ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 168

CHAPTER 168

GABRIELLE’S POV

TWO DAYS LATER

I stepped out of the bath and reached for my towel.

“I need to start attending physical classes,” I said, wiping my hair. “There’s not much I can do online anymore. Besides, I’m bored.”

Damon didn’t respond.

I glanced over at my phone and realized he was intently staring at me through the screen.

“Damon?”

His gaze shifted slightly, like he had been pulled out of a trance. “Hmm?”

“Were you even listening?”

Course,”

“Of he said lazily. “You said you’re thinking about attending physical classes.”

I let the towel drop intentionally and turned, bending to pick it up slowly.

When I looked back at my phone, Damon’s eyes were practically covering the whole screen.

I faked a frown, wrapping the towel more securely around myself. “And?”

His eyes moved over my damp hair and the thin line of water sliding down my shoulder before returning to my face.

“That’s not fair, wife,” he said. “Especially with you standing there looking like that.”

Heat rushed through me. “Looking like what?”

His voice dropped. “Like something I want to taste, and kiss. And taste again.“‘

I turned away from the camera, applying my skincare so he wouldn’t see how much my face had flushed.

He exhaled deeply. “I hate this.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re the one who called me.”

“And I don’t regret it,” he responded. “But I need more than this.”

He had no idea how bad I needed more too.

I reached for the phone and held it up as I walked out of the bathroom. “Hopefully you’ll be back soon. I can’t take this any longer.”

The softness in his eyes faded. “Yeah, hopefully.”

The mood suddenly turned damped.

We were silent for some minutes after that, none of us willing to mention what had happened in the last two days. We had already had two fights in such a short time.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, Lila had been asking for her mother and it was only a matter of time before someone

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CHAPTER 168

told her the truth.

We weren’t as close as we used to be, but we were getting there.

And I felt the truth would only make things worse between us.

I changed into a red bodycon dress and sat down on the edge of the bed, returning to the call.

Damon’s attention had been diverted to something else on his laptop.

“Do you think…” I trailed off, deciding not to say anything.

Damon’s attention returned to me. “Talk to me.”

I sighed and stood up, pacing the room. “I’m worried about us.”

Damon watched me quietly for a moment.

The faint tapping from his keyboard stopped as he pushed the laptop slightly aside.

“What are you worried about exactly?”

I hesitated

the hem of my dress between my fingers.

+25 Boni

“It just feels… different,” I admitted. “You left, everything became tense, and now we’re arguing over small things.‘

))

He leaned back in his chair, studying me through the screen.

“Gabrielle,” he said calmly, “two arguments in two days doesn’t mean our marriage is falling apart.‘

“I know that,” I replied quickly. “But it feels strange. We were doing so well.

“And we still are.”

I stopped pacing and looked at him. “You don’t seem convinced.”

He rubbed his jaw slowly before answering.

}}

“It’s just a stressful situation for me over here,” he said. “And distance makes everything feel bigger than it actually is.”

I walked to the window and leaned lightly against the frame.

“We barely even argued before you left,” I murmured. “Now suddenly we’re snapping at each other.”

“That’s because before I left, you were too busy clinging to me to argue.”

I turned back toward the phone, narrowing my eyes slightly. “That’s not true.‘

A small smile appeared on his face but he didn’t argue.

He looked so handsome.

I suddenly wished I could reach through the phone and pull him into my arms.

After a moment he glanced down at something on his desk before looking back up.

“What are you wearing?”

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I blinked. “What?”

“That dress.”

I looked down at the red fabric. “It’s just something comfortable.”

His eyes darkened slightly. “Spin for me.”

I blinked again. “What?”

“Turn around. Let me see the dress properly.”

“Wait until you get back.”

“Gabrielle.”

I sighed dramatically before dropping the phone and turning slowly.

When I faced the camera again, Damon was watching me with a small, satisfied smile.

“Yeah,” he said softly. “You’re definitely trouble. Send me some pictures of you later, okay?”

I nodded excitedly, sitting back down on the bed. “I will. Send me photos of you too.”

“Anything you want, wife.”

I blushed again, harder this time.

A knock came on my door immediately, and Fiorella stepped in.

I dropped my phone, forgetting about the call as I rushed to hug her. “This is a pleasant surprise. When did you get back in the country?”

She hesitated briefly before returning the hug. “Last night. I just stopped to check on you.

I pulled back, smiling. “You didn’t have to. I’m fine.”

Her eyes moved briefly around the room before settling back on me.

“Actually,” she said casually, “I was heading down to the beach to watch the sunset. I thought you might want to come with me.”

“The beach?” I repeated.

“Yeah,” she said with a small shrug. “I’m in the mood for some fresh air. Or would you prefer somewhere we could eat?”

I glanced toward my phone on the bed where Damon’s face still filled the screen.

He was watching the interaction quietly.

“Go,” he said.

I frowned slightly. “You sure?”

“You were just complaining about being bored five minutes ago,” he replied. “You girls should have fun. But be careful.”

Fiorella gave me an encouraging smile.

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I rushed to grabbed a pair of sandals from the closet and slipped them on.

“Bye for now,” I told Damon, picking up the phone. “I’ll text you when we get back. I love you.”

“I love you,” he said.

I ended the call and raised my head to find Fiorella staring at me, anxiously biting her lips.

I raised a brow, applying my red lipstick. “Are you good?”

She forced a smile and nodded. “Yes. I’m just stressed about my opening.”

I wrapped my arms around hers as we walked out of my room. “And that’s exactly why we need some girl time.”

The only driver available had fallen sick, so George had to drive us to the beach.

Fiorella insisted she could drive, but George refused and said he would follow us there.

We finally let him.

I took some pictures during the drive, dragging the neckline of my dress very low before sending them to Damon.

The message was opened almost immediately.

“Will you need anything else?” Fiorella asked.

I turned to her. “No.”

The car fell awfully quiet after that.

Fiorella had never been one to talk too much, but we had never had a problem holding a conversation before.

Something was off with her.

I dropped my phone aside. “You know you can talk to me, right?”

Her eyes moved from the window to me. “Yeah, of course.‘

I noticed her hands trembling in her lap. “You don’t seem fine.”

She didn’t answer immediately.

The car slowed slightly as we approached the narrow road leading toward the beach.

“Fiorella,” I called out.

She flinched, her breath coming out uneven now. “Yeah?”

“What’s wrong?” I asked softly. “I’m your friend, aren’t I?“,

Our eyes met and held for a moment.

Then she suddenly tapped George urgently.

“Turn the car around,” she said.

George frowned. “What?”

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“Turn the fucking car around!”

George pressed the brakes immediately and reversed the car.

“Fuck… what was I thinking?” Fiorella whispered, breaking down into tears. “I can’t… I just can’t…”

I had never seen her behave this way before. She was usually more composed and reserved.

I reached out and held her arm. “Hey. Don’t cry. What’s wrong?”

She shook her head violently. “You don’t understand.”

I studied her face more carefully.

“Fiorella-”

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“No, there’s nothing wrong with me,” she cut me off quickly, pulling away. “Listen to me. I’m sorry, okay? I had no other choice.”

My chest tightened.