Chapter 2: Forbidden Desires For My Best Friend's Dad

Isabella's POV

I shoved the last suitcase into the back of my car and slammed the trunk shut with a loud bang.

The sound echoed through the quiet parking garage, making me flinch slightly.

My entire body felt exhausted.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

I leaned against the car for a moment and closed my eyes.

Everything still replayed in my head like a nightmare I couldn’t escape from.

Stephen’s hands are on her body.

Her moans.

The betrayal in his eyes when he realized he had been caught.

A painful ache spread through my chest again.

I quickly wiped the tears gathering in my eyes.

“No,” I whispered to myself firmly. “Enough crying.”

I had already wasted too many tears on Stephen Brock.

I refused to let him destroy me completely.

Taking a deep breath, I got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The drive from London to Cornwall was going to take hours, but honestly, I needed the distance.

I needed to get away from everything that reminded me of him.

The city.

The company.

The memories.

I pulled out of the garage and drove into the busy afternoon traffic.

For the first hour, I tried focusing on the road.

But my mind refused to stay quiet.

Every memory came crashing into me one after another.

The first time Stephen kissed me.

The way he looked at me was like I was the only woman in the world.

The nights we stayed awake planning the future of Brock Enterprises.

Our future.

God, I had been such a fool.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

I had given that man everything.

My trust.

My love.

My money.

After my parents died, I inherited enough money to live comfortably for the rest of my life. Instead of protecting it, I handed most of it to Stephen because I believed in him.

Believed in us.

Now look at me.

Heartbroken.

Humiliated.

Betrayed.

My grip tightened around the steering wheel.

“No,” I muttered again.

I couldn’t fall apart now.

Stephen might have broken my heart, but I refused to let him ruin my life too.

He was going to pay for what he did to me.

I didn’t know how yet.

But he would.

The thought gave me a strange sense of comfort as I continued driving.

Hours passed slowly.

The busy streets of London eventually disappeared behind me, replaced by quieter roads, beautiful countryside, and endless green landscapes.

The farther I drove, the lighter my chest began to feel.

Not healed.

Never healed.

But lighter.

Cornwall was beautiful.

I rolled down the window slightly, letting the cool breeze brush against my skin.

For the first time since catching Stephen cheating, I felt like I could finally breathe again.

Maybe Amelia was right.

Maybe I did need this trip.

Maybe I needed silence.

Isolation.

Space to think.

By the time I finally entered Cornwall, night had already fallen.

The town looked peaceful and almost magical under the soft glow of streetlights.

Small cafés lined the streets.

Beautiful cottages sat quietly near the cliffs.

The sound of distant waves crashing against rocks filled the air softly.

It was completely different from London.

And honestly…

I loved it immediately.

A small smile appeared on my lips as I followed the directions Amelia had sent me earlier.

Her family’s holiday home was located in one of the most expensive private areas in Cornwall.

Of course it was.

Amelia Blackwood came from billionaire wealth.

Her father, Sebastian Blackwood, was one of the richest businessmen in England.

The Blackwood family effectively controlled nearly half the country.

Even though Amelia never acted spoiled, her lifestyle always reminded people of her family's true wealth.

After driving for a few more minutes, I finally reached the property.

My breath caught instantly.

“Oh my God…”

The house was massive.

No.

House wasn’t even the right word.

It looked more like a luxury mansion, sitting proudly near the cliffs that overlooked the ocean.

The modern glass walls reflected the moonlight beautifully while soft golden lights glowed from inside.

The place looked expensive.

Elegant.

Powerful.

I slowly parked the car in front of the mansion and stepped outside.

The cool ocean breeze immediately hit my face.

The atmosphere was calm and peaceful.

Exactly what I needed.

I grabbed my suitcase from the trunk and walked toward the front entrance.

Amelia had told me where she usually kept the spare key.

I reached beneath the flower pot near the door.

Nothing.

I frowned.

Then I checked the small decoration beside the stairs.

Still nothing.

“Seriously, Amelia?” I muttered tiredly.

