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

it didn't look real. Everything about it felt

stepped

I grew up in," he said

stepped inside slowly, taking in the warm

glossy wooden

clean that felt lived-in and

"This is where you were

fingers

gasped, taking

lips, trying to play it off. "Beautiful interior," he said with a short laugh, “but the memories... not

slightly, "I've only been here two days and I already can't wait

glanced over at him, unsure what to

as if switching gears, he gave me a brighter smile. "But who knows, maybe now that you're here, you can make it better. We

"Adrian... This isn't-"

gently, his tone teasing. "What you need right now

smiled faintly, too tired to argue. He was right. I needed to conserve what little strength

nothing would ever happen between us. He knew it. I knew it. There was no point in

dad rarely visit here,

he expected the question. "Well, my dad pays a house manager who lives here and looks after the place. Her name's Mrs. Gretchen. I'll

I said,

led me down a long hallway and stopped beside a

he pointed at a door

he opened

revealing a cozy, well-decorated

surprisingly warm for

room-like something out of

luxury countryside

bed-and-breakfast.

stay here," he said. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll grab

too

he came back with

a spare toothbrush, a bar of soap,

figured this would be enough for tonight," he said, placing them

I said again, and this

he left, I stood in the center of the

thought I'd be glad to