《Owned By My Best Friend's Father》全部章節：第 71 章 - 第 80 章

LEAH POV"Leah," Damien says in a low voice, "Tell me everything. Right now."I freeze in the hallway with my purse still tightly clutched in my hands, my heart beating very fast.Emily stands a few feet away, her face pale as she sets the mug down.I forced a shaky smile at him” It's nothing, just…family stuff I am fine. I need to get home. My voice comes out barely above a whisper.I turn towards the door “ I should go, my Mom is waiting and..”Damien moves faster than I expect, stepping forward and grabbing my arm. He winces but doesn't let go.“Leah…Wait” he forces out the words despite the pain.I tug my hands trying to free myself from his hold but his grip is tight. "It's nothing, Damien. I swear… I can handle it. You don't need to get involved."Emily steps closer "Leah, you look like you're about to cry. Please. Just tell him."I shake my head. My eyes were fixed on the door. “I'm fine…I promise….it's not a big deal. I'll figure it out on my own. You both have enough to worry

LEAH POVAfter Mom brings the tea she sets them on the kitchen table I hold her for a long time after Damien steps out. Her body keeps shaking against mine and she's not crying anymore probably because she is out of tears but her breaths keep coming in uneven hitches.“Mom,” I say quietly. “Come sit on the couch”She lets me guide her from the kitchen table to the couch. There are blankets and sweaters on it, I push them aside and we sit.Emily hovers by the counter,she looks lost, she wants to help but she doesn't know how to."Emily," I say. "Can you get her some water? Fresh water."She nods and moves to the cupboard, pulling out a glass. The faucet runs for a few seconds before she turns it off as the cup fills. She sets it in front of MomMom doesn't drink, she just keeps staring at the glass like it might have answers to Sophie's whereabouts."Leah," she whispers. "Where is she? Where is my baby?"I kneel in front of her chair and take her hands but they are too cold for spring.

LEAH POVWe get in and Damien begins to drive us back home, Sophie doesn't speak throughout the drive.She curls up against me in the back seat, her fingers holding the fabric of my shirt tightly.Every few minutes her body jerks and her eyes close despite her efforts to keep them open.“You can sleep,” I whisper as I stroke her hair. “I am not going anywhere.”She shakes her head against my shoulder, tightening her grip on me.I lower my voice. “When we get home, do not tell Mom it was Victor ok?. Just say you did not recognize him. Can you do that for me please?”Sophie sits up and looks at me, her eyes are red and filled with exhaustion.“Why?” she whispers.“Because she cannot handle it right now…it would be too much for her and she might blame herself .”She holds my gaze for a moment before nodding and putting her head back on my shoulders.Damien continues to drive in silence despite the pain, his knuckles are white on the steering wheel but he doesn't slow downI do not know

LEAH POVGetting to the boutique took me thirty minutes, when I pushed open the door the smell of new fabric and steam hit me.The doorbell jingles making Elana look up from the register,she takes one look at my face and doesn't say anything for a second."Rough night?" she asks."Something like that." She nods towards the back. “We have new shipments and the dresses need steaming and hanging.”I turn and disappear into the stockroom, thankful for a task that doesn't require human interaction because I am not ready for it.The steamer hisses as I go through dress after dress, watching the creases fall out and the fabric smoothens.My hands work but my mind is still stuck somewhere in that warehouse, watching the fear in her eyes.My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out to check and see a message from Damien “You made it?" “Yes” I respond almost immediately “Good. How are you holding up?”How am I holding up? The best way I know how, trying hard not to think about anything and j

ETHAN POVDerek's eyes widened. "Cross? As in Damien Cross? The guy who basically owns half this city?""Yeah." I run a hand through my hair. "He keeps showing up everywhere, one time when we went for dinner he crashed it… He's literally everywhere. His excuse each time is that she is his daughter's best friend so he needs to keep her safe.”Mateo whistles "Damn. That's messy."“Yeah I know and it hurts that she keeps shutting me out every time I ask,she keeps saying she's fine or she has a family emergency but I know she's not fine and I want to help. She's terrified of something and he's right in the middle of it” I sigh Leo sets his beer down. "So what are you gonna do about it?"A fresh glass of whiskey is set before me, and I lean in wrapping both hands around it. The memory of that night flashes through my mind.She and I on the blanket under the stars, the whole city gleaming beneath us, and the way her eyes sparkled when I gave her that pendant and the kiss we shared.I can s