I'll Never Let You Go

Chapter 4 Bound by Lies

As Christian spent the next couple of days confined to the apartment, nursing his wounds in solitude, the outside world continued to reach out to him in concern. Calls and messages flooded in from his dad, his foster  family, and even his other boyfriend Ben, each one a lifeline of support in his time of need. But Wesley, ever the puppeteer of Christian's life, intercepted each attempt at communication, ensuring that Christian remained isolated and under his control.

Despite the pain that wracked his body, Christian found himself ensnared in a web of lies, forced to fabricate excuses for his absence and reassure his loved ones that he was fine. Lying in bed, his heart heavy with guilt and regret, Christian couldn't help but feel a sense of betrayal towards those who cared for him, their concern a stark reminder of the life he had left behind.

But even as he wrestled with his conflicting emotions, Wesley appeared at his side with gifts and flowers, his apologies ringing hollow in Christian's ears. The sight of Wesley's offerings served as a painful reminder of the cycle of abuse that had consumed their relationship, each gift a band-aid over the gaping wounds that marred their love.

As Christian lay in bed, his body aching and his heart heavy with sorrow, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was trapped in a nightmare from which he could not escape. With each passing moment, the weight of Wesley's manipulation bore down on him like a suffocating blanket, leaving him longing for the freedom he feared he may never find.
Christian sat up in bed, a weak smile gracing his lips as Wesley entered the room, carrying a plate of heart-shaped pancakes. "You didn't have to do this for me, babe," Christian murmured gratefully, his voice tinged with exhaustion.

Wesley leaned in, planting a kiss on Christian's lips. "You should be very grateful to have me as your boyfriend," he replied, his tone dripping with self-assuredness.

Christian nodded in agreement, his gratitude overshadowed by a lingering sense of unease. "Oh, your foster  parents tried calling you, even your cop dad," Wesley continued, his casual tone belying the gravity of the situation.

Christian sighed, his heart heavy with guilt at the thought of causing his loved ones worry. "They're worrying about me, Wesley," he admitted quietly, his gaze dropping to his hands.

Without warning, Wesley reached for Christian's phone, his actions possessive and controlling. "Well, they texted you. Your dad wants you to come over for dinner," Wesley informed him, his grip tightening on the device.

Christian's heart sank at the thought of facing his family, his mind clouded with conflicting emotions. "I think we should go," he said finally, his voice hesitant but resolute. "Because I want my family to know I'm okay."

Wesley's expression darkened at Christian's suggestion, his control slipping for a moment before he regained his composure. "I understand, Christian," he replied through clenched teeth, his words laced with a subtle threat. "But don't forget, I'm your family too."
As Wesley's words hung in the air, Christian felt a chill run down his spine, the weight of Wesley's manipulation pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. In that moment, he realized with a sinking heart that breaking free from Wesley's grasp would be harder than he ever imagined, his hope for escape overshadowed by the insidious hold of his abusive boyfriend.
Christian nodded in agreement, his stomach churning with apprehension as Wesley's irritation bubbled to the surface. "I know, Wesley," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

As the phone buzzed again, Wesley's annoyance was palpable, his frustration evident as he glanced at the screen. "I swear your fucking cop-ass deadbeat dad is getting on my last nerves with these text messages," he grumbled, his words dripping with contempt.

Christian's heart sank at Wesley's harsh words, his mind reeling with a sense of helplessness. "What does the text message say?" he asked quietly, his voice tinged with trepidation.

Reluctantly, Wesley showed him the message, his grip on the phone tightening with each passing moment. "We're having dinner at my place around 7 pm this Saturday." he read aloud, his tone dripping with disdain.

Christian's stomach twisted with guilt as he looked at the message, knowing that his dad's concern stemmed from a place of love and genuine care. But before he could respond, Wesley's voice cut through the silence, his tone laced with manipulation.

"I guess we can go," Wesley said begrudgingly, his words tinged with a hint of resentment. "But only because I don't want your dad to think I'm keeping you away from him."

Christian's heart sank at Wesley's thinly veiled attempt to shift the blame onto his dad, his mind clouded with confusion and doubt. Despite the unease that gnawed at him, he nodded in agreement, his resolve crumbling in the face of Wesley's manipulation.

As he lay in bed that night, Christian couldn't shake the feeling of dread that settled over him like a heavy fog, knowing that the dinner with his family would be just another battlefield in the war for control that raged between him and Wesley. And as he drifted off to sleep, his dreams were haunted by visions of a future where escape seemed impossible, his hope fading with each passing moment.