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

Gabriel's POV

I sat at the dining table, seething, the rage in me growing hotter every goddamn second.

Across the table, Adrian and Clairessa sat so close their arms brushed. He leaned in, whispering something in her ear. She smiled-smiled like she loved whatever nonsense he was feeding her.

My blood burned.

Her eyes met mine once. Just once.

Then she looked away like I didn't exist. Like I hadn't given her twenty-four hours to tell him the truth.

And judging by the way he looked at her-like she was some innocent angel who saved his life-she hadn't said a word.

It was more than obvious she hadn't told him a damn thing.

She was still pretending. Same as always.

But she had no idea what hell I'd unleash if she kept this up.

God... I was going to-

I couldn't even say it.

Couldn't bring myself to hate her, no matter how much I wanted to.

Especially not when she was sitting beside my son, touching him, smiling for him

—and jealousy slammed into me like a punch to the ribs.

Shit. How could I still want the same woman my son was in love with?

How could I still ache for her?

Fuck...

She had him so tightly wrapped around her finger he couldn't see straight. Infatuated. Lost. Blind.

He was caught in her web now, just like I had been. And Clairessa-she was the one spinning it. Seducing both of us. Playing both sides.

Lying through those soft lips.

I dug my nails into my palms beneath the table, forcing myself to stay put.

No.

No, this wasn't Adrian's fault.

She was the one who shattered everything.

The reason I couldn't look at my own son without feeling betrayed.

And now she sat there, acting like she was innocent.

Like none of it had happened.

Like she hadn't torn my goddamn soul apart.

And fuck-I had to do something before she ruined us both.

Just as the rage clawed closer to the surface, Gretchen's voice cut in.

"So, Adrian," she said, smiling brightly as she turned to him, "I'm dying to hear how you two met!"

Adrian's face lit up, a boyish grin spreading as he looked at Clairessa.

"We met in our final year of college. First day of class. She embarrassed me right in front of the professor."

Gretchen chuckled, turning to Clairessa. "Is that true?"

Clairessa gave a faint smile. "Adrian's exaggerating. I didn't challenge him—I just corrected an error in his answer."

Gretchen gasped teasingly. "I like her already."

"I'm sure you do," Adrian laughed. "Claire had no mercy. She shredded my logic and nearly bit my head off."

"I did not," she murmured, still smiling. "You just didn't get the question right."

Adrian nudged her playfully. "See? Still challenging me even now. But that's one

of the things I love about her. She keeps me grounded."

Love.

That word twisted in my gut like a knife.

Gretchen chuckled, then glanced at me completely unaware.

Her eyes lingered for a second before drifting back to the two of them. She smiled

wider, like she was watching the kind of couple people rooted for.

"Oh, she brings me joy you can't imagine," Adrian said, sliding his hand over Clairessa's.

She stiffened.

I saw it.

But she didn't pull away.

That was all it took.

I clenched my fists under the table, willing myself to stay calm-but it wasn't working.

The urge to tear them apart screamed through my veins.

Clairessa tried to steer the conversation away, her voice tight and too polished. "Adrian, you're being too generous. Really. Maybe we should talk about something else."

"Bore?" Gretchen laughed. "No way! I'm hanging onto every word. I adore you already, Claire. I met her earlier in the kitchen-she's a doll. I can't wait to get to know her better."

Adrian lit up like a goddamn fool. “She might seem shy now, but once you get to know her she's incredible."

"Oh, I'm sure," Gretchen added sweetly. "Welcome to the family, Claire."

Clairessa offered a faint, uneasy smile. "Thank you..."

She's beautiful, strong, kind. She makes me want to be better.

That was it.

My chair scraped against the floor as I leaned forward, slamming my palm flat on the table. "Enough."

Silence cut through the room.

All eyes turned to me.

I forced myself back into my seat, jaw clenched, fury boiling too close to the surface.

Gretchen was the first to speak, her tone cautious. "Mr. Storm, I—I'm sorry if we upset you in any way."

"You didn't upset me," I said, voice low, eyes locked on Adrian. "My son did."

Adrian straightened, confusion flashing across his face. "Dad?"

"You sit here talking about love like that's what matters most-like that should be your priority-when your life is still in ruins. You should be rebuilding it, not losing yourself in some goddamn romance,"

Adrian's expression fell, the light fading from his eyes.

Good. Let him feel a fraction of the humiliation he'd been shoving down my throat.

He shifted in his seat, visibly uneasy.

"Dad, you're right. That's why I've been thinking about what you said. I'm ready to turn my life around. I want to join Storm Innovations. I'll start whenever you say."

That caught me off guard. "You're serious?"

"Yes," he said, voice firm. "I want to start immediately."

A fierce swell of pride rose in my chest.

Finally. Something good from this trainwreck of a dinner.

“Good. Some sense has been knocked into you. We leave for the city tomorrow. You start Monday."

But of course, he couldn't leave it there.

"There's one condition," Adrian added, voice dipping.

The second he said it, I knew. Whatever composure I had left was about to be

torn to shreds.

"You're in no position to make demands," I said coldly. "Let's not forget who's doing whom a favor. I can take it away just as fast."

"I'm aware," he replied, jaw tight. "You've made that clear-plenty of times."

"Apparently not enough." I leaned forward, voice like steel. "You're broke. Homeless. You should be on your knees thanking me for even entertaining this. I'm your only damn option."

Gretchen stepped in, her voice gentle. "Mr. Storm, maybe we should at least hear him out—"

Adrian gave her a grateful nod. "Thanks, Gretchen."

"I hope this has nothing to do with that money you wanted for your sinking

restaurant."

"It doesn't," Adrian replied quickly. "This isn't about me. It's about Clairessa."

My chest tightened.

"Go on," I said, slow and low, already bracing for the blow.

"She needs a place to stay," he continued. "I work at Storm Innovations on one condition. She comes with us to Miami. She can stay in the apartment until she finds something. However long that takes. No pressure. No deadline.

I stared at him.

Then at her.

The look of shock on her face? It had to be fake.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

Adrian was being played, and the idiot didn't even see it.

But I wasn't about to let it happen.

"No." My voice was gravel as it scraped from my throat. "She's not moving in with

us."

Adrian frowned. "Why not? It's just temporary-she needs support."

"Thank you, Adrian,” Clairessa cut in, her voice barely steady. "But your dad's

been kind enough to let me stay the weekend. I'll figure it out."

"No," Adrian insisted, gripping her hand. "You don't have to do this alone. We're in

this together."noveldrama

Clairessa looked overwhelmed, her lips parting like she couldn't breathe, eyes flicking between us. "I-"

She tried to pull her hand away, but Adrian held on, his gaze soft and certain.

That was it.

I was done with this pathetic circus.

I shoved my chair back, the legs scraping hard against the floor as I stood, the

table rattling from the force.

"My answer," I growled, towering over them, "is fucking no."

Adrian flinched like I'd struck him.

Clairessa went pale.

"She leaves,” I said, pointing at her like she was poison. "Once we're back, she's

out."

I glared at her like she'd burned down everything I had left. "When we get back to

the apartment-she's gone."

And I turned, storming out of the dining room.

No explanations. No apologies.

Let them sit in that wreckage and figure out what the hell just happened.

I was done pretending.