로그인GABRIELLE’S POV I held Damon’s hand as he led me into the building. With each step I took, the balls inside me rolled as I shifted my weight from one leg to the other. My grip tightened around Damon’s hand. He glanced down at me, a knowing smirk on his face. “Are you good?” I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Of course.” He nodded and turned to the staff by the entrance. They took our phones and locked them in a sealed bag. We could still use the devices, but we wouldn’t be able to use the cameras. “Their parties seem strict,” I said as we stepped away from them. Damon handed my phone back to me. “There’s a reason their empire has lasted for generations. Secrecy.” I nodded slowly. The guards opened the huge double doors. Music boomed across the hall, loud enough to drown out most conversations but not enough to hide them completely. Most of them weren’t in English. Men in dark suits stood in groups, talking in low voices while keeping their eyes on everything around them.
GABRIELLE’S POVDamon didn’t come home that night.I got a call from Rhys saying they were caught up with something he couldn’t discuss over the phone.So I spent the rest of my night replaying Aiden’s threat in my head over and over again.By morning, I had already decided not to tell Damon about it.I had a quick breakfast with the girls and spent the rest of the morning working.By noon, I was in the kitchen learning how to cook pasta while Fiorella supervised me.It seemed like a normal morning on the outside, but inside, I was spiraling.Fiorella ended her call and turned to me. “I have to go meet Rhys.”I lifted my eyes to her. “Now?”“Yes,” she answered. “He just called and said to meet up. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”I nodded and watched her walk away.I returned to the stove, stirring the pasta slowly as the sauce thickened.I tried to taste the sauce but clumsily dropped the spoon on the counter, splashing the sauce all over my dress.“Fuck!”I took my dress off and reac
DAMON’S POVThe man at the door opened it.I walked into the room to find Rhys and two other men I couldn’t recognize.“Where is Gabrielle?” I asked.Rhys turned to me as he stood up. “Vani took her home a few hours ago. Did you do something to her?”“No,” I answered. “Why?”He shrugged casually. “He said she seemed pretty mad when he picked her up. I thought you did something.”Maybe it was her work.“I didn’t,” I said, moving to sit on the couch. “Why did you go see Carter today?”“Not for any specific reason,” he answered.I nodded. “He hasn’t been returning my calls. Did you get to see him?”Rhys sat down beside me and offered a drink. “Man didn’t even leave his room. I told you I didn’t like him.”“You don’t like anyone, Rhys,” I responded as I took the glass of scotch from him.I took a sip, feeling the burn pass my chest as I turned my attention to the display through the screen door.Two men were inside a ring fighting, and the room had gone quiet enough to follow every moveme
GABRIELLE’S POV“I’m sorry,” the housekeeper said, giving me a snarky look. “He does not want to receive guests. Maybe come back some other time.”Rhys and I exchanged glances.I turned back to her. “Please try to convince him. It would only take a minute.”“I understand,” she answered. “But he refuses to see anyone. And there is nothing I can do about that. I am only an employee.”I exhaled in defeat.We had been sitting in Zane’s living room for hours, yet he still refused to see us.Each time we asked, the answer remained the same.Rhys was this close to breaking in, but I had already stopped him twice. I did not need a scene, especially not here.“Did you tell him who we are?” I asked her.She hesitated, then nodded. “Yes. He said he does not want to see anyone right now.”I reached for my bag on the table and searched for a notepad and a pen before writing a short note.I handed it over to her. “Could you give this to him, please?”The housekeeper didn’t even bother to take it. “
DAMON’S POV “I know what you did.” The email was sent to my personal address, not the one listed on my business card that was open to the public. That alone narrowed things down. I ignored it and continued with my meeting, keeping my expression neutral, my voice steady as I spoke. Exactly thirty minutes later, another one came through. “I am open to an interview if you want.” Oh, I did want one. This had Aiden Marlow written all over it, even though the address was a fake, one-time account. Whether it was careless or deliberate, I couldn’t tell. Either way, he was testing me. And I had never been patient with tests. My second meeting ended, giving me exactly one hour before the next one. I stepped into my office, already pulling out my phone to call my wife. Gabrielle picked up on the first ring. “Hey, handsome,” her voice came through, light and warm. “Did you miss me?” A small smile pulled at my lips despite everything. Just hearing her voice was enough to take off
GABRIELLE’S POVDamon was already gone before I woke up the next morning.The space beside me had already gone cold.I instinctively reached for the note he left on the bedside table and read through it, a smile forming on my face. After that, I freshened up and immediately started working on my laptop. I had to come up with a series of new designs for my upcoming project.And I had awards to win.I was searching for my second phone when the card containing the reporter’s contact details fell out of my bag.I picked it up, glancing at the email address and phone number for a second before dropping it back like it burned.It was still morning, and I already needed a break.I went downstairs for tea and found Rhys already in the kitchen, a cup in his hand.“Good morning,” I greeted, a small smile on my face.“Good morning,” he responded. “My brother left a while ago.”I reached for a mug and a tea bag. “Did he tell you where he was going?”Rhys did not respond immediately.That alone w
DAMON’S POV I parked the car in front of my father’s mansion. Even though the place was long deserted and held traumatic memories for me, I still made sure I had the cleaning staff on payroll. So when Selene led me there, alarm bells had already gone off in my head. She never did anything
GABRIELLE’S POV I checked my phone, and the time was 12:30 a.m. I was sitting in a twenty-four-hour open restaurant and waiting for Selene. I didn’t need anyone to tell me that it was her underwear in my husband’s jacket. And that could only mean one thing. Damon lied to me. I exhale
DAMON’S POV I stepped into the club and the smell of smoke, alcohol, and something far worse hit me immediately. Neon lights bounced off the polished floors, glinting off expensive watches and champagne glasses. Some of the strippers were dressed, some weren’t. A fight broke out near the
GABRIELLE’S POV “How did that happen?” I asked, my heart racing. He exhaled and sat on the bed. “Selene kidnapped your sister at the event. I took her back to the hospital. She snuck her underwear in my jacket when I left her alone in the car.” The knot in my stomach slowly loosened but my







