My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 132 I Am Never Going To Be Yours

Evelyn

My hands trembled as I dialed his number, the early morning light casting a dim glow through the curtains. Jacob lay asleep, unknown of the turmoil raging inside me, cocooned beneath the duvet. I had tucked him in just moments ago, my heart heavy with the weight of what I was about to do.

I didn't know what the fuck I was doing. All I knew was that it had to be done, and it had to be done right.

The phone rang for what felt like an eternity before he finally answered, his voice thick with sleep. "Hello?"

So, the bastard was indeed sleeping. Probably in some other woman's bed, given his notorious reputation. I was sure he had different women depending on the days.

"Hello, this is Evelyn," I forced out, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside me.

"Evelyn?" There was a note of surprise in his groggy voice.

"Yes, it's me. Though it's a wonder you don't recognize my voice, considering your apparent obsession with the idea of sleeping with me."

"Well, it's not that I don't recognize your voice, Bella Donna. It's just that I didn't expect you to call me at this ungodly hour, especially before I've had the chance to send the bigger bombs your way," he chuckled, his cockiness oozing through the phone line, making my skin crawl. "But, pray tell, what has prompted this early morning call?"

"I don't have time to answer your questions right now. Just give me your address," I demanded, my grip on the railing tightening until my knuckles turned white. I couldn't believe I was actually going through with this. The mere thought of it made me sick to my stomach.

"Anything for you, my love," he replied smoothly. "Take note: Via del Corso, 123, 00186 Roma."

"I'll be there this evening."

"I'll be waiting," he said, his voice dripping with anticipation, a sickening smirk evident even over the phone.

***

removed from this one. Yet, necessity demanded it,

was

around my neck, I grappled with the weight of my actions. Betraying Jacob's trust gnawed at my conscience, a bitter pill swallowed in

the last remaining pieces of evidence that could help him navigate out of this perilous situation. However, I doubted Tyler Ricci would let that happen. From what I had gathered about him, he wasn't the type to yield easily. At any cost, if he desired something, he would go to great lengths to attain it even

misfortune lay

that Tyler Ricci wanted

his pursuit, he

life of the most precious

cruel twist of fate or simply

us

the fact

I couldn't attribute it solely to my own allure; I knew that another reason for his obsession lay in his perverse desire to strip everything away from Jacob. He derived pleasure from witnessing Jacob's

between Jacob and me until there was nothing left. Tyler possessed formidable power-I was acutely aware of that. To wrest that power from him, I would need to offer him something in return, or perhaps....play yet another game, akin

a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead, I stepped out of the apartment, rode the elevator down, hailed a cab, and directed the driver to Tyler's estate. As the cab

in the grandeur surrounding me; my mind was consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts and anxieties. I didn't want to embark on

stood before the entrance, the

yet his security measures rivaled those of a

One of the guards escorted me inside, summoning a maid to guide me through the

you, Miss," the maid announced with

a sharp

tightly around my purse. I

the rising tide of

to discover my current predicament. I knew he would sacrifice everything, even his own safety, to spare me from such a situation. And that's precisely why I couldn't bring myself to tell him about this-he

me

I knocked twice on the door. His voice,

pushed the door open

the windows tightly shut, and an atmosphere permeated with the mingling scents of