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.

***

this one. Yet, necessity demanded it, pushing me into the arms of a man I abhorred from the

I doing this? Well, I guess it was no secret I needed to save Jacob from

soft click of pearls settling 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 face of an unforgiving

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 if it meant destroying someone's whole world—that's what he did to us-he destroyed us. With just

my misfortune lay

Tyler Ricci wanted

in his pursuit,

dismantling the life of the

a cruel twist of fate

us

nature, the

I knew that another reason for his obsession lay in his perverse desire to strip everything away from Jacob.

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

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 pulled up to the property, I couldn't help but notice the ostentatious display

thoughts and anxieties. I didn't

I stood before the entrance, the guard promptly demanded

measures rivaled those of

the guards escorted me inside, summoning a maid to guide me through the sprawling mansion. As we ascended the grand staircase, a looming figure of a master bedroom emerged at

Tyler is waiting for you, Miss," the maid announced with practiced politeness.

emitted a sharp breath,

my hands clenched tightly

tide

despite my efforts, it was consuming me. My mind raced, unable to focus on anything other than Jacob's potential reaction if he were 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

me to

knocked twice on the

the

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