Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 144: Telling My Son About My New Woman

As I leaned back in my first-class seat, I loosened the top button of my shirt and exhaled slowly.

This felt like the longest business trip I'd taken in a while-not because of the actual time but because I hadn't wanted to go in the first place. I had missed Clairessa the entire time. That alone was enough to drive me insane.

It was supposed to be a two-day trip, but I had managed to cut it short. The meeting had gone smoothly, the CEO had signed the contract, and everything was in place. I should have felt satisfied, but my mind wasn't

on the deal. It was on her.

We had barely spoken yesterday. I had seen her missed calls and messages checking up on me, but I'd been trapped in a deadlocked meeting, unable to step away. By the time I was free, it was already too late to call. Even now, my first instinct was to pick up my phone and hear her voice.

But I didn't.

I wanted to surprise her.

All night, I had been thinking about my life. I was turning forty-five soon, and it was time to acknowledg the truth-I wasn't getting any younger. Things had to change, and fast.

And the biggest reason driving that change was Clairessa.

It was clear to me that it was time to tell Adrian about her-at least before he took on his role at the

Chapter 144: Telling My Son About My New Woman

company, whether he liked it or not.

His accounts were down to the last few thousand, and I knew he'd give in eventually. As long as I held firm and didn't cave to his ridiculous demands, he wouldn't have a choice.

For years, I had let Adrian have his way because I didn't want to be the father who stifled his son's dreams. I wanted him to pursue his passions, to become his own man. But it was clear now-Adrian wasn't building anything. He was wasting his youth, squandering my money on frivolous ideas, and I had let it happen for too long.

That ended now.

If I had to become the overbearing, dictatorial father to set him straight, then so be it.

I needed to prepare him to take over from me in a few years when I retired. If I didn't, everything I had worked for-everything I had built-would crumble in his hands. Bringing him into the company was the first step, but it wasn't the only

one.

He was also going to move in with me.

I knew he'd hate the idea. He'd resist. But he had no choice. I was no longer paying the overdue rent for his condo or covering his other expenses. If he couldn't sustain his lifestyle, he would have no choice but to come back home.

From there, I could control his schedule, make sure he showed up to work on time, and cut off the bad influences in his life. I would introduce him to discipline and structure. He would fight me every step of the way, but I was ready for that.

Maybe it was too late to undo my mistakes. Maybe I had already raised an entitled nepo baby.

144: Telling My Son About My New

chance to fix this. To

I believed in the man he

My phone vibrated.

A text from Adrian.

for you by

smiled, slipping my phone back

4/%

to bring Dario along, and checking the time, I noted that he had actually arrived before my plane landed. That

a

he was desperate. Otherwise, he would have bombarded me

it was. But

I was going to use this opportunity to bend him

was a good thing the restaurant

to set Adrian on the right path, and I wasn't going to let

144: Telling My Son About My

that

the speakers, announcing our descent. Below,

in the

Finally!

the flight attendant greeted me with a warm smile and handed me my luggage. I

Dario stood by

back!" Adrian called out, grinning. "Though you were only

I can't exactly say I missed

you."

how much he frustrated me, he was still my son. "Good

hugged him briefly, then turned to

have you back, boss,"

nodded as Dario held the car door open. I stepped in, Adrian

we were inside, Adrian let out a dramatic

carrying the weight of the

have to

sleep-I was up all night

and step up. And

started

I cut him off. "What you need to do is reevaluate your past choices and start making better ones by focusing

tragic play. "Fine. You're right. I need to focus. And

do, I'll

him. "Win

muttered. "I kinda blew things up yesterday, and

my life together, she'll see that I'm on top, and she'll come back