Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 167: Chasing After Her In The Rain

Gabriel's POV

I stood by the window in my bedroom, staring out at the heavy downpour, hoping the rain could somehow drown out the noise in my head.

But it didn't.

The ache in my chest was unbearable. It felt like someone had torn my heart out with their bare hands, and I was still expected to function.

To breathe. To move on.

Clairessa lied to me.

She deceived me.

And no matter how many times I tried to reason it out-tried to stitch together a narrative that didn't hurt as much I couldn't move past it.

The sickest part? My own son was also in love with her.

We both fell for the same woman.

But I didn't just fall. I plummeted.

I let my guard down for her. Let her in like she was my second chance at

something I didn't even believe in anymore.

Love.

I told myself she was different. Safe. Real.

Mine.

But no.

She wasn't.

She was exactly like Angelique. The same games. The same fake innocence. The

same damn sweetness masking manipulation. Deception. Lies.

And I bought into it.

God, I bought into it.

I wanted to hate her to call her every name in the book. Cold. Manipulative. Heartless. Anything that might make the betrayal easier to bear.

But I couldn't. The words wouldn't come.

Even after everything, I still couldn't see her that way-not in my anger, not even in my heartbreak.

My mind tortured me with memories-images from the past month that refused to fade.

That first night at the club... the way she danced-seductive, unapologetic. Her eyes locked with mine across the room, like she already knew the damage she was about to cause.

Then she stumbled toward me, tipsy, laughing as she spilled her drink on my shirt. She flirted-boldly, shamelessly. And yet... beneath all that sexy confidence, I could taste her innocence-like she didn't quite know what she was playing with.

me like her life depended on it. There was passion in that kiss, but sweetness too. It lit something in me

I gave her an out, she begged me

And fuck... I did.

it was my own son she wanted to

boardroom-the fire in her voice when she stormed into my office and called me out for pretending not to know her. I played it cool, but the second I walked her out, I knew there was no way

into my life... for revenge. She

until

into parts of me no one had

ways I

tried to destroy, everything

want

my eyes, trying to breathe through the

it hit

her

I threw her out.

her I never wanted

I meant it.

Didn't I?

standing here,

In the rain?

to care. Swore I

But I did.

help me, I

that she didn't deserve my concern. That

that other part-the one I'd tried

part that still believed I wasn't

That I was human.

humans don't just stop caring overnight... not even

even when it's

was all

overriding logic. I didn't think I just

open the door to the room

corner-just to be

then I

note on the

have been a lie. But my feelings for you were always

the paper in

flaring. She was still trying to use

her

let them work. Not

the room, telling myself I was only going after her because I still had a

storm raged outside-thunder roaring, lightning flashing. It wasn't safe. And no matter what she'd done, I couldn't let anything happen to her

my coat and keys and bolted out the front door-straight

rumbling above as I

roared as I turned the key. I threw it into drive and sped down the estate road, tires splashing through puddles while rain pounded

in my head told me to

I still could. That this was the right thing-letting her go, leaving it all

foot hit the

if it made