My Dad's Bestfriend novel Chapter 74

Jacob

I watched as she ran into the mansion, her cheeks stained with tears and her eyes red, that had fucking told me that I'd torn her apart with the betrayal. Forget about Danica; I was the bigger traitor here. I shattered the promises I had sworn never to break. I uttered words, fully aware that they would mercilessly crush her heart.

Damn it! All along, I knew it was the wrong path to take, yet my own doubts propelled me forward— I ended up fucking up everything, anways. Now, I found myself without Evelyn, without the friendship I tried to save, and worse, the losses and pain I had desperately tried to shield her from were inevitable.

She just went through it....right before my damn eyes and I being the fucking looser, just stood still all the time.

I should never have did what Danica had told me however, my own fucking insecurities drove me into this shit.

But I just wanted her to be...happy. That was my only desire— all the way along. I'd thought it could have saved her from a lot of pain with just a heartbreak that might have healed soon. But would it ever heal? Shit! I did not know.

Her eyes didn't say so...

"Wow!" Samuel let out, disbelief etched across his face. "Do you two fucking think life is some kind of film? Oh sorry, my bad— do you two fucking think that my daughter's life is some sort of movie? Where you could make a special appearance all of a sudden, sway her with your charms and then, Danica you can jump into the story and choose sick twisted ways to add more to it? " His gaze darted from me to Danica, "And, what the fuck did you have in your mind when you planned to make this asshole dump my daughter? Clearly when you knew he had led her on, they had taken it far enough to allow her feelings to grow and shit. Do you have any idea of what you have done?!"

"Samuel... I thought I was doing what was best."

"God! You're unbelievable. Who the hell gave you the right to make such a decision regarding my daughter without ever letting me in on the truth first?!"

"I can make decisions for her too, Samuel. She's my daughter as well."

Then, what I'd least expected occurred. Samuel fucking exploded.

"No, she fucking isn't! When did you even remember that, apart from being a woman striving to build your career, you're also a mother?! I never wanted to say this, but, Danica, you've never played the role of being her mother. You didn't remember that you were her mother when you missed her school events, her birthdays, her victories, and her milestones like learning to ride a bicycle for the first time and jumping up and down in joy as if that's everything she'd ever wanted. That happiness, those smiles.....You were absent from every special moment in her life," he shouted, his voice trembling, "God, you weren't even there to scold her when she had her first stupid boyfriend. Do you even know why Evelyn believes we separated? She still thinks it was my business failure that made you pack your bags and leave. Did you ever try to explain the truth to her? Did you, Danica?"

"Samuel, please, let's not..." Clara spoke up, noticing the pained expression on Danica's face.

Clearly, Danica was taken aback by Samuel's sudden outburst – this was a first. I knew it. Even when they separated, it had all been done calmly, even though it was what Danica wanted—just her. She fell out of love first, and Samuel, being himself, didn't stop her or try to trap her in an unwanted relationship.

He did the sacrifice easily because he got Evelyn. She was everything to him.

"I know I've made mistakes, Samuel. I got too caught up in trying to build my career, but that doesn't mean I don't love my daughter," tears welled up in her eyes, "I love her. You know I send her gifts every Christmas, but she never opens even one of them! I've tried calling her, talking to her, bridging the gap, but Evelyn never opens up. She puts all the blame on me and...you? What did you do? Did you ever try to fix it?"

"Fix it? I've been trying my entire life to mend things between you and Evelyn, Danica, but nothing can happen if you don't try yourself. And Christmas gifts? She didn't want gifts or expensive electronics; she wanted you! She wanted her mother by her side. And phone calls? She didn't want phone calls; she wanted to meet you, to have you beside her, maybe not all the time but just once or twice a month! It wasn't that hard, was it? But you messed it up yourself, and by the time you genuinely started to try, everything had fallen so far out of line that it couldn't be fixed. Those phone calls you are talking about— you started that way later than you should have!" he spat. "I'm sorry to say this, but you failed as a mother back then, and today you have failed as a mother again."

Tears streamed down Danica's face, "Yes... I think I am a failed mother. You are right," She wiped her tears, her voice shaking, "I should've never tried to re-enter her life after making those mistakes, and I should have never hoped for my daughter to... not go through the same regrets you and I did. You are right... I am a failed mother," and with that, she left, sobbing.

I was utterly fed up with their shit at this point.