ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 53

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

DAMON’S POV

I checked my watch again, counting the seconds since Beatrice dragged Gabrielle away.

Cat’s voice finally cut through my thoughts.

“But we never get to see you,” she whined, tapping her heel like a child. “You never come around unless it’s time for the Christmas party.‘”

I hadn’t realized she’d been talking this entire time. My attention drifted back to the hallway, hoping to see Gabrielle walk out.

Nothing.

There was no sign of her.

A faint irritation tightened in my jaw.

“Cat,” I said flatly, “I have things to take care of.”

She pouted. “But you just got here. Grandma wants you to—”

“I’ll speak to her later.” My tone left no room for argument.

I stepped away from her, scanning the hall again. Beatrice liked to talk, but she shouldn’t be taking this long. And Gabrielle wouldn’t disappear without telling me. She didn’t like parties, but she wasn’t reckless.

Something felt off.

I moved toward the corridor they had gone through, ignoring the greetings from people trying to stop me. The hallway was empty and the powder room door was halfway open.

I pushed it wider.

“Gabrielle?”

Silence.

The mirror was spotless and the room empty, but something pulled at me, a faint sense that she had been here and left in a hurry.

What if Beatrice said something she shouldn’t have? Something about my past?

My throat tightened.

What if Gabrielle had left me?

I stepped back into the hall, scanning every face, and every corner.

No Gabrielle.

I spotted Peatrice at the other end of the hall talking to some people I inserted myself into their circle without so much greeting.

“Where’s Gabrielle?”

1

Beatrice turned toward the with a wide and warm smile “Damon,” she said sweetly, “I thought you were mingling.”

“Where is she?” I repeated, my voice lower this time.

Her friends started exchanging uncomfortable looks. I gestured at them to leave and they did without hesitation.

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

+30 Bonus

“I left that sweet girl in the powder room,” she said, shrugging lightly. “If she’s not here, I wouldn’t know where she wandered off to. Maybe she stepped outside. She looked… overwhelmed.”

I took a step closer. “What did you say to her?”

Beatrice’s lashes fluttered, confusion evident on her face. “Say? Darling, I only greeted her and talked about some family matters. I’m sure I’m the only one she’s met on your father’s side so I filled her in.”

Without another word, I walked away. Beatrice called after me, but I ignored her completely and pushed through the doors toward the main entrance.

Cold air hit me the moment I stepped outside. People were coming and going, chatting, laughing, and unaware that something inside me had tightened so hard I could barely breathe.

Where the hell was Gabrielle?

I scanned the walkway, the rows of cars, and the snow–dusted path leading to the gardens.

Nothing.

She was nowhere.

My heartbeat picked up fast. It pushed against my chest in a way I did not expect. I thought it only reacted like that when she touched me, but this was different.

It tightened and it hurt and it made it hard to breathe. I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to calm myself.

It did nothing but twist even more painfully.

No.

She couldn’t have left me.

***

GABRIELLE’S POV

I swallowed and tried to keep my voice calm, pretending the sight of the gun didn’t unsettle me. “What do you want from me?”

The stranger’s smile widened. “Nothing from you. I only want Damon and last I checked he was not yours.”

“He is my husband.”

He waved his hand like the word bored him. “It was a contract. Right?”

I stayed quiet. My throat felt tight, my palms were damp, and the gun was still in my view.

He stepped closer.

“Good. Silence means I am right.” His eyes moved over me slowly. “You walked into his lite and he started acting like you mattered. That was the first mistake. Everyone at Eden was talking about you.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify