He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 997

Sean stumbled back heavily, barely managing to keep his footing.

He quickly looked up. Standing in front of Scarlett was an incredibly handsome, towering young man. His eyes were hard, resolute, and while not outright hostile, they certainly weren't friendly.

Sean's mind raced. Before coming back, he had squeezed enough information out of old contacts to know exactly what was going on. If he was guessing right, this had to be his new son-in-law, Julian Croft.

He studied the young man for a few seconds, recognizing the faint resemblance to Dominic Croft. That confirmed it.

Instead of flying into a rage over the shove, Sean instantly plastered on a wide, sycophantic smile. "Ah... you must be the Croft boy, right? We met when you were just a kid, though I doubt you remember."

Sean looked at Julian with an air of practiced ease, his eyes gleaming with calculated greed. "I'm thrilled you and my daughter found your way to each other. I'm Sean Bishop, Scarlett's father. We should—"

He extended a hand toward Julian.

But before Julian could even respond, Scarlett shoved past him, radiating absolute fury. "I don't have a father, and you sure as hell don't deserve the title. As for Julian, he doesn't need to know you, and he definitely doesn't need to respect you. Get out. Now. Or I'll have security drag you out by the collar."

Seeing the iron-clad, merciless wall his daughter had put up, Sean felt a flash of anger but forced it down. "Scarlett, I know taking your brother away broke your heart, and your mother's too. But I had my reasons! You were so young, and I just didn't have the resources to care for both of you. I didn't mean to abandon you, I just—"

He tried to play the victim, but the pathetic excuse only threw gasoline on the fire.

"Shut up!" Scarlett roared, her voice echoing through the lobby. "I don't want to hear your pathetic, manufactured excuses! You caused a massive catastrophe, stole all the money, and left me and Mom to face the consequences while you ran off! You abandoned your family, left us drowning in your debt, and took some woman overseas to live the high life! And when the money ran out, you sold your own son! Do you have any shred of humanity left in you?!"

Sean opened his mouth to argue, but Scarlett had completely run out of patience. "Security!"

At her shout, several guards stationed across the lobby immediately sprinted over.

Seeing the imposing men closing in, Sean realized he was outmatched. He scoffed loudly. "Fine. I never expected my own daughter to be this cold-blooded and ungrateful after all these years! Don't bother with the guards. I'm leaving!"

With his hands clasped behind his back, he turned and stormed out, fuming.

Scarlett stood there, clutching her aching chest as she watched him disappear. The sheer weight of those brutal, destitute years she had suffered alongside her mother and brother crashed into her, and hot tears pricked the corners of her eyes.