My Dad's Bestfriend novel Chapter 63

Flashback Continues:

Jacob

Her words resonated strangely within the confines of those bygone walls, walls that Evelyn had painstakingly mended. Regrets, it seemed, were remarkably easy to cling to, weren't they? Especially when you begin to lose those things most dear to you.

"It might appear that she has it all with you now, Jacob," Danica began, her voice tinged with a note of caution, "but mark my words, regrets will come knocking. She's young, caught in the whirlwind of her emotions. In time, when reason takes hold, when she begins to depend on her mind rather than her impulses, she'll realize what she's missing. And, Jacob, I'm sorry to say this, but why would you want her to bear the burdens that haunt your life? Your crazy ex is a constant headache, always after you, showing up everywhere you go, your uncles still hound you for money, you still haven’t recovered from those incidents in your youth, and your scars…they still run deep, perhaps too deep to ever heal. Why, then, would you wish Evelyn to grapple with it all if you truly love her? Nobody wants to put the one they love through shit!”

Damn, I'd always known Danica had a way with words, but I never expected it to be this intense. If not for today, I’d never known that Samuel was right when he said it.

"What exactly are you trying to say, Danica?" I cleared my throat, a disquieting unease seeping into the room, much like venomous spiders crawling up the walls.

"You're not naive, Jacob. I'm certain of that, especially since you managed to keep your relationship with Evelyn hidden right under our noses all this time," she continued. "Here's the deal: I don't want my daughter fixing someone else's mess. I want her to be with someone stable, someone who's not broken – that's the plain truth. She deserves someone who can look after her, someone who won't overreact or underreact, someone who won't misspeak, and most importantly, someone who won't burden her with the weight of his own traumas."

She had a point…

My life had been a tangled mess before Evelyn came into it, everything was in its way but not the way I wished, and her presence had brought order to the chaos. But was it fair to rely on her for that emotional security? There was no guarantee that I wouldn't end up failing to provide what she truly needed.

"I... I've never once allowed the past events of my life to affect my relationship with Evelyn," I spoke, my voice strained. "Not everyone has the privilege of growing up in a wealthy, loving family like yours, Danica. It wasn't my fault that I was born into a fucked-up family that wasn’t even a family to be fair. My mother was worn out before she eventually passed away, and my father's alcoholism shattered my entire childhood. I had no control over any of it— if I had, I would have stopped it. But that doesn't mean I lack control over what I want in life now or that I can't take care of the people I love. I didn't choose to go through those things, believe me, no one wishes for that."

She let out a sigh, her expression unyielding, though I could sense traces of hesitation.

"It doesn't matter," she replied firmly. "What matters is that the scars those events have left on you will inevitably affect my daughter, whether you intend it or not. You can't control these things; they just happen. Evelyn can find someone far better, someone who would be perfect for her. This relationship between you and Evelyn, won't bring good to anyone—not to you, not to her, not to anyone around you. You might lose just a friend, but Evelyn could lose a father who loves her more than life itself," she added, her tone unyielding. "It's not just about you; it's about her."

"And you believe that by ending things between me and Evelyn, you're doing the right thing?" I retorted. "I don't care about myself, Danica, but damn it, she'll be fucking devastated. You haven't seen it, but I have. She won't be able to handle it without me."

I should refuse this, shouldn’t I?

"Her life was perfect before you entered it, Jacob. Everything was going well, and I'm sure her life will continue just fine without you— I will make sure of it. Her heart is young; she'll eventually move on if you break it, rather than making it seem like someone else forced you two apart. It's that simple."

"And that someone is you," A sardonic chuckle escaped my lips as I fixed my gaze on the distant moon.

Everything bore scars, and every individual harbored imperfections, but did that mean they didn't deserve love or the chance to be with the one they loved? What was wrong with loving someone, even if you carried your own scars?

"Yes, it's me,” She conceded. "But isn't it better if she hurts now rather than later? Yes, she'll be heartbroken, she'll cry and go through pain, but it's far better than harboring regrets down the line, grappling with doubts and unanswered questions that would shatter her completely. If she continues down this path, she'll come to regret it. She loves her father, she loves her family, and that's all she's ever wanted. You alone won't be enough for her, Jacob. Her father is her world, he always has been. If this relationship with you takes that away from her, she'll crumble. So, it's better to lose something now that might cause her regret later than to lose something she holds dear."

"You understand what you're asking for, right?"

Danica remained silent for a few moments before sighing. "Yes, I do. I'm fully aware of the damage it might cause. But at least this way, she'll have a chance at a better future. She'll eventually move on. And in this way, at least, everything will seem alright, even if it's not. I won't say anything to Samuel, so you shouldn't either. Let things remain as they are, and let this conversation between us today stay hidden."