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Chapter One hundred and seventeen
publish date:
2026-05-03 00:15:27
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Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and ninety eight
DAMIEN'S POV I don't know how long I will stay on the floor. Hours may be longer. The penthouse is dark and silent except for the distant hum of the city outside. The shattered glass is still on the floor where I dropped it, the whiskey pooling around my shoes and soaking into the carpet When I finally stand up my legs are stuff from lying on the cold floor and my aches. My knuckles are raw and bleeding from hitting the wall earlier,I walk to the bar on unsteady legs and pour another glass. My hand shakes so badly I spill half of it across the counter, the whiskey burns going down and I welcome the pain because it's something real, something I can feel besides the crushing weight in my chest. Then I pace. Back and forth, back and forth, the penthouse feels like a cage with the walls closing in with every step, the ceiling pressing down on me until I can't breathe. I stop at the window and stare out at the city lights glittering below, indifferent and bright, as nothing has
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and ninety seven
LEAH'S POV They shoved me back into the room after what felt like hours in that other room where I learned that my screams don't matter. I stumble through the doorway and my knees buckle. But before I hit the ground mom is there, she catches me and lowers me down gently, cradling my head before it hits the ground. She's on her knees beside me, her hands everywhere, my face, my shoulders, my arms, my chest. "Oh my baby" she cries, her voice breaking "Oh my baby, look at me. Leah, look at me. What did they do to you? What did they do to my baby?" I try to look at her and tell her I'm okay, everything is fine but everything is blurry and everything hurts. Her fingers touch my split lip and they come away red. She sucks in a sharp breath. "No, no, no. Leah, please. Please open your eyes. Please stay with me." She was crying and I could hear it in her voice as she pulled me into her lap and held me against her chest rocking me back and forth like I'm a little child. She can undo
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and ninety six
EMILY'S POVI don't know where I'm going. I just drove out.The penthouse disappears in my rearview mirror and I press the gas harder. Tears blur my vision but I don't wipe them away, I can't cause my hands are shaking too much to take them off the wheel.I drive until the fuel gauge dips dangerously low and I pull into the first parking lot I see. It's a small twenty-four-hour café on the outskirts of the city, I sit in the dark car and stare at nothing.The words keep replaying in my head.I hate you, Dad.I meant it. I meant every word.If I hadn't been so angry at her. If I hadn't pushed her away maybe she wouldn't have gone to that house alone. Maybe she would have stayed with me, she would be safe right now.I grab my phone from the passenger seat... I scroll through my contacts and stop at Jeremy's name. I don't want to be alone right now but I can't go back to the penthouse and I can't face anyone else.I pressed the call button He answers on the first ring. "Emily?""Hey"
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and ninety five
DAMIEN'S POV The walk of shame back into the Cross Tower is a hollow blur. The media already updated the television monitors in the executive lobby. Bold red banners flash across the bottom of the screens: CROSS EMPIRE CRUMBLES: MOGUL DAMIEN CROSS SUFFERS PSYCHOLOGICAL BREAKDOWN AFTER ASSET FREEZE. They think I'm losing my mind because the feds locked my accounts. They have no idea what real loss feels like. I stood at the podium for the second time today. The flashlights are an unrelenting white strobe that makes my head ache as they keep taking pictures. The reporters are screaming, shoving microphones toward my face. "Mr. Cross! Is it true your corporate assets are officially frozen?" "Are you stepping down as CEO Damien?" I grip the sides of the dark wood until my knuckles go white. I look directly into the center of the primary news camera knowing he is watching every detail. Knowing Leah might see it. "I am here to correct my earlier emotional statements" I say in a f
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and ninety four
DAMIEN'S POVI slam my foot down on the accelerator and weave the sports car through morning traffic. The engine purrs as I push it past its limits and the speedometer climbs higher. I don't slow down for red lights. I don't slow down for anything. Every second is a second she's still in that nightmare.The digital dashboard glows against the dimming morning sky and the coordinates Marcus sent are still lit up on the screen.I'm coming, Leah. Just hold on.Suddenly the central screen flashes a bright red notification. A high-priority encrypted email alert from Marcus. Right beneath it a series of urgent text messages pop up.My phone buzzes violently in the cup holder. I glance down and my heart freezes as I read the words scrolling across the screen.ASSET FREEZE CONFIRMED. LEGAL PROXIES EXECUTED BY REYES LAWYERS. BOARD VOTED. ALL CORPORATE AND PERSONAL ACCOUNTS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE ARE ZEROED."Fuck!" I roar and slam my palm against the steering wheel hard enough to leave a dent.
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and ninety three
DAMIEN'S POV The days that follow are hell. I don't sleep. I barely eat. Every time I close my eyes, I see Leah's face on that video. Every time I open them, I'm surrounded by lawyers, board members, and reporters who all want a piece of me. The pressure is suffocating. The board is still demanding answers. The federal investigators are still digging. The media is still tearing my reputation apart piece by piece and somewhere out there, Leah is waiting for me to save her. I'm sitting in my office at Cross Tower, the sun barely rising over the city, when I make the decision. I pick up my phone and call Marcus. "Release a statement," I say. "I'm holding a press conference. Noon. At the tower." "Sir, are you sure? The media is going to tear you apart." "Let them. I need to control the narrative. I need to buy us time." "Understood. I'll make the calls." I end the call and stare at the city below. The glass towers glitter in the morning light, but all I can see is her face. All
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and seventy four
DAMIEN'S POVThe car pulls away from Leah's building but I don't look back. If I look back I might tell Marcus to turn around and I can't afford that right now.Sophie saw everything.The thought sits heavy in my chest. Another person was dragged into this mess. Another person who will look at Leah
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and seventy three
LEAH'S POVSophie didn't move.She stood frozen in the doorway between the living room and the hallway, still in her dance practice clothes… those black leggings she won't stop repeating and an oversized sweatshirt that hung off one shoulder, her hair in a messy bun that had mostly unraveled.Her p
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and seventy one
LEAH'S POVI let out a shaky breath as the word left my lips.For a split second, I felt strangely free — like I had finally done something right after weeks of hiding, lying, and nonsense.No more secrets. Although it was a lie, I am ready to risk it all for my friendship.Will Damien understand r
Owned By My Best Friend's Father Chapter One hundred and seventy
LEAH'S POVThe message sat on my screen for several seconds.Damien: We need to talk. Where can we meet?I stared at it until the screen dimmed, then locked my phone and slipped it into my pocket.I couldn’t do this right now. Not with Emily’s cold, professional gaze still lingering in my mind.I d
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