My Dad's Bestfriend

Chapter 230

Evelyn

The knife trembled in his grip, his knuckles whitening as his gaze flickered between me and the blade lodged deep into the armrest. His breathing was uneven, his chest rising and falling with the weight of something dark, something I couldn't name. Then, in a sudden burst of motion, he ripped the knife free and hurled it against the wall with a sharp thunk.

"Don't fucking push me, you goddamn woman!" His voice was raw, frayed at the edges. "I can't kill you."

A beat of silence. Then as he noticed the surprise in my eyes, he added quickly, "Yet. I can't kill you yet!"

A chill slid down my spine.

I didn't know what war he was fighting inside his head, but I didn't care-not now. Survival was the only thing that mattered. Mine and my baby's. If I had to destroy this broken, volatile version of Tyler to make it out alive, I would. But my hands were tied, my body useless, leaving me with only one weapon-his mind. If I could plant the right seed, twist the right nerve...maybe he'd let me go.

Less damage.

Better chances.

"Tyler," I whispered, forcing my voice to steady. "My baby has no fault in any of this." I met his gaze, searching for something-anything-human left inside him. "You can hate me. You can hate Jacob. But let me give birth. You can kill me after that, if that's what you want...just... spare my baby. She's innocent."

The air between us turned razor-sharp. His expression wavered, then his brows shot up, something unreadable flickering behind his eyes. And then-before I could brace myself-he lunged forward.

I flinched.

His face was so close, his breath fanning against my skin, his presence suffocating.

"What did you say?" His voice was quieter now, but not softer.

I swallowed, my throat dry. "Let me... let me give birth-"

"No." His fingers dug into the arms of my chair. "After that. What did you say after that?"

I forced the words out. "You can kill me after I give birth... if that's what you want. Just let my baby live."

went still. Completely,

something dark and unreadable

Then, in a breath of disbelief, he whispered, "You'd

it was the most absurd thing he'd ever heard. Like a concept

I would. Any mother

just wanted my Sienna to live-to take her first breath, to open her tiny eyes, to be held by someone who would love her even if I couldn't. Even if I wouldn't be there. At least she'd be alive, safe

stomach knot with dread. That same, all-consuming dark eyes. That same reckless, destructive desire the one that had torn our lives apart

And then, just as suddenly as the tension had spiked, he exhaled sharply and let go, dropping down onto the

Casual. Unarmed. Exposed.

this version of him-I wasn't sure I'd ever seen

women are strange," he mused, his voice distant, as if speaking more to himself than to me. He wasn't looking at me. Instead, his gaze was fixed

knee. "And some of you make them

me, his eyes sharp, burning with

be the same-sluts, greedy for money, heartless, cruel. That's what I've always known. That's what I've seen. But maybe..." He exhaled slowly. "Maybe it's just you who's different, and the rest of the world is exactly as rotten as

hard, my

this coming

my voice splintered,

narrowing as if I'd just confirmed something for him. "How can you be so willing to give up your life for a fetus that hasn't even stepped foot on this earth yet-when she tried to kill her own living, breathing perfectly fine and happy eight-year-old son just because he saw her murder

businessman before me. I didn't

I saw a child.

could never understand, who tried to get validation from

my chest constricting with something I didn't want

It was the truth.

horrifying thing he'd put me through I meant it. Maybe I would never forgive him. Maybe I would spend the rest

child deserved

be." His voice was clipped, firm, but I saw the flicker of something else in his eyes. Something raw. "You know

if nothing had just happened, he

for