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

Clairessa's POV

Adrian's hands shot out, steadying me before I could stumble back. "Whoa- where are you dashing off to?" he asked, eyes searching mine.

I opened my mouth, but no words came. My throat closed around them. “I—I just..." I stuttered, glancing away.

"What's wrong?" he asked, voice softer now. "Talk to me."

I tried to pull away, but his grip on my hand tightened-not enough to hurt, just enough to hold me there.

"Nothing. I just need to be alone," I muttered, trying again to slip free.

"No, you don't." His voice was firmer this time. "You don't need to be alone right now. Something happened. I can see it all over your face. Please, talk to me."

The kindness in his voice made something in me crack. But I couldn't tell him the truth-where I was going, what had just happened. And I knew if I said too much, he'd want to follow.

"I just..." I exhaled shakily. "I need to go back to my apartment. I want to see what's left. What I can salvage."

Adrian's expression darkened with concern, but he didn't press-not yet.

"I'll come with you," he said, like it was already decided.

"No-Adrian, you don't have to-

"I know I don't," he cut in gently. "But I want to."

"Adrian, please. This is something I have to do alone."

But he wasn't budging. "Claire, I'm not letting you go there by yourself. Not like

this. I'm coming with you, and you can't talk me out of it."

I saw it in his face the resolve. He wasn't giving me a choice.

And I was too tired to fight. I didn't have the strength.

We got into the car in silence. My thoughts raced, numb and heavy all at once.

I stared out the window, panic rising in my chest. My mind spun in circles, but all I could think about was my apartment. I hadn't even seen it since the fire. I didn't know what to expect.

I had to figure out my life-rebuild it, piece by piece. I needed to get out of this web spun by father and son before it swallowed me whole.

When we pulled up to the building, my heart sank. My breath caught.

It was worse than I imagined.

Parts of the structure stood, hollow and blackened, nothing like what the building used to be.

I hastily got out of the car, and Adrian followed closely behind.

The front entrance of the building was roped off, but I stepped over it anyway. I needed to see it with my own eyes.

The hallway that once led to my cozy sanctuary was now a corridor of devastation. I could barely recognize the door.

When I reached my apartment, the door was gone completely. Only broken remains of the frame stood, hanging off one hinge.

I stepped inside.

Or what used to be inside.

The living room was destroyed. The couch-burned down to its springs.

My bookshelf had collapsed, pages scattered and singed. The walls were blackened with soot.

I moved through what used to be my home, eyes wide, breathing shallow.

My bedroom door was barely standing. I pushed it open.

And saw everything.

My clothes had turned to ashes. My pictures gone. The bedframe was charred, the mattress consumed by flames.

But it was the corner of the room that made me fall to my knees.

"My laptop..." I whispered. "Oh my God..."

The metal shell was bent out of shape, barely recognizable—a pile of ash and melted plastic. My Hart app. My saved files. My photos. My everything.

I broke.

"Oh my God..." My voice cracked, barely audible. "Why? Why me?"

The sobs ripped through me before I could stop them. I covered my face with my hands, but the tears still poured.

The pain in my chest was unbearable. "Why did it have to be my apartment? Why now?"

Adrian knelt beside me, wrapping his arms around my shaking frame. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, Claire," he said quietly, brushing my hair out of my face with gentle fingers. "But I'm thankful-so damn thankful-you weren't here when it happened. I'm glad you're alive. You hear me? That's all that matters."

"I know," I whispered, my voice hoarse. "But Adrian, this is bad. I've lost everything. Every piece of-

clothing. Every possession ever

Bought. My laptop-it had

everything. And now it's all gone."

I stared at the heap of melted plastic and wires that used to hold my world, and

the tears just kept falling down my cheeks.

"I'm sorry this happened to you,” he whispered. "But you're going to get through this."

"How?" I choked out. "It's not just stuff. It's my life. My work. My words. I don't know how to start over."

He brushed my hair away from my face and looked me in the eyes. " know I'm broke right now, but

swear to you-I'll do whatever it

takes to help you get it all back 'II

talk to my dad-content

"No," I cut him off quickly, pulling back. "Don't talk to your dad. Please. He's done enough."

The last thing I needed was handouts from Gabriel.

Adrian sighed and nodded. "Alright. I won't. But I'm not leaving you alone in this, okay?"noveldrama

He took my hand, and I leaned into his shoulder, the grief still coming in waves.

Then I heard a voice from behind us.

"Oh, Claire..."

I turned to see Mrs. Margaret, my neighbor. Her face was pale with sympathy.

"I've been wondering when you'd come around. I'm so sorry," she said.

I wiped at my face. "I just... I needed time to think. To figure it out."

Mrs. Margaret nodded, eyes damp. “It's all so sad. But your place... it got hit the worst. I'm so sorry, honey."

"Did they find anything?" I asked. "What caused it?"

"There's been talk," Mrs. Margaret said. "Fire department's saying it might've been deliberate. That it started in the stairwell."

My head spun. "Arson? Who would do that? Who would want to burn our homes down?"

She shook her head. "I don't know. It doesn't make sense. None of it does."

I stared at the blackened walls, a lump growing in my throat again. "This... this is insane."

"I'm sorry, Claire," Mrs. Margaret said softly, placing a hand on my arm. "We're all shaken. But I really am sorry it hit you the worst. If you need anything, I'm here."

I simply nodded, my voice too dry to speak.

Mrs. Margaret gave my arm a gentle squeeze. "We'll be okay, Claire. The Lord will help us figure it out."

"Thank you, Mrs. Margaret..."

She hugged me gently.

I'm still sorting through the rest of my stuff. Saving what can be saved. I'll see what's next soon. Mrs. Margaret gave me a warm smile and left, leaving Adrian and me alone.

Adrian wrapped an arm around me again. "We're going to get through this," he said softly. "I promise. Somehow, we will."

I gathered the few things I could salvage-scorched photo frames, a bracelet, a journal with only a few intact pages and told Adrian, "Let's go."

As Adrian and I left the apartment, our next stop was the bank.

I withdrew just enough to keep me going for now.

Thankfully Thad savings-months of working, budgeting, and planning. It wasn't a fortune, but it was more than enough to rebuild my life. It would take time...

ofcourse and

knew I needed to pace myself.

There were documents to replace, IDs to sort out, and eventually, I'd have to start searching for a new apartment. But for now, I had to focus on the essentials.

After that, we stopped at the mall. I picked out what I needed basic clothes, toiletries, undergarments. Nothing special. Just enough to get by. When Adrian reached for his wallet, I raised my hand.

"No. I can pay. Please, let me."

He nodded and stepped back, respecting my space.

By the time we returned to the house, the sky had started to dim, casting

everything in shadows. I felt just as dim inside.

Gabriel was in the living room, seated on the couch, talking on the phone- probably about work. He glanced up as we walked in.

I didn't meet his eyes. I couldn't. I walked right past him, bags in hand, holding

myself together with whatever strength I had left.

Too broken to speak.

Too disappointed to care.

I climbed the stairs in silence.

Done being a pawn.

Done with the Storm men.