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

Gabriel's POV

"Adrian... playing savior to a woman while your business circles the drain? That tells me your priorities are completely out of whack. Why bring her here of all places? What happened to your loft?"

He shot me a bitter look. "You already know what happened. You refused to help out when the restaurant got scammed. So I had to let go of the loft in order to pay staff. Keep the business alive."

"That's not my business," I said flatly. "I gave you a choice: come work at the company or deal with your mess. You chose. Don't come crying now."

Adrian rubbed the back of his neck and looked down.

I continued, "You know how sacred this house is to me. I've always had a no- guest policy here. So why the hell bring her here? A hotel, a friend's place- anywhere but here."

Adrian met my stare. "I've been staying here ever since I gave up my loft. Naturally, she'd stay with me. And no, I can't afford a hotel right now."

"Adrian," I said, stepping forward, "don't you get it? I'm trying to set you on the right path, and you're digging yourself into a deeper hole. She's a distraction." “She's not,” he said, standing firm. "She's the one person helping me get my life back on track. She kept me grounded when I was building the restaurant-you were proud of me then. That was because of her."

A wave of jealousy surged through me like venom. Hearing Adrian speak about my Clairessa like that? He credited his past success to her as if she was some kind of muse who breathed life into his mediocre accomplishments.

It felt like betrayal on top of betrayal.

"Dad," Adrian continued, "if you just gave her a chance while she's staying with us, you'd see it too. You'd fall in love with her. Realize she's exactly the kind of woman you've always wanted for me-"

"That will never happen," I retorted coldly.

He scrunched his face, startled.

"I'm not getting to know her. In fact, I want her out of my house. Now."

"Dad... you can't be serious."

"Oh, but I am. Every damn word of it. I don't want that girl here—and you know how much I hate repeating myself."

"She's not leaving," he snapped. "She can't. She's got nowhere else to go. Everything her cards, her ID, her clothes-burned in the fire. Right now, we're all she has."

I tried not to react. Tried not to let it get to me. But the idea of her being alone... of her sleeping in her car... it cracked something deep inside me.

The thought of Clairessa being alone... vulnerable... softened a part of my heart. But I pushed it down. I couldn't fall for her sob stories-not when I knew better. Those innocent eyes of hers were nothing but camouflage for a deeper game. It was all part of the performance she'd been putting on for months now. She was feeding him whatever lie he needed to hear.

And he was wrapped so tightly around her finger, it was pathetic.

"How do you even know she's telling the truth?" I asked flatly. "For all we know, the fire never happened. Maybe she made it up to get close to you. Or to us. For whatever she thinks she can gain."

Adrian's eyes narrowed. "Claire isn't like that. I told you before."

"People say that about the ones who fool them the best," I muttered.

"I was there, Dad," he said, voice rising. "I saw the flames. I watched her house burn to the damn ground. She didn't even want to come with me-she was ready to figure it all out on her own. I had to convince her."

I gritted my teeth. His words dug into me, threatening to breach the walls I'd built around my conscience.

"And now you're playing knight in shining armor?" I shot back, my voice cold.

He stepped closer, defensive now. "She didn't plan this. If that's what you're thinking."

I didn't trust it.

Any of it.

"I thought you said you two were broken up. That she wasn't even speaking to you," I said, eyeing him.

"We were," he admitted, eyes downcast. "But I've been trying to fix things. And this... this is my chance. She needs me now, and I can't leav—”

"She's not your responsibility," I cut in sharply. "You're taking on a burden that isn't yours, while ignoring the one that is."

"Maybe I am," he said, lifting his

head. "But I love her. And you know what they say-love makes us do stupid things. Dad, this is my chance to prove I've changed. That I'm serious. I want her back. I'll do whatever it takes."

"Oh, no you won't." My voice dropped an octave. "I'll wire you some money. You'll book her a hotel and drop her off. You said she's smart? Then she should've had a backup plan."

"Dad, I can't do that. Not when she needs me the most. Claire stays."

He looked at me like I was the enemy.

"Since when have you ever cared about my relationships with anyone? Why does

she get under your skin like this when you don't even know her?"

My chest rose and fell, breath heavy.

Because I do know her.

She wasn't his Claire-she was mine.

I wanted to scream it. Tell him

everything. That she'd been in my bed. That knew the sound of her breath when she climaxed, the tremble in her voice when she

moaned my name. That her fies

weren't just manipulative they were

intimate.

But I didn't.noveldrama

Not yet.

I needed the whole truth first. Real proof. The kind that would destroy her carefully

built illusion and make Adrian see exactly who Clairessa Hartwood really was.

"Dad... please... let her stay," he said, voice low. "I'm begging you.

Clairessa is not like any woman I've ever met. She's smart, strong compassionate-and I can't lose her.

Not again."

I saw the emotion in his eyes, raw and earnest. If I threw her out, he'd follow her. I

knew it. I'd lose him again.

That couldn't happen.

Everything was falling into place: Adrian was back under my roof, broke,

vulnerable—the way I needed him to be.

I could finally pull him back. Back to the company. Back to structure. Purpose.

Discipline. So we could build a legacy that would transcend both of us.

I wasn't about to let some woman ruin that.

Besides... I wasn't done with Clairessa either.

Not until I uncovered what she was really after. Why she lied. Schemed.

Manipulated. Or worse... who sent her.

"Just the weekend," I said finally.

Adrian exhaled like I'd handed him salvation. He pulled me into a tight embrace,

and for a second, I didn't know how to respond.

The hug was sudden. Heartfelt. Genuine.

It had been a long time since he'd touched me like that.

"Thanks, Dad. I'm going to join Clairessa now."

I stared after him, my hands balling into fists.

“Fuck...” I hissed under my breath and slammed my palm onto the kitchen

counter.

I needed to get my son off the shackle Clairessa had put on him.