LOGINGABRIELLE’S POV I looked around, dread crawling up my spine. I knew if I ever got close to my sister again, either one of us might end up dead. And it would most likely be me. Mrs Raymond noticed my reaction. “It was you I saw outside, right? Emily has green eyes and you have brown. The one outside had brown eyes.” She had to be wearing contacts then. I forced an awkward laugh. “Yes, of course. I changed because of a stain on my other dress.” She nodded slowly, her eyes observing me from head to toe. “You look good. What are you doing here? Ever since your father disowned both of you we barely see you around.” The smile on my face was beginning to ache in my jaw. “Erm… I’ll try to come around.” Mrs. Raymond hummed, unconvinced, but polite enough not to press. “You should. Your father is just mad. He’ll calm down and you all can be a family again.” My chest tightened at the mention of him. I nodded anyway, because that was what people like her expected. I glan
GABRIELLE’S POV Damon’s eyes fell on me and I felt my breath hitch slightly. I held his gaze, waiting for him to look away first, but he didn’t. “Oh, hi Gabrielle,” Selene said, snapping the tension between us. I turned to her and managed my usual polite smile. “Hi, Selene. What were you guys talking about?” She giggled, as if I had said something funny. “We were just talking about funny moments of his mother and reminiscing about how sweet she was.” I blinked, not expecting her response. I could tell she had been waiting to throw that in my face all night. I cleared my throat. “Oh, that’s nice. Must be good memories, then.” She shook her head slowly. “No, not really. Today is her death anniversary. I noticed Damon here was drinking a lot so I decided to cheer him up.” Yay, someone is excited to be a jester. I turned to Damon, my chest tightening. I had no idea that today meant that much to him. I had no idea that was why he was punishing himself. He did tel
GABRIELLE’S POV They didn’t stop walking until the music dulled and the laughter became distant, swallowed by a narrow corridor lined with framed photos of people. We entered a well-lit room and Cassie released my arm first. Naomi didn’t. “Do you have any idea how bad that made you look?” Naomi hissed, finally letting go. “Refusing to apologize in the middle of a family event?” Cassie crossed her arms. “Why would you even hurt Lila? She’s a sweet little girl.” I sighed, tired of using the same line in one night. “I didn’t hurt her, she fell on her own. How many times do I have to say it before anyone believes me?” They exchanged glances. “That’s not what Anya said,” Naomi said. Cassie shifted on her feet, folding her arms across her chest. “And that’s not Lila said either.” My chest tightened. “Lila is six,” I said slowly. “She repeats what she hears. That doesn’t make her a liar, it makes her a child. Anya on the other hand isn’t a child.” Naomi scoffed. “S
GABRIELLE’S POV Selene took a step further into the room, holding her hands together behind her back. “That was hard to watch.” She was referring to my fight with Anya but I ignored her comment. “There’s nothing for us to chat about,” I responded calmly. A sharp contrast to how I felt inside. Her smile remained polite. “Of course, there is. I’m certain Damon must have told you who I am but nobody told me about you.” I held her gaze. “I didn’t realize introductions were mandatory.” “They aren’t,” she said easily. “I just like to know who’s important to the people I care about.” That landed softly, but it landed. She was admitting to still caring about Damon and thinks I’m important to him. Was I? I met her gaze in the mirror as I turned to use my mascara. “Then now you do.” She hummed, stepping closer to the sink but leaving space between us. “I suppose I do. You look… different from what I imagined.” I lifted a brow. “And what did you imagine?” She smi
GABRIELLE’S POV I settled for a red dress and had my cleavage covered this time since there would be kids at the event. When I stepped into the living area Damon was already waiting for me in his usual black suit. He had his back to me, speaking Italian on the phone, with a perfume bottle in his hand. The sounds of my heels on the floor made him turn. His eyes ran over me once and he ended the call. “You look gorgeous, Gabrielle.” I smiled despite myself, my stomach fluttering. “Thank you.” “Are you wearing that because of last time?” He asked, a frown on his face. “This isn’t your usual style.” I knew he was referring to Lila’s birthday party where Anya’s mother openly disapproved of my dress. “It’s just one night without showing my cleavage,” I said. “I’ll be fine.” “I won’t be.” I raised a brow as I walked past him. “That sounds like a you problem.” He walked behind me into the elevator. “I don’t want you wearing things you don’t like to please them.“
GABRIELLE’S POV My toes curled as he slipped inside me. A gasp tore from my lips. I rose on my knees and sat back slowly, my eyes never leaving his and my hands on his chest, riding to the rhythm of his heartbeat under my touch. His eyes softened and his hands on my ass pulled me closer. “That’s it… just like that.” I wrapped my hands around his neck and leaned even closer to kiss him. His lips were soft and he tasted like… like Damon. Masculine and expensive. He pulled away and held my face down, staring into my eyes. “Let me handle it.” He must have felt my legs trembling as I moved. It was still aching a bit from last night. I nodded and sat down, letting him take control. He held my waist with both hands and moved in slowly from under. His lips found mine again and he swallowed my moans. My nipples brushed against his chest with every thrust, driving me crazy. I pulled his head down, wanting to feel his tongue there but he didn’t move. “Damon…” I wh







