My Best Friend's Dad Married Me

When the boy I had loved in silence for five years dropped to one knee and proposed to the very girl who had bullied me, the entire room burst into laughter at my expense.

"That fat, ugly Lydia Prescott actually thinks she has a shot with a mafia boss?"

In a single night, I became the city's favorite punchline. I fled in humiliation.

The next time I appeared, I had transformed. The weight was gone, and so was the ridicule. I stunned everyone into silence.

Miles Calloway begged through tears for another chance, but I simply slipped my arm through the arm of the mafia godfather beside me and smiled.

"Sorry. I'm married."

The man rumored to be cold-blooded and untouchable pulled me closer and declared with chilling certainty, "Lydia is my wife."

The room erupted.

Only my best friend, Annie Sinclair, gasped, "Lydia, you seriously locked down my dad?"

......

"Eight tonight. Seaview Crest Hotel ballroom. Dress nice."

When a message from Miles, my childhood friend I'd been secretly in love with for five long years, popped up, my heart stuttered in my chest.

He had been acting strangely secretive lately, constantly preparing something, even asking about my preferences more than once. I let myself indulge in a fragile hope. Was he finally going to confess?

I put on my prettiest dress and arrived early, nerves twisting in my stomach.

Only to find Tessa Hawthorne clinging to Miles's arm, her body angled close in intimate familiarity.

"Well, if it isn't Lydia. All dressed up like this... Don't tell me you thought Miles was confessing to you?"

"Dream on. Look at yourself. Do you seriously think Miles would ever choose you? The only one worthy of him is Tessa."

Tessa blushed and waved a hand coyly. "Don't say that. Lydia is technically the mafia princess, after all."

They didn't take it seriously at all. If anything, they only laughed louder.

"Her dad's been dead for years. Mafia princess? Please."

"If anyone here's a princess, it's Tessa."

Their mockery burned. I instinctively looked to Miles, silently begging him to defend me.

Instead, I caught the flicker of irritation and disgust in his eyes.

He looked away almost immediately, his expression softening as he leaned in to whisper something in Tessa's ear.

It felt like a needle had pierced my heart.

The roses, the lavish decorations, the bold, passionate proposal. None of it had ever been meant for me.

I was nothing more than a clown who had wandered into someone else's fairy tale.

My vision blurred, but I stubbornly remained where I stood, refusing to accept what was unfolding.

How painfully ironic.

The man who had promised my dying father he would protect me for life was now kneeling before the girl who had humiliated me.

The ache in my chest made it hard to breathe.

But I didn't even have the courage to question him. Compared to the radiant, confident Tessa, I truly was fat and ugly.

The moment Miles dropped to one knee before her, I broke. I turned and fled.

But once I escaped, I realized I had nowhere to go.

Home?

The thought of Miles's disgust, Tessa's taunts, and the servants' whispers made that house feel suffocating.

I wandered the streets in a daze until my best friend Annie found me.

"Lydia, are you okay? Miles crossed every line! He knew you liked him. He led you on for so long and then turned around and proposed to Tessa?"

She was furious on my behalf and insisted I stay with her.

"My dad's out of town this month anyway. Stay at my place. No point going back and putting up with those two."

Annie's kindness broke the dam inside me. All the humiliation and grief I had been holding back poured out at once.

When I was fifteen, my father died in a family conflict. Before he passed, he entrusted me to the mafia leader he had personally elevated, Miles.

From then on, Miles became my strongest shield. For seven years, he protected me.

And somewhere along the way, I fell in love with him.

Everyone knew about my feelings. Miles never openly acknowledged them, but he never rejected me either. In fact, he often favored me in ways that felt dangerously close to affection.

Until Tessa appeared. She targeted me deliberately, weaving lies and schemes until she won his trust.

He began choosing her over me. Again and again.

Until, in the end, he surrendered to her completely.

I trembled in Annie's arms as I cried, sinking into the haze of heartbreak. I had no appetite and barely touched food.

After who knew how many days like that, Annie couldn't stand it anymore. She dragged me out shopping, determined to distract me.

