Chapter 211: She's Mine, And No-one Else
Gabriel's POV
I'd been pacing back and forth across the living room like a lunatic, my fingers raking through my hair so much |
could've torn it out.
It was past midnight. Adrian still wasn't home, but he wasn't the reason | was close to losing my mind.
Clairessa hadn't cback either.
No call. No text.
Not even a damn emoji.
I'd reached out all day-called, messaged. Nothing.
And of all the damn days she could disappear on me, it had to be today. It had to be this one.
The day I'd planned a grand surprise for her-just for her.
I'd been working on it for weeks. Quietly. Meticulously. Had people handling the details, making sure everything
was ready. And today-of all days-it was finally done.
And the timing couldn't have been better.
She'd crushed the pitch on the Randolph Project-I watched her speak, command the room, leave everyone
floored. Even Randolph himself, the CEO, looked at her like she was the best thing to happen to his company in a
decade. | was so damn proud. So damn sure this was the moment.
And it just happened to line up with what I'd been putting together behind the scenes. Like fate had handed me
the perfect setup.
I'd been waiting-excited even-for the look on her face when | showed her.
But | was sure she turned the damn phone off on purpose. That this- disappearing was her way of shutting me
out after | told her | missed her, and she flung it back in my face like it meant nothing.
I knew | hurt her. | knew | didn't choose her when she beggedto. But it wasn't that simple.
She forcedinto this crossfire. She cafter me, knowing | was her ex's father. Lied. Hid the truth.
And now-| was in love with her. And fuck, my son was too.
She wantedto choose.
And | did.
I chose to be a father.
Because that's what a man does-he sacrifices. Even if it guts him.
And now here | was, unable to shake the threats she hurled like a knife to the chest.
"I'd screw him if I had to."
My mind twisted it, replayed it, turned it into something darker-until I was
standing inside a fantasy | never asked for. Her body pressed against Adrian's, her fingers gliding over his chest
like they used to over mine, her mouth parting as he-
Fuck.
| forced the thought away. | couldn't take it. It felt like my lungs were caving in.
Then-like ssick joke from the universe-a sound cfrom the front of the house. Keys.
The door pushed open. The shuffle of shoes. I turned on instinct.
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Jane crushing in.
"Mr. Storm," she said, breathless, her voice already puttingon edge. "Adrian's home-but... we have a
situation.”
| turned my heart was stalling.
Standing beside her was a young man | didn't recognize, struggling to keep Adrian upright. Adrian hung off his
shoulder, limp and clearly out of it.
"What on earth..." | pushed forward. "Is he alright?"
The guy shifted Adrian's weight, trying to steady him. "Good evening, sir. I'm Brian
—Adrian's friend. He, uh... got a little too drunk at the party."
A little drunk, my ass... The kid looked completely wasted.
Adrian groaned, his arm slipping off Brian's shoulder. "Daaaad..."
"You've got to be kidding me." My voice cracked with fury as | stared at the mess my son had become. "Adrian!"
He lifted his head, eyes barely open. “Daaaad,” he slurred, flashing a lazy grin. "Hey, Dad. Love you, Dad."
My jaw tightened. "Adrian, after everything that's happened today, you go and get wasted? Instead of thinking
about your future?"
He wobbled, one arm thrown sloppily around Brian's neck. "It's fine... just had a ...little...fun, that's all. Don't be
mad..."
| shot Jane a glare, biting back a string of curses. "He's such a disappointment." Jane stepped in gently. "Mr.
Storm, maybe we should just get him to bed and let him sleep it off. You can talk with him in the morning, when
he's clearer."
| waved a hand. "Yeah, whatever. Just get him out of my sight."
"Con," Brian muttered, guiding Adrian down the hallway with Jane's help.
Adrian mumbled nonsense, throwing drunken finger hearts at me. "Dad... you're the best,” he slurred—and blew
a sloppy kiss in my direction.
| nearly lost it.
But | exhaled hard and forced myself to stay calm.
