Chapter 114 - Elliot.

Ford.

The next day, after Lisa and the blackmail. I leave Lance with no idea on what I am going to do. I have to figure things out because losing him is not an option. I don't know how he will feel about running away and leaving everything behind.

I don't mind leaving my dad and this life behind. It means nothing to me, the only value I have in my life is him and that is all that matters.

The morning after everything. I see the look on his face, the fear he is trying to hide from me. I know he is scared. Last night was terrible. I still don't even understand why Lisa is doing all this. what did I ever do to her that will make her hate me this much? We have been friends all my life. I would think she would be the one that would know me. I would think she would understand me more than everyone else. Lisa has known everything about me that I didn't even want her to know. She has been there through it all. In all my seventeen years on this earth, I thought I could count on her but now I know that she is selfish and heartless just like my father.

''I will be back,'' I assure him. He sighs loudly because that fear is still deep within him and I don't know how to get it out. Right now, I know that I am not letting him go but I don't know how to hold on to him. once Lisa leaks that video, father will send me away. Like he usually does. This time, he will have a reason. I am fucking his wife's son. If anyone here's, they will think I am a sick person. This is not a situation that will be easy to get out of. I don't even know how I am going to do this.

''Where are you going?'' he asks calmly, pulling me closer to him. I don't know how to explain it and I don't want to give him high hopes in case this doesn't work out. My father has too much control over me. I am almost eighteen. In a couple of months, I will be free from his reigns. Even with that, I doubt he will ever let me go completely. He likes the power, the control he has over me and he is a very vindictive person.

''I need you to give me a couple of days. I will be back and hopefully Lisa will not be on our case anymore.''

I don't want to give him false hope. I really don't know if this will work but there is one person that I can talk to. One person that has always been a light in all my darkness. My grandfathers brother. Uncle Maxim. I haven't ever really complained about anything to anyone. I just took it all and remained silent because I didn't really have anything to fight for but now, I have Lance and I want to fight. I want to hold unto him for as long as I can. I never want to let go of him even if it means leaving everything behind.

''Okay,'' he doesn't argue or try to push for more. I appreciate him when it comes to things like this. he is the most considerate person I have met. We have reached the point of our relationship where we trust each other. He can always tell when I don't want to talk about something and instead of pushing, he would give me some space to figure it out and I am very grateful for him.

It takes me a couple of hours and a flight to get to my Uncle Maxim's city. I called him beforehand and he could tell right away that something was wrong.

''Hey Uncle Maxim,'' I breathe into my phone when I arrive.

''Elliot is waiting by the entrance of the airport.'' He informs avoiding small talk. Uncle Maxim is older than my father. I have more of a relationship with him that my late grandfather—his brother. When I was growing up, I would always choose to spend most of my holidays with him. he was the one person that I felt connected to in this family. He is the one person that cares about me.

''I will see you at the house?'' he asks in that gentle voice that he carries when talking to me.

''Yeah,'' I end the call and grab my bag from baggage claim. Pulling the straps of my backpack tightly over my shoulders. I only came with a couple of stuff, but I know Uncle Max, he will try to keep me here for as long as he can. I told Lance that I will be gone for a couple of days, but I don't know how long this will take. I plan on doing a lot on this trip. I am going to come out of the closet to him. There is this fear in me that he will not accept me. uncle Max is sixty-nine years old. I don't know how he feels about me being gay. I don't even know how he feels about the LGBTQ community. He Is from the old days. They are really not that comfortable with the whole change, but I know one thing for sure. Uncle Max genuinely loves me. he will support me even through his discomfort.

I need him right now because he is the only person that has control over my father. As the only one left from his generation.

I see Elliot immediately and a wide smile spreads to my face. Elliot is Uncle Max's grandson and my cousin. He is a couple of years older than me and a hotshot lawyer from Harvard. The closer I walk towards him, the more I see the changes in him. he looks a lot older than the last time I saw him. He is dressed in a black tailored suit. His jet-black hair is styled to the back of his head. His green eyes shine as the smile on his face widens the moment, I stop in front of him.

''If it isn't Bradford my man,'' he slaps my back playfully.

He is the only one that calls me that. I hate it so much, but he says the combination works and I am tired of telling him to stop calling me that, so I kinda just gave up and let him do what he wants.

''Hey Elliot,'' I greet him with a smile. He grabs my luggage from me and starts to pull it as we head for the direction of the door. I don't really think I am that close to Elliot, but we have a cordial relationship. There is no beef between us. I like him as much as he likes me.

''When granddad Max told me, you were coming for a visit. I had to be the one to pick you up,'' he smiles excitedly.

Okay, maybe we were once close. When I was younger, he was the older cousin that I wanted to be like. I used to always follow him around, watching to copy his every move but after a certain point in my life; I withdrew from everyone. I guess the only person that I really still wanted to be around was Uncle Max.

''I am just here for a couple of days.'' I lay a disclaimer because I know him. he will make plans that involve me and I don't want that right now. This is not a vacation. I came here to talk to Uncle Max, see if he can help me with Dad. There is nothing else I can do. Lisa will not keep that video to herself. Even if we agree to do what she wants, she will forever have that hold on us and I don't want to be controlled by anyone. I am fucking tired of being treated like a puppet. Play basketball, date Lisa, do as I say or you will be punished. All my life, I have never had the chance to do what I want. no one cares enough to see me and know that I am miserable. I was slowly dying and I had to put a fucking smile on my face.

I say no more to it. no matter what happens. I will not let him control me anymore.

''Dude, you haven't visited in months. The least you can do is spend some time with your favourite cousin,'' his sprawls his arm over my shoulders.

Thinking about it, I wished I brought Lance with me. I would've loved to introduce him to Uncle Max. I know he would like him. Lance has that aura around him. the one that makes him loved. That is how he won my heart.

He is special and I don't plan on letting him go.

''Why are you even here?'' he asks as we get to the parking lot and I see his black Range rover.

I am here to set things right.

I am here to find my happiness.