Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 29:1 Hate That I’m Falling For You

Clairessa’s POV

As I walked into my apartment, I was fuming with rage. Gabriel had pushed me to my limits. I wanted to hate him, to dismiss him as just another problem. But deep down, I couldn’t deny it–I wanted him.

No matter how hard I tried to fight it, I wanted him. My fingers traced my lips where he had kissed me, and I held his shirt close, letting his scent fill my senses. I could still feel his touch on my skin. Pressing a hand against my chest, I tried to steady myself.

“Get a hold of yourself, Clairessa,” I scolded myself. This was supposed to be about revenge, not losing control over him. Gabriel’s jealous fit over my lunch with Daniel was infuriating. Instead of talking to me about his feelings, he used my attraction towards him to coerce me into obeying his bloody rules.

He had no right to demand I never see Daniel again, even though I never planned to. Who was Daniel to him? Why did Gabriel care so much about a simple lunch date? His reaction at the restaurant had shown there was something deeper–a hidden grudge. His angry eyes and possessive behavior made it clear he thought of me as his property. Someone he could order around.

Gabriel had kissed me and almost taken things further. It was obvious he felt something too, but he was holding back. I hated myself for giving in so easily and letting him use me in his petty, egotistical game. But I was determined to be the one in control, not Gabriel Storm.

Or maybe I was fooling myself. How could I compete with someone like Gabriel, who was used to being with the most beautiful and sophisticated women? Then there was me–plain Clairessa, caught in a mess I wasn’t sure I could handle.

I fell onto my bed, feeling defeated, but the constant ringing of my phone dragged me back to reality. Without checking the caller ID, I answered, hoping for a distraction.

“Claire… baby… you finally answered.”

The voice was unmistakably Adrian’s. My anger rose immediately.

“Don’t ever call me ‘baby‘ again,” I snapped. “We both know you have plenty of them.” I was about to hang up, but the desperation in his voice stopped me.

“Claire, please don’t hang up,” Adrian begged. The urgency in his voice made me pause.

“What do you want, Adrian?”

“I just want to talk. That’s all.”

about what? We’ve broken up. You can be with Nicole and your other women,” I shot back.

1/3

21 Wed,

fen Fatting For

just want

Adrian. You should move on.

please. I want you. I love

the love of my life for the longest time, and kwaning kim now, so bensines something in me. I wanted to believe he had changed,

me. Just this once. If you want to and

to say no, but part of me needed cloure, especially with ever thing gong on with Gabriel. I needed to

hurt me.

But if I feel uncomfortable, I’m

“Thank you, baby.”

me that,” I warned, my tone sharp. “Il text you when I’m available”

with Gabriel were already so confusing and now Adrian was back in the picture. Could I forgive Adrian? Was there still a chance

I opened the

Hartwood?” he asked, waiting for me

and staring at the bags as he handed

table and began unpacking. Inside were stacks of shirts in all kinds of colors, each one neatly folded. My hands froze when

replacement for the shirt I

he had arrogantly declared he would buy me a dozen shirts after ruining mine, I thought he was just bluffing. But no–he’d sent not just one or twelve shirts,

wasn’t all. I pulled out another bag and found bras–delicate, lacy, and way more expensive than anything I’d ever worn. How did

from noticing how luxurious everything felt. The colors

rushing back as I tossed the bra’s aside. He thought

111

2/3

19 Feb