Gabriel’s POVAs Clairessa walked out, I stood frozen—caught between chasing after her or letting her go.And I let her go.Even though it felt like someone had reached into my chest and torn my heart out without mercy.The last look on her face—God, I’d never forget it. That raw, agonizing pain in her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks.I did that.All because I let my emotions override every ounce of reason I had.Because of a fucking photo. One I didn’t even trust. I reacted without thinking. Without proof. Without giving her the benefit of the doubt.I let it poison everything. Let suspicion consume me. Let anger drive me—and now? God, now I might’ve destroyed the one good thing I had.I may have just destroyed the only real chance at love I’ve ever had. At happiness. At peace.“Fuck...” I muttered, dragging both hands through my hair, fingers tangling in the strands like I could burn the frustration out through my scalp.But nothing made sense anymore.Flashes from the night
Gabriel’s POV I offered Tina a soft smile, my heart swelling just thinking about Clairessa. "I thought you would’ve figured that one out by now.” She shrugged lightly. "I had a feeling the moment you kept calling her name last night… even though you denied it at first.” "I did?" I asked, brows lifting. "Mmhmm." She hummed. "Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was those walls you’ve built so high around your heart. Makes me wonder how she managed to get past them.” A soft laugh escaped me. "Well… you once told me to let go of the past. That holding onto it only gives power to the person who hurt me, while I stay miserable. So, let’s just say, I took your advice.” Tina’s brows lifted slightly—an almost startled expression crossing her face, like she hadn’t expected that answer. "And if I’m being honest," I continued, "I tried to fight it, but what I felt for her was too strong to ignore. So I took the risk. I opened my heart." She leaned back, arms crossing loosely over her c
Clairessa’s POVThe road blurred before me as tears streamed down my face, the ache in my chest intensifying with each passing second.My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, trying to keep myself together.The image of Gabriel—naked and asleep, with Tina beside him—kept flashing through my mind as I navigated the streets.I actually caught him. With her.And to make it worse, he used that same tired line: "It’s not what you think."Did he really think I was that naive?Maybe I was—for ever thinking he was any different from his lying, cheating father.Like father, like son. Cheats. Heartbreakers.I thought he was different. I believed him when he said he loved me—wholeheartedly.I should’ve listened to that voice in my head—the one that warned me not to fall for him, that told me to stop believing there was anything real between us.I should’ve stuck to the plan: get back at Adrian and walk away.But I didn’t. I let my guard down. I let myself believe.And the wor
Clairessa’s POV Adrian parked the car and turned off the engine. I didn’t even realize I’d fallen asleep until he tapped my shoulder gently. “We’re here.” I stirred, yawning as I blinked the sleep from my eyes. But the moment I looked around, I sat up straighter. We weren’t at Adrian’s loft. We were parked in front of a stunning mansion—like something straight out of a real estate magazine. The place looked more like a private estate than an apartment. “Adrian, wait…” I gasped, turning toward him. “This isn’t your apartment. Where are we?” He smiled slightly, unbothered. “Well, technically, it’s my dad’s house just outside the city. One of many,” he added with casual pride, leaning back in his seat. I frowned. “I thought we were going to your apartment—not a private estate owned by your father.” He let out a small sigh. “Look, Claire… I told you the restaurant ran into financial issues. In order to keep the business afloat, I had to let the loft go. It was either that or
Clairessa’s POVAfter soaking for what felt like hours, I finally stepped out of the tub. The warmth lingered on my skin as I wrapped the towel around my body and padded back into the bedroom. Everything Adrian brought was neatly folded on the bed. I dried off slowly, then changed into his oversized T-shirt and shorts. They were loose, soft, and comforting in a strange way. They smelled like Adrian—his masculine scent, not too strong. Like the warmth I used to know. Warmth I no longer trusted. I sat at the edge of the bed, hair damp and skin tingling from the heat of the bath. The silence grew heavier, pressing down on me, suffocating my insides.And that’s when it hit me hard.My life had crashed to an all-time low in less than twenty-four hours. The walls felt like they were closing in, the ceiling pressing down, making it hard to breathe.I needed someone. I needed to hear a familiar, warm voice—someone who knew me, who would listen and understand.Someone who saw
