My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 35 Behind The Facade

Evelyn

I do not want to open the door- That's what I tried to convince myself as I struggled to remain in my place, battling my own inner turmoil.

Why was he here? He shouldn't be second-guessing himself given how composedly he had uttered those words, sharp as daggers, without a hint of hesitation. He had won that round-slipping away effortlessly.

"Evelyn?"

Damn! The timbre of his voice tugged at me, and I resented how much sway he held over me and I despised how much control he had over me.

Anger surged within me, and I wiped away my tears, determined to stand my ground. I got off the bed, determined not to let him affect me any longer. Enough was enough.

I opened the door. "Why are you here? Want me to book a plane ticket for you?"

Instead of the quick response I had expected, he looked at me, his eyes taking in my tear-stained face and the evidence of my crying. His gaze softened.

For a fleeting moment, my anger wavered, but I clenched my fists, holding on to it.

He was dressed as if ready to leave, yet there was no suitcase in sight.

Was he here to say goodbye? The thought set off alarm bells in my mind. He better not try to put on a show of saying farewell and wishing me well, because I wouldn't stand for it.

"Why are you here, Jacob? To say goodbye or to ask for a favour, like keeping everything between us a secret for a lifetime? I don't see any other reason for you to be here, and I'm not interested in either. So you should leave, or else—"

"I know I screwed up," he interrupted, his sigh heavy with regret, each word carrying the weight of it, "I'm sorry, Evelyn. Really sorry."

Now leave," I said, making an attempt to

please let me

difficult to refuse him like

I aimed to close the door, he stepped inside, and in that instant, I relinquished half my resolve. He secured the door, sliding an arm around

He was too close...

what do you think you're doing?" My gaze remained averted, unable to meet his eyes due

gaze wavering, "I shouldn't have said those things to you. It was a loss of control. I felt it was best for you not to get entangled in the

frustration tinted my words as I placed my hands between

didn't want you to witness the moments when I'm weak and questioning my worth. I only wanted you to see the whitewashed version of me, the one that's strong and confident, never falls weak...

succeeded in compelling me to meet his gaze. His eyes appeared on the brink of tears, and

I had been restraining throughout his presence finally escaped, tracing down

you to push me away, and that's why

before I could distance

observed him inhale a shaky breath.

Jacob. They have their own demons to fight. No one's flawless," I whispered, my fingers finding his face, tracing his jawline gently, "What really counts is whether we're willing to accept those flaws, whether we're ready to stand by them. I'm not in search of perfection, not chasing a fairy tale, I never chased one. What I've always wished is...

sighed, his voice quivering. "Remember that day at the beach when you asked me if it's relationships or love that scares me... and I

our foreheads together,

is its darker side," he began, his words hesitant, "My father's love for his addiction, my mother's love for him despite his abusive ways, even to her last day, which came far too soon because of him. My sister's love for me, marked on her back from saving me from my father's beatings until the day he met his untimely end in an accident. And then there's my own love for Chloe, which drove me to the brink. It's always been shadows for me, no light, no bright places. That's why...

a gentle kiss to his lips, "I understand, and you don't have to talk about it if it hurts too much. I

me, and being with you feels so right despite everything wrong. I've always held my expectations high, but life hasn't handed me what I wanted. Then I met Chloe, when I was just fifteen. It started with friendship and grew into something more. I was young, adjusting to my

comfort him. It pained me to even think he had gone through

I could heal all of his past wounds and mend him

her approval for everything, from my clothes to my shoes, even the way I spoke. I believed that by complying, I could keep her with me.

That fucking bitch....