My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 220

Evelyn

Jacob's brows rose slightly, and he hurriedly stepped closer, slipping his arm

around my waist as if afraid I might collapse. His hand cupped my face, his thumb brushing gently against my cheek as he met my eyes. He already looked dead worried.

"Hey, it's okay," he whispered, trying to calm me down, "Breathe, baby. Just breathe."

It was only then that I realized I wasn't breathing. I'd been holding it in—along with the panic, the fear, the overwhelming dread. My hands trembled, my knees threatened to give out, and my breaths came in shallow, broken gasps. I didn't feel like myself. I didn't feel human.

Tyler was out of jail.

The memory hit me like a slap. The text he'd sent me the day I left Italy surged through my mind, dragging me deeper into panic.

"It might be over for now, but not forever. One way or another, you will be mine, Evelyn. Just wait and watch-I will be back."

Oh God...

He was back.

"Jacob," I whispered, voice cracking. "He's going to barge into our lives again." My eyes burned as tears gathered, and my words tumbled out in a frantic rush. "What do we do? He's going to take everything from you again. We can't let it happen. We have to do something-now-before it's too late. Jacob, we have to do something! God! This is terrifying-what would we do. What are we—"

I was spiraling, my thoughts disjointed, my fears blurring together into an overwhelming haze. I kept saying stuff that probably made no sense. I only realized a few things I said. The rest? It was a blur.

Tyler's face alone was a nightmare etched into my mind. Everything he put us through...it was my worst nightmare brought to life.

The thought of losing Jacob again...it was unbearable.

"Baby, look at me," Jacob said softly. He guided me down to the couch and pulled me onto his lap, cradling me against his chest as though he could shield me from the weight of my fear. "Nothing's going to happen. His family might've gotten him out, but he has nothing now. No power. No influence. He's finished-a loser. He can't touch us, not anymore."

"No, Jacob...you don't understand," I choked out, gripping his shirt. "He'll come back. He'll do something—anything—to tear us apart again." My chest tightened as the words left me, each one laced with dread. "And you...you'll change again." The whisper slipped out before I could stop it. The moment it did, regret flashed in Jacob's eyes, sharp and unmistakable. He exhaled a slow, heavy sigh, then slid his hand to the back of my head, pulling me close until our foreheads touched. "I'm not going anywhere," he whispered, his voice steady and sure. His other hand rubbed slow circles down my spine, grounding me. "I made mistakes before -mistakes that nearly cost me everything. I won't let that happen again. You and our baby...you're my whole world, Evelyn. Nothing can change that. No one can take that away from us."

He said it with such conviction that, for a moment, the fear loosened its grip. But Tyler was out there now.

couldn't shake the dread

eyes filled with tears. We'd finally found happiness- finally made it through the storm-and

flashed in his eyes. He let out a soft sigh, cradling my head and pressing

along my spine. "I made mistakes before, but I won't make them again. You and our baby are my world. Nothing could make

sounded so sure now... but what if Tyler tried the same tricks?

cheek. "What if he finds

won't lose it," he promised. "Tyler has no power anymore. His family cut ties with him when the media uncovered his lies-they have got him out just because of the constant pressure from media, the negative effect it was bearing on them. And Tyler's business? It's gone. He's

knew he was

kissed the corner of my mouth. "Yeah," he admitted. "I knew from

"I'm scared," whimpered, burying

a lifeline. "I don't know what I'd do had to go through this

promise that we will only have peace in our life. Nothing can ruin what

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voice carried the weight of a vow.won't let anyone take this from us. 've already put protections in place. Tyler can't get

I whispered. "Please don't leave

tightened his embrace and kissed my temple. "I love you

anywhere. We'll get

his voice gentle yet heavy with the weight of

one would steal our happiness. "You don't have to worry about anything, baby. I've already taken care of

me again, please. I can't live without

either, baby," he sighed, holding me close and pressing a tender

soothe me. My heart slowed from its frantic pace, and the tension began to ease. But the shadow of Tyler's

Or

***

past month, my fear of Tyler had slowly faded.

or as normal as it could be

unless you were looking for it. To anyone else,

was

that he was currently on a shopping spree, arms

baby