All Chapters of Ruined: My best friend's father is my new obsession : Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

The water was black at midnight.I told myself it was the heat. The job rejections.The fact that I'd been sleeping three hours a night because the man down the hall was the reason I couldn't breathe.And so I needed a break from everything. So I slipped out of the guest house. No suits. Just me and the pool.The stone path was still warm under my bare feet, holding the day's heat like a secret. I didn't bother to take a towel or a robe because no one else would be awake. Chloe had gone to bed hours ago after a long call about flower arrangements, and Dominic.... well he kept to his wing of the house and so it was no problem.I stepped out of my sleep shorts and tank top at the edge of the water and left them in a careless pile.I then slid into the water without a splash. It closed over me like silk, black, and absolute. I swam the length of the pool in long, quiet strokes, letting the cold strip away the day's failure and another interview that ended with a polite smile and a "We'l

Chloe showed up the next morning with a notebook and a determined smile.“Okay, operation Find Dad a Date is officially open,” she said, dropping onto my bed like she owned it. “I made a list of possibilities. You’re going to help me narrow it down.”I sat up, hair a mess, still half-asleep. “Chloe, maybe we should wait. He’s dealing with a lot.”“That’s exactly why he needs a distraction.” She flipped the notebook open. “First one—Margaret from the country club. Forty-two, divorced, owns that boutique downtown. What do you think?”I rubbed my eyes. “I don’t know her.”“Second—Sophia. She runs the foundation he donates to. Smart, elegant, never married. Dad already respects her.”My chest felt tight. “Sounds fine.”Chloe looked up. “You’re supposed to help, not just say ‘fine.’ Come on. You’re good at reading people.”I swung my legs over the side of the bed. “I just woke up.”“Coffee’s in the kitchen. Move.”We spent the next hour at the small table going through names. Every time Ch

Chloe called an emergency family meeting the next morning.I walked into the main living room and found her standing in the center of the rug, phone still in her hand, face glowing.Dominic sat in the armchair near the window. Julian leaned against the fireplace with his arms crossed. Both of them looked at her like they already knew something was coming.“I have news,” Chloe said.Dominic’s voice was calm. “What kind of news?”She took a breath and smiled so wide it almost hurt to look at. “I’m engaged.”The room went completely still.Julian was the first to speak. “To who?”“Marcus. We’ve been talking for months. He asked last night. I said yes.” She held up her hand. A simple diamond caught the light.Dominic stood slowly. “Chloe.”“I know it’s fast,” she said, still smiling. “But it feels right. And I want the wedding here. At the estate. In one week.”My stomach dropped.Dominic’s face didn’t change, but something in his eyes went cold. “One week.”“Yes. Small. Just family and c