ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 81

CHAPTER EIGHTY ONE

GABRIELLE’S POV

I settled for a red dress and had my cleavage covered this time since there would be kids at the event.

When I stepped into the living area Damon was already waiting for me in his usual black suit. He had his back to me, speaking Italian on the phone, with a perfume bottle in his hand.

The sounds of my heels on the floor made him turn.

His eyes ran over me once and he ended the call. “You look gorgeous, Gabrielle.”

I smiled despite myself, my stomach fluttering. “Thank you.”

“Are you wearing that because of last time?” He asked, a frown on his face. “This isn’t your usual style.”

I knew he was referring to Lila’s birthday party where Anya’s mother openly disapproved of my dress.

“It’s just one night without showing my cleavage,” I said. “I’ll be fine.”

“I won’t be.”

I raised a brow as I walked past him. “That sounds like a you problem.”

He walked behind me into the elevator. “I don’t want you wearing things you don’t like to please them.”

I tilted my head, studying him. “I’m not covering up for them, Damon. I don’t feel like starting another silent war with those judgmental people.”

He didn’t respond.

The elevator doors opened and he held my hands as he led me to the car. He opened the car door for me and waited until I was seated comfortably before shutting the door.

He circled the car and got into the driver’s seat.

“You look good tonight,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He turned to me. “I always look good.”

I rolled my eyes at him. Of course he’d turn a compliment into something cocky.

He leaned over and I thought he was going to kiss me but he just pulled my seatbelt around me, snapping it in place. “Safety first.”

I cleared my throat awkwardly, my face turning flushed.

He adjusted the belt and leaned back, taking one look at me. Without another word, he started the car and drove out of the gates.

20

The hall was already buzzing when we arrived.

Soft lights glowed overhead, reflecting off polished floors and Christmas decorations that made the space feel both elegant and overwhelming.

Laughter echoed from every corner, layered with music and the low murmur of conversations overlapping each other.

Kids darted around in formal clothes they clearly hated, parents trailing behind them with forced smiles and wine glasses held a little too tightly.

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Something told me that wasn’t their first glass and it certainly wouldn’t be their last.

My hand turned sweaty as I braced myself for more hostility tonight. Just this time, I wouldn’t be letting any of them slide,

Thope.

Damon took two glasses of champagne from a server nearby and handed me one. I hadn’t even taken a sip of my drink when Beatrice and Selene joined us.

“Damon, my boy,” Beatrice said, pulling him into a stiff and suffocating hug. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d show up at all.”

It brought me a sense of comfort that we both suffered at events like these. Selene stood there, not looking at either of us, probably still embarrassed from the morning.

Beatrice turned to me. “Welcome, Gabrielle. I believe I have you to thank for reminding him about the Christmas party.”

Her words caught me off guard.

She was strangely being nice to me.

I didn’t trust it.

“Actually, he reminded me,” I said, glancing at Damon. “You should give him a break sometimes.”

She smiled. “In that case, ignore my words. In the meantime, mingle and get familiar with the family. I’ll see you around.”

Then she walked away, Selene following after her and still avoidi

“Well, that was awkward,” I said.

Damon didn’t respond immediately as Lila rushed over to him.

“Daddy!” She screamed excitedly.

my gaze.

Her wrist still had a bandage on it. He dropped his drink, caught her, and spun her around in the air stiffly like a robot.

Anya joined us a few seconds later.

“Lila, don’t rush off like that next time,” she said then turned to me. “Hi.”

“Hi.”

She turned back to Lila. “You’re still recovering dear, don’t scare me like that.”

My chest tightened with guilt.

Lila nodded obediently, clutching Damon’s jacket like it was a lifeline.

“I’m fine, Mommy,” she said brightly. “Daddy promised to stay with me.”

Anya exhaled and shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. “You’ll never learn.”

Lila’s eyes lit up. “Daddy, come see the stage! They’re going to do magic tricks later.”

Damon hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”

and

As he walked off with Lila, Anya watched them go, her arms folding loosely over her chest. When they were out of earshot, she exhaled.

“You don’t have to look so tense,” she said quietly. “I’m not here to fight with you.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. “I wasn’t-”

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“I know,” she cut in gently, “I know you pushed my daughter down the kitchen chair but I’m still not going to fight with you.”

That surprised me.

I had mentally prepared myself for wat.

She glanced around the hall, lowering her voice. “All I want is a hushed apology and no one has to hear about it.”

I frowned. “Apology for what? I never pushed her down. She fell and the only reason her injuries weren’t worse was that i caught her.”

Anya studied my face for a long moment, like she was weighing every word I’d just said. I couldn’t tell if she was angry or shocked because of her botox.

“That’s not how Lila remembers it,” she said calmly. “And that’s not how it was explained to me. Lila is only six she wouldn’t lie.”

My chest tightened. “Yes, she’s a child,” I replied, keeping my voice low. “And children don’t act the way she acted unless they were being told to by someone they trust.”

Anya’s jaw flexed slightly. “Are you trying to blame this on me?”

I snapped. “I’m telling you that I won’t apologize for something you caused. I know you’ve been saying bad things about me to Lila.”

Her eyes flicked and I followed it to where Damon stood near the stage, Lila tugging him closer, and chattering excitedly.

Something unreadable crossed Anya’s face.

“I can see you’re intimidated because your husband and I share a child,” she finally spoke, her voice low. “But there are four wives between us and I never had issues with any of them.”

“Are you saying I’m the problem?”

“I’m saying I need an apology from you,” she said, her voice rising and causing people to stare at us. “Just apologize for hurting my daughter and we can move on from this.”

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