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.

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

when I gave her

And fuck... I did.

was my own son she wanted

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 in hell

way into my life... for

brick by brick, until

of me no one had touched in

in ways I hadn't been

everything I swore

didn't even want to finish the

to breathe through

then it hit

her to

I threw her out.

never wanted to see

I meant it.

Didn't I?

standing here, wondering if

In the rain?

didn't want to care. Swore I didn't.

But I did.

help me,

at war with myself-every part of me screaming that she didn't deserve my concern. That she made her choice. That she broke

then there was that other part-the one I'd tried so damn hard to

part that still believed I wasn't a

That I was human.

stop caring overnight... not even when

when

was all

the stairs, adrenaline overriding logic. I didn't think

room she was staying in, checking

closet-every corner-just to be sure she was

I

on the

a lie. But my feelings for you were always

the paper in my

trying to

into her arms.

wouldn't let them work.

was

wasn't safe. And no matter what she'd

grabbed my coat and keys and bolted out the front

thunder rumbling above as I pulled open

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

my head told

could. That this was the right thing-letting

foot hit

if it made