Lea, an orphan since she was thirteen, was raised by her charismatic guardian, Gabriel, a man of dazzling success and a reputation as an alpha in the business world. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, Lea surprises a disturbing scene: Gabriel embraces a mysterious-looking assistant in the private office where she has always believed that trust reigned. This unexpected moment awakens in her a storm of feelings: admiration, anger, and a burning fascination for this man who has always been her protector. Determined to turn the situation around, Lea concocts a daring plan to seduce Gabriel. But as she approaches him with newfound confidence, the guardian struggles between his responsibilities and a desire he thought repressed. What is Gabriel really hiding behind his self-confident appearance? Can he resist the growing attraction to this young woman who is no longer the child he raised? Events take a dramatic turn when Lea discovers a shocking secret about Gabriel's past-a secret that could destroy everything between them. Will she be able to handle the consequences of what she's discovered? Is their relationship doomed to be a dangerous game, or could it turn into something even deeper? As tensions rise and passions flare, Lea must face heartbreaking choices: sacrifice her heart to protect the one she loves, or dive headfirst into this forbidden romance, no matter the risk?
Chapter 1 Chapitre 1
Leah sat on the windowsill of her bedroom, knees drawn up to her chest, looking out at the vast property through the glass. The house she shared with Gabriel was imposing, cold, and yet it was full of memories. She remembered the first days he took her in after the brutal death of her parents. At thirteen, she had arrived here, devastated and silent. Gabriel, with his confident calm and natural presence, had taken care of her, without ever trying to replace the parents she had lost.
Today, as she turned eighteen, she could no longer deny that something had changed. This feeling of admiration, of gratitude that she had always had for him... had metamorphosed into another emotion, much more complex, disturbing. She didn't want to think about it, but her thoughts often betrayed her, especially when her gaze on him became too long, or when she caught him in moments he didn't share with anyone else.
That evening the house seemed quieter than usual. Lea came down the stairs, her bare feet brushing the parquet floor. She loved those moments when everything was quiet, when she could lose herself in her thoughts without interruption. But this evening, a glimmer of light filtered under the door of Gabriel's office. It was late, and he usually didn't work at that time. Intrigued, she approached, driven by a curiosity that she could no longer ignore.
The door was not completely closed. She placed her hand on the smooth wood, hesitating for a moment. Then, gently, she pushed it slightly, just enough to get a view inside. What she saw petrified her.
Gabriel was there, standing near his desk, and in front of him was a woman she didn't know. Tall, elegant, with straight black hair that framed a sculpturally beautiful face. The woman wore a fitted dress that suggested a perfect body. But it wasn't her appearance that captured Lea's attention. It was the closeness between her and Gabriel. He stood so close to her, one hand on her arm, his eyes staring into hers. Then, as if that wasn't enough to tear the fragile balance that Lea had built, he leaned down slightly and whispered something in the woman's ear, an expression she had never seen soften his features.
Lea felt her heart racing, an unpleasant heat taking hold of her. She stepped back quickly, her fingers clenching on the wood of the door, holding in a shaky breath. She wanted to leave, but her feet refused to move. Why did this upset her so much? Why did this vision of Gabriel, this man she had always seen as a figure of strength and stability, make her want to cry and scream at the same time?
"Gabriel, are you sure this is a good idea? » The woman's voice, soft and slightly hoarse, crossed the room and echoed in Lea's mind.
"I'm sure of it, Camille. This is the only way. » His voice, deep and calm, resonated as it always had, but this time it carried an intimacy that made Lea shiver. She backed away again, this time faster, and almost ran up the stairs. Her heart was still beating furiously as she closed her bedroom door behind her.
She sat on the bed, head in her hands, trying to calm the chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind. Who was this woman? Since when did Gabriel have anyone in his life that he didn't introduce? Why did it hurt to see him like this, vulnerable and close to someone else?
The questions kept piling up. Eventually she went to bed, but sleep didn't come easily. Images of Gabriel and this Camille occupied his thoughts. Jealousy – for that was what she felt – was slowly consuming her, an emotion she had never experienced before. And yet, she knew that tomorrow she would have to stand before Gabriel as if nothing had changed, as if this vision had not cracked something inside her.
The next morning, when she came downstairs, Gabriel was already at the table, reading a newspaper with a cup of coffee in his hand. He was impeccably dressed, as always, in a dark suit that accentuated his imposing appearance. Lea felt her heart tighten at the sight of him, but she forced a smile and sat down opposite him.
"Slept well? » he asked without looking up from his newspaper.
" Yes and you ? » she replied, her voice a little too high for his liking.
He raised an eyebrow as he finally looked up. "Not really, but that's not important. Do you have anything planned today? »
She shook her head, playing with the cup of tea she had poured herself. She wanted to ask him, even shout to him, who this Camille was, but she held back. She had no valid reason to ask this question, and she knew it. But the desire was there, burning.
"Gabriel..." She hesitated, then changed her mind. "No, nothing. »
He tilted his head slightly, intrigued by her hesitant tone, but said nothing. His phone vibrated, interrupting the silence. He picked up quickly, his expression immediately changing to something serious. After a few quick murmurs, he hung up and got up.
"I have to leave. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone. »
She nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. He left the room, and she stood there alone, with a lump in her throat. Lea knew she couldn't continue like this. She had to understand. But for that, she was going to have to take risks.
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