"Lydia, you've got great features. Your face is delicate, your skin's flawless. You only gained weight because of the medication when you were sick. Now that you've slimmed down a little, you already look amazing. Dress up properly and you'll outshine Tessa. Let Miles regret everything."

I stared blankly at my reflection. My face looked ashen and worn, but my body was no longer as heavy as before. Clothes that used to cling now hung loosely on me.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips. In just one month, I had reduced myself to this over a man.

Miles didn't love me. Did that mean I couldn't live without him?

No. My gaze slowly hardened. I would live better than ever.

"Forget him. That jerk has no taste. Even if he regrets it, we don't want him back. You deserve better, Lydia."

Annie was still fuming on my behalf. She swore she would help me glow up and marry the best man in the world.

"If you ask me, a real man should meet my dad's standards. Rich, good-looking, disciplined. If it weren't for the age gap, I'd totally set you up with him."

The more outrageous she became, the faster I cut her off.

Annie's adoptive father was the current mafia godfather.

A man who stood at the very top, who held countless lives in his hands. Even with a hundred times more courage, I wouldn't dare imagine something like that.

That night, Annie dragged me out for drinks to vent.

But after just one glass, my head was already spinning.

Annie's tolerance wasn't much better. Before long, she ran to the restroom to throw up.

I rested my head on the table alone when my phone rang.

"Lydia, you've been gone a month. Getting bold now? Over one text message, how long are you planning to keep this up?"

The familiar accusation. I could almost see Miles frowning with that dark, displeased expression.

"Tessa feels so guilty because of you that she's gotten sick. Come home immediately and apologize to her."

I tightened my grip on the phone until my fingers went numb from the pressure.

So my absence for a whole month didn't worry him. But the moment Tessa pretended to be sick, he called to pressure me into apologizing.

Bitterness flooded my chest, followed by a surge of anger.

"Miles, I'm not coming back."

Miles clearly hadn't expected me, who had always been obedient, to defy him like this. He let out a cold laugh, barely suppressing his anger.

"Fine, Lydia. Don't come back ever again if you're so capable. But don't forget, your father's inheritance is still in my hands."

Using my father's inheritance as leverage was his usual tactic. But this time, I refused to be controlled.

"Mr. Calloway, I'll be graduating soon. After that, my father's estate won't require your management."

I hung up. My face was already wet with tears.

A handkerchief suddenly appeared in front of me.

Startled, I realized a man had been standing beside me.

He was taller than Miles, and his presence was far more commanding.

Maybe Miles had angered me past reason. A reckless thought burst into my mind.

"Will you marry me?"

The man seemed startled. He said nothing for a long moment.

He must have thought I was insane.

"I knew it," I murmured bitterly. "A woman like me, fat and unattractive... no one would ever like me."

"As long as you're willing to marry, I'll marry you."

His voice was low, yet it struck my ears like thunder.

My eyes flew open. In an instant, my mind cleared.

I finally saw his face clearly.

It was Dominic Sinclair.

The current mafia godfather. And Annie's adoptive father.

Shock left me speechless. My thoughts were in complete chaos.

The next thing I knew, I was sitting inside a car.

The heater warmed the air, and the alcohol clouded my mind again.

In my haze, I reached toward the nearest source of warmth and leaned in. He pushed me back, as if trying to restrain me.

I struggled and clung to him like an octopus.

I vaguely heard him sigh.

"Lydia, do you even know who I am?"

A warm kiss landed gently against my cheek.

The next morning, I woke up sore all over.

Fragments of last night rushed back into my mind.

Miles and Tessa's engagement party. The liquor at the bar that burned down my throat. My reckless proposal.

And the heated entanglement inside the car. The forceful kisses. That overwhelming, almost devouring possessiveness...

My cheeks burned violently.

I had slept with Dominic?

The untouchable mafia godfather. My best friend's adoptive father?

I let out a strangled groan and looked around. The unmistakably masculine bedroom, the soreness in my body, all forced me to accept reality.

I turned on my phone. It was flooded with missed calls and messages from Miles.

"Lydia, I'm giving you one hour. Get back here. Otherwise I'm freezing your cards."

"Fine. You want to keep this up? Let's see how long you last once your cards are shut off."

As expected, in his eyes everything I did was childish drama.

