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.

There was passion in that kiss,

her an out, she begged me to

And fuck... I did.

knew it was my own son she wanted

me out for pretending not to know her. I played it cool, but the second I walked her out,

carefully seduced her way into my life... for revenge. She confessed that

spent years building, brick by brick, until I was exposed-wide open-and then she left me

parts of me no one had touched in

was vulnerable with her in ways I hadn't been since Angelique-since

everything I swore

I didn't even want to finish the

to breathe through the tightness crushing

then it

her

I threw her out.

I never wanted to see

I meant it.

Didn't I?

the hell was I standing here,

In the rain?

care. Swore I didn't. I shouldn't-not after everything

But I did.

help me, I

with myself-every part of me screaming that she didn't

then there was that other part-the one I'd

believed I wasn't

That I was human.

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

when it's

was all

overriding

the door to the room

to be sure

I

on

But my feelings

clenched the paper in

was still trying to use cheap words-words meant to

into her arms. But

time. I wouldn't let them

myself I was only going after her because I still

safe. And no matter what

and keys and bolted out the front door-straight

rumbling above as I pulled open the truck door and

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

my head told me to

turn back while I still could. That this was the right thing-letting her go, leaving it all behind. For her sake. For mine.

foot hit the

care if