Clairessa’s POV Jess stared at me the way she always did when she was trying to get me to talk—brows slightly raised, arms crossed, waiting. I had been pacing in her living room since I got here, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. I stopped abruptly and turned to her. “Adrian has officially lost his damn mind.” Her brows furrowed. “Claire… I don’t understand. Why do you think Adrian is crazy?” I let out a frustrated sigh. “Because I just had lunch with him, and he—he tried to—” “Wait.” She raised a hand, cutting me off. “You had lunch with Adrian? I thought you said that chapter of your life was done.” “It was. It is,” I insisted. “I only met with him because he vowed to show up at my office every day if I didn’t.” I shook my head. “And you know exactly what that meant.” Her eyes widened. “Gabriel would find out you’re having something to do with his son.” “Jess…” I rubbed my temples. “You really don’t need to spell it out.” “Oh, I do.” She leaned forward, he
Clairessa POV “Mrs. Hartwood, you have some deliveries,” my assistant announced, stepping inside with a large bouquet of roses and two elegantly wrapped boxes. She set them down on my desk with a bright smile. “Looks like someone’s being spoiled.” Warmth spread through my chest as I took in the gifts. There was only one person who would do this. Gabriel. He always had a way of making me feel special, reminding me I was his. We had dinner plans tonight, and this was just the kind of thing he did—grand gestures that left me feeling adored. My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for the largest box, my heart already picturing the dress inside. I pulled the ribbon, the silky material slipping through my fingers as I revealed a breathtaking blue dress. It was stunning—elegant, sleek, something that would hug my curves just right. A chuckle slipped past my lips. Gabriel really does know how to spoil a woman. My fingers traced the fabric before I reached for the bouque
Gabriel’s POV As we headed to the airport, my gaze remained fixed outside the window, but I wasn’t really seeing the passing cityscape. I had an important meeting—a crucial one. The CEO we had been negotiating with was on the verge of backing out, and I couldn’t afford that. Not after the significant time and money we had already invested. So, I had to schedule an impromptu meeting to reassure him, resolve whatever doubts he had, and finalize the contract. But instead of focusing on the deal, my mind kept replaying the conversation we’d just had in her office. I could read her better than she thought, and something wasn’t right. She seemed tense. Guarded. Distant in a way that wasn’t like her. Clairessa was usually warm, sweet, and witty—the woman I knew, the woman I had grown to love. But today, something felt off. Even the way she looked at me, the way she spoke—it was like she was carefully choosing her words, like she was holding something back. And then there was t
Clairessa POV Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse, my office door swung open—without a knock. And, of course, the last person I wanted to see waltzed in like he owned the damn place. Adrian. A smug, cocky grin stretched across his face, his usual entitlement so suffocating it was almost unbearable. Anger surged through me. My fingers gripped the edge of my desk tightly as I shot up from my chair, eyes blazing. “What the hell are you doing in my office?” I demanded, as he approached my desk. Adrian lifted a hand, attempting to calm me, completely unfazed. “Claire, relax. As much as I’d love to say I’m here just to see your pretty face—” His grin faltered for a second before he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’m actually here because of my dad and his never-ending need to control my life.” My brows furrowed. “Your dad?” A jolt of worry shot through me—had he talked to Gabriel? Did he know about me? But I refused to let him see even a hint of it, so
Clairessa’s POV "Oh, don’t stop on my account." Nicole walked fully into the office, her voice laced with subtle sarcasm and mockery. I refused to give her the pleasure of my attention. Instead, I zeroed in on Adrian—the cause of this mess, the reason I was now stuck in this unpleasant moment with her. And knowing Nicole, she would never let me hear the end of it. Meanwhile, Adrian stumbled back, the smugness in his expression fading into regret. His hands lifted in surrender. "Claire, I—" "Have you lost your fucking mind?" My voice trembled with fury. "How dare you kiss me after I explicitly told you to leave me alone?" Adrian stepped closer, reaching out as if to touch me—but I lifted my hands, stopping him in his tracks. "Don’t you ever come near me again or pull another stupid stunt like that!" Nicole scoffed. "Oh, quit pretending. I caught you both kissing passionately, and now that you have an audience, you want to act like Miss Innocent?" I clenched my jaw, fi
Gabriel’s POV As I leaned back in my first-class seat, I loosened the top button of my shirt and exhaled slowly. This felt like the longest business trip I’d taken in a while—not because of the actual time but because I hadn’t wanted to go in the first place. I had missed Clairessa the entire time. That alone was enough to drive me insane. It was supposed to be a two-day trip, but I had managed to cut it short. The meeting had gone smoothly, the CEO had signed the contract, and everything was in place. I should have felt satisfied, but my mind wasn’t on the deal. It was on her. We had barely spoken yesterday. I had seen her missed calls and messages checking up on me, but I’d been trapped in a deadlocked meeting, unable to step away. By the time I was free, it was already too late to call. Even now, my first instinct was to pick up my phone and hear her voice. But I didn’t. I wanted to surprise her. All night, I had been thinking about my life. I was turning forty-five s
