Straightening Affairs - 21. Chapter 21

Ryan drove straight to Nate’s place, his hands trembling as he clutched the steering wheel. The recording felt like a ticking time bomb sitting on the passenger seat beside him. Each word he’d captured played on repeat in his mind, the cold calculations and venomous tones of Helen and Fred Evans haunting him. He’d wanted the truth, but now that he had it, he wasn’t sure he could face the consequences.

As the city lights blurred past his window, Ryan’s thoughts spiraled. How had it come to this? He’d destroyed so much—Sarah’s trust, Nate’s love, even his own sense of self. What had started as a thrill, a dangerous game to seduce Michael, had spiraled into a nightmare of manipulation and deceit. The guilt clawed at him, an unbearable weight pressing on his chest.

Nate had given him a chance—a lifeline. He’d stood by him even after learning the truth. But Ryan knew this recording could change everything. It was the evidence they needed, yes, but it was also a reminder of just how deep he had been involved. Could Nate really forgive him for being part of this mess? Could he even forgive himself?

As he turned onto Nate’s street, Ryan’s grip on the wheel tightened. The words Helen had thrown at him echoed in his mind. You’re nothing more than a pawn. That was how she saw him—someone to use and discard. He’d let himself fall into her trap, and now he was dragging Nate into the fallout.

By the time he pulled into the driveway, his hands were shaking so badly he could barely turn off the ignition. He glanced at his phone, the recording still queued up, and swallowed hard. This was it. He couldn’t take back what he’d done, but maybe—just maybe—he could start to make things right.

When Nate opened the door, Ryan didn’t waste a moment. “You need to hear this,” he said, holding up his phone. His voice was hoarse, almost breaking. “It’s worse than we thought.”

Nate pressed play, and as the recording played out, his face darkened. He sat back in his chair, fists clenching tighter with each word.

“Fucking hell,” Nate muttered, his voice thick with disbelief. “Can anyone be this cruel? This can’t be real.” He looked at Ryan, his eyes narrowing. “Are you sure they actually said this?”

Ryan nodded solemnly. “Yes. I did exactly what you told me to do. Walked in, played confident, and caught them off guard. I think Fred thought he was untouchable. Helen didn’t even try to stop him—she just stood there, letting him go on. I wish I had a camera on him, Nate. You should have seen his face. The hate…” Ryan’s voice trailed off, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

"Their confidence got the best of them." said Nate, quietly to himself.

As they processed the recording, Nate’s mind reeled. “Fred,” Nate finally said, shaking his head. “I always thought he was just a quiet bystander. Turns out, he’s just as twisted as Helen—if not worse.”

Ryan leaned forward. “It’s more than that. He’s been enabling Michael for years, making him financially dependent. I pieced it together—he’s been depositing money into Michael’s account since he moved out. That account? It’s not shared with Sarah. She doesn’t even know it exists.”

Nate frowned. “Why would Michael take it? He has a good job now.”

Ryan sighed. “It started when Michael was in school. Back then, he didn’t have a choice. Sarah was sick, and he was drowning in bills. He told himself it was temporary, but Fred kept the deposits coming long after Michael didn’t need it. And Michael… he just let it happen.”

Nate stood abruptly, pacing the room. “Of course, he let it happen. It’s the perfect leash. Fred knew exactly what he was doing. The money kept Michael in check—and kept Sarah out of the picture.”

Flashback: Subtle Hints of Manipulation

As they talked, Nate began recalling odd moments that had never made sense until now. One memory hit particularly hard.

A few months ago, Nate had been at Michael and Sarah’s house when the mail arrived. As he sifted through the pile, one envelope caught his eye. Unlike the others, it wasn’t addressed to both Michael and Sarah—it was marked for Michael alone. His curiosity piqued, Nate slipped it into his pocket.

Later, at Ryan’s place, he opened the envelope.

“Look at this,” Nate said, spreading the bank statements on the table. “Month after month—deposits from the same source. It’s only in Michael’s name.”

Ryan’s eyes widened as he scanned the figures. “That balance… It’s insane. This is a second life.”

Nate snapped back to the present. “He knew what he was doing. Fred was just as complicit as Helen, but quieter, smarter about it.”

Ryan nodded. “There were comments Fred made, too. About Sarah. He’d say she was ‘too demanding’ or that she was ‘changing Michael.’ At the time, I didn’t think much of it, but now…”

Nate’s face hardened. “Now it’s obvious. They didn’t care that Michael was gay. That was never the issue. They just couldn’t stand Sarah. She threatened their control.”