Gabriel’s POVI hadn’t even gotten the chance to process the smell of fresh coffee before my entire world tilted.There she was.Clairessa.In my kitchen. In my home.For a split second, I thought I was hallucinating—still trapped in a half-dream.But the second her eyes met mine—wide, horrified—and the coffee cup slipped from her hand, shattering on the floor, I knew I wasn’t dreaming.No. This was a goddamn nightmare.She stood barefoot in an oversized shirt and shorts, her hair in a messy bun, like she belonged here. Like she lived here. Like she had every damn right to stand in this house—my house—looking so comfortable, so familiar, in a place that was meant to be off-limits to the world.What the hell was she doing here?Before I could even find my voice—before I could demand an answer—Adrian burst into the kitchen.“Clairessa!” he exclaimed, rushing to her side like I wasn’t even there.He glanced briefly at the shattered cup and then ignored it completely, focusing only on he
Gabriel’s POV“Adrian… playing savior to a woman while your business circles the drain? That tells me your priorities are completely out of whack. Why bring her here of all places? What happened to your loft?”He shot me a bitter look. “You already know what happened. You refused to help out when the restaurant got scammed. So I had to let go of the loft in order to pay staff. Keep the business alive.”“That’s not my business,” I said flatly. “I gave you a choice: come work at the company or deal with your mess. You chose. Don’t come crying now.”Adrian rubbed the back of his neck and looked down.I continued, “You know how sacred this house is to me. I’ve always had a no-guest policy here. So why the hell bring her here? A hotel, a friend’s place—anywhere but here.”Adrian met my stare. “I’ve been staying here ever since I gave up my loft. Naturally, she’d stay with me. And no, I can’t afford a hotel right now.”“Adrian,” I said, stepping forward, “don’t you get it? I’m trying to set
Gabriel’s POV I gripped the edge of the desk in my home office, holding it firm like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. I needed to act. Needed answers. The damn truth I grabbed my phone and hit the contact for Clayton—my PI. He picked up on the first ring. “Clayton,” I growled the moment I heard the click. “I was just about to call you,” he replied, voice tight—strained in a way that was unusual. “What did you find?” I demanded, not even bothering with a greeting. There was a pause. “Gabe…” he began, and that hesitation told me everything. Clayton never stalled. Never stumbled. He was a blunt, straight-to-the-point bastard. If his tone had changed, I knew the news was going to rip through me like a blade. “Just tell me,” I snapped. “This finding might shock you. I don’t know how to—” “Bloody hell, speak, Clayton. Now!” I barked. His delay was shredding what little patience I had left. I already knew—I just needed him to confirm it. “It’s... it’s going to hit har
Gabriel’s POV I paced the room, anger and heartbreak twisting so violently inside me I thought they’d tear me in two. My fists clenched and unclenched at my sides as I stared out the window into the night sky—the only thing that made any sense in this goddamn chaos. Then I heard the door push open behind me. Adrian stepped in, shutting it with a firm click. “Dad,” he said, frustration clear in his voice, “why did you react that way? You just walked out of dinner because I asked you to let Clairessa stay? I don’t get it. What’s so hard about that?” “Adrian, not now,” I muttered, my voice low. “We’ll talk later.” But he didn’t back off. “Why not now?” he pressed, stepping closer. “Why can’t we talk about it now? What is it? What do you have against Clairessa? It feels like you don’t like her—you’ve never liked her, not from the first time you saw her. What is it? Is there something you know that I don’t?” I didn’t want to do this. Not now. Not while my mind was still spinning… n
Gabriel’s POVI sat at the dining table, seething, the rage in me growing hotter every goddamn second.Across the table, Adrian and Clairessa sat so close their arms brushed. He leaned in, whispering something in her ear. She smiled—smiled like she loved whatever nonsense he was feeding her.My blood burned.Her eyes met mine once. Just once.Then she looked away like I didn’t exist. Like I hadn’t given her twenty-four hours to tell him the truth.And judging by the way he looked at her—like she was some innocent angel who saved his life—she hadn’t said a word.It was more than obvious she hadn’t told him a damn thing.She was still pretending. Same as always.But she had no idea what hell I’d unleash if she kept this up.God… I was going to—I couldn’t even say it.Couldn’t bring myself to hate her, no matter how much I wanted to.Especially not when she was sitting beside my son, touching him, smiling for him—and jealousy slammed into me like a punch to the ribs.Shit. How could I s
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