My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 118 Walls Crumbling

Evelyn

I stood before the door, my hand hovering, hesitant to knock. I knew Jacob was in a tough spot, regardless of whether he wanted me near him or not. The truth remained he didn't deserve to face it alone. He needed me.

Take a deep breath, Evelyn. You can do this.

With resolve, I raised my hand and rapped gently on the door, "Jacob?"

Seconds ticked by in silence, no response forthcoming. My concern reached its peak.

Another breath, another knock. "Jacob, do you want to talk?"

Still, the only reply was the echoing silence of the room.

"Can we please talk?" My voice trembled. I didn't even know the extent of what he was going through, but I couldn't fucking bear the thought of him suffering alone. I wanted to be there to offer comfort—I did not want to be absent when his tears would fall, I wanted to be the one to wipe them away and make sure they'd not fall again just like he had always done.

"Just open the door, Jacob," I pleaded softly, my forehead resting against the cool surface. "You don't have to face this alone. I'm here for you. Let me in."

Once again, silence enveloped the space, his response absent. I pressed my palms against the door, feeling lost for words, unsure of what else I could say to coax him out.

I spoke once more, my voice laced with concern. "I want to be there for you,

began to question whether my

it right to interrupt him when he was

his breathing space, to force him into a conversation he wasn't ready for. Even though I wanted to be there for him I respected his need for personal space. I was not willing to take that

I can't do

be alone,

your time. But please, remember, I'm always here for you. You're never alone. You will never be alone-I'll always

walk away. Just as I was about to turn and leave, the sound of the doorknob turning filled the air,

gaze, I observed the disheveled state of his hair, the redness in his eyes betraying the tears he had shed, his breaths coming heavy. Before I could utter a

he sank onto the bed, my knees finding purchase on either side of his lap. He buried his face into my chest, his voice trembling with remorse. "I'm sorry," he whispered, the weight of his words hanging heavy in

My heart never fucking

head. "It's alright. Everything is alright." My hand moved in soothing circles against his back, offering reassurance and comfort in

My poor Jacob...

tightly, his sniffles barely audible but palpable against my

eyes, teary and red-nosed, reflected a vulnerability I had never seen before this was Jacob laid bare,

his tears and pressed a tender kiss to his lips. "Whatever you did, it was out of anger, a mistake, and mistakes happen. You don't need to punish yourself, you don't need to dwell on it-it's alright," I murmured against his lips, reassuring him with each tender caress.

going to put us in

all a ploy to tarnish my image in the media again.

fingers tracing soothing patterns along the back of his neck. "We can't change what's happened. Whatever comes our way, we'll face it together. Tyler can't do anything. People like him