My Dad's Bestfriend novel Chapter 72

Evelyn

I awoke to the relentless throbbing of a headache, a painful reminder of the copious amounts of alcohol I had consumed the night before. It was clear to me that even an elephant would have felt the effects of my indulgence. However, oddly enough, this pounding headache had its silver lining—it provided a convenient distraction from the hazy recollections of last night's events. I wouldn't claim complete amnesia, but yes, did I choose not to summon the fragmented memories into focus? Yes.

After a quick shower, I reluctantly walked down the stairs, wondering why I had woken up early. But any remorse for the early hour evaporated swiftly, as my stomach growled like a ferocious beast demanding its due.

I needed food— tons of it even though I didn't have much appetite. Was this how depression worked? I had no idea since I didn't find it fair to call myself depressed.

I had everything to make me happy, except for just...a man.

Upon reaching the kitchen and pouring myself a glass of refreshing orange juice, suddenly I found myself being jolted by the sound of hushed voices, conversations that seemed tinged with guilt and regret.

What the heck was going on?

My brows furrowed as I placed the glass down on the counter but then....a familiar voice reached my ears.

"It was a mistake, Samuel. I didn't intend for it to come before you like this. It just happened, I am sorry" —It was Jacob.

Oh, shit!

My gaze darted toward the window, offering a view of the pool area, and a very strange sight.

My heart plummeted as I took in the scene—Jacob, my father, my mother, and Clara, who stood in the corner with a deeply troubled expression.

We were so done!

"Getting involved with my daughter a mistake?" Dad demanded, his teeth clenched, and fists balled at his sides. And then I watched in horror as without any warning, his fist shot forward, colliding with Jacob's face. "That's my fucking daughter, you bastard!"

Jacob staggered backward from the force of the punch, his face contorting in pain, a fresh cut appearing at the corner of his lips.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Without wasting a single heartbeat, I bolted outside like the wind, leaving behind the pounding headache and the remnants of my hangover, which dissipated into the ether like a mere puff of smoke.

"Samuel, what are you doing? Please, calm down," Clara rushed to stop my Dad but he didn't budge. My mother stood frozen, her face a canvas painted with an array of bewildering emotions. It was fishy but I didn't have time to spare for her right now.

As for me, I stood there, stunned, unable to take another step or muster the will to halt Dad's rampage. I had never witnessed him so consumed by anger, so utterly devoid of the calm and control that defined him.

I already knew it. I was screwed—so fucking screwed.

Dad wrested his hands from Clara's grasp, his gaze fixed on Jacob. He was not going to stop today.

Jacob attempted to speak, but Dad beat him to the punch, both verbally and physically, "How could you fucking do this?! You've known her since she was a child. You despicable filthy bastard! I trusted you! Did you not even once before getting into this shit?!" Another blow landed on Jacob's face, and this time, blood marred his knuckles, mingling with the crimson streak on the corner of Jacob's mouth.

Oh no...

Jacob exhaled heavily, restraining himself, not making a single move. I couldn't decide whether to be grateful that he didn't escalate the violence or to implore him to avoid the blows. If he had joined the fray, this would have indeed turned into a full-blown brawl, far worse than the chaos before me.

"Samuel, look...I'm sorry. I never wanted you to find out like this... but it just happened, alright?" Jacob's voice wavered with the slightest hint of regret, "I know words won't suffice for an explanation, and honestly, there's not much to explain. I have already admitted it was a mistake, I know fucked up but I ended it... just to set things right."

"Set things right? How in the world do you plan to set any shit right after fucking up everything in the first place? First, you lead her on, and then you play the saint by breaking it off to 'fix' everything?!" It seemed that Jacob's response had the unfortunate effect of further enraging my Dad, "Don't even dare to act like you did it for her."

"Look, it's not like—"

"I might have even considered forgiving everything at some point if you genuinely had feelings for her, but you, you heartless, callous bastard! How dare you do that to my daughter? Do you have any idea of how I raised her? None. Not even a soul has been allowed to harm a single strand of her hair, and here you are, tearing her apart to the point where she drowns herself in alcohol to forget the shit you put her through! " Dad shoved Jacob and delivered yet another punishing blow, "Stop hiding behind your lies. You just needed a distraction from your fucking ex, and you found my Evelyn perfect for that. You sick fuck!"

"Samuel, please, let's discuss this somewhere else," Clara made another desperate attempt to stop him.

"Stay the fuck out of it, Clara."

"Samuel, I've already admitted it was a mistake, and I realised it too late. I never wanted to hurt her, but I believed it was for the best," Jacob sighed.