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

Gabriel's POV

I gripped the steering wheel. "Clairessa-"

"You made it clear you're never going to forgive me," she said, cutting me off. Her voice trembled. "So it's better if I go. At least that way, I don't have to stand next to you, knowing you think the worst of me."

She paused, her eyes glassy. "That look in your eyes... like I'm something filthy. It's more than I can take. So please... just let me go."

And then she turned and walked away.

Just like that.

For a moment, I just stared at her, stunned. Her words tried to cut deep into my heart, but I fought it off.

How dare she try to make this about my reaction to her betrayal, when she should be grateful—that I was offering her a hand when she deserved far worse for what she'd done?

This felt like classic manipulation, just like she'd done before. And I was on the edge of giving in to the voice telling me to turn back... but I couldn't.

Watching her stumble through the storm, drenched and defeated by the rain...

It tore something inside me apart.

I couldn't let her go. Not like this.

I swerved the car, tires screeching as I cut in front of her, stopping dead in the middle of the road. There was no way she could get past me now.

Leaving the engine running, I slammed the door and stepped out. The rain hit hard, soaking me within seconds as I strode toward her.

"Get in the car, Clairessa." My voice was low, firm, as I yanked open the passenger door. "I'm not saying it again."

She froze-just for a moment-then silently walked around and climbed in.

Inside, she sat stiff and silent, her body trembling. Soaked clothes clung to her skin, and her teeth were lightly chattering. She didn't look at me. Didn't say a word.

My eyes darted between the road and her small, shivering frame.

A part of me still burned-maybe she deserved the cold. The rain. Maybe letting her freeze was justice. But watching her shake like that... it twisted something inside me.

I swallowed hard, then ripped off my coat and held it out. "Here."

She looked at me, surprised-like she didn't expect kindness from me anymore.

If only she knew how much it cost me.

Her fingers brushed mine as she took it, and in that one fleeting second-I felt it again.

That same damn spark.

Even now.

Even after everything

When we got back into the house, it felt like the cold had sunk straight into my bones. But I was sure mine was nothing compared to Clairessa's-she'd been out in the rain far longer than I had.

She stood in the living area, soaked through, her clothes clinging to her skin. Water pooled at her feet, and her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, as if she could hold the warmth in. Her body trembled-shivering so violently her teeth practically chattered.

It wasn't just the cold. It was everything.

And I knew then... I had pushed her too far.

I turned on the heater immediately, then made my way into my room to fetch her something warm to change into. A hoodie. Sweatpants. Thick socks. Something— anything—to stop the cold from tearing through her.

When I came back to the living room, she was no longer there.

I found her in the guest room, standing in nothing but her pants and bra. Her soaked clothes lay in a heap at her feet. Her body trembled under the dim light, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

I paused abruptly.

"Oh... sorry, I should've knocked," I muttered, turning away, giving her privacy- even though, once upon a time,

I knew every inch of that body like my own.

Now, the awkwardness between us was laughable. After everything we'd been through, we were acting like strangers.

"It's alright," she said softly. "It's your house. And there's no part of me you haven't seen or tasted."

Of course, I didn't miss the sarcasm laced in her voice.

Damn. She was throwing my own words back at me and she wasn't wrong. So why the hell was I pretending to be modest now?

"You're right," I replied, turning back around, unable to stop my eyes from raking over her wet, trembling body.

My gut clenched as a wave of heat shot straight through me.

I hated how my body still reacted so easily to her.

I tore my gaze away and fixed it on the wall behind her, like that would keep me from doing something I'd regret.

"I only came to give you these," I said, holding out the bundle of warm clothes.

She reached for them, but instead of handing them over, I set them on the edge of the bed.

The truth was simple: even now-after all the betrayal and lies-I still wanted her. I didn't trust myself around her, and staying in that room a second longer was tempting fate.

I turned to leave quickly, decisively when her soft, cracked voice stopped me.

"Gabriel... thank you."

Just two words, paired with a faint, exhausted smile.

I gave a small nod.

And walked away.

It had been over two hours since I walked out of Clairessa's room.

