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
Gabriel’s POVI flinched, the memory coming back in flashes. “Then don’t ask me to let it go when you can’t understand!” My voice came out harsh, my suppressed rage spilling over. Sergio’s hand fell to his side, but his eyes stayed locked on me. “I’m not asking you to let it go for them,” he pointed at my chest. “I’m asking you to let it go for you.” I scoffed, brushing past him. “I’m good, Serg. As you can see.” I gestured to myself, to the clean shirt and trousers I had thrown on. I wanted to look composed, like I had it all together, even though I knew I didn’t.He shook his head, his lips pressing into a faint smile. “You might look fine, but I know you, Gabe. Deep down, you’re not. You’ve carried this pain for years, and it’s killing you. The spark in your eyes is gone, and it’s been gone for a long time.” His words hit too close to home, and I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “I don’t want to talk about this,” I gritted through my teeth. But Sergio didn
Clairessa’s POVI sat at the edge of the bed, staring at my phone. Daniel’s text was still there, glaring back at me as it had been for the past hour.“Hey Clairessa, I hope you haven’t changed your mind about dinner. I’ll be waiting in the lobby at 7 PM.”I’d read it a dozen times, but it didn’t help. My fingers hovered over the screen, torn between typing out an excuse or just deleting it altogether. My life was already more chaotic than I could’ve ever imagined. And this text? It only added to my confusion.Daniel.He was every woman’s dream—a man who was sweet, thoughtful, and kind. He treated me like I was fragile, like I mattered. From the moment we met, he made his feelings known to me. His respect and gentleness should’ve been enough to make me fall for him. But they weren’t.And no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t feel the same way about him—not the way he wanted me to.I let out a deep breath, running my fingers through my curly strands. The problem wasn’t Daniel; it was
As I stepped into the lobby, my eyes immediately found Daniel. He stood near the entrance, looking handsome in a tailored black suit that practically screamed expensive. His dark hair was slicked back neatly.When our eyes met, his face brightened. His lips curved into a warm, genuine smile that made me second guess myself for a second. I wasn’t expecting him to light up like that.I walked toward him slowly, feeling his gaze fix on me, watching every step I took. It made me slightly self-conscious, even though I had spent time carefully choosing my outfit. I had picked an ocean-blue dress that hugged my figure in all the right ways. My hair was styled in a loose, curly bun with soft strands framing my face. I felt beautiful, but the intensity of his stare made me question myself.When I finally stood before him, Daniel’s eyes scanned me from head to toe with a look of genuine appreciation before locking onto mine.“You look stunning, Clairessa,” he breathed, his tone filled with adm
Clairessa’s POVDaniel's voice lowered into a whisper, almost as if he were confessing a sin. “One night, I invited Angelique to dinner, and to my surprise, she agreed. That’s when she told me her husband needed funds to start his company. They were struggling financially, and…” He trailed off, guilt etched into his features.“And?” I pressed gently, eager to hear the rest of the story, though I didn't want to spook Daniel. The name Angelique sounded familiar to me.“I saw it as an opportunity to get what I wanted.” His voice broke slightly as he clasped his palms tightly. “I offered her money to sleep with me. In exchange, I’d pay off her husband’s debt. And… she agreed.”My stomach turned. “She agreed? Just like that?”Daniel nodded, his gaze falling to the table. “She said she’d do anything to help her husband secure his dream.”Before I could process his words, the waiter returned with our food, interrupting our conversation.The dishes looked exquisite, beautifully arranged as if
Clairessa’s POVGabriel strode into the restaurant, tall and commanding as always. But this time, he wasn’t alone. A stunning blonde in a red dress clung to his arm. She was tall, confident, and effortlessly beautiful.Our eyes met briefly, and my heart sank. For a moment, I thought he might storm over to our table like he usually did when he saw me with Daniel. But he didn’t. Instead, he broke eye contact and guided the woman to a table across the room.I hated how my eyes followed him across the room, hated the ache in my chest at the sight of him with someone else.“Clairessa?” Daniel’s voice gently pulled me back to reality.I blinked, realizing I’d been staring. “I... um... sorry. I just got caught off guard,” I stammered, quickly looking away from Gabriel. The last thing I wanted was for Daniel to find out there was something going on between Gabriel and me, especially when I had denied it multiple times in the past.Daniel tilted his head slightly, his expression knowing. “I di
Clairessa’s POVI stood in front of the suite door, fumbling through my purse with shaky hands, trying to find the key card. Finally, I found the card and swiped it. The door clicked open, and I rushed inside.Once inside, I slammed the door behind me and leaned on it for a brief moment, trying to catch my breath. My heart pounded in my chest as I gripped the door, ready to lock Gabriel out. I didn’t care anymore that he was my boss. I wasn’t going to let him continue playing these games with me—teasing me, making me feel something only to take it all away.But just as I shoved the door harder to close it, it stopped abruptly. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I looked down and saw his foot wedged against the door, keeping it from shutting. Slowly, I lifted my gaze and met his fiery eyes. Gabriel stood there, towering, his broad shoulders filling the doorway. His eyes burned with an intensity that both frightened and excited me. I knew I was no match for strength.Letting o
Clairessa’s POV Gabriel’s eyes widened slightly, his breath catching as if my words had struck him. “Say it again,” he murmured, his voice rough, almost desperate. My mouth opened, but no sound came out. “My name,” he whispered, his fingers rolling down my bottom lips. “I’ve wanted to hear you say it for so long.” The intensity in his gaze made my knees weak. Before I could think, his lips crashed against mine. This kiss was unlike any we’d shared before. It was deeper, hungrier, his mouth moving against mine with a passion that made my head spin. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me so close that I could feel the heat of his body pressing into mine. I gasped as his tongue teased my lips, parting them easily. My fingers wrapped around his neck, holding on to him as if he was the only thing keeping me standing. His other hand tangled in my hair, tilting my head back to deepen the kiss, demanding everything I had to give. “No,” I managed to gasp, breaking the kiss. My chest hea
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.