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

Claireessa's POV

Gabriel didn't look at me at first. His eyes stayed fixed on Gretchen, his tone calm

but laced with a quiet threat.

"Leave us," he said.

Gretchen froze for a breath, clearly uneasy. "Of course, Mr. Storm."

She slipped out without another word.

And then it was just us-Gabriel and me.

I barely had time to register the storm in his eyes before he crossed the room in

three long strides and seized my elbow-not painfully, but firmly enough to jolt my

heart.

"Don't get too comfortable in my house," he hissed. "You won't be here much

longer."

I stared at him, stunned.

Just yesterday, he'd been at my side, placing cold towels on my forehead,

watching over me like I still meant something to him.

He'd cared for me, staying by my side through the night.

And for a moment, I let myself believe-maybe something in him had softened.

Maybe there was still hope for us.

But I was wrong.

The anger was back-hotter, more intense. And I was foolish to think forgiveness

would come that easily.

"Gabriel, please," I said, trying to pull my arm free. "Adrian could walk in. This isn't

His grip tightened, forcing my gaze to his. "Don't worry about Adrian walking in,"

he snapped. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind. You've got him wrapped around your little

finger. Just like you had me."

"What?" I breathed. "No-I didn't-"

"You seduced him, didn't you?" he bit out. "Same way you seduced me."

"Gabriel, that's not fair-"

But he didn't let me finish.

He backed me against the kitchen island, his body crowding mine. His frame was

solid, burning with rage, his breath coming fast.

The heat radiating off him blurred the line between fury and something darker.

A rush of heat stirred low in my belly as I stood pinned-caught between fear and

the desire for the man who clearly detested me.

His lips hovered near mine, his voice a gravelly threat.

"I'm giving you twenty-four hours." His jaw clenched, his voice a low growl. "Tell

Adrian the truth-or you'll see a side of me you've never seen before."

My heart stuttered at his words. The fire in his eyes told me he wasn't bluffing. He

meant every syllable.

"Gabriel..." My voice trembled. "I don't know if I can confess this to Adrian.

Maybe it's better if I just leave."

His expression twisted, something raw flashing in his eyes-pain, maybe-but it

vanished almost instantly behind a colder mask.

"Oh, you'll leave," he murmured darkly. "But not before you tell him how you came

after his father first... all sweet and wide-eyed, like innocence wrapped in

temptation."

"Please don't say it like that," I whispered. "It wasn't like that."

"Why not?" His voice lashed out like a whip. "It's the truth, isn't it? Or is it too bitter

now that both father and son are lusting after you? Your game is over, Clairessa."

I stood frozen, words caught in my throat.

His jaw clenched, and he stepped back slightly, but not enough to give me room

to breathe.

"You're going to submit your resignation on Monday," he bit out, voice low and

final. "I want you out of the company and out of our lives-for good."

I wanted to scream. To explain. To beg him to take everything-anything-but not

my job at Storm Innovations.

I needed it. It was all I had left... especially now.

But I saw it-etched in the hard set of his jaw, the cold distance in his eyes-he'd

already let me go.

And then, as if fate itself had intervened, I heard a voice behind Gabriel.

"Dad?"

Gabriel stiffened, immediately stepping away from me, running a hand through his

hair as if trying to wipe the moment from his skin.

Adrian stood in the doorway, his brow furrowed, eyes bouncing between us in

confusion.

"What's going on?" he asked, his gaze flicking between Gabriel and me, curiosity

evident.

Gabriel didn't answer. He stormed past his son, exiting the kitchen without a word

or a second glance.

Adrian turned back to me, concern flooding his expression. "What was that?"

I shook my head, forcing a smile. "It's fine."

He didn't look convinced. "Was he yelling at you?"

"No," I lied softly. "He was just asking how I was feeling."

Adrian frowned, eyes scanning my face. "It didn't look that way to me. Claire, if my

dad was being unkind to you, you can talk to me, right?"

I shifted my gaze away from him. "I already told you, Adrian, he wasn't..."

He sighed, shrugged, and then glanced at the counter. "Alright then," he muttered.

"What are you doing here, anyway? You should be resting."

"I feel better," I said, forcing a smile. "I needed to keep my hands busy. I couldn't

just lie there doing nothing."

He didn't seem convinced but sighed again. "Still, you should take it easy." He

raised his voice. "Gretchen!"

Gretchen popped back in, her eyes wide with concern.

Adrian pointed to her gently. "She's supposed to be resting. What happened?"

Gretchen shot me an apologetic look before speaking. "I tried to tell her, but she

insisted on joining me to cook."

"It's okay," I cut in before she could explain further, "It was my choice. I needed

the distraction."

Adrian exhaled, walking over to the counter and grabbing a knife. "Well, if you're

cooking, I'm helping."

I stood outside Adrian's door longer than I should have, trying to gather my nerve.

My heart pounded against my chest, and my fingers shook as I reached for the

handle.

This was the moment the confession Gabriel had given me twenty-four hours to

make. The truth I had to bring forward... or he'd do it himself. My fingers trembled

as I knocked.

"Come in," Adrian called, his voice relaxed.

I opened the door slowly. Adrian was stretched out on the bed, a laptop balanced

on his legs, dressed in a plain white tee and dark joggers.

The glow from the screen lit his face, and for a moment, he looked peaceful. It

almost made me question everything-made me want to turn back instead of

ruining his night.

"Hope I'm not disturbing," I said softly.

He looked up and offered a half smile. "Nah. Just reviewing numbers for the

restroom redesign."

I nodded and stepped inside. "Can we talk?"

His smile faded. He sat up, closing the laptop and setting it aside. "Yeah. Of

course."

"Can I... sit?"

He gestured toward the bed. "You don't need permission."

I eased down on the edge, careful to keep some distance between us. For a few

seconds, I just sat there, unable to get the words out.

"Adrian..." My voice cracked. "There's something I need to tell you. It's important."

He tilted his head, watching me. "What is it?"

I swallowed hard, bowing my head slightly, trying to steady myself before

speaking. "It's about something that happened after we broke up. A few months

ago."

Adrian sighed and raised a hand. "Claire, please don't tell me this is about when I

cheated. I know I messed up. I've apologized. Over and over."

"No, it's not that," I said quickly. "It's

not about what you did. It's about

what I did. After you hurt me... Inoveldrama

wasn't myself. I was angry. I was

lost. And I came up with

something-something really

stupid."

His eyes softened, brows drawing

together. "If this is about why you

needed space... why you blocked my

number and disappeared-Claire, I

get it. I broke your heart. I don't

blame you for shutting me out."

I wished it were that simple. "I wish it was just about that," I murmured. "But this...

this was more than needing space. I took it too far."

Adrian exhaled, leaning back on his elbows, gaze shifting to the ceiling. "Okay...

so during our time apart, you went out and did something out of spite? Just

once?"

"It wasn't just a one-time thing." My

voice cracked as I looked down at

my hands, fingers twisting in my lap.

"It wasn't just some emotional spiral.

I had a plan. A revenge plan."