A few minutes later, Brian cback, slightly out of breath. He held out his hand.
"Thanks for bringing my son home," | said stiffly, shaking it.
"Anytime, sir." Brian nodded and disappeared.
Then the front door opened again.
| turned and my whole body froze.
Clairessa.
My chest tightened, like I'd been jolted awake. Every suspicion snapped into sudden clarity.
There she was. Of course. Of course they had been out together.
She stepped into the light, the door clicking shut behind her.
And my eyes-God, my eyes-burned into her.
She wore a black halter-neck dress that clung tightly to her frame, skimming her thighs and molding to every
curve like it had been poured onto her. The neckline plunged low, revealing the smooth swell of her breasts-just
barely covered. That much skin had no business being seen outside this house. It was for my eyes only.
Her makeup was dark, sultry-seductive enough to make a man lose control without saying a word. She was the
living proof of every damn thought that had tormentedall day.
"Where the hell are you coming from?" | bit out, struggling to keep my anger in check. "And what happened to
your goddamn phone?"
She barely glanced at me. "I turned it off."
Then she kept walking past the living area toward the stairs.
| blinked. Let out a dry, bitter laugh. "You've got to be kidding me. You turned it
off? No texts? No calls? You didn't think I'd be worried?"
She stopped halfway up, finally facing me, expression flat. "Since when do you care what | do? You and | barely
exchange two words in this house. We're strangers. So why the sudden fuss?" '
"You've never chafter midnight. And certainly not dressed like that."
| gestured at her-that goddamn flimsy excuse for a dress.
She glanced down like it was nothing. "What, this?"
"Yes. That. Half your thighs are on full display."
Her chin lifted, eyes cold. "I don't see
anything wrong with showing a little skin. And how would you even know what t| chome-or what |
usually wear? You're never around to see it."
She had the nerve to call all that thigh "a little skin."
My mouth went dry as my gaze flitted over her slender, caramel-smooth legs, heat
rising fast. No-don't look.
That was a mistake. | forced my gaze back up to her face.
"I know everything that happens under this roof. Especially when it concerns you."
She rolled her eyes and turned her back, and something insidesnapped.
"Don't you dare walk away from me, Clairessa."
| took a breath, trying to steady myself. "Not until you answer my questions."
She shota nonchalant look-at least she knew better than to keep walking. "Have you been out with Adrian?"
Slowly, she turned, tossing her hair
over her shoulder. ures Adrianiand |
dpiponcpersefalis none of
your business." The content is on
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chapter there!
Wrong answer.
"You both work for me. You live in my
home. That ma eRe my
opspese Cos "Whether you
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like it or not." The content is on
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She scoffed, her tone mocking. "Oh,
so now that I'm just crashing Gefer
ee unt Ihde new place
yb Qu denly think you've earned the
right to play Daddy?" The content is
on novelenglish.net! Read the latest
chapter there!
Fuck.
The way she said Daddy-soft and breathy, like a whispered gasp that slipped free when | drove into her
tightness.
Memories of her moaning my name-Daddy-again and again, beggingto crashed overall at once.
claim her
Every trace of reason burned away, consumed by an overwhelming need to remind her exactly who owned her.
"Relax," she added, voice dripping with teasing sweetness. "You don't have to
play Daddy. | never put you in charge. I'm a grown woman. | make my own
decisions."
Daddy.
That word hitagain, like a match to gasoline.
It was clear-she was provoking me.
Damn, she was toying with fire.
She knew exactly how much | craved control, how many times she'd surrendered
every inch of that irresistible body to me.
| should've been angry-hell, | was—but my eyes betrayed me, drifting back to
her mouth. That deep red lipstick painted her lips, drawingin with every
breath.
And lower-
That sinful neckline... those soft, perky, creamy breasts enticingto take one
nipple in my mouth.
Damn it...
The idea of them touching her, tasting her—it sent something primal ripping
through me.
She was mine. No one else.