I searched around for another minute before finally giving up.

Maybe the housekeeper that she told me comes in every month had moved it.

With a sigh, I grabbed the door handle absentmindedly.

The door opened immediately.

I froze.

“What the…”

A strange feeling settled in my stomach.

The house wasn’t empty.

Slowly, I stepped inside.

The mansion was even more beautiful from the inside.

Everything screamed luxury.

But something immediately caught my attention.

A half-filled wine glass sat on the coffee table.

Beside it was an open bottle of wine.

My heartbeat quickened slightly.

Someone was here.

Confused, I slowly closed the door behind me.

Maybe Amelia forgot to mention someone else was staying here.

Before I could think further, I suddenly heard footsteps upstairs.

My body stiffened immediately.

The footsteps grew closer.

Then finally…

A man appeared at the top of the staircase.

And my entire brain stopped functioning.

Sebastian Blackwood.

Holy hell.

Water droplets slowly slid down his bare chest as he descended the stairs calmly.

His dark wet hair looked slightly messy like he had just stepped out of the shower moments ago.

A white towel hung low around his waist.

Very low.

My throat instantly went dry.

Dear God.

I had always known Amelia’s father was attractive.

Actually, attractive was an understatement.

The man was dangerously handsome.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Sharp jawline.

Dark intense eyes.

And now standing in front of me half naked?

It should have been illegal.

I completely forgot how to breathe.

My eyes shamelessly traveled over his muscular chest before quickly snapping back to his face.

Unfortunately, he noticed.

One corner of his lips lifted slightly.

“ Isabella.”

His deep voice sent warmth rushing through my body embarrassingly fast.

I swallowed hard.

“Yes Mr Blackwood …”

Wonderful.

Now I sounded breathless too.

Mr Blackwood slowly continued walking downstairs while staring directly at me.

The tension in the room suddenly felt unbearable.

“I didn’t know Amelia invited someone over,” he said calmly.

“I-I didn’t know anyone was here either.”

His eyes moved slowly over my body, making my skin heat instantly.

“I can leave if this is a bad time,” I said quickly.

Sebastian stopped directly in front of me.

Way too close.

The fresh scent of soap and expensive cologne surrounded him.

“No,” he said quietly. “You’re already here.”

My heartbeat became dangerously fast.

God.

This man was intimidating.

Not because he was rude.

But because his presence alone filled the entire room effortlessly.

I suddenly became very aware of how short my dress was.

And how exhausted I looked after crying half the day.

Sebastian glanced toward my suitcase.

“You drove all the way from London?”

I nodded.

“That’s a long drive.”

“I needed to get away.”

Something flickered briefly across his expression like he understood exactly what I meant.

Then his gaze softened slightly.

“Amelia mentioned your breakup but she didn’t tell me you were coming over.”

Embarrassment rushed through me immediately.

Of course, she told him.

They had the best father and daughter relationship with her dad as an only child.

I looked away awkwardly. “I’m sorry if this is inconvenient.”

“It isn’t.”

Silence filled the room for a moment.

And somehow, the silence felt intimate.

Dangerously intimate.

My eyes accidentally dropped to his chest again where water still glistened against his skin.

God help me.

I quickly looked away before he caught me staring again.

Too late.

A low amused chuckle escaped his lips.

Heat flooded my cheeks instantly.

“I’ll uh… just take my bags upstairs,” I mumbled quickly.

I bent down to grab my suitcase.

But before I could lift it, He reached for it first.

Our hands brushed slightly.

A sharp shiver ran through my entire body.

His dark eyes lifted slowly toward mine.

And the way he looked at me in that moment…

It didn’t feel fatherly.

Not even close.

My breath caught painfully in my throat.

Then Mr Blackwood stepped even closer and said softly,

“Careful, Isabella.”

I frowned slightly.

“Careful of what?”

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes.

“Me.”

My heart stopped.

And before I could respond—

His phone suddenly rang loudly upstairs.

But neither of us moved.

Neither of us looked away.

Because somehow…

Everything had just changed