My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 137 Win Her Back

Jacob

I watched, frozen, as Bianca handed me the small camera supposedly belonging to Evelyn during her visit with Tyler. My breath caught in my throat, my hands trembling because of the exhaustion from a night spent searching for her and the weight of my own mistakes settling heavily upon me. Disbelief washed over me as I stared at the camera.

She did this for me... Sacrificed for me.

God! What the fuck have I done?

"Why didn't you fucking tell me she was with you?" I blurted out, my voice thick with frustration. I barely had any control over myself. "I could have gone there and brought her back home! How could you just let her leave like that?!"

"The same home you made clear wasn't hers anymore?" Bianca shot back, her anger searing. "You fucking forced her to go away! She didn't even want to lay eyes on you-just because you're my brother doesn't give you a free pass to make her suffer, to force her to stay when she wants to leave. Any woman in her right mind would do the same after everything you put her through! You screwed up, uttered terrible things to her, and hurt her beyond you can ever fucking imagine. She did the right thing by leaving you after everything you did!"

Bianca's fury washed over me, but it was the crushing realization that Evelyn was now on a plane, poised to leave, that truly stung. I hurt her... irreparably. With my fucking words, my actions, and the mess I've made of everything-I've destroyed her, all while knowing the pain it would cause.

How could I be so blind?

I stared at the hidden camera, my vision blurring with unshed tears.

She went to Tyler's house to help me, and I repaid her love for me with all those words full of cruelty...

I fucking

and insecurities, my desperation, weakness-all of it combined to drive her away. I pushed her so far that now, I had

herself, and you treated her with such recklessness-you shattered her, you bastard!" Bianca's voice cracked with frustration and anger. "She refuses to even look at

be able to look at myself the same way

wanted to protect with

onto the couch, shoulders sagging, hands

fit of rage and insecurity, I accused

could I have fucking done that

Have I truly lost her?" I lifted my gaze to hers, desperation evident in my eyes. "I can't... bcan't live without her. I can't even breathe when she's not

you from the very start to choose your words carefully, Jacob-I have been telling you the same thing forever but you and your goddamn

leaving me feeling hollow-utterly alone. She was the one beacon of light in my life amidst the chaos, and I had pushed her away, destroyed that light until it turned to ashes-leaving her

would I even mend what I have

have to win her back," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I can't go on like this. I need her back-" Without another thought, I rose from the couch and headed for

my wrist, halting me in my tracks. "The flight's already departed. There's no point in going to

like a freight

I couldn't lose her...

within me, I couldn't deny the crippling fear that gripped me. How could I face her? How could I ask for forgiveness when my words were

expression softened, her own voice wavering as she guided me to the sofa. "You're thirty-four," she chided

to make it right-she shouldn't forgive me, and yet... I can't imagine living without her. I can't even breathe when she's not here. What

to address what