Gabriel’s POVSergio sat in his chair, calm as ever. Meanwhile, my mind was anywhere but here. We were in his office for a quick meeting, but I couldn’t focus. I was exhausted—last night had drained me. The argument with Clairessa had pushed me to the edge. I’d acted out of line, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was to keep her away from Daniel.I had stayed out late on purpose, waiting until she was asleep before returning to the suite. I didn’t trust myself around her. My anger had nearly led me to kiss her last night. God, how badly I wanted to. Not just a kiss—I wanted her to know she was mine. But I held back, knowing if I crossed that line, there would be no turning back.Sergio’s voice broke through the haze. “Gabe, once again… I apologize for inviting Daniel without telling you.”My chest constricted as I slammed my palm against the desk. “Serg… you fucking know better,” I fumed, unable to hold back my anger. “After everything he’s done, you still invited him. Do you even reali
Gabriel’s POV Clairessa walked ahead of me, her towel wrapped tightly around her body. I followed, my jaw clenched, still fuming with anger from seeing Daniel too close to her, his hands helping her out of that dress. And then he had the audacity to tell me I had no right to control her. God! I should have punched that arrogant piss of shit and put him in his place. When we stopped in front of the elevator, she spun around to face me, fire burning in her eyes. "Mr. Storm," she vents. "This stops immediately. You don’t get to order me around." Her defiance only fueled my anger, but I kept it together. "Clairessa, you are not in a position to talk back," I shot back. My hands clenched at my sides as I fought to stay calm. She had no idea I was barely holding it together to avoid causing a scene. "You have twenty minutes to get dressed and show up in Sergio’s office." My tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. "The butler will show you the way." I turned to leave, desperate f
Clairessa’s POVGabriel opting out of lunch didn’t surprise me. His dislike for Daniel was clear for everyone to see. From the moment Daniel stepped into Sergio's office, Gabriel’s mood shifted. Earlier, he had seemed slightly uptight, but as the meeting progressed, he loosened up just enough to be tolerable—until Daniel walked in. At Daniel’s mere presence, Gabriel’s expression hardened, the disgust he felt toward him etched plainly on his face.Whatever had happened between them must have been more than a minor disagreement. Gabriel’s reaction wasn’t just annoyance—it was anger mixed with resentment. The memory of how he’d acted by the pool came rushing back to me—the fury in his eyes, all because he’d seen me swimming with Daniel.The Gabriel I knew was usually good at hiding his emotions, but when it came to Daniel, it was like he couldn’t help himself.Since Gabriel saw Daniel and me in the elevator, he had been different—more distant, more possessive. He acted like I belonged to
Clairessa’s POV “Let me help you,” I countered, regaining my stance as I took a cautious step toward forward. “Stop.” He shook his head. “There’s broken glass,” he muttered, his voice low as he pointed at the floor. “I don’t want you to get hurt.” I followed his gaze and looked down. That’s when I noticed a tray of glasses had shattered into pieces around his feet. He bent down clumsily, his movements sluggish as he tried to pick up the shards. Ignoring his warning, I carefully stepped around the glass and knelt in front of him. “Let me help,” I insisted, my hands already reaching for the broken pieces. “You never listen, do you?” he snapped, as his larger hands covered mine, pulling me to my feet. His grip was strong despite his clumsiness. He lifted me away from the broken pieces and set me down firmly at a safe distance. Once my feet were back on solid ground, I looked up at him. His eyes were glazed and dark. “When I give you an instruction, you bloody obey—no questions
Clairessa’s POVGabriel paused, his chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily. His eyes, dark and wild with desire, searched mine. “Why?” he asked, his voice low and full of frustration. “You’ve made it clear you want this.”His eyes roamed over my body, and I felt his lingering gaze on me. It made me painfully aware of how revealing my lingerie was. Heat rushed to my cheeks as I tried to look away.“Mr. Storm... we can’t,” I murmured, unsure if I was trying to convince him or myself.A sly smirk spread across his lips as he created a little space between us. “Can’t?” he teased, confidently. His eyes dropped lower, locking on my hardened nipples that were pressing against the thin fabric. My body betrayed me again, responding to his presence without my permission.My cheeks burned in embarrassment, and I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to cover myself. “Stop looking at me like that,” I muttered, but my voice didn’t sound convincing, even to me.He ignored my words and step