Now I lay on my bed, flat on my back, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling like it might offer answers.

I'd already changed into dry clothes, cranked up the heater, done everything to

get comfortable-but sleep refused to come.

I tossed, turned, sighed, and finally sat up, dragging a hand down my face in frustration.noveldrama

Work. Maybe that would help.

I crossed the room and settled at the massive desk. It had always been my

escape my distraction.

Tonight, I doubted it would work, but I flipped open my laptop anyway.

My eyes scanned figures-profits, projections, growth margins blinking across the

screen.

They should've brought me pride. Satisfaction. But right now... they meant nothing.

Because the source of my unrest wasn't profit margins.

She was downstairs.

Clairessa.

The same woman who had schemed and lied her way into my life-yet I'd still chased after her in the rain.

Fuck.

Why was I still thinking about her?

She was lucky I didn't leave her out in the storm to freeze. I chased after her- brought her back in and gave her a damn room.

And still, even as I sat there trying to will her out of my mind, that nagging voice

kept pressing in.

Go check on her.

Was she warm now? Still shivering? Had the heater done its job?

I clenched my jaw and shoved the thoughts away.

No. I wasn't going to check on her. I meant it this time.

I needed something to calm the storm inside me.

veik

I got up instead and headed to the kitchen. Maybe tea would help. Not coffee I needed something relaxing, not something to add to the chaos already living in my chest.

I reached for a mug and poured hot water over the tea bag. The smell of mint and chamomile rose with the steam. I held the mug close, letting the warmth seep into my palms as I walked to the giant windows.

The rain had slowed to a drizzle, tracing down the glass now.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

I pulled it out and checked the screen.

Adrian.

> Dad, sorry I couldn't make it back home in time to sign the contract. The storm was bad, so I stopped by the restaurant to check on things. and decided to stay there for the night. Please make sure Clairessa is okay and knows where I am. I'll be back in the morning.

> -A.

I exhaled deeply.

I had sent Adrian out tonight on purpose. Told him to retrieve a contract I claimed

was urgent-needed my signature in ink.

When he asked why Tems couldn't just bring it over or send it electronically, I lied.

Said Tems was swamped and it had to be signed tonight.

In reality, there was no rush to sign the contract. I just needed Adrian out of the

house.

I needed to confront Clairessa alone.

Soon, I'd have to tell Adrian the truth.

That the woman he loved so dearly had also been my girlfriend-and she had

played us both the entire time.

I wasn't sure how he'd react when he found out. That we'd both been involved

with the same woman. That she had kept it from both of us.

I'd told myself it would be easier to send her away, then come up with some half-

baked story about her leaving.

But I refused to let her go.

And I couldn't keep hiding the truth from Adrian.

Clairessa was going to tell him everything when he got back-and I was going to

make damn sure of it.

With that thought burning inside me, I set the mug down and walked through the

hallway toward her room.

I knocked-lightly at first. No answer.

Then I pushed the door open.

The room was dark. Quiet. But then I heard it.

A faint, shaky sound-like someone struggling to breathe.

I switched the light on-and froze.

A knot tightened in my stomach. Something felt off.

Clairessa was curled on the bed, trembling beneath the covers. The duvet was

pulled up to her chin, but she was still shaking violently.

I approached her bed and stood by her side.

"My-" I stopped myself before the word sweetheart could slip out.

"Clairessa..." I said instead, sitting beside her, my eyes narrowing in concern. She

didn't respond.

I reached out, brushed the back of my hand against her forehead and felt the

heat instantly.

"Shit,” I muttered, panic rising in my chest. "You're burning up..."

She mumbled something incoherent, her eyes squeezed shut, her body trembling

like a leaf caught in a winter wind. The fever was high-too high.

And it hit me hard.

This was from the rain. From being out in the storm. From me sending her out in

the first place.

Why didn't she obey me?

Why didn't she think about her safety?

Why had she been so damn stubborn when I told her to come inside?

if I hadn't forced her back in—she could've collapsed out in the cold. Alone.

"Always so damn stubborn," I muttered, guilt crashing in like a wave.