My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 143 Will The Distraction Work?

Evelyn

The air in the room constricted around me like a vice, every breath a struggle against the weight of the situation bearing down on my chest. As I sank onto the bed, the gravity of it all seemed to amplify, squeezing out any semblance of ease I had left in me. Hands trembling, I fought for air, the echoes of his venomous words from that time clawing their way back into my consciousness. And now, like a relentless barrage, his recent words, laden with sincerity, replayed in my mind, tormenting me with their conflicting truths. How could someone be so cruel and yet so convincingly sincere?

"I will never fucking forgive you, you bastard," I muttered, the words bitter on my tongue as tears traced a path down my cheeks. Alone in that suffocating space, it felt absurd to engage in a conversation with myself, yet I couldn't help but vocalize the turmoil within. How foolish I must have seemed, reminiscing about the moments shared with him, replaying them like a broken record.

Damn it! I had convinced myself that I could finally break free from his grip, but here I was, tangled in the same fucked-up, screwed-up, absolutely frustrating emotional web once again.

It felt like I hadn't budged an inch from where I started. He lingered, stubbornly entrenched in the depths of my heart, just as he had since I was a naive kid, having this stupid crush on her dad's best friend. When would I ever break free from this suffocating grip? This toxic cycle was beyond unhealthy; it was downright sickening.

Why did I even fucking love him?!!!!

"I'll never fucking forgive you for how ruthlessly you shattered my heart," I whispered through clenched teeth, drawing my knees in closer, seeking solace in their embrace as I buried my face against my arms, muffling the quiet sobs that escaped.

The realization hit hard; that asshole had shattered me with such ease.

I was exhausted. Exhausted from the incessant thoughts of him, exhausted from his pathetic excuses, his twisted methods of inflicting pain, only to return with hollow apologies, expecting forgiveness on a silver platter. But not this time. I had reached my limit; I wouldn't let him back in, not again.

shedding tears over that despicable man. Just as I

lit up the screen, and without hesitation, I opened

to ask, but is there a chance that we

I replied, "I was thinking the same thing.

***

my decision to remain holed up in my room for the majority of it, avoiding any chance encounters with Jacob. I had no intention of risking an encounter with

need for space. Even Jacob seemed to understand, choosing not to intrude or coerce me into conversation. It was a small

even avoiding him could dispel his hold over my mind and heart. That man was embedded

amidst the

emotions, I'd add one thing-there was a brief respite I found in conversations with Cameron. His company provided a welcome distraction, albeit

all had learned thefter

pursue my own happiness, to explore avenues that didn't lead back to Jacob Adriano. I

wine began to gnaw at me, a familiar urge in times of stress. It would dull the edges of my anxiety

what if I

off the bandaid anyway-it wasn't as if I would be able to avoid him during his entire stay. Afterall we were under the

Fuck this!

resolve that

left the comfort of