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel kissed me again, deeper this time, his tongue sliding against mine, claiming me completely. I felt a wave of sweet sensations course through me as I melted in his arms. His hand moved down my back, pulling me even closer as if he couldn’t stand the distance between us. I gasped softly as his hardened length pressed against my core. Heat pooled low in my belly, and my thoughts spiraled uncontrollably. I couldn’t stop myself from imagining what it would feel like to have him inside me, moving, consuming me with pleasure. A shiver ran through me at the thought. Fuck…I wanted Gabriel Storm so much. But not like this. Not when he was drunk. “I’m not the girl you sleep with because you’re drunk and jealous,” I shot at him, forcefully breaking the kiss. My hands trembled as I shoved against his chest, trying to create space between us. I hoped my words would push him away, make him stop. But they didn’t. This was all I had wanted—the perfect setup for the reve
Gabriel’s POVI woke up with a splitting headache, the kind that felt like someone was driving nails into my skull. My eyes shot open, and for a moment, I stared at the dark ceiling, trying to piece together where I was. The room was dim, the blinds still closed.My eyes shut again as the pain intensified. The memory of how much I had to drink last night hit me like a moving train.Groaning, I rubbed my temples, trying to will the ache away. Slowly, I pushed myself up on the bed, but every part of my body ached. With a frustrated sigh, I slumped back down onto the bed. Then it hit me.Flashes of the night before came rushing back, vivid and unapologetic.Clairessa.I saw her lips on mine, the way they molded to me so perfectly, her soft moans echoing in my ears. My hands on her body, tracing every curve, her skin soft and warm under my touch.I clenched my jaw as the memories kept coming. I’d kissed her like a man possessed, poured all my emotions into every stroke of my tongue, ever
Gabriel’s POVAs I approached Sergio on the golf course, I could already see the smug grin plastered on his face. His arms spread wide as he shouted across the green, loud enough for everyone to hear, “That’s the Gabe I know! Late, hungover, but still handsome as ever! I was expecting nothing less, and you didn’t disappoint!” I gritted my teeth, lowering my shades slightly. “Go to hell, Serg,” I muttered under my breath as we stood face to face. He knew how much I hated being the center of attention, and yet he never missed a chance to make me the center of it.Sergio pulled his shades up to rest on his head, his grin widening. “Don’t you just feel better already?” he teased, waving a hand at the beautiful golf course around us. “The sun’s not too high, the greens are perfect, and you’re here with me. Isn’t this just the perfect way to spend your Friday morning?”I gave him a tight, fake smile. “Yeah, sure, fantastic,” I mumbled. Though, as much as I hated to admit it, he wasn’t wr
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
Clairessa’s POVMy voice cut through the room, stopping Gabriel in his tracks.“No… I didn’t,” I choked out, my chest tightening, hands trembling at my sides. “This was a stupid plan. One I never should’ve gone through with—”He turned around slowly to face me—but I kept going.“But don’t stand there acting like you’re innocent. You cheated on me, remember?”His eyes darkened, pain flashing before it drowned in fury.“Don’t you fucking—” He stepped forward, his voice tight with rage.“Liar,” I spat, stepping into the fire between us. “I walked in on you and Nicole. Naked. In your bed. Don’t stand there pretending you ever gave a damn about me… about us.”“I was drunk, Clairessa!” he exploded. “I didn’t even know how I got home! Nicole told me I kept calling your name all night—like a pathetic mess. Over and over again. She didn’t touch me. Nothing happened.”I shook my head, unable to erase the image burned into my memory. “You expect me to believe that? That you just conveniently end
Gabriel’s POV “Which part?” I growled. “Dating my son? Or crawling into my bed, moaning my name like it meant something?” “No one sent me.” “Still lying,” I hissed, gripping her arms—maybe too hard, but I didn’t care. Not now. I needed the truth. I needed it like air. “You don’t just fall into bed with two men from the same bloodline by accident. So who the hell sent you?” She writhed in my hold. “I’m telling the truth! Gabriel, you’re hurting me. Please…” “Not until you tell me the truth,” I bit out. “This is mercy compared to what I’ll do if you keep lying.” My fingers sank deeper into her skin. I shut down whatever was left of my conscience. I was done being reasonable. The truth was coming out—no matter the cost. “I know you planned this,” I growled. “Every move. Every kiss. You made me fall while you played your sick little game. So tell me—who sent you?” “I’m begging you,” she sobbed, struggling against me. “Let me go, and I’ll tell you everything.” I stilled.