My Dad's Bestfriend novel Chapter 24

Evelyn

As I walked downstairs with Jacob, the last thing I had expected was to see a woman who seemed both familiar and unknown. Her hair, once short, now cascaded down to her waist, and her complexion appeared slightly darker, making her even more beautiful. But it was her eyes that caught my attention the most—they no longer held the gloominess I remembered; instead, they exuded pure happiness.

She looked happy. Truly happy.

Standing by her side was a man, his arm wrapped around her waist, as she engaged in lively conversation with Dad and Clara.

"What's the matter?" Jacob's voice snapped me out of my daze. He looked at me with concern.

I could not answer him. However, as his eyes followed to see the sight, he soon realised the reason behind my sudden stillness.

"Oh, there she is. Jacob's here too," Clara called out, gathering everyone's attention. "Come join us."

All eyes turned towards me, and my breath quickened as years of suppressed anger began to rise. I didn't want to speak to that woman or even see her face.

"Evelyn, come on," Jacob pleaded, grasping my hand in an attempt to coax me forward.

"No. I don't want to meet her," I replied, my voice trembling as I struggled to maintain control over my emotions.

"But she's a guest. It wouldn't be polite if you just walked away," he reasoned.

"I don't care. She means nothing to me. I-I..."

"For your dad... do it for him. He invited your mom because he wants to mend your relationship," Jacob interjected, knowing exactly how to convince me.

His words infuriated me and left me feeling powerless.

"Come with me," Flashing me a small smile, he pulled me along.

"Hi, everyone," he took the initiative to strike up a conversation with my mother and her boyfriend. "Evelyn was just a little nervous, so sorry for the delay."

I heard a sigh of relief from both Dad and Clara at Jacob's words. They knew I wasn't just nervous, but they wanted to avoid any awkwardness at all costs.

"Hey, Evelyn," Mom's voice reached my ears, and reluctantly, I shifted my gaze towards her, though it was the last thing I wanted to do.

Her voice held a softness, and her eyes were filled with hope, which made me feel a twinge of guilt. She understood that I wasn't happy about her presence. It was evident that she was trying to communicate her remorse.

But as the memories of everything my dad and I had endured flashed before my eyes like a projector, everything seemed to dissipate into thin air.

"Hi, Mom," I greeted her, my voice lacking any warmth.

Mom's smile visibly faltered. She tried to mask it, but her disappointment was evident.

"Um... Evelyn, this is Jack, your mother's fiancé," Dad interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension in the air.

"Hi, Jack. It's nice to meet you," I said, my attempt at a smile falling flat.

"It's nice to meet you too. Your mom talks about you all the time, and I must say, you look a lot like her," he replied warmly, choosing to overlook my previous coldness.

"Really? I haven't had many opportunities to notice our similarities. We haven't spent much time together," I chuckled. "Anyway, it was nice meeting you both. I hope you have a pleasant stay here. If you'll excuse me, I need to catch up with my friends."

Without wasting another moment, I turned around and walked away.

*****

"Evelyn, please open the door."

"No, Jacob," I managed to speak through my sobs, "Just leave me alone."

"You've been in your room all day. You can't isolate yourself like this. It won't help," he pleaded. "Please, open the door."

"I don't want to talk about anything," I sniffled, "I just need some time alone."

"No, I can't leave you like this. If you don't open the door, I'll have to break in."

"Please, just go," My voice muffled as I buried my head in the pillow, unable to stop my tears from flowing and adding to the mess I already felt.

"I'll count to three," he threatened, his tone filled with frustration. "After that, you can't blame me for what happens."

"I need some time alone, Jacob. Why don't you understand?"

"I don't understand. I can't believe you're being serious right now. You've locked yourself in your fucking room for the past six hours, refusing to talk to anyone or leave this damn den of yours. Your dad's going crazy out there, while you call this isolation some kind of 'private moment.' And you think I'm the one who doesn't understand?!" His worry was evident, overshadowed by his frustration, "Stop acting like an idiot and open the damn door!"