ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 181

CHAPTER 181

GABRIELLE’S POV

TWO WEEKS LATER

My eyes fluttered open slowly

I felt something heavy on my arm, and when I looked down, I saw Lila’s head resting there.

She had climbed into our bed last night, insisting there was a monster under her bed.

But I knew it was because she missed Anya, and it made me hate that woman all over again for what she had done –and was still

doing to her daughter

Damon finally told her the truth, that Anya had been lying to her and trying to use her to cause problems between us.

And that she would stay away for a while.

Lila wasn’t happy about not seeing her mother anytime soon, which was expected, but she was getting better.

I moved Lila’s hair away from her face carefully.

Then I lifted my gaze and saw Damon fast asleep beside her, a calm expression on his face.

Before I could stop myself, I reached out and touched him, my thumb brushing over his cheek as I watched him.

Being this close to both of them at the same time made it impossible not to notice how much they looked alike.

Lila had his features, just softer and smaller.

My chest tightened with something warm as I looked at them.

“Like what you see, wife?”

I froze for a second, then looked up to see Damon watching me, his eyes half–open but focused on my face.

“You’ve been awake.”

“For a while,” he replied, his voice low. “Don’t be creepy now.”

My hand was still on his face, and I didn’t pull it away. “It’s not creepy. It’s romantic.”

He adjusted slightly on the bed, careful not to wake Lila, then reached for my hand and held it against his chest.

“I like this,” he said. “I want this every day.”

I nodded slowly. “So do L”

Lila stirred a little between us, and we both went quiet until she settled again.

Damon lowered his voice. “We leave for Italy in a few months. Are you sure you don’t want me to redesign?”

i shook my head “For now, no. Maybe after the baby comes.”

1 would preter to supervise the interior design project myself but between physical classes, Lila, and therapy, I barely had any time for myself like I used to

I wasn’t complaining though

It was definitely better than being bored and idly shopping online all day.

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it. “I still can’t believe this is happening. It feels like a dream i don’t want to wake up from.”

I didn’t get the chance to respond before Lila shifted again, her hand reaching out blindly until it landed on Damon’s arm.

He smiled faintly and covered her hand with his.

I watched them, something settling deep inside me.

This was what I had always wanted.

And for once, it felt like nothing was about to take it away.

I got out of bed and let them sleep while I went downstairs to search for Susan.

By now, George would have be frowning and complaining about how wrong it was to come down late for breakfast.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t with us anymore.

I felt an ache in my heart.

During his funeral, Susan had admitted to me that they had been in a relationship.

My heart broke for her.

I couldn’t even imagine losing Damon.

We moved her into the guest room and gave her time to get herself together for as long as she needed.

I found her in the kitchen, sitting quietly and staring at nothing in particular with a cup of tea in her hands.

She looked up when she noticed me. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” I replied softly as I walked over. “Did you sleep at all?”

“A little,” she said, shrugging casually. “It comes and goes.”

I nodded, not knowing what to say that would make anything better. I wished I could take her pain away.

“I’m sorry,” I added after a moment.

She gave me a small smile. “I know.”

Silence settled between us, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

“I’ll be okay,” she finally spoke again. “It just takes time.”

I reached for her hand and squeezed it gently. “Take all the time you need. You don’t have to rush anything.”

Her grip tightened slightly before she let go.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. “And thank you for treating me like family.”

I gave her a small nod before stepping back. “That’s because you’re family. I’ll check on you later.”

She nodded, and I left her there, hoping she knew I meant what I said.

A few hours later, Damon and I were in the car.

He pulled my seatbelt around me and kept one hand on my thigh while the other was on the steering wheel

He had refused to tell me where we were going, only calling it a surprise

A frown formed on my face. “What?”

“Don’t panic, wife,” he said, like he already knew my heart was racing. “I proved you didn’t do it. And I may have threatened them a little to let it go.”

I glanced at the field, then back at him. “Damon… what’s going on?”

He turned me around and leaned down to whisper in my ear. “Look closer.”

I squinted and noticed a man sitting on one of the bleachers at the far end of the field.

“I see someone,” I said.

“That’s your father, Gabrielle,” Damon said.

My heart squeezed.

For a second, I couldn’t move.

All I could do was stare at the figure in the distance, my mind struggling to catch up with what Damon had just said.

“My father?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

Damon’s hands tightened slightly on my shoulder. “Yes.”

I shook my head slowly, my eyes still fixed on the man sitting on the bleachers. “No… that’s not possible.”

“It is,” he said calmly. “He’s been here for a while.”

My chest rose and fell too fast, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might break through my ribs.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, finally looking at him.

“Because I know my wife,” he answered. “You would end up overthinking and not get any sleep.”

I swallowed hard, my gaze drifting back to the field.

Father hadn’t moved, he was just sitting there waiting.

“He knows I’m here?” I asked.

Damon nodded. “He does.”

A mix of emotions hit me all at once, and I didn’t know which one to hold onto.

I turned back to him and wrapped my arms around him. “Oh, Damon. I love this. I love you.”

His hand patted my head. “I love you too. Go on, he’s waiting for you.”

I pulled back and looked at him one more time, searching his face. “You have no idea how much this means to me

Damon didn’t respond.

Instead, he leaned down and kissed me slowly and deeply.

”

“I figured you two would have a lot to talk about,” he said when he pulled away. “I’ll be back to pick you up in an hour”

I nodded slowly, then let go of him and started moving.