My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 211

Evelyn

It was noon when I couldn't stand the silence any longer. It was suffocating, eating away at me, and I had no idea how to face it. So, I did the only thing I could-opened the damn door and walked out.

Jacob was sitting on the couch, his head lowered, eyes fixed on his hands, clenching them together like they could somehow hold him together. The sound of my footsteps must have pulled him from his haze because his gaze shifted to me, and I saw the tension in his shoulders ease. A quiet sigh escaped his lips.

He didn't say a word, just stood as I walked toward him, stopping just a breath away. My chest tightened. Tears were threatening to spill, and worse—he could see it. That made it worse, because now I couldn't hide it. The lump in my throat grew with each passing second.

Before I could say anything, he raised his hands, cupping my face gently. His touch shattered whatever restraint I had left, and my chin trembled, fighting to hold back the flood of tears.

He seemed to feel it, so he slid his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. I buried my face into his chest, my sobs finally breaking free. How stupid was I to cry in his arms? The man who caused this pain was the only one I trusted to heal it. He was the only one who had the power to break me and I knew it because I handed it to him.

“You're a heartless bastard,” I muttered, gripping his t-shirt like it was the only thing keeping me from falling apart.

“I know.....” His voice was soft, and he pressed a kiss to my temple, his lips brushing against my skin in gentle, apologetic strokes. His fingers traced soothing circles on my back, the intimacy only deepening the ache inside me.

"I hate you!” I cried, my voice shaking with frustration and hurt.

"I don't believe that," he whispered, a trace of disbelief in his voice.

but didn't pull away. I stayed there, nestled under

change in his words if he spoke now—he'd looked perfectly normal in the morning and then he casually broke my heart. Cruel bastard, “Now, tell me,” he said, his fingers gently running through my hair, caressing my cheek with a tenderness that both soothed and stung, "Where

whispered, though

smiled softly, a flash of warmth in his eyes. “Which is why I want you to pick a place. We'll have lunch together, and then I'll take you

ignoring-there was a conversation waiting, hanging in the air between us,

I finally let out, meeting his eyes. His body

a kiss to my forehead. “But

wanted to argue, to force the conversation out into the open, but I couldn't. Not yet. I didn't

I murmured, my voice quiet but

weight on my chest lifting just

***

music played in the background, blending with the rhythmic hum of the car. Jacob's hand rested on my thigh, fingers

I didn't now.

stretched on-lunch turning into a long drive, then dinner, and now another drive-I couldn't ignore the nagging question that haunted me. The conversation we'd left hanging between us loomed closer with each passing minute. When

I didn't know, again.

the illusion of peace. I reveled in the calm between us, savoring moments when we felt like ourselves again. When things didn't feel like they were unraveling, when the weight of

touch it, reassuring myself with the fact that our baby was

it should have been. Jacob opened the door for me, his hand brushing mine as I stepped out, kicking off my shoes. Neither of us bothered to turn on the lights. The moonlight