Gabriel’s POVAdrian blinked. “Wait. Seeing someone? Like... a woman? In an actual relationship?” “Of course a woman, Adrian,” I replied, letting out an exasperated sigh. He let out a short laugh, shaking his head. “You? Dating? I don’t believe it.” I arched a brow. “And why is that?” “Because you’re you. When have you ever had time for a relationship?” He waved a hand. “Wait, let me guess. It’s some business arrangement, right? A calculated move. You don’t actually—” I leveled him with a stern look, cutting him off. “This isn’t a business deal, Adrian. It’s real.” His mouth dropped open. “Whoa...” “Yes.” For once, he was speechless. Then, after a beat, Adrian let out a sound somewhere between a laugh and a gasp, his eyes widening with disbelief. “Dad... Fuck... I’m happy for you. I mean, this is great news,” he continued, shaking his head like he couldn’t quite believe it. “I’ve waited years to hear you say something like this. When are you bringing her home? I wa
Gabriel’s POV I glared at Nicole, reluctant to entertain whatever nonsense she had concocted. But curiosity got the better of me. I opened my laptop, pulled up my inbox, and clicked on the new message from her. The image loaded. My heart stopped. The photo showed Clairessa—my Clairessa—lips locked with another man in her office. The impact hit me like a blow to the gut. The world around me blurred as the betrayal burned into my mind. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. I stared at the image, trying to make out the man’s face, but the angle was wrong. The only thing clear was Clairessa—the way her body leaned into him, the way her hand pressed against his chest. The same hands that had touched me. The same lips that had whispered my name. Betrayal stung so deeply, threatening to break through, but I forced myself to stay composed, to keep my expression blank, even as my insides burned. Nicole’s voice snapped me back to reality. “Mr. Storm, in case you're doub
Clairessa’s POVAdrian turned his head to look at me, eyes narrowing slightly. “What do you mean?”“I was angry that you cheated on me,” I whispered. “So I decided to get even… and I started seeing someone.”Adrian’s expression darkened; hurt flashed through his eyes before he quickly masked it. “Okay. So you were with someone while we were apart. If I’m being honest, I kinda suspected it… based on how quickly you seemed ready to move on from us.”He gave a short, shaky breath. “If that’s what this big talk is about, then… Clairessa, that’s not a crime. We weren’t together. You don’t have to beat yourself up over that. We can move on from it.”“Not when you find out who it was…”Adrian shifted and reached for my hands. “Claire, listen. I don’t need to know who the guy is. It doesn’t matter.”I stared at him, my throat tightening. “You don’t understand—”“Shhh…” Adrian hushed me gently, pressing two fingers to my lips. “I understand what you’re going through. I’ve carried my own guilt
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel didn’t look at me at first. His eyes stayed fixed on Gretchen, his tone calm but laced with a quiet threat. "Leave us," he said. Gretchen froze for a breath, clearly uneasy. "Of course, Mr. Storm." She slipped out without another word. And then it was just us—Gabriel and me. I barely had time to register the storm in his eyes before he crossed the room in three long strides and seized my elbow—not painfully, but firmly enough to jolt my heart. "Don’t get too comfortable in my house," he hissed. "You won’t be here much longer." I stared at him, stunned. Just yesterday, he’d been at my side, placing cold towels on my forehead, watching over me like I still meant something to him. He’d cared for me, staying by my side through the night. And for a moment, I let myself believe—maybe something in him had softened. Maybe there was still hope for us. But I was wrong. The anger was back—hotter, more intense. And I was foolish to think forgiveness would co
Clairessa’s POVAfter sleeping for what felt like forever, I finally dragged myself out of bed. My body still ached faintly, but compared to earlier, I felt stronger. No fever. No chills. Just a craving for fresh air and something cold to drink.I’d been holed up in that room all day, not just because I needed rest, but because it was easier.Easier to hide. Easier than running into Adrian and his mission to get me back… or worse, Gabriel and the drama that would unfold when he told the truth.The idea of running into either of them made my stomach twist, so I figured if I moved quietly enough, I could sneak down to the kitchen, grab a glass of juice, and return before anyone noticed.My throat was dry, parched even. I glanced at the empty glass on the nightstand and sighed. There was no escaping it—I needed juice.Slipping quietly out of bed, I padded across the room, easing the door open like it might squeak loud enough to call them both over.The hallway was empty. Good. I tiptoed
