Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 159: Everything Was Falling Apart

Clairessa's POV

Adrian parked the car and turned off the engine. I didn't even realize I'd fallen asleep until he tapped my shoulder gently.

"We're here."

I stirred, yawning as I blinked the sleep from my eyes. But the moment I looked around, I sat up straighter.

We weren't at Adrian's loft. We were parked in front of a stunning mansion-like something straight out of a real estate magazine. The place looked more like a private estate than an apartment.

"Adrian, wait..." I gasped, turning toward him. "This isn't your apartment. Where are we?"

He smiled slightly, unbothered. “Well, technically, it's my dad's house just outside the city. One of many," he added with casual pride, leaning back in his seat.

I frowned. “I thought we were going to your apartment—not a private estate owned by your father."

He let out a small sigh. "Look, Claire... I told you the restaurant ran into financial issues. In order to keep the business afloat, I had to let the loft go. It was either that or lay off more people. This place was empty, and I needed somewhere to stay."

The shock was still settling in as I absorbed his words, It made sense, I guess, but still-my heart picked up pace

If this was Gabriel's private estate, what was to stop him from showing up at any moment?

There was no way this would work. I needed to be somewhere peaceful, somewhere I could breathe and figure out what to do next-not spend the weekend living in fear of Gabriel walking through the door.

"I can't stay here," I said suddenly, panic rising in my throat. "What if your dad shows up? Or worse..." I trailed off, realizing what I was about to say.

Adrian had no idea I'd been dating his father, and he wasn't about to hear the truth from me. That was why I was terrified. What if Gabriel just walked in and everything exploded?

Adrian leaned closer. "Relax. My dad won't show up. He and I rarely visit this place—there are memories here, especially ones he'd rather not revisit. He avoids it like the plague. I'm here because this place isn't on his radar. He couldn't care less about this property."

He got out of the car and walked around to open my door, stretching out his hand with quiet confidence.

"Trust me, you're safe. It's going to be just us this weekend," he said. "I promise."

I hesitated, but my fingers found his. What choice did I really have? I had nowhere else to go.

The estate was breathtaking.

The house sat on acres of lush land.

Trees lined the driveway, and the front lawn was so perfectly trimmed it didn't look

look real. Everything about

stepped aside, gesturing

the home I grew up in," he said with

stepped inside slowly, taking in the warm

wooden floors beneath

of clean that felt lived-in and

murmured. "This is where you

brushing his fingers through his hair.

I gasped, taking it all

off. "Beautiful interior," he said with

only been here two days

over at him, unsure what

who knows, maybe now that you're here, you can make it better.

"Adrian... This isn't-"

tone teasing. "What you need right now is a hot

argue. He was right. I needed to conserve what little

could count that nothing would ever happen between us. He

if you and your dad rarely visit

a house manager who lives here and looks after the place. Her name's Mrs. Gretchen. I'll introduce you tomorrow. She

I said, absorbing

long hallway and stopped

room," he pointed at a door right beside the one we

opened the

revealing a cozy, well-decorated

was surprisingly warm for

room-like something out

luxury countryside

bed-and-breakfast.

said. "Make yourself

I murmured, too drained

minutes later, he came back with a

toothbrush,

enough for tonight," he said, placing them beside

this

stood in the center of the room for a moment, taking

never thought I'd be glad to see Adrian-truly