ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE SINGLE DAD (Gabrielle and Damon) novel Chapter 85

Obsidian Halos Drifted Beyond Eternity by Xyren Valcor 85

CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE

GABRIELLE’S POV

I looked around, dread crawling up my spine. I knew if I ever got close to my sister again, either one of us might end up dead.

And it would most likely be me.

Mrs Raymond noticed my reaction. “It was you I saw outside, right? Emily has green eyes and you have brown. The one outside had brown eyes.”

She had to be wearing contacts then.

I forced an awkward laugh. “Yes, of course. I changed because of a stain on my other dress.”

She nodded slowly, her eyes observing me from head to toe. “You look good. What are you doing here? Ever since your father disowned both of you we barely see you around.”

The smile on my face was beginning to ache in my jaw. “Erm… I’ll try to come around.”

Mrs. Raymond hummed, unconvinced, but polite enough not to press. “You should. Your father is just mad. He’ll calm down and you all can be a family again.”

My chest tightened at the mention of him. I nodded anyway, because that was what people like her expected.

I glanced behind her and saw Damon walking to me.

Fuck no.

She couldn’t see me with him.

“I should get going now,” I said, already stepping away. “I’ll see you around.”

“Of course,” she replied, turning slightly. “I’ll speak to your father on your behalf when I see him again.”

I’d prefer she didn’t but I knew I couldn’t stop her. I walked away before she could say anything else, my hands were cold, and my pulse loud in my ears.

With every step toward Damon, the dread ebbed, leaving behind a raw vulnerability I didn’t know how to hide from him.

“Can we leave now?” I asked.

He raised a brow. “What’s wrong?”

I swallowed, my vision blurring with unshed tears. “Emily… she’s here.”

Damon’s expression shifted instantly and his hand reached out to my face. “Are you hurt? Did she do something?”

I shook my head as I broke into a sob. “No. I didn’t see her. Someone said they just saw me outside in a different dress and I haven’t left the hall at all. What if she’s here to finish what she started?”

He didn’t respond immediately.

He pulled me into a hug, stroking my hair to calm me down. “Shh, it’s okay. Nothing will happen to you while I’m here. I’ll have security scout the place for her,”

I nodded, my tears wetting his suit jacket. “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Then we’ll leave now,” he said without hesitation.

He kept one arm around me as we moved through the hall, his body positioned slightly in front of mine.

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CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE

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I barely registered the looks we drew or the murmurs that followed us. All I could hear was my own heartbeat and the rhythm of his footsteps.

The night air hit my skin the moment we stepped outside. I inhaled slowly, like I’d been underwater and had finally come up for

air.

Damon guided me toward the car where his driver was waiting. He opened the door and waited until I was seated before getting in beside me.

The door shut with a solid click, sealing us away from the noise, the people, and my past.

“You’re shaking,” he said quietly.

I looked down and realized my hands were trembling in my lap. I clenched them together, embarrassed. “I’m fine.”

He didn’t say much as usual and I was grateful for that. He pulled me closer, his hand patting my shoulder. I took in his scent and felt the warmth of him comforting me.

“You’re safe, Gabrielle,” he said softly, more promise than reassurance. “I won’t let anything happen to you, trust me.”

And I trusted him.

20

Damon made the driver take us to the villa as Emily had been to the penthouse before and he knew I wouldn’t feel safe there.

When the car pulled into the driveway, Damon instructed the driver to leave. The driver nodded and muttered goodnight before walking away.

I was still in his arms but my body was no longer shaking and my breathing had calmed down.

He removed a few strands of hair from my face. “We’re home now.”

I didn’t move.

I swallowed the uncomfortable lump in my throat. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly. “I didn’t mean to ruin the night.”

“You didn’t,” he replied. “You could never ruin my night.”

My heart swelled, and for a second I was speechless. I sat up slowly and caught his eyes on me but the intensity in his gaze made me look away.

I felt his hand on my jaw and a soft gasp escaped my lips as he turned me to face him. His eyes were cold and indifferent but his touch was warm.

His voice was even warmer. “There’s something on your mind. Talk to me.”

I swallowed. “I’m just worried. What if she’s planning with Jared or something?”

“None of them will get to you,” he said, a rough edge to his voice. “I don’t want you worrying about them. The security team is working on it, okay?”

I nodded, letting the fear go even though my heart was still heavy. I wanted to ask him about other things, but I didn’t want to

bother him.

So I pressed my lips together.

“Gabrielle,” he said.

I turned to him. “Yes?”

“There’s still something on your mind.”

CHAPTER EIGHTY FIVE

+30 Bonus

My chest tightened. “It’s nothing important.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

There was something different about him tonight, like he was lighter and less withdrawn.

I exhaled, my shoulders dropping. “You always act cold and distant but you had a long talk with your first love one time and you’re suddenly this way. You saw her in New York and you were finally ready to have leftover feelings sex with me.”

The words suddenly felt stupid as I said them out loud. I felt like I was some insecure girl begging for reassurance instead of his wife asking for honesty.

And in a way, maybe I was.

My voice shook as I spoke. “I just wanted to know if that’s what I am to you. A rebound from her, from the last time someone made you feel something.”

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