I swallowed the bitterness and deleted every message without replying.

I got out of bed and studied the unfamiliar room. Dominic seemed to have already left.

A note lay on the table, written in bold, sweeping handwriting.

"There's an issue within the family. I had to rush back to handle it."

Relief washed over me.

At least I didn't have to face him right now. That would have been mortifying.

"Everything you might need has been prepared. This is my private number. If you're missing anything, call me directly."

Below it was a string of numbers.

Before I finished reading, my phone suddenly rang, startling me.

Annie's name flashed across the screen.

The moment I saw her name, guilt surged through me.

I had slept with her father. How was I supposed to face her?

I stared at her name on the screen, my fingertips icy.

Only when the call was about to disconnect did I gather the courage to answer.

"Annie, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. I was drunk last night, I-"

Before I could finish, Annie's furious voice burst through the speaker.

"I heard Miles froze your cards. Who does he think he is-wait, Lydia, why are you apologizing to me? We were both drunk last night. Luckily my dad's people brought us back. Hey, but why didn't I see you this morning?"

Hearing her defend me warmed my chest.

But when she mentioned last night, guilt choked me into silence.

Just as I struggled to speak, Annie suddenly shrieked.

"Oh my God, Lydia! My dad just transferred me a huge amount of money! He even texted me saying he's taking you on vacation. Since when are you and my dad this close? I heard he came back last night. Don't tell me it was love at first sight?"

My heart jolted. I hadn't expected Dominic to be so direct. How was I supposed to explain this?

I steeled myself and shut my eyes. Maybe I should just confess. Things had already gone this far.

I gathered my courage and started to say, "Annie, actually, your dad and I-"

But Annie's carefree voice cut in again.

"Who cares what he's thinking? The money's here. Perfect timing since you're heartbroken. I'll take you on a trip to clear your head. Wait, what were you saying? Never mind. Where are you? I'll come find you. We'll talk in person."

Interrupted, all my courage evaporated.

When Annie said she was coming over, I glanced at the house filled with Dominic's presence and panicked.

"No. Let's just meet at the hospital entrance. Aren't you supposed to come with me to see the doctor?"

Annie sounded confused but agreed quickly.

I freshened up, put on the clothes Dominic had prepared for me, and went to meet her.

Annie was still furious about Miles's behavior. Only when she saw that I looked normal did she relax.

"Lydia, don't overthink it. When my dad gets back, I'll make sure he teaches Miles and Tessa a lesson. They've got some nerve bullying my best friend."

Hearing her mention Dominic stepping in again made guilt prickle under my skin. I responded vaguely.

Just then, my appointment was called. I quickly pulled Annie inside.

After the examination, the doctor looked at the test results and smiled.

"Ms. Prescott, your indicators have mostly returned to normal. You can stop the previous medication. It seems your mood has improved recently. However..." The doctor cleared his throat lightly. "You're young. It's good that your emotional state has improved, but you should exercise moderation. Get more rest. Don't... overexert yourself."

Annie's eyes widened in alarm as she looked at me.

"Lydia... what happened? Don't tell me you weren't the one taken advantage of last night? Which bastard was it? I'll skin him alive!"

The memory of last night made my face flare crimson. I had been taken advantage of... except I was the one who made the first move.

And the "bastard" was her disciplined, self-controlled father.

How was I supposed to say that?

I stammered for a long moment before finally managing, "No. I agreed to it..."

Seeing my expression, Annie suddenly understood and lit up with excitement.

"Lydia, you've got some nerve! But this is a good thing. At least you've finally come to your senses and decided to dump that jerk Miles!"

She grew more animated by the second, gripping my arm and shaking it.

"Tell me everything. What does he look like? Is he handsome? Tall? Does he treat you well? How did you meet? And last night... was it intense?"

My face burned even hotter. The barrage of questions left me dizzy with embarrassment.

But Annie genuinely cared about me. I couldn't lie to her.

"Actually... last night..."

Just as I was about to say his name, my phone screen lit up.

It was Miles.

My heart clenched. I instinctively tried to hang up, but Annie reacted faster. She snatched the phone and put it on speaker.

Miles's impatient reprimand blasted through the speaker.

