Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)

Gabriel's POV

The vibrating sound came first.

Then the soft thud of my phone against the desk as it lit up again.

Clairessa was calling for the tenth time this hour.

I tried to look away, tried to focus on the reports in front of me, but my traitorous

heart wouldn't cooperate. I reached for the phone, tempted to toss it into the

drawer and forget it existed.

But my fingers hovered, trembling slightly. No matter how hard I tried to ignore her

call, my chest clenched each time I saw her name.

It was already evening. The sun had set, and I still hadn't moved—same

position, surrounded by silence—except for her persistent calls.

I finally gave in and picked up the phone.

Thirty missed calls.

A dozen unread messages.

Messages lined my screen like daggers pressing against my chest.

I scrolled past each one, feeling my heart betray me.

Babe... have you landed?

Gabe, what's wrong?

I'm worried.

Talk to me.

I heard you're back. Went to see you but Tems didn't let me through.

Please talk to me. I'm losing my mind.

I love you!

Why are you avoiding me?

Did I do something?

We can talk about it.

What about our dinner plans?

Gabriel Storm I love you!

That last one gutted me.

"I love you."

How could she say that so sweetly, so easily, while stabbing me in the back?

It was hard to believe. My sweet, beautiful Clairessa... the woman who melted in

my arms, who looked at me like I was her entire world—could really be cheatingnoveldrama

on me.

I should hate her.

After all, I had evidence, didn't I? That damn picture. Her lips on another man.

Blonde hair. Hands on her waist like he owned her. I should've ended it—blocked

her, deleted every damn text, torn her out of my heart and moved on like the cold

bastard I'd always been.

But my fingers hovered over the screen, never hitting delete.

Because deep down, I didn't trust Nicole. That viper could spin any lie, serve it

with a smile, and make it seem like the truth. I had to give Clairessa the benefit of

the doubt. I needed to hear it from her.

I stared at her name on my phone. "My Sweet" it read, saved with hearts and

emojis—something I'd never done for anyone else. The words seemed almost

foreign now, but I couldn't erase them.

I couldn't leave her hanging.

So, I replied.

Gabriel: Dinner, 8 PM. I'll send a driver.

Location: Velenia Rooftop. Open air. No crowd. Just us.

The response came almost immediately.

Clairessa: So you're alive!

Her sarcastic tone came through even in the text, and though I wanted to stay

angry, the corners of my mouth lifted into a sad smile.

Clairessa: I'm just happy you finally replied. I'll be ready.

Shit.

I exhaled roughly, running a hand down my face. I couldn't avoid it any longer. I

had to see her. Look into her eyes and get the truth—whether it broke me or not.

God... I didn't know if I could take it. If she lied, and Clayton confirmed everything

was true, it would shatter me beyond repair.

"Fuck." I muttered under my breath.

I rose from my seat, grabbing the

whiskey from the shelf. I poured a

generous amount into a glass, the

amber liquid catching the light

before I tossed it back in one go.

The burn did little to numb the ache

in my chest.

"We're here," Trey announced from the driver's seat.

I didn't move.

An hour had already gone by since I told Clairessa to meet me, and now we were

parked right in front of the rooftop restaurant. From my position in the back seat, I

had the perfect view of her.

The windows came down, and there

she was seated by the light, right

where I told her to wait. The evening

breeze toyed with her hair, lifting

brown strands and letting them fall

across her face like she was in a

movie scene. Her black dress

hugged her curves like it had been

stitched onto her body, elegant,

sultry, and completely her.

God, she looked breathtaking.

It had only been two days, but it felt like a lifetime without her.

My throat tightened just seeing her. I wanted nothing more than to get out of the

car, storm toward her, pull her up into my arms, and kiss the hell out of her until

nothing else mattered.

Until all the doubts and evidence and rumors vanished. Until I could believe her—

believe in her. Take her home and make love to her like none of it ever happened.

My hand rested on the door handle—and didn't move. I was paralyzed, held

hostage by my own fears.

Being here was a mistake.

A big one.

The truth was—I didn't trust myself. Not around her. Not when she looked like

that. Not with how much I still loved her.

Because love made me stupid. Vulnerable. And I couldn't afford another betrayal

—not from her. Not when I hadn't even begun to recover from the first.

There was no way I could face her with everything I now knew—or thought I knew.

If I walked in there and stared into those beautiful innocent eyes and she didn't

confess, I knew myself. I knew my rage. I'd push and... if she lied straight to my

face?

I'd lose it.

Maybe say things I couldn't take back. Maybe lose her for good.

And I couldn't afford that. Not with her. I couldn't undo what might come from a

moment of unfiltered anger.

God! If she was telling the truth, and I came at her with accusations and rage—

what then?

I couldn't risk it.

Maybe the intel was wrong.

Maybe the photo was fake.

Maybe Nicole was behind it all.

Maybe I was a damn fool for even entertaining the thought.

I needed Clayton to come through with

cold, indisputable facts. Because until then, I couldn't trust anything. Not her... and

not myself.

"Trey." My voice came out low and rough. "Drive."

I saw the confusion flash across his eyes as he looked at me through the rearview

mirror.

"Drive," I repeated, this time firmer.

"Yes, boss. But where to? Home or...?"

My phone buzzed beside me, cutting him off.

The screen lit up with My Sweet—accompanied by two little heart emojis.

It was Clairessa.

I stared at it, chest burning as I weighed my options.

I couldn't go to her.

I couldn't go home either.

Not to that bed that smelled like her. Not to the silence that screamed her name.

"Work wasn't enough to distract me anymore. I needed something stronger.

"The Cave Club," I muttered.

Trey blinked, clearly surprised by the choice. But he didn't question me. He just

gave a silent nod and pulled the car away from the curb.

I didn't look back. I couldn't. Because if I did... I might tell him to turn around.

Tonight, I needed a drink. Maybe a

body I didn't care about. Maybe just

something—anything—to blur the

image of her sitting there in the

dark, looking like everything

I wanted but could no longer reach.