My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 128 I Am Staying

Evelyn

It turned out that the address Tyler had given me led to a hotel, though a different one from where I'd stumbled upon my boyfriend locking lips with his ex-a sight as sweet as a lemon wedge in an open wound. Very very sweet indeed.

Life seemed to have a knack for fucking with me from every angle, but hey, at least I was getting a firsthand tour of Rome's swanky hotels and a crash course in Italian social dynamics.

So far, the three Italians I'd encountered-Jacob Adriano, Tyler Ricci, and Chloe the bitch-had left me less than impressed. Not that I was painting all Italians with the same tainted brush, but were they all cut from the same dysfunctional cloth? Hard to say. And frankly, I wasn't sure I cared to find out.

My experiences with Italians thus far had been nothing short of nightmarish and weirdly fucked-up. So, forgive me if I wasn't exactly eager to cozy up to another Italian male, especially not the innocent, put- together types like Jacob, or the ones whose corruption oozed from their pores like Tyler. Rotten to the fucking core.

Approaching the receptionist, I plastered on my best fake smile. "Hi there, could you please tell me the room number for Mister Ricci?"

"Tyler, ma'am?" Her surprise was evident, and I could almost see the gears turning in her head. "Are you Evelyn?"

Ah, so that slimy bastard had even managed to rope the receptionist into his little game.

"Let me guess, this is his hotel?" I inquired dryly, and she nodded, her smile unwavering, as if thrilled to be the bearer of such invaluable information.

"Yes, ma'am. This is his hotel, and you are most welcome here," she chirped, handing over a keycard with practiced efficiency. "He left this for you. The suite's on the tenth floor. Enjoy your stay, ma'am." "Thank you," I muttered, snatching the keycard and making a beeline for the elevator. With each passing floor, my anxiety skyrocketed. People entered and exited, oblivious to the turmoil churning inside me. Meanwhile, I stood there alone, having watched my world crumble, piece by agonizing piece, in someone else's embrace.

Regrets flooded my mind like a torrential downpour.

Loving Jacob had been a profound error, a catastrophic misjudgment that eclipsed all other blunders of my

I even fucking love

swirling with conflicting thoughts. Swiping the keycard, I pushed open the door, summoning every iota of resolve as I

His words slithered out without a glance backward. "Come,

hair meticulously styled with a few rebellious strands framing his forehead, all contributing to the façade of a charming, attractive, and well-mannered man. Yet, it wasn't his outward perfection that seized my attention; it was the reality lurking beneath-a

was damn difficult to wait knowing what I was

turned slightly, pouring another glass of whiskey before extending it to me. "Have a drink, Evelyn. It'll help you forget about your

chuckled, accepting the glass from his outstretched hand, sensing a

his sentence or touch me, I raised the glass

is what they

shit..." My words spat out, a torrent of pent-up rage and frustration unleashed. "Do you truly believe I'm here to

his feet, wiping away the whiskey with his hand. It was a sight to behold, witnessing his facade of gentility dissolve along with the whiskey, staining his pristine white shirt and disheveling his meticulously styled

you are one who

bed with you for some twisted revenge scheme? I'm not a child, Tyler. And this little game you've started only proves that you're nothing but a coward-a pathetic, desperate,

for such a naive woman, Evelyn.

the one

be fooled. I won't believe you're some knight in shining armor, the savior I need from the messJacob created," I declared loudly. "Listen to me I'm not leaving Jacob until my last breath-I'll stand by

man who cheated on you?" he raised

one thing, you should fucking know is that even if I am staying,I am staying with the man I fucking. love. And I've already figured out why he ended up with Chloe and kissed her I