Todos os capítulos de I Can’t Resist My Bestfriend’s Dad : Capítulo 31 - Capítulo 40

I walked into the room carrying the soup, and the sight of him — still in the exact position I’d left him hours earlier — sent a fresh wave of guilt through me. This was on me. I’d promised Bella I’d look after him, and instead I’d let him sit here alone, feverish, because of everything I’d been avoiding.“Marcus,” I said, though my voice came out smaller than I meant it to. “Marcus.”His eyes opened immediately, and I nearly startled — had he heard me come in the whole time? I steadied myself, gripping the tray a little tighter. “I made you soup. Thought it might help.”He gave me a faint smile, the kind that shouldn’t have done anything to me and somehow did anyway. “You didn’t have to,” he said, pushing himself up slightly to sit.“Could I really not, when I’m the reason you look like this?” I set the tray down and, without thinking, reached out to touch his forehead. “Thank God, the fever’s gone down. See? Better already.”He watched me for a moment. “I thought you weren’t coming

When I woke, I was still in bed — and I didn’t have time to piece together the night before, because the first thing that registered was the chest under my cheek. Marcus’s chest. His arms were wrapped around me like he’d been holding on all night, like he thought I might slip away if he let go.I lifted my hand slowly and realized I was wearing his shirt over my dress.He was still asleep, hair falling loosely over his face. I brushed it back without really thinking. “He’s so handsome,” I murmured, and blushed at myself immediately — the phrase felt oddly familiar in my mouth, like I’d said it more than once before, though I couldn’t place when.A knock sounded at the front door, loud enough to cut through the quiet. I tried to sit up to see who it was, but his arm tightened around me.“Just rest,” he mumbled, still half-asleep. “Please don’t move. You didn’t sleep at all last night — stay here.”He pulled me back against him, and I let myself smile. What exactly had I put him through

I went downstairs, trying to compose myself, fighting to keep the grin off my face before I reached the bottom step. Maya was on her phone — trying to call me, apparently — and looked up the second she spotted me.“There you are,” she said, dropping her hands with a huff of disappointment.I crossed the room to her. “Where have you been? I checked everywhere — your bathroom, your bedroom.”“I was in the study,” I said.“I checked there too.”“The study’s bathroom,” I added quickly. “Did you check there?” If she had, I’d have been caught out entirely.“No, actually, I didn’t,” she said, and I let out a breath of relief I hoped she didn’t notice. The last thing I needed was her connecting the dots back to Ella’s room.“Okay,” she said, brightening. “At the meeting, they took us shopping and I got a new dress.” She smiled, clearly pleased with herself. “Turn around — let me slip it on and show you.”I looked away, genuinely uninterested in watching her change, though I did glance back ev

I stepped out of my room, checking every corner, in no rush to bump into that man. I snuck downstairs — only to be stopped short by the sight of the two of them already at the dining table, Maya sipping tea across from Marcus.“Good morning, Ella,” Maya said. Her whole attitude toward me had changed overnight, and I couldn’t work out why — maybe she’d heard I had a boyfriend, or something along those lines.“Good morning, Maya,” I said, then turned. “Good morning, Marcus,” I added, trying to hide the grin threatening to break through.“Good morning too, Ella,” he said. “Come join us. Maya made this for us.”“She did?”“I did,” Maya said as I sat down. “Someone has to take care of Marcus — he’s like my little child. I couldn’t just wake up and let him starve without his tea.”I scoffed quietly to myself, gripping my cup a little too tight.“Marcus, do you want me to add sugar for you?” she asked, every bit the caring wife.What is this now — does the man not have hands of his own?“No,

I held onto him tightly, still sniffling as tears continued rolling down my cheeks.“I might not have been your friend for as long as she has. I might not be as rich or as successful as Maya…” My voice cracked. “Please… just don’t go.”Without saying a word, he gently pulled me closer before lifting me by my waist and carrying me to stand on the couch. He carefully put me down, and now we were face to face.“What are you talking about?” he asked softly. “I’m confused.”I rubbed my watery eyes.“Don’t pretend. I know you’re here to pick up your clothes and leave with her… to the States.”Then I reached out and held his hand.“Please…”“Elle,” he called gently, almost as if he was the one begging.My heart skipped.It was the first time he had ever called me that.“Are you sure you’re pleading with the right person?” he asked quietly.I frowned in confusion.He smiled faintly before continuing.“Me… the man who becomes restless whenever you’re upset with me? Me… who calls your name in