ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 76

CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX

GABRIELLE’S POV

I wasn’t sure at what point I fell asleep but I woke up the next morning on Damon’s bed, my body sore and my thighs aching.

But that wasn’t what hurt the most.

I touched his side of the bed and it was cold.

I lay there, staring at the space beside me. Damon didn’t come back to bed last night and even though I was expecting that, it still stung.

How hard was it to just sleep beside your wife for one night or even for a few hours? I should have known better than to expect anything but detachment from him.

I had no regrets about last night though. I just wish I could stop myself from hurting.

I told myself that this was what I signed up for. He didn’t lied and he didn’t promise softness, or staying, or anything that came after.

Wanting more now felt foolish, and almost embarrassing, like I’d reached for warmth and forgotten that fire burns as much as it comforts.

I swung my legs off the bed slowly and put on my robe that had been lying on the floor all night. I searched for my underwear set but couldn’t find it, so I left to my room without it.

After a long soak in the tub, I put on the first thing I could find and walked downstairs.

Susan was finishing the table setup. “Good morning, Mrs Gravari.”

The name felt like salt on my wounds.

I forced a smile. “Good morning.”

Susan tilted her head slightly, her smile polite but curious. “I came to your room almost thirty minutes ago to tell you breakfast was ready, but you weren’t there.”

My fingers tightened around the edge of the table. “I was taking a bath,” I said lightly.

She nodded, accepting the answer without pressing. “Mr. Gravari hasn’t come down for breakfast yet.”

The words settled uneasily in my chest. He wasn’t upstairs either so he had to be somewhere else in the villa. Against better judgment, my heart leapt, a faint and foolish hope that he had stayed for me.

“Oh,” I said, surprised by how small my voice sounded.

Susan glanced at me, her eyes observant in a way that felt almost maternal. “He never comes down late for breakfast and I’d have known if he left this morning. Maybe he left before dawn.”

The faint hope that had budded in my chest sank at her words. “I guess.”

I took a seat and picked at my breakfast, though I had no appetite. Every bite felt like chewing on ash.

Susan cleared her throat softly. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything.”

She walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts and a breakfast I had no intention of eating.

I swallowed, straightened my shoulders, and forced myself to take a bite of my food.

If Damon Gravari could walk away untouched, then I would learn how to do the same.

CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX

Even if it hurt like hell.

+25 Bonus

With nothing to do after breakfast, I went back to Damon’s room, hoping–maybe foolishly–that I’d find him there.

The bed was empty, still cold, and the sheets rumpled from last night. I ran my fingers over the soft fabric, the scent of him lingering faintly, and my chest tightened.

No.

I had to pull myself together.

I stood up to walk out when my eyes caught his half–closed laptop on the table at the other end of the room.

I knew I should have turned around and walked away but curiosity got the better of me. Without giving it much thought, I opened the laptop and saw that it was unlocked.

Thank heavens.

I went through his notifications and most of them were boring and business–related except for the first one. It was a footage notification for one of his properties.

I tapped the notification and opened it, my stomach twisting as the footage loaded.

The video showed the exterior of one of Damon’s properties–his penthouse, unmistakable with its sleek lines and towering windows.

The timestamp caught my attention immediately: 1:35 a.m.

A black SUV pulled up silently, and Damon stepped out, looking effortlessly composed even at that hour. He moved inside quickly, the door closing behind him with a soft click.

My chest tightened.

That wasn’t the worst part.

The next timestamp read 3:00 a.m., and my heart skipped a beat when Selene walked through the front door.

Minutes stretched into hours on the recording, and Selene hadn’t left.

Not even until now.

I froze, my throat dry.

He was spending hours with her and yet a small, foolish part of me still wanted to believe last night meant something.

I hated that part of me.

A bitter knot formed in my stomach.

I shut the laptop closed with more force than necessary and left the room. I went down the stairs, my steps fast and hurried. I didn’t even bother responding to George’s greeting as I walked past him by the door.

I got to the garage and that was when I realized I didn’t have the keys.

“Hmmm–hmmm,” I heard beside me.

I Turned to find George standing there, one of the keys dangling from his fingers.

“Oh… George,” I said, my voice tight.

CHAPTER SEVENTY SIX

+25 Bonus

He raised an eyebrow, a knowing look in his eyes. “Looks like you’re in a bit of a hurry.”

I snatched the key from him, muttering a quick thanks without making eye contact. My hands shook slightly as I slid into the

driver’s seat.

If Damon was reuniting with Selene after our first night together, I intended to find out why.

The elevator dinged open and I walked into the penthouse hesitantly. The air felt heavy and charged, like it knew what I was about to see.

Every step I took made my stomach twist tighter. The living area was empty so I went into the bedroom, which turned out to be

also empty.

“Damon…” I called out, my steps slowing down.

No response.

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