ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 62

CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

GABRIELLE’S POV

I pushed the door to Lila’s room open and I found her sitting on the bed with a small coloring book.

She raised her head, saw me and sighed. “What do you want?”

Her little sigh shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did, but it sliced straight through me anyway.

I stepped inside slowly, keeping my voice soft. “I just wanted to check on you. That’s all.”

She didn’t look back at me. “I’m fine.”

Her crayon pressed harder into the page, the wax smearing into a mess of purple. Lila was angry at me because of whatever Anya planted in her head.

It was obvious Anya was still hung up on Damon. She had no idea I could make him feel his emotions, so why was she bothered about my relationship with him?

Did he say something to her?

I moved closer. “I missed you while you were gone.”

She paused for half a second, just long enough for me to see she heard me, then she shrugged. “Okay.”

I sat on the edge of the bed, leaving space between us. “Did something happen? Or… did someone say something to you?”

She didn’t respond.

She was her father’s daughter, alright.

I let out a breath. “Lila, you can tell me if you’re upset with me. I won’t be mad.”

She finally looked at me, and her little face was tight, and defensive. “You don’t have to pretend, you know.”

My brows pulled together. “Pretend what?”

“That you like me,” she muttered, flipping to a new page. “I know you don’t want mummy around. And if you don’t want her around then you don’t want me either. She’s supposed to be with daddy. It’s supposed to be Mummy, Daddy and Lila.”

My heart physically dropped.

I froze, staring at her, every word hitting like a blow to the chest.

How do I respond to something like that?

How do I argue with a child who her mother was telling these things?

“Lila…” I breathed out, the air leaving my lungs painfully. “Where did you get that idea?”

“It’s true. Nobody wants their family taken.”

I swallowed hard, feeling something twist in me. “I didn’t take anything from you.”

“Yes, you did,” she said quietly, eyes fixed on the page even though she hadn’t colored a single thing. “Everything changed when Daddy married you.”

My chest tightened.

She continued. “You married Daddy so Mummy can’t be with us anymore. And if she can’t be here, then you don’t want me, cause we come together.”

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CHAPTER SIXTY TWO

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I closed my eyes for a moment, rage simmering beneath my ribs. Not at Lila but at her mother.

I opened my eyes again, choosing every word carefully. “Lila… that isn’t true. I’ve never said that. And I would never want you gone. Ever.”

She looked skeptical. “You’re only here with me because Daddy’s not home.”

I swallowed, fighting the sting in my throat. “That’s not true, baby, We used to spend time together even when he was here.”

She stared at me for a long second then looked away again, her shoulders curving inwards.

“You should go,” she whispered.

“Lila,” I said gently, “I care about you a lot. And nothing anyone says can change that. Nothing ”

She looked away, not paying any attention to me.

I moved a little closer to her. “Lila… I can’t ever be your mum. I know that. I’m not trying to replace her. And I don’t want her gone. I don’t want you gone. I don’t want anyone gone.”

She sniffed, still refusing to look at me. “Then why are you still here?”

Because I was desperate. Because my life fell apart and only your dad could save me.

Because he wasn’t supposed to mean anything to me but I wasn’t sure about that

anymore.

But I couldn’t tell her any of that.

So I said the only thing I could.

“I’m here because I care,” I whispered.

Her little jaw clenched. “You like fighting with Daddy. You don’t make him happy.”

A humorless laugh slipped out before I could stop it. “Trust me… that is mutual.”

That made her look up, just for a second, confusion scrunching her brows. I reached to touch her cheek and she didn’t pull away.

“I care about you a lot,” I said, patting her. “Trust me, I don’t want to tear your family apart.”

She stared at me for a long time.

“You’re a bad person and when Daddy comes, I’m going to tell him,” she said, her eyes hard but sad underneath.

My breath hitched, my hand still on her cheek. “Lila you don’t mean that.”

She finally pulled away. “Leave my room, Gabby.”

I exhaled, long and tired, but I didn’t need her to repeat it. I stood, walked to the door, and paused. She was staring down at her coloring book again, gripping the crayon too tightly.

“I’ll give you space,” I murmured, even though she wasn’t listening.

Then I stepped out and closed the door behind me.

I spent the day online shopping just to keep my mind busy. Any other day, Lila and I would’ve gone to the mall together, but today wasn’t one of those days.

I thought about Damon too–more than I wanted to—but I didn’t text him. If he could leave the city without telling me, then I had no reason to check on him.

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