Falling for my Friend's Father

CHAPTER 10: A BETRAYAL UNFOLDS

Serena became paralyzed all of a sudden, her legs refusing to move. Isla's eyes were fixed on

them, her face evoking emotions Serena had never seen before: hurt, betrayal and disbelief.

Serena opened her mouth, trying to speak but words failed her.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" Isla's voice rang out.

"What is happening? It's a prank right?"

Serena's stomach twisted.

"Isla—" Dominic called but was interrupted.

"Don't." Isla's voice shook as she raised her hand, "Tell me I'm seeing things. Tell me I'm

wrong."

Serena's throat tightened.

She couldn't.

Isla let out a bitter laugh. "Unbelievable. You! You're my best friend" She turned to Dominic, her

eyes burning with anger. "And you, you're my father."

"I know this is a shock, but—" Dominic began.

"A shock?" Isla let out a sharp, humourless laugh. "No. A shock is finding out your dad secretly

owns half the city. This—" Her voice cracked. "This is betrayal.

"I never meant—" Serena started, but Isla turned on her like a storm.

"You never meant to what, Serena?" Isla's voice rose. "Never meant to sneak around behind my

back? Never meant to ruin everything?"

Serena's hands trembled. "Isla, please—"

"No." Isla shook her head, stepping back. "I trusted you. You were supposed to be my best

friend."

Serena couldn't breathe after hearing that.

She wanted to explain. To make Isla understand that she hadn't planned for any of this to

happen. But how could she?

Nothing she said would change the fact that she had crossed a line.

A deep, unforgivable line.

Isla turned back to Dominic, her voice cold. "How long?"

Dominic's jaw tightened.

"How. Long." Isla asked with anger.

There was a long pause before Dominic finally said, "Nothing happened."

Isla let out a harsh laugh. "You expect me to believe that after what my eyes saw?"

Dominic's gaze stayed steady. "I would never hurt you, Isla."

"But you already did." Isla's voice was hollow. "Both of you."

Serena took a step forward, her steps shaky. "Isla, I—"

"Don't." Isla's voice cracked, and Serena could see the hurt behind the anger.

She had broken something between them.

Something that might never be fixed.

Isla shook her head, turned and walked away, without a word.

Serena didn't move.

She couldn't.

Because deep down, she knew—

She had just lost her best friend.

Isla's footsteps faded away leaving nothing silent.

Dominic sighed, his hands ruffling his hair. His looked out of the door into the doorway before

taking his eyes back to Serena.

Ethan's words came to him.

If you're not careful, you'll lose everything, and by everything, I mean Isla.

A bitter laugh nearly escaped his lips. Ethan had been right.

He was losing Isla.

And if he wasn't careful, he'd lose control of himself too.

His sharp gaze locked onto Serena, and his voice came out low, controlled—too controlled.

"Leave."

Serena blinked. "What?"

"Go," he repeated, his jaw tight. "Things you make me do. Leave before I do something I should

not."

The words make her heart race, as shivers run down her spine.

She wants to stay. She wants to see what he would do. She could see the battle in his eyes. But

she has to worry about Isla for now.

This is dangerous.

She swallowed hard, nodding as she stepped back. "Okay."

She turned quickly, slipping out the door without another word.

And for the first time since this started, Dominic let himself feel the weight of what he had done.

What he had ruined.

Did he not only destroy his relationship with his daughter but also destroyed her friendship?

The Sky Lounge was peaceful but Isla's mind was brewing, raging a storm of emotions.

She needed to get out of the house. Away from the estate. Away from the suffocating truth she

had walked into.

So she came here.

She didn't expect to see him again. Is he keeping tabs on her?

Harrison Cole leaned against the bar, his usual smirk in place. "Twice in one week? I'm starting

to think you enjoy my company."

Isla rolled her eyes. "Don't flatter yourself."

But she didn't leave.

Harrison took that as an invitation to slide into the seat across from her. "You look tense."

Isla scoffed. "And you look nosy."

Harrison chuckled. "Can't help it. I have a bad habit of noticing things." He swirled his drink,

watching her closely. "Like how you're clearly pissed off."

Isla sighed, rubbing her temple.

She should have ignored him. She should have left.

But she didn't.

Maybe she just needed to say it out loud.

Maybe if she said it, she'd finally understand what's going on between those two. How didn't she

noticed it? Is that why Serena was avoiding the estate?

"My best friend betrayed me," she muttered before she could stop herself.

Harrison's brows lifted slightly. "Now that's interesting."

Isla cursed under her breath. She shouldn't have said that.

She stood, ready to leave, but Harrison leaned forward. "And let me guess—this betrayal has

something to do with your father?"

She froze.

The amusement in Harrison's eyes sharpened. "Well, well… Now I really want to know."

Isla clenched her jaw. "Forget I said anything."

Harrison tilted his head. "Come on, Isla. I already know your father isn't the saint people think he

is. Just tell me what Serena did."

The way he said her name made Isla stiffen.

He didn't know.

She could still shut this down.

"I never said my best friend's name was Serena. Are you stalking me?"

"I read your interview."

She turned to leave, but Harrison's next words stopped her cold.

"What's her full name?"

Isla didn't think as the words poured out of her mouth. She didn't mean to answer, she only

replied on impulse.

"Serena Carter. Wait, why are you asking?"

The moment the name left her lips, she regretted it.

Harrison stilled.

Then, slowly, his lips curled into something dangerous.

"Carter," he murmured. "As in… Henry Carter?"

Isla's stomach dropped.

She had just handed him exactly what he needed.

Harrison leaned back, grinning widely "Well, isn't this interesting?"

Isla gritted her teeth. "Don't."

"Don't what?" His eyes gleamed. "Use this against your father?"

She glared at him. "I'll tell him. Before you can."

Harrison chuckled. "Good. Then at least he'll be prepared when this all blows up."

Isla turned and stormed out, her heart pounding.

She had made a mistake.

A huge mistake.

And now, she had to fix it.

At the Whitmore estate, Noah leaned against the counter, watching as Clara scrolled through

her phone.

"You sure about this?" he asked.

Clara didn't even look up. "Since when do you care about being sure?"

Noah exhaled sharply. "This isn't just some random gossip. If we leak that photo, it's going to

blow up in ways we can't control."

Clara smirked. "That's the point."

She turned the phone toward him.

There it was. The picture of Henry Carter and Margaret Blackwood.

It wasn't just a casual photo. Who knew the Carters and Blackwoods were close? Why was it

just Henry and Margaret? Where was Dominic and Vivian? Is it just a harmless photo or was it

something more?

Anything it is, the picture only screamed one thing – HISTORY.

And once people saw it?

They'd demand answers.

Noah ran a hand down his face. "If this gets out-"

Clara cut him off. "It's already out."

Noah's stomach dropped as she hit send.

Within seconds, social media exploded.

Henry Carter and Margaret Blackwood-More Than Just Business?

Secrets from the Past Resurface! How Are the Carter and Blackwood Families Connected?

Was Margaret Blackwood Hiding a Scandal Before Her Death?

The headlines spread like wildfire, and with every passing minute, the storm grew.

By morning, neither family would escape the fallout.

Noah watched as the comments flooded in-speculation, accusations, theories spun out of thin air. People dug into old news archives, searching for any past connection between Henry Carter and Margaret Blackwood.

Were they secret business partners?

Was there something more?

Clara smirked, scrolling through the chaos. "This is getting better by the second."

Noah exhaled, a strange weight settling in his chest.

He had wanted the truth to come out.

But now that the world was demanding it, he wasn't sure anyone was ready for what they'd find-or what it would destroy in the process, piece by piece.