Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

CLAIRESSA'S POV

Gabriel was right.

God, | hated that he was right.

| couldn't keep pretending nothing had happened between us-not after last night, not after what almost

happened on the porch if Adrian hadn't walked in. This fire between us wasn't something I could just brush under

the rug and keep walking.

It shookto my core.

And no matter how hard I tried, | couldn't outrun it.

| hadn't been able to focus on anything since it happened. And maybe, yeah—I| wanted him to sweat. To feel

even a fraction of what | felt when he left me... when he handedoff like | was something to be passed down.

But now, as my eyes searched his—caught the anguish etched across his face and heard the raw, unfiltered pain

in his voice when he said we needed to talk-— something insidemelted.

He was watching me-those eyes dark, waiting, tense, like he was bracing for another blow. Ready to fight if |

pushed him away again.

For the first tin what felt like forever, | let my walls fall.

"Gabriel..." | swallowed hard. "You're right."

His expression shifted-slowly-like he hadn't heardright at first. His brows drew together, then lifted, stunned.

"| can't pretend last night didn't happen," | said softly. "Because it did. And it... it shookto my core."

| swallowed again, eyes locked on his. "I'm sorry, Gabriel. I'm sorry for acting like

it didn't matter. For brushing you off when you tried to talk tothis morning. That wasn't fair."

He stepped closer. | didn't stop him.

"It's a lot," | whispered. "We went from silence to you saying you wantback- emotions, passion, almost losing

control. It's too much, too fast. | don't even know what | feel right now."

| drew a breath, voice quiet. "| just... | need tto process it."

"Then let's process it together."

He reached across the small space between us, his fingers curling around mine in a warm grip.

"We'll face it side by side. No more running. No more pretending. It's you and me, Clairessa-through all of it."

God, why did that sound so right?

| wanted to believe him. Desperately.

"lI want to," | whispered. "But | can't. | can't just forget everything."

Gently, | slipped my hand from his.

Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt

This time, he looked hurt-but not angry.

"Why not?" he asked quietly. "What's stopping you? Stopping us?"

“Because I'm scared, okay?" The words burst from me, small and shaky.

"I'm scared that if | trust you again... if | open my heart and give it to you the way | did before... then when

things get messy, you'll shutout. Or disappear into yourself like you always do when it gets hard.

| don't trust that you'll be able to see this through to the end."

His gaze intensified, something fierce flashing behind his eyes-like my words had stirred something primal in

him.

"I know my actions in the past gave you every reason not to trust me," he said gently. "But not this time, baby.

Not this time."

He stepped in closer, his presence overwhelming every one of my senses.

"| swear to you... I'll see this through. All the way."

| rolled my eyes and looked away. It was easy to make promises now-easy to

say the right thing-until the moment cwhen he'd have to face the weight of losing his son.

He noticed. He always did.

But this time, he didn't push.

Instead, he let the silence settle... then shifted the conversation.

"You never toldif you liked the mini hI created for you in my house," he said quietly.

| blinked, then smiled softly. "You're right. | didn't."

He gave a light shrug, but | could see the anticipation behind his eyes.

"It was perfect," | said, meaning every word. "The details... the thought.

Everything | wanted, you gavewithouteven asking. It madefeel seen. Heard. Loved, even."

His eyes lit up-truly lit up.

"I'm glad you loved it."

| studied him for a moment. "But why? Why go through all that? Especially when

you weren't even speaking to me. When it felt like you hated me."

"I could never hate you," he said, his voice tight. "I hated myself. For how |

handled everything. | behaved like an ass. And | regret every second we spent apart."

He exhaled slowly.

"Every single thing | put into that

room... was everything | wish I'd done for you in person. Every tworked on it, it felt like | was close to you

again. It was the only way knew how to show you how much I stiff cared. How much I still wanted

us." Sw

His hand found mine again-slowly this time. His thumb brushed gently across

the back of my hand before he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind my

ear.

"Just... don't give up on us," his voice was low and rough. "Please. Give us one more chance."

He leaned in, his lips barely a breath from mine, warmth rolling off him in waves.

"I want this," he said. "lI want you. I've never wanted anything like this

before. | can't think straight,

Clairessa. My life's unraveling without

you. | nearly lost it i tay npeeting!

feuds Gb oraee all |

could think about was last night. The

way you moaned my name. The way

you looked at me... like | was the only

thing you needed. And this distance

between us-it's drivinginsane."

"Gabriel-"

He surged forward, kissed me—just a brush.

"Don't say no," he murmured. "Just say you'll think about it. That's all I'm asking.

Think about it... and givean answer."

Gabriel wasn't just asking for forgiveness.

He was asking for us to be lovers again.

And if | was being honest with

myself, the t| spent with hip Rad

been the happigstiofrhy life Pissed

thode ANNO love-drenched

days—days when the world faded

and it was just him and me. The

content is on novelenglish.net! Read

the latest chapter there!

And maybe just maybe | was finally ready to stop running... to surrender to the fire between us that refused to

die.

The car screeched to a halt, signaling our arrival at Randolph's private resort for his three-day birthday

celebration.

Gabriel had arranged the ride, saying he'd be waiting for us at the venue.

A strange mix of anticipation and

dread swirled in my chest-mostly

thanks to Adrian and Kigole, oho!

hedpit Stopped Shattering the entire

way. Kould already sense

waiting to happen. And | needed to

stay far, far away from it. The content

is on novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

Part ofwished it had just been Gabriel and me.

It would've been quieter. More intimate. Maybe even... easy. Maybe even fun.