ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 145

CHAPTER 145

GABRIELLE’S POV

Phoebe didn’t even have time to scream.

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The bunny connected with a sickening crack. Her head snapped to the side and her body slammed into the counter before sliding to the floor.

I dropped the bunny in the sink, panic making my ears ring. My heart pounded so loudly it drowned out every other sound.

Phoebe lay on the floor, blood gushing from her head and pooling around her.

My voice barely came out. “Oh my God…”

I hadn’t meant to-

No.

That wasn’t true.

I knew what would happen if I crossed that line, but I did anyway. My gaze snapped to her purse.

The recording.

Panic surged through me as I crouched beside her and grabbed the bag with trembling hands.

My fingers fumbled inside until I found the phone.

The screen lit up the moment I pulled it out, the audio file was still open. I deleted it immediately, then searched her phone for anything else she might have.

Terror slammed in my chest.

There were photos of Damon in different countries, all taken from a distance. And file after file of death reports from Naples.

A knock sounded on the door.

I almost screamed, my heart lurching into my throat.

The knock came again, harder this time.

Fuck.

What if someone wanted to use the bathroom?

I’d tell them to use the other one, and while they were gone, I’d slip cut to get help.

I took a deep breath and cracked the door open just enough to see through. “Hi. I’m sorry but

I trailed off when I saw Rhys standing there.

Relief flooded through me.

I opened the door wider. “Come in.”

He raised a brow. “Into the women’s bathroom?”

“There’s no one here,” I said urgently. “Just come in.”

Hesitantly, he stepped into the bathroom, his steps slowing when he noticed the body on the ground.

His gaze moved from it to me, then back to the body again. “What the hell happened here?”

CHAPTER 145

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My hands were still trembling around Phoebe’s phone. “She was blackmailing me.”

His eyes dropped to the bunny which still had blood on it. “You hit her.”

“I had to,” I said quickly.

Then I explained everything to him.

His head snapped up. “What?”

“You heard me right.”

He swore under his breath as he crouched beside Phoebe and pressed two fingers to the side of her neck. “Shit. You did a poor job trying to murder her. She’s still alive.”

Thank goodness.

My knees nearly gave out as relief and dread crashed into me at the same time.

Rhys stood and ran a hand through his hair. “Jesus, Gabrielle. Next time, hit harder. Now I have to finish the job.”

I blinked. “What? No, you can’t kill her.”

“Yes, I can,” he nodded. “I have to kill her now or she’ll blackmail you with this. Go see your sister without me.”

I wanted to argue but I knew he was right.

If Phoebe recovered, she’d come back even worse and with stronger evidence for blackmail.

I nodded, my throat tight and my eyes stinging from holding my tears back.

“I’m sorry,” I said softly. “And… thank you for helping me.”

Then I turned and walked out before the tears I’d been holding back could finally fall.

After a minute of composing myself, I checked in with the nurse to find out Damon was still in surgery.

Fear twisted in my stomach.

The surgery was taking too long.

I thanked her and told Fiorella to text me if there was any update before walking out of the building to go see my sister for the

last time.

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The drive there felt longer than it should have, and every second that passed made the knot in my stomach tighten.

I was on the verge of losing two important people in my life, and I didn’t know how to feel about that.

Vani parked in front of an old apartment building in Rhys’s estate and stepped out first.

“We’re here.”

My legs felt heavy as I followed him inside.

The hallway smelled faintly of dust and cheap disinfectant.

He stopped in front of a door, opened it with a key and gestured at me to go inside. “I’ll be out here waiting. Let me know if you need me.”

The room was dim when I stepped inside.

CHAPTER 145

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Her brows drew together slightly.

“You think it just fell into my lap?” I continued. “You saw the same opportunities I did. The same expectations. The difference is that I tried. You just stood there waiting for someone to hand it to you.”

Emily’s eyes darkened.

“That’s not true.”

“It is,” I said calmly. “You were always too busy blaming everyone else for your problems.”

A tense silence stretched between us.

From her expression, I could tell I’d hit a nerve.

But then, Emily scoffed and crossed her arms. “You really believe that, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

Her lips curved slowly, but there was nothing amused about the smile. “You’ve always been so fucking self–righteous.”

“And you’ve always been a jealous bitch,” I replied, stepping closer so she’d hear me clearly. “You’ve been breathing by my grace, Emily. But you took it too far when that bullet left your gun.”

Her smile was fading at the edges. “Let me guess, you’re going to take me back to the hospital and increase security?”

“No,” I answered. “Damon’s brother has made me promise to leave the revenge up to him. He will decide your fate and I’ll do nothing to help you.”

Anger flashed in her eyes and she started moving towards me. “You fucking bitch-”

“Take one step closer and you’ll regret it,” I said.

and the next thing she did made me take a step back, shock passing through me.

she said as she went to her knees. “Don’t let him take me. You can take me back to the asylum and never hear from I promise.”

way Emily switched quickly between emotions had always left me speechless, but I recovered quickly this time.

mow you can talk to him,” she continued,. “Please. Don’t leave me, okay? You don’t understand. I… need you.”

I looked into her eyes which were wet with crocodile tears, and leaned down to cup her cheeks.

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