Clairessa’s POV

Chapter 34: Letting Go Of My Pride

I pressed the send button, letting out a long sigh of relief. Finally, the reports were done. It had taken forever, but I’d always loved a challenge–especially one that involved putting the arrogant Gabriel Storm in his place. There was no way I was losing this.

My goal was clear: to get my revenge on Adrian by sleeping with his father. The plan was already in motion, especially after what happened between Gabriel and me at his home. The only reason he stopped was that I had mistakenly let it slip that I was a virgin, leading him to assume I wanted to trap him into some emotional commitment. As if…

Everything was spiraling out of control. My feelings for Gabriel Adrian’s betrayal… they were both pulling me in different directions, making things more complicated and dangerous.

Gabriel made it clear–sex was all he was after, and that’s all I wanted too. This wasn’t about love or affection; it was about revenge–revenge on Adrian, Gabriel had no idea about that, but I knew that when he eventually found out, he would hate me. I couldn’t stop now, even if a part of me wanted to

No matter how hard I tried to push the thought of that night aside, I couldn’t stop replaying how I felt in Gabriel’s arms. I had been ready to give him my virginity without hesitation–something Adrian had begged me for months to do, but I always refused. It wasn’t my fault that when Adrian touched me, I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing. He even had the audacity to call me frigid, insisting I needed pills to feel arousal. But ! refused.

With Gabriel, everything… felt different. He awakened feelings in me I hadn’t even known I was capable of experiencing–desire, raw and untamed passion. It was completely new. Just the thought of his hands on me made my body respond in ways I couldn’t control.

I’d always thought I was broken, incapable of being aroused, but Gabriel proved I wasn’t. With him, I felt more than I ever imagined possible

Wed,

Chapter 34: Letting Go Of My Pride

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I ran my hands through my hair, trying to shake off the thoughts of him, but my mind drifted again–to the way his fingers felt inside me…

I needed to get a grip. I had learned the hard way that fairy tales weren’t real. They didn’t come true. In the real world, men were scum. If I wanted to survive, I needed to toughen up.

I glanced at my watch–it was already past 9 PM. Another late night at work. Shutting my laptop, I made a mental note of everything I needed to do tomorrow.

As I walked through the empty office lobby, a thought crossed my mind: was Gabriel still in his office? I quickly dismissed it. Why should I care? This was about me now, not him.

I pressed the elevator button and stepped in, watching as it descended.

“Ugh… this can’t be happening“” I groaned, turning the ignition again, but my car refused to start. I had no idea why–it had just been serviced!

The engine sputtered weakly, the same annoying sound as before. Frustrated, I slammed my hands against the steering wheel. How could I be so capable in some areas and so clueless about something as basic as cars?

time. Nothing. I

frustration.

“Clairessa?”

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Go Of My Pride

up, I saw Gabriel standing outside my window, watching me with

course, it was in my old car–the one I’d been driving for years to save money for my app. At that moment, I was starting to

trouble?” he asked, sounding more amused than concerned,

lied, praying he would just walk

see that,” he replied, smirking.

me.

hoping to end the conversation,

it’s okay to admit you need help.” His voice carried humor, which only

calm. “If I need help, I’ll be sure to ask,” I shot back, trying to maintain

chuckled, the mockery in his voice burning through my last

patience.

I so damn proud?

and popped the hood of the car, staring at the engine as if it might magically fix itself. I tried poking around, pretending to know what I was doing. Nothing worked, of course.

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Letting Go Of My

the underground parking lot,

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reaching for my phone to call for a ride. Of course, my phone was at 2% battery, I hurriedly opened the app, but the screen went black before

the tire in frustration. As I stood there, feeling utterly defeated, a car pulled up beside me. The back window rolled down,

tone leaving no room for

argue, Pride be damned, I grabbed my bag and climbed into the back

ride, Mr. Storm,” I mumbled, embarrassed by how

I find your stubbornness amusing or

at him, heat rising to my cheeks. “For what it’s worth, I tried

said, his tone condescending.

help.”

It had been with me through everything. “That car has seen me through the toughest times, and I’m proud of it,”

chuckled. “Proud of a car that couldn’t start?

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