Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 168: She Was Always So Damn Stubborn

Gabriel's POV

I gripped the steering wheel. "Clairessa-"

"You made it clear you're never going to forgive me," she said, cutting me off. Her voice trembled. "So it's better if I go. At least that way, I don't have to stand next to you, knowing you think the worst of me."

She paused, her eyes glassy. "That look in your eyes... like I'm something filthy. It's more than I can take. So please... just let me go."

And then she turned and walked away.

Just like that.

For a moment, I just stared at her, stunned. Her words tried to cut deep into my heart, but I fought it off.

How dare she try to make this about my reaction to her betrayal, when she should be grateful—that I was offering her a hand when she deserved far worse for what she'd done?

This felt like classic manipulation, just like she'd done before. And I was on the edge of giving in to the voice telling me to turn back... but I couldn't.

Watching her stumble through the storm, drenched and defeated by the rain...

It tore something inside me apart.

I couldn't let her go. Not like this.

I swerved the car, tires screeching as I cut in front of her, stopping dead in the middle of the road. There was no way she could get past me now.

Leaving the engine running, I slammed the door and stepped out. The rain hit hard, soaking me within seconds as I strode toward her.

"Get in the car, Clairessa." My voice was low, firm, as I yanked open the passenger door. "I'm not saying it again."

She froze-just for a moment-then silently walked around and climbed in.

Inside, she sat stiff and silent, her body trembling. Soaked clothes clung to her skin, and her teeth were lightly chattering. She didn't look at me. Didn't say a word.

My eyes darted between the road and her small, shivering frame.

A part of me still burned-maybe she deserved the cold. The rain. Maybe letting her freeze was justice. But watching her shake like that... it twisted something inside me.

I swallowed hard, then ripped off my coat and held it out. "Here."

She looked at me, surprised-like she didn't expect kindness from me anymore.

If only she knew how much it cost me.

Her fingers brushed mine as she took it, and in that one fleeting second-I felt it again.

That same damn spark.

Even now.

Even after everything

When we got back into the house, it felt like the cold had sunk straight into my bones. But I was sure mine was nothing compared to Clairessa's-she'd been out in the rain far longer than I had.

She stood in the living area, soaked through, her clothes clinging to her skin. Water pooled at her feet, and her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, as if she could hold the warmth in. Her body trembled-shivering so violently her teeth practically chattered.

It wasn't just the cold. It was everything.

And I knew then... I had pushed her too far.

I turned on the heater immediately, then made my way into my room to fetch her something warm to change into. A hoodie. Sweatpants. Thick socks. Something— anything—to stop the cold from tearing through her.

When I came back to the living room, she was no longer there.

I found her in the guest room, standing in nothing but her pants and bra. Her soaked clothes lay in a heap at her feet. Her body trembled under the dim light, and for a second, I forgot how to breathe.

I paused abruptly.

I muttered, turning away, giving

of

After everything we'd been

she said softly. "It's your house. And there's no part of me you haven't seen

miss the sarcasm laced in her

at me and she wasn't wrong. So why the hell was I pretending

stop my eyes from raking over her

gut clenched as a wave of heat shot straight

my body still

it on the wall behind

came to give you these," I said,

them over, I set them on the

didn't trust myself around her, and

turned to leave quickly, decisively when her soft,

"Gabriel... thank you."

paired with a

a small

And walked away.

two hours since

flat on my back, eyes

into dry clothes, cranked up the heater,

sleep

turned, sighed, and finally sat up, dragging a hand down my

Maybe that would

the room and settled at the massive desk. It had always been

escape my distraction.

it would work, but I flipped open my

projections,

screen.

brought me pride. Satisfaction. But right

of my unrest

She was downstairs.

Clairessa.

her way into

Fuck.

I still thinking about

freeze. I chased after her- brought her back

as I sat there trying to will her out

kept pressing in.

Go check on her.

shivering? Had the heater

jaw and shoved the

on her. I meant it

to calm the

veik

coffee I needed something relaxing, not something to add to the

tea bag. The smell of mint and chamomile rose with the steam. I held the mug close, letting the warmth seep

to a drizzle, tracing down the

phone buzzed in my

out and checked

Adrian.

sorry I couldn't make it back home in time to sign the contract. The storm was bad, so I stopped by the restaurant to check on things.

> -A.

I exhaled deeply.

purpose. Told him to

urgent-needed my signature in

bring it over or

and it had to be

there was no rush to sign the

house.

to confront