
Joel’s expression darkened. “Gregory—”
“He agreed to end things with you,” Gregory continued, “to secure his position.”
The words hit harder.
Natasha’s grip tightened.
“So it was a choice.”
Joel stepped closer. “It wasn’t that simple.”
“You walked away,” she said. “That part is simple.”
Silence filled the room.
“You think I wanted to?” Joel asked quietly.
Natasha shook her head. “I don’t know what you wanted.”
“I was protecting you.”
She laughed softly. “From what?”
“From consequences,” Joel said.
“What consequences?”
He didn’t answer.
“That’s the problem,” Natasha said. “You never answer.”
For a moment, no one spoke.
Gregory checked his watch. “I think I’ve done enough for one night.”
Joel glared. “Get out.”
Gregory smiled. “With pleasure.”
As he turned to leave, he paused beside Natasha.
“Be careful,” he said quietly. “There’s always more than he tells you.”
Then he walked out.
The doors closed.
Silence returned.
“Is it true?” Natasha asked.
Joel exhaled. “Part of it.”
“Which part?”
“That I left.”
Her eyes hardened. “I already knew that.”
“You should’ve told me,” she said.
“I couldn’t.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Joel stepped closer. “There’s a difference.”
“Not to me.”
Her voice softened.
“I waited for you, Joel.”
That landed.
“I thought maybe something happened,” she continued. “I made excuses.”
Joel didn’t speak.
“And now?” she asked.
He hesitated.
“That hasn’t changed.”
Natasha blinked. “What?”
“I’d make the same decision again,” he said.
That was it.
She stepped back.
“Of course you would.”
“Natasha—”
“No,” she shook her head. “Don’t explain.”
She grabbed her coat.
“This is why this works,” she said. “No feelings. No expectations.”
“Five days,” she added. “We get married. Then we walk away.”
She looked at him one last time.
“Like you always wanted.”
Then she walked out.
Joel stood there.
The storm raging.
But for the first time…
Something felt out of his control.
And somewhere outside—
Gregory smiled.
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