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

Gabriel's POV

I offered Tina a soft smile, my heart swelling just thinking about Clairessa. "I

thought you would've figured that one out by now."

She shrugged lightly. "I had a feeling the moment you kept calling her name last

night... even though you denied it at first."

"I did?" I asked, brows lifting.

"Mmhmm." She hummed. "Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was those walls

you've built so high around your heart. Makes me wonder how she managed to

get past them."

A soft laugh escaped me. "Well... you once told me to let go of the past. That

holding onto it only gives power to the person who hurt me, while I stay miserable.

So, let's just say, I took your advice."

Tina's brows lifted slightly—an almost startled expression crossing her face, like

she hadn't expected that answer.

"And if I'm being honest," I continued, "I tried to fight it, but what I felt for her was

too strong to ignore. So I took the risk. I opened my heart."

She leaned back, arms crossing loosely over her chest, her expression thoughtful.

"Gabriel Storm... in love. That's something I never thought I'd see. You fell hard.

And honestly? I'm happy for you... just not entirely. We had something once,

didn't we?"

"Tina..." I sighed. "What we had was purely physical. We both knew that. It was

never going to lead anywhere."

Tina's eyes dropped briefly, then lifted with a half-laugh. "I did. But a girl can

dream, right?"

I gave a tight smile, saying nothing.

She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing with interest. "Besides, she's the

Clairessa. If I'm not mistaken, I saw you two at lunch a few weeks ago—the same

woman you introduced as your personal assistant."

"Software engineer," I corrected, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

A knowing look lit her face, like something had just clicked. "I see... the moment I

saw her, I knew something was there."

"Oh, did you now?" I said with a hint of a smirk.

"At that lunch, I noticed this unspoken chemistry," she added, tapping her temple.

"And I could tell she was jealous when she saw us talking. You might not get it,

but a woman picks up on those things."

I let out a short breath, almost a huff. "I don't doubt it."

Her curiosity deepened, lips curling slightly as she eyed me. "I've got to ask—

what's so different about her?

She's younger—early twenties, right? You always said you liked women with

experience. And yet..."

"Tina..." My voice dropped, softening. "Clairessa might be young, but she's

everything I didn't know I was missing. She's beautiful, warm, kind, witty—and she

challenges me at every turn with her sass. Maybe that's what drew me to her."

I paused, the muscles in my neck tightening. "I tried to deny what I felt, but the

more I pushed it down, the stronger it came back. And I knew I couldn't let her go

—not when the thought of her with someone else made me physically sick."

Tina's playful smirk faded. Her brows furrowed slightly as she studied me, no

longer teasing. "That deep, huh?"

"Six feet beneath the ocean wouldn't even come close," I muttered, my voice

rough, unable to hide the raw emotion that leaked through. My gaze dropped

before I met her eyes again, no longer pretending.

"Then if you love her that much—and she clearly loves you—what the hell

happened? Why were you even at the club?"

I rose to my feet, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "It's complicated."

She gave a dry chuckle. "Maybe I could help you uncomplicate it. I'm pretty

decent with relationships these days."

I shot her a doubtful glance. "Since when?"

"Always," she shot back with a grin, eyes sparkling. "Okay, maybe not always—

but I've picked up a thing or two."

My shoulders tensed as I turned to

face her, hands curling into fists.

"Let's just say I received information

that she may not have been

completely honest with me, and I'm

still trying to figure out if I can trust

the source."

Tina shook her head, clearly trying not to scold. "Oh, Gabe. Instead of talking to

her, you went and got drunk and almost slept with your ex? Classic self-sabotage

move."

I glared at her, raising an eyebrow. "I thought this was a no-judgment talk?"

She lifted her hands in mock surrender, her expression softening. "Sorry, couldn'tnoveldrama

help it. But seriously, if you don't trust the source, why not just talk to her—or let it

go?"

I felt my chest tighten. "Because I can't," I snapped, my voice harder than I

intended.

I started pacing, trying to regain

control. "I might not trust the source,

but the evidence... it looked too

convincing. I needed time to get to

the bottom of it. But now? Now I fear

I've already destroyed everything

before even finding out the truth."

Tina flinched slightly but leaned forward again, her tone softer. "Maybe I could talk

to her, make it clear nothing happened between us..."

"No," I cut in quickly, my voice firm, more desperate than I wanted it to sound.

"This is mine to fix. If there's anything left to fix by the time the truth comes out."

She studied me carefully, eyes softening, like she was seeing straight through to

the raw pain I was trying to hide. For a long moment, she just watched me in

silence.

Then she leaned forward, her voice

calm but pointed. "You just stood

here and confessed to loving

Clairessa like she's the air you

breathe, like she's your beginning

and end... and now you're letting

some unconfirmed 'information'

destroy all of it?"

Her words sank into me like ice through skin.

"I'm not saying it's nothing, Gabe. Maybe there's something to it. But maybe

there's not. And if there's even the smallest chance it's false—are you seriously

going to let that ruin everything you have with her?"

I didn't answer.

She shook her head slightly. "You say you love her. That you can't breathe

thinking of her with someone else. That the idea of losing her guts you. So tell me

—what's stronger? That love... or your pride?"

My chest seized, the words digging deeper than I wanted to admit. But they were

fair. Brutally fair.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "If the roles were reversed, wouldn't you

want her to come to you first? Wouldn't you want the chance to explain?"

I stared at the floor, my voice low. "Yeah... I would."

"Then go," she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Fix it before

it's too late. Don't let your silence speak louder than your love."

I looked up at her, and for a moment, I didn't see the woman who once tried to

pull me into bed. I saw someone who cared enough to push me toward what

mattered.

Toward what was right.

Then she offered one last truth, her eyes steady on mine.

"Because women like her?" Tina said softly. "They won't wait around forever."

I turned back to the window, heart pounding against my ribs, her words echoing

through me.

She was right.

And I'd do whatever it took to get Clairessa back—if I found out she was innocent.

Even if it meant bleeding my heart dry to prove I never stopped loving her.