Tempting My Best Friend’s Father

Talia POV

"Talia, I'll be honest with you. I'm the one who had you kidnapped."

At my best friend and ex-boyfriend's engagement party, my best friend Serafina leaned close to my ear. Her gentle voice was like a poisoned dagger stabbing straight into my heart.

I stared at her in shock, the champagne in my hand spilling to the floor.

Six months ago, I was kidnapped. In an abandoned warehouse, I lost my first child with Gavin.

Gavin said it was an accident. I was naive enough to believe him.

"I just wanted to teach you a lesson. Who knew you'd be so weak? The baby was just gone like that."

Serafina smiled sweetly, but her eyes were full of malice. "But it's fine. Gavin never loved you anyway. That bastard child shouldn't have existed."

After she finished, she smiled at me, then turned around triumphantly and took the arm of the man at the center of the banquet.

One was my boyfriend, the other my best friend.

Two people I once trusted most were now standing at their engagement party, accepting everyone's blessings.

When Gavin saw me, a flash of panic crossed his face. "Why are you here?"

"Is what she said true?"

My heart felt like it was being sliced by knives as I looked at this man I'd loved for seven whole years. My voice trembled. "Her kidnapping me... you knew about it too?"

I wanted to see a trace of shock on his face, or at least a bit of guilt.

But he only frowned slightly, his eyes showing impatience. "Talia, please stop making a scene! Besides, it's all in the past. Why bring it up?"

He glanced at Serafina beside him, his thin lips parting. "Serafina and I are getting married soon. It's a good thing that baby's gone."

A good thing?

I stared at Gavin in disbelief, unable to believe that as the child's biological father, he could say such a thing.

Overwhelmed by rage, I raised my hand and slapped Gavin across the face.

Gavin looked at me darkly, anger burning in his eyes. "Talia, this is exactly why you can't compare to Serafina. She's elegant and noble, but you're like a shrew!"

The humiliation hit me like a wave. I crouched on the ground in despair, crying uncontrollably.

Gavin and I had been together for seven years, from the University of Bologna through graduation.

During the hardest times, Gavin worked three part-time jobs at once. We'd worry over stacks of utility bills at the end of each month.

But even then, Gavin would still save a little from our tight budget to take me through the old arcades of Piazza Maggiore and order my favorite tiramisu.

"Talia, I'm sorry for making you suffer with me. When I succeed in my career, we'll get married!"

I didn't feel like I was suffering at all. I was full of hope for the future.

I met Serafina when I was working as a salesgirl at a luxury goods counter.

She was dressed head to toe in designer brands, followed by seven or eight bodyguards. As soon as she walked in, all the sales clerks rushed to serve her, but Serafina specifically chose me.

After that, Serafina and I became friends who talked about everything.

That's when I learned that Serafina was the eldest daughter of the Camorra family. The Camorra family had ruled this city for a hundred years, built on gun running and drug trafficking. Both businessmen and politicians feared their name.

At first, Gavin warned me to stay away from Serafina, but then Serafina casually invested millions in his company, completely changing his opinion of her.

I thought Serafina was being so generous because of me. I never imagined that from the very beginning, she was after Gavin.

"Talia, I heard that when you were little, your parents almost sold you to a godfather to be a prostitute. How could a dirty woman like you be worthy of Gavin?" Serafina's face wore a mocking smile.

A cold chill seeped into my bones. I looked at Gavin in shock, not expecting him to have told even this to Serafina.

I was born in a small town, into a devout Catholic family whose faith bordered on fanaticism. My parents were well-known among the local believers.

But their devotion never gave me warmth. Because of the birthmark on my left shoulder, they believed I carried the "mark of the devil."

When I was eight, I witnessed them making a deal with a mafia godfather, preparing to sacrifice me to an elderly man, claiming it would "cleanse my sins."

Just as the godfather was about to take me away, my elderly grandmother rushed in waving her cane and rescued me.

After that, my grandmother took me away from that house. In a small cottage in the countryside, she wove fishing nets while teaching me to read, right up until her last breath.

I'd only told Gavin about this painful memory. I never thought it would become ammunition for Serafina to mock me.

Serafina lifted her chin proudly and rested her head on Gavin's shoulder. "Gavin, let's go. The engagement party is about to start."

Gavin nodded, put his arm around her, and walked away.

And I, his actual girlfriend, was abandoned in an empty corner, forced to watch as my child's biological father looked lovingly at the murderer while placing an engagement ring on her finger.

I clenched my fists tight. A bone-chilling cold swept through my entire body.

For a moment, I wanted to rush up there and tear apart the faces of these two cheaters.

But reason told me I couldn't.

Serafina had the powerful Camorra family behind her. She could have me kidnapped so brazenly.

If I made a scene here, I might not even keep my life.

To bring her down, I needed to find an even more powerful backer.

My gaze moved past the crowd and finally settled on the tall, handsome figure at the back.

He was Jareth Camorra, Serafina's adoptive father and the head of the Camorra family.

He sat quietly at the main table, a cigar between his fingers, his ice-blue eyes radiating an overwhelming presence. Everyone around him treated him with utmost respect.

Rumor had it he was ruthless, a man this city feared.

A wild idea sprouted in my heart.

I drained the champagne in my glass, gathered my courage, and slowly approached Jareth.

Jareth had already put out his cigar and was heading toward the terrace outside the banquet hall.

I smoothed my skirt, took a deep breath, and followed him.

"Don Jareth." I spoke softly.

Jareth turned at the sound, his unfathomable eyes looking me up and down.

"Can I help you?" His voice was deep and magnetic.

I met his gaze and forced what I hoped looked like an innocent, helpless smile. "I... I think I drank too much. I'm not feeling well. Could you take me to a lounge?"

The corner of Jareth's mouth curved up. He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he raised his hand and gently brushed my lip with his fingertip.

He looked at me, his gaze intense. "If I remember correctly, you're Gavin's ex-girlfriend."

My heart sank. He recognized me.

I gave a bitter smile. "As you can see, we've broken up."

"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow. "So you came to find me?"

His question left me speechless.

Jareth took a step forward, his tall figure instantly engulfing me. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Some people are beyond your reach."

His voice was soft but carried an extreme threat.

I bit my lower lip hard. Images of my unborn child and Serafina's smug face flashed through my mind.

“What if I just want to tease you?”