FULL NOVELXO Chapter Dad By Oma 70
Chapter 70: The Confession
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Clairessa's POV Daniel's voice lowered into a whisper, almost as if he were confessing a sin. "One night, I invited Angelique to dinner, and to my surprise, she agreed. That's when she told me her husband needed funds to start his company. They were struggling financially, and..." He trailed off, guilt etched into his features. “And?" I pressed gently, eager to hear the rest of the story, though I didn't want to spook Daniel. The name Angelique sounded familiar to me. “I saw it as an opportunity to get what I wanted." His voice broke slightly as he clasped his palms tightly. "I offered her money to sleep with me. In exchange, I'd pay off her husband's debt. And... she agreed." My stomach turned. “She agreed? Just like that?” Daniel nodded, his gaze falling to the table. "She said she'd do anything to help her husband secure his dream." Before I could process his words, the waiter returned with our food, interrupting our conversation. The dishes looked exquisite, beautifully arranged as if from a five-star menu. It seemed like Daniel had ordered half of it. But I could barely focus on the food, not when my mind was spinning from everything Daniel had just shared. Daniel thanked the waiters with a small nod and waited until they left. His eyes quickly found mine again. “Let's eat," he urged softly, his gaze glancing between me and the dishes. "Doesn't it all look delicious?" I forced a polite smile. "I'm sure it is," I replied, watching as he began to dig into his meal, savoring the first bite. He paused when he noticed I hadn't touched my plate. Leaning forward slightly, his voice tender. “We have the rest of the night to talk about my past," his tone was gentle, attempting to ease my nerves. "Let's not let this meal go cold. Trust me, it's worth it." I exhaled, finally letting myself relax just a little. “You're right," I murmured, picking up my fork. The aroma of the food was enticing, and I decided to give it a try. The steak melted in my mouth, perfectly tender, while the rice complemented it beautifully. Everything tasted divine- clearly, the chef had outdone himself. Daniel glanced at me as he chewed. “I hope you're pleased with my order?" I swallowed a bite, setting my fork down for a moment. "As you can see," I gestured toward my half- eaten plate, smiling faintly. "It's perfect.” His grin widened as he placed his fork down too. "I'm glad," he said, leaning back slightly. His expression shifted, more serious now. “So, where were we?” I wiped my lips with a napkin, carefully setting it down before looking at him. "The woman you met at the art gallery. She told you her husband needed money.” Daniel exhaled deeply, his gaze lowering. “Ah, yes,” he began, his voice quieter. "During dinner, she told me her husband was in serious debt, and their family was struggling. When she said that, I.... I saw an opportunity to get what I wanted.” I froze, my fork hovering above my plate. “What do you mean?” I asked cautiously, though I was already bracing myself. He hesitated, guilt written all over his face. “We made a deal-a transaction. I promised to give her money to sleep with me, and in exchange, I'd pay off her husband's debt. To my surprise, she agreed immediately. She said she'd do anything to help her husband succeed.” I placed my fork down, my appetite gone. “And how long did this..... transaction last?” My voice was neutral but inside, I felt horrified. Daniel shifted uncomfortably, avoiding my gaze. “It was supposed to be for a weekend,” he admitted, his tone filled with regret. “But it went on for months.” “Months?" The word escaped my lips before I could stop it. His shoulders sagged as he nodded slowly. “Yes. I know it sounds awful, but after the first night. I wanted more and I guess she did too. And along the line, we developed feelings for each other. At least, we thought we did at the time.” I frowned, trying to make sense of Daniel's confession. “What about her husband? Didn't she think about him?" Daniel flinched slightly, regret flashing in his eyes. "I... I'm sure she did. But at the time, we were too caught up in each other. We were selfish.” I clenched my fists under the table, trying to wrap my head around Daniel's confession. My mind flashed back to Adrian's betrayal, and the familiar pain that always followed. I fought so strongly to keep my anger from surfacing. The thought that Daniel and this Angelique woman had an affair for months without growing a conscience was beyond me. Daniel's voice broke through my thoughts. "I know it sounds sick and twisted, but at the time, we both had needs we were trying to fulfill. Angelique's husband was away studying. and she was alone in California with their son. And I had just moved back to take over the family business. We both found comfort in each other.” “Didn't you feel guilty? Didn't either of you think about the damage you were
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Chapter 70: The Confession
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causing?" My voice trembled slightly despite my effort to stay calm. His shoulders slumped further, and he rubbed a hand across his face. "Yes, I felt guilty some days. But the truth is, I was selfish. I told myself it was just a fling and that when I moved to Miami, it would end. I didn't think about the consequences or the man I was hurting." I stared at him, shocked by how easily he admitted it. "So, how did it all end?" His face hardened, his regret and pain etched into every line. "One night," he started slowly, his voice strained. “I had invited a friend over, but Angelique showed up unannounced. We were... making love when my friend walked in." My heart pounded in my chest, sensing where this was going, but I didn't want to believe it until I heard it from Daniel's himself. "Who was the friend?” His jaw tightened, his eyes lowering as though the weight of his next words was too heavy to bear. Before he could answer, movement at the corner of my eye caught my attention. Daniel's words froze on his lips as his gaze shifted past me. My heart pounded as I followed his line of sight. Standing at the edge of the restaurant, with an expression colder than ice, was Gabriel Storm.