Clairessa’s POVMy body trembled, a deep shiver running through me like heat and cold were warring inside my veins.Through the fog, Gabriel’s voice cut in—urgent, panicked.“Clairessa... hey, are you okay? Look at me... please.”Then I felt his hands—lifting me, holding me close, peeling away layers of clothing…The dream came in flashes. The soft splash of water. His arms supported me as he bathed me—like I was breakable, like I still meant something to him.He dressed me gently, laid me in bed, tucked the duvet around me, then pressed a kiss to my forehead.When he turned to go, I reached for him, my fingers curling around his. I remember whispering it… three small words.“I love you.”A voice, distant and persistent, tugged me out of the warmth.“Claire… Claire…”My eyes flew open, blinking against the light. Adrian’s face swam into focus.“Thank God,” he breathed. “You’re awake.”I stared at him for a moment, disoriented, my heart still wrapped in the remnants of the dream. I gla
Gabriel’s POV “Dad?” I didn’t bother looking up as I stirred the pot, letting the aroma rise and fill the kitchen. “I’m here,” I called out. I heard Adrian’s footsteps draw closer. He stopped at the kitchen threshold, and the silence that followed stretched just long enough to make me smirk without turning around. “Wait—are you cooking?” he asked, disbelief lacing his voice. “Dad, I’m shocked. You haven’t cooked in… what, years?” I finally turned to face him, wiping my hand on the kitchen towel slung over my shoulder. “Gretchen told me earlier she had a personal errand to run and would be back by noon.” I offered a casual shrug, reaching for the ladle and giving the pot another stir. “I was hungry and couldn’t wait that long.” I could feel the lie burning on the tip of my tongue. Truth was, I wasn’t hungry. Eating was the last thing on my mind. The food I was cooking—it was for Clairessa. I wanted her to have something warm when she woke up, something to ease the aftermath of
Gabriel’s POV I gently pulled the duvet down and slipped my arms around her, lifting her against me. Her body was burning, her skin clammy, her breath shallow. She didn’t stir—just shivered helplessly in my arms, trapped in some fever dream. “Clairessa.” My voice cracked as I shook her gently, trying to coax her into consciousness. “Hey, open your eyes… please.” No response. “It’s me. Gabriel. I’m here,” I whispered, lifting her slowly into my arms and brushing damp strands of hair from her face. Her eyelids fluttered, and for a moment, they opened. Our eyes met—just briefly. She gave the faintest smile, soft and dazed—then slipped back into the fever, her eyes shutting again. Fuck. I had to do something. I lowered her carefully onto the mattress and rushed to the bathroom, soaking a towel in warm water. I came back and laid it across her forehead, holding it there, hoping to ease the heat. After a minute or two, I replaced it with a fresh one, trying to bring her temperatur
Gabriel’s POV I gripped the steering wheel. “Clairessa—” “You made it clear you’re never going to forgive me,” she said, cutting me off. Her voice trembled. “So it’s better if I go. At least that way, I don’t have to stand next to you, knowing you think the worst of me.” She paused, her eyes glassy. “That look in your eyes… like I’m something filthy. It’s more than I can take. So please… just let me go.” And then she turned and walked away. Just like that. For a moment, I just stared at her, stunned. Her words tried to cut deep into my heart, but I fought it off. How dare she try to make this about my reaction to her betrayal, when she should be grateful—that I was offering her a hand when she deserved far worse for what she’d done? This felt like classic manipulation, just like she’d done before. And I was on the edge of giving in to the voice telling me to turn back... but I couldn’t. Watching her stumble through the storm, drenched and defeated by the rain... It tore some
Gabriel’s POV I stood by the window in my bedroom, staring out at the heavy downpour, hoping the rain could somehow drown out the noise in my head. But it didn’t. The ache in my chest was unbearable. It felt like someone had torn my heart out with their bare hands, and I was still expected to function. To breathe. To move on. Clairessa lied to me. She deceived me. And no matter how many times I tried to reason it out—tried to stitch together a narrative that didn’t hurt as much—I couldn’t move past it. The sickest part? My own son was also in love with her. We both fell for the same woman. But I didn’t just fall. I plummeted. I let my guard down for her. Let her in like she was my second chance at something I didn’t even believe in anymore. Love. I told myself she was different. Safe. Real. Mine. But no. She wasn’t. She was exactly like Angelique. The same games. The same fake innocence. The same damn sweetness masking manipulation. Deception. Lies. And I bough
Clairessa’s POVAs soon as the door slammed shut, it felt like my entire world collapsed.A sharp, jarring pain tore through my chest, and I clutched at my heart instinctively, as if holding it might stop it from breaking apart.My legs buckled beneath me, and I crumpled to the floor, gasping for air as a sob ripped from somewhere deep inside me.I tried to silence it—to swallow the sound—but it was no use. I didn’t just cry. I broke down.Tears streamed down my face, falling freely onto the wooden floor beneath me.Gabriel’s last words echoed in my head again and again, each repetition cutting deeper into my already shattered heart.“We’re done. Nothing is ever going to happen between us again.”But it wasn’t just the words.It was the look in his eyes.A look that will haunt me forever.Disgust. Disdain. Like I was a mistake—a betrayal he regretted ever letting into his life.And what hurt the most wasn’t just losing him… it was knowing that someone who once loved me so deeply