"Lydia! Why didn't you answer my calls last night? You didn't reply to my messages either. It was just a joke. How long are you planning to keep sulking over this?"

In the past, words like that would have sent me into a panic. I would have apologized without thinking.

But now, I had already decided to let him go.

And maybe... maybe I would soon marry someone else.

The thought of Dominic made my cheeks flush again, but my gaze hardened. It was time to end this properly.

I took the phone back and spoke slowly, clearly. "Miles, I made it very clear last night. We're done. You can treat that proposal like some meaningless performance, but I can't. From now on, where I go and what I do is none of your business."

There was a sharp pause on the other end. Then Miles exploded.

"Lydia! Say that again. Done? Who gave you permission to end this unilaterally? Don't forget who's been supporting you all these years. Get back here right now. Don't push me-"

I let out a cold laugh.

"Miles, I'm not something you get to keep and control. I was naive before. Not anymore."

Without waiting for his response, I hung up and decisively blocked his number.

Annie stared at me, stunned, then broke into a thrilled grin.

"Yes! Lydia! That was perfect! You should've done that ages ago. Let him rot!"

I looked at my friend, who seemed even more excited than I was, and forced a faint smile.

"Annie, I've finally escaped that misery. I'm going to let myself live a little."

Annie looped her arm through mine and chimed in.

"Exactly! We're doing whatever you want. To celebrate your escape and your brand-new life, I'm taking you out to go wild."

I nodded firmly.

Then I brought Annie to the gym.

She looked completely baffled.

"The gym? Since when do you come here? You hate working out."

I changed into workout clothes, stepped onto the treadmill, cranked the speed to the highest setting, and started running like I was trying to outrun my own thoughts.

Sweat soaked through my hair in minutes.

I clenched my teeth as images flashed through my mind. Miles's cold expression. Tessa's smug smile. Dominic's deep, unreadable eyes...

I would make Miles regret it. And I would make myself worthy of Dominic.

Over in the weight area, Annie half-heartedly lifted the lightest dumbbells available while watching me with concern as I pushed myself almost to self-punishment.

Worried as she was, she still called out encouragement at the right moments.

Just then, a commotion erupted at the gym entrance.

Miles stormed in with two of his men, his face dark.

His gaze immediately locked onto the familiar figure on the treadmill, sharp and ominous.

He strode over and slammed his hand onto the control panel, stopping the machine.

I stumbled to a halt, breathing hard.

"Lydia, you've gotten bold, haven't you? Blocking my number?"

He looked me up and down with open contempt.

"You come to a place like this to embarrass yourself? Look at you, drenched in sweat. What a sight. Come back with me."

The familiar tone of disgust cut deep. Even though I had chosen to let him go, the words still tore at me.

"I told you. We're done."

I wiped the sweat from my face, stepped off the treadmill, and tried to move past him.

Miles grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like my bones would crack.

"You don't get to decide that. Lydia, I've supported you all these years. You think you can just walk out of my control?"

"Let her go!"

Annie couldn't stand it anymore. She dropped the dumbbells and rushed over, trying to pry his hand off me.

"Miles, have you no shame? Picking on Lydia makes you feel powerful?"

"Miss Sinclair, this is between me and Lydia. You'd better stay out of it."

Miles cast Annie a sideways glance, his tone far from polite.

Although Annie was the adoptive daughter of the city's most powerful mafia godfather, Dominic, Miles, as the second-in-command of the city's second most powerful mafia family, did not think much of her.

At his signal, his men stepped forward and blocked Annie.

"You-!"

Annie's face flushed with anger, but she couldn't break free.

Miles ignored her and dragged me toward the exit.

"Come back with me. Don't make me use force."

I struggled with all my strength, but I was no match for him. I was seconds away from being hauled out.

Just then, a low voice sounded from outside the gym.

"Mr. Calloway, please release Ms. Sinclair."

Everyone turned toward the voice. Two imposing men in black suits had appeared without anyone noticing.

They were Dominic's personal guards.

Miles froze. His expression shifted.

"Mr. Calloway, the godfather has given his order. Ms. Prescott is now the godmother of the Sinclair family and under his protection. Please. Let go."