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 POVGabriel's eyes darkened as he stared at me. "Are you sure?" he asked, his voice low and serious. His gaze pierced straight through me, like he was searching for any doubt. I could see the struggle in his eyes— he didn’t want to take advantage of me, but the desire burning behind his eyes was also impossible to miss."I’ve never been more sure about anything or anyone," I whispered, my breath hitching as the warmth of his touch sent a shiver through me.That was all he needed. His lips crashed onto mine, and everything else disappeared. His kiss was deep and urgent, making my whole body tremble as I clung to him. My fingers dug into his shoulders, desperate to hold on to the intensity of the moment."Clairessa," he murmured against my lips, his voice rough with emotion, “If we do this, there’s no going back. You’ll belong to me—completely. Your body, your soul, everything. I don’t share."His possessive words sent shivers through me, but they didn’t scare me. If anythin
Clairessa’s POVGabriel’s command stunned me. My heart thudded loudly in my chest, and I was sure he could hear it. Strip? For him? My cheeks burned, and my breath hitched. His request wasn’t crude—it was bold, intimate, and completely out of my comfort zone. I sat up straighter, adjusting myself on the bed. I suddenly felt so self-conscious. Gabriel was experienced—he had been with women who knew exactly what to do, women who were confident and had mastered the art of seduction. I wasn’t like that. What if I didn’t live up to his expectations?Slowly, I got up from the bed, my legs shaky but steady enough to stand. My mind raced as I tried to remember anything I’d seen or heard about women stripping for their men, but my brain felt blank.I regretted not going to those dance classes Jess always begged me to try. My body felt stiff, and I was sure Gabriel could tell.“Clairessa…” His voice was firm. “Eyes on me. It’s just you and me tonight. No one else.”I swallowed hard and force
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.
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“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