Ryan’s voice wavered as he added, “And Fred… he hated her for no reason at all. Just because she wasn’t them.”

The Bigger Picture

It became clear that while Helen was the overt manipulator, Fred was the quiet architect, subtly pulling strings to maintain influence over Michael. Together, they had crafted a twisted dynamic where Sarah was the perpetual outsider, and Michael remained tethered to his parents, unable to fully break free.

“Think about it,” Nate said. “Michael’s entire life has been built on a foundation they controlled. They didn’t just hate Sarah—they hated the idea of anyone, anyone, having more sway over Michael than they did.”

Ryan sat back, rubbing his temples. “But what now? We have the recording. We have the bank statements. What’s the next step?”

Nate’s jaw tightened as he stared at the evidence. “We bring them down. Both of them. But we need to do it in a way that Sarah can see everything for herself. No doubts. No questions. She deserves the truth.”

Discovering Michael’s Financial Dependence

As Ryan and Nate dug deeper into the Evans family dynamics, they uncovered a trail of quiet transactions—monthly deposits into Michael’s personal bank account from his father. The payments began shortly after Michael moved out of his parents’ house but continued well into his life with Sarah.

Ryan frowned as he stared at the bank statements Nate had pulled up. “He told Sarah he was done relying on them. Why would he keep taking money?”

Nate’s jaw tightened, his anger simmering beneath the surface. “Because it kept the leash on him. If Michael was still tied to them financially, he’d never be fully free. It’s not just about the money—it’s about control. Mrs. Evans pushes Sarah away while Mr. Evans ensures Michael stays dependent, even if it’s in secret. That way, Sarah never has full influence over Michael, and his parents never lose him.”

Ryan looked at the figures, the unease in his voice growing. “But it’s not a lot of money. How could that keep him tied down?”

“It’s enough,” Nate said, leaning back in his chair as the realization hit him. “It’s enough for discretion. Fancy hotels, gifts, secret meetups. Sarah would never question it because she doesn’t even know about this account. Think about it, Ryan—he spent money on you, didn’t he? But he never told you where it came from.”

Ryan’s stomach churned as he recalled Michael’s spending. The dinners, the clothes, the hotels—it all made sense now. “He couldn’t dip into his shared accounts with Sarah without raising suspicion,” Ryan said quietly. “But this… This was his escape fund.”

“And look at how much is in there,” Nate added, his voice hard. “He’s been taking their money for years. Not because he needed it—but because he wanted to keep his options open. He’s complicit in all of this, Ryan. Don’t forget that.”

The betrayal cut deeper than Ryan expected. Michael’s parents hadn’t just manipulated him—they’d set the stage for his double life, ensuring he’d always come back to them. And Michael had let it happen, keeping Sarah in the dark all along.

Turning the Tables

After gathering irrefutable evidence—including Ryan’s recorded conversations with Mrs. Evans—Ryan and Nate devised a plan to bring the truth to light. Using the pretense of a family dinner to celebrate the holidays, Nate would extend an invitation to Michael’s parents, knowing they wouldn’t resist the opportunity to showcase their supposed “reconciliation” with Sarah and Michael.

Michael had no idea his parents were coming, and Sarah would be blindsided by the surprise. He hated doing that to Sarah, but he didn't have a choice.

Ryan, against Nate’s better judgment, insisted on being there. He was, after all, part of the family—or at least he hoped he still was. And he hoped he was still Nate’s boyfriend, though only time would tell if there was anything left of their relationship. If he wasn't there, it would be suspicious. The goal was to provoke Mrs. Evans into letting her mask slip, revealing her manipulations, while also drawing Mr. Evans into the open to expose the full extent of their scheme. It was a gamble, but Ryan and Nate both knew it was the only way to ensure the Evans’ machinations were brought to an end in front of everyone they had hurt.

“This is a gamble,” Nate said, pacing as they discussed the plan. “What if they don’t even show up?”

“It’s a gamble we have to take,” Ryan replied, his voice steady despite the doubt gnawing at him. “She met Sarah already, right? And Sarah told me she seemed like she wanted to patch things up. That’s enough of a reason for her to come, even if it’s just to put on an act.”

Nate shot him a sharp look. “And what about you? Are you ready for this?”

Ryan hesitated for just a moment before nodding. “Yeah. I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

The dinner was scheduled just a few days before Michael’s work Christmas party, perfect timing to ensure everyone would be in attendance. Michael had agreed to the gathering, believing it was just a normal family dinner. He didn’t suspect that his parents would be there—or that the evening would expose his double life.