My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 177 Torn Between Choices

Evelyn

I stumbled into my room, a complete wreck, eyes swollen from the tears I couldn't hold back. What I didn't expect was Clara. The room was bathed in the soft glow of the lamp-so unlike the usual darkness I hid in. She sat on the edge of my bed, waiting, her presence startling me.

"Clara?" I wiped at my face, trying to clear the tears with shaky hands. But to my surprise, she didn't react-no shock, no questions. It was as if she'd known.

Of course, she did. Jacob must've told them he was leaving, and they all knew he wouldn't go without saying goodbye to me.

"So, he told you?" Clara's voice was soft, her lips curving into a melancholic smile. Her gaze flickered down to the wine bottle clutched in my hand, and she let out a resigned sigh. "Drinking won't fix this, Evelyn. Come here."

She stood and opened her arms to me, her gesture so familiar, so full of understanding.

For a moment, I hesitated, afraid that if I let myself fall apart, I'd never be able to stop. But this was Clara-she'd seen me at my worst, seen every scar and every broken piece I'd tried to hide. Breaking down in front of her wouldn't hurt me. It wouldn't cost me anything. So, I moved toward her. The moment her arms wrapped around me, something in me shattered. The sob I had been so determined to keep down erupted, violent and unstoppable. My body convulsed with the force of it.

Fuck! This was exactly why I didn't want to cry. It always fucking broke me into pieces.

"It's alright," she whispered, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "Sometimes, it's okay to not know what to do. To take more time than you think you should. It's okay to make mistakes, Evelyn. And it's okay to not be okay." Her words were soft, like a balm over a wound too deep to heal. But I knew nothing could truly soothe this.

inside-ripped apart by

happened yet but would, the things that could-pressed down on me. I felt like I was drowning in

through this. And Cameron... he's done so much, even knowing that Jacob's always been in my heart. I do love him, but it's not the same. It's never been the same. I have no idea what the fuck I

You need to think about your happiness, sweetheart. Because in the end, if you aren't whole, life will feel impossible to live. You can't always carry the weight of making everyone else happy.

Clara" My voice cracked, but she

not asking you to

make you happy in the long run? Take your time. There's no rush. What's meant for you-what's written in your destiny-will

force yourself to

matter what

and I will always be here. We'll support you through every bit of it," she promised, pulling me into another hug. In her arms, I found a fleeting sense of peace, a brief reprieve for my aching heart No matter what I lost or gained, I'd always have Clara and Dad by my side. And that realization, fragile as it was,

still

for a decision. But this wasn't a simple choice to burn and toss aside. This was my heart. A fragile, wounded heart that had been torn apart once before and feared the storm might come again. I couldn't rush this. But at

in my chest as the tears threatened to fall once more. Clara kept whispering reassurances, telling me that everything would be

go to the club together. Be ready on time,

His words were casual, but hit me hard. Tomorrow was Cameron's birthday. He'd joked earlier that if I missed it, he'd cancel the whole party, but there had been something serious beneath the joke. I

was also the day Jacob