ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 69

CHAPTER SIXTY NINE

GABRIELLE’S POV

The snow fell in a thin and relentless curtain, blanketing the cemetery in white.

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The coffin was already lowered halfway into the ground, and the ropes made a soft creaky sound as the men worked with stiff, gloved hands.

Their breaths puffed out in pale clouds, their faces drawn and solemn, and their eyes fixed anywhere but the hole in the earth.

No one spoke.

The woman inside the coffin hadn’t been meant to die. She was just an orderly doing her job. And now she was dead because my

sister murdered her.

Damon shifted uncomfortably beside me. “We should leave now.”

I shook my head. “No. This is the least we could do. I want to stay.”

The priest murmured prayers that dissolved into the cold air, his words swallowed by the wind before they could offer comfort.

A few of her colleagues and relatives stood apart, their black coats pulled tight, and their expressions hollow with shock rather

than grief.

Emily had been gone for less than forty–eight hours and the police still haven’t found her.

I knew she was out there plotting and planning her revenge. That was why Damon refused to let me to come to the funeral alone, even if he didn’t like to admit it.

When it was over, we walked over to the family. The orderly’s mother, Mrs. Walker, and her sister, Annie, were red–eyed and downcast.

I had tried speaking to them the day before but they weren’t ready to see me.

“Hi, Mrs Walker,” I said, my hand in my coat pockets. “I’m Gabrielle-”

“We know who you are,” Annie cut in, her tone harsh. “We wish we didn’t though. My sister would have still been alive.”

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I didn’t take offense at her response. My twin killed her older sister. I understood the pain she must have been going through.

“I’m sorry.”

That was all I could say.

Mrs Walker finally spoke. “You look exactly like my daughter’s murderer. The only difference is your eye colour. I’m sure you understand why I didn’t want to see you yesterday.”

Her words landed heavier than the cold around us.

“I do,” I said quietly.

And I meant it.

Mrs. Walker’s gaze lingered on my face, searching for something–remorse, guilt, or maybe even familiarity.

Her lips trembled, then pressed into a thin line as she looked away.

“She begged,” Annie said suddenly, her voice breaking through the stillness. “Even as she couldn’t speak you could hear her trying to beg for her life. Did you watch the CCTV footage?”

My chest tightened painfully. “No, I didn’t.”

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CHAPTER SIXTY NINE

“You should,” she retorted.

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Damon’s hand came to the small of my back gently, offering me comfort but he didn’t speak.

Mrs. Walker drew in a shaky breath. “I don’t want your apologies,” she said, her voice tired rather than angry. “I just want my daughter back.”

There was nothing I could do to bring back the dead.

“I promise you,” I said after a moment, my throat burning, “Emily will be found. And she will answer for this.”

Mrs. Walker let out a hollow laugh. “Justice doesn’t bring people back.”

“No,” I agreed softly. “But it’s all I can offer.”

“Then all you’ve offered is nothing,” Annie snapped as she walked closer to me, her eyes blazing. “Your sister should be strangled to death as well. And if she isn’t found, I don’t mind if you take her place.”

A soft gasp escaped my mouth.

Damon pulled me to stand behind him. “She didn’t kill your sister. Back up.”

Her confidence shook under his gaze.

She looked at him and back at me, the anger in her eyes melting into sadness. “I’m sorry. I just can’t stand looking at you.”

“Annie,” Mrs. Walker said softly, finally stepping forward.

Her eyes were still glassy and rimmed red, but there was a tired clarity in them now. “That’s enough. This won’t bring your

sister back.”

Annie shook her head, her tears spilling freely. “Mum-‘

“I said enough,” she repeated softly.

She turned to Damon first, then to me. Her gaze lingered on my face again, probably searching, comparing, and hurting.

“What she said was cruel and wrong.” She exhaled shakily. “But pain makes people ugly. I won’t pretend it doesn’t.”

I nodded, my throat too tight for words.

Mrs. Walker clasped her gloved hands together. “I don’t forgive your sister,” she said plainly. “I don’t know if I ever will.”

I expected that.

“But you…” Her voice softened almost imperceptibly. “You didn’t choose this.”

Annie let out a loud breath, turning away, as her shoulders trembled.

Mrs. Walker looked back at the grave, the snow already settling on the fresh mound of earth.

“Please,” she said quietly. “Let us mourn in peace now.”

I nodded and turned to leave without another word. Damon’s hand was around my shoulders guiding me.

We got into the car and he turned up the heat. I took my coat off but there was still a heaviness on my shoulders.

He drove out of the parking lot, still not breaking the silence. And for the first time since I met him, I was thankful for that.

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I was lying on my bed and reading a novel when Damon barged into my room without knocking, as usual.

CHAPTER SIXTYNIN

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I let out an exaggerated sigh and sat up. “Do you even know how to knock?”

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He stepped inside, carrying twi takeout bags. “Nope. I always hope I catch you naked.”

My face reddened immediately, heat crawling up my thighs. I pressed my legs together and cleared my throat unnecessarily.

He set the bag down on the bedside table without another word.

I glanced at the packages. “Thai food?”

“Yes,” he said, looking straight at me, with that unreadable expression. “It’s your favorite.”

My jaw dropped. “I never told you that. How do you know?”

A look flashed in his eyes, then he turned around and looked everywhere but at me. “You must have told me.”

“I never did, liar,” I said, standing up from the bed. “Does this have anything to do with that photo of me in your penthouse? Have we met before? No… no we haven’t, I’d have remembered.”

He turned back to me finally, his expression cold. “Just eat, Gabrielle. You talk too much.”

“How dare you?” I gasped.

He only shrugged. “You just keep proving my point.”

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang from downstairs. Susan and George had gone to the mall to get groceries and the other staff were in their quarters.

Damon left to go check it out while I sat down and began eating. The food was still hot and made with only fresh ingredients, just how I liked it.

He had to have stalked me at some point. He knew way too much about me to just be a coincidence.

After a few minutes, I heard a familiar voice float upstairs. I dropped my plate and walked down to check.

When I got downstairs, I saw Damon talking to his grand–aunt, Beatrice. And beside her was a beautiful lady I’d never seen.

He turned as he heard him behind him, his expression dark and cold but Beatrice spoke first.

“Oh, hi Gabby,” she said with a smile like we were friends. “I had no idea you were still here.”

I managed a smile. “Hi, Beatrice.”

“I’ve heard all about you, Gabby,” the strange woman said, her voice velvety. “You’re more beautiful than I thought. Damon didn’t tell me about you when we spent the night together two nights ago in New York.”

Two nights ago?

That was the night he was at the club.

I turned to him but he wasn’t looking at me anymore.

My stomach twisted. “What is she talking about?”

Beatrice’s smile widened. “Oh, he didn’t tell you about her? This is Selene, Damon’s first and only love.”