Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 170

Chapter 170: Not The Right Time To Tell My Son The Truth

Gabriel's POV

"Dad?"

I didn't bother looking up as I stirred the pot, letting the aroma rise and fill the kitchen. "I'm here," I called out.

I heard Adrian's footsteps draw closer. He stopped at the kitchen threshold, and the silence that followed stretched just long enough to make me smirk without turning around.

"Wait-are you cooking?" he asked, disbelief lacing his voice. "Dad, I'm shocked. You haven't cooked in... what, years?"

I finally turned to face him, wiping my hand on the kitchen towel slung over my shoulder.

"Gretchen told me earlier she had a personal errand to run and would be back by noon." I offered a casual shrug, reaching for the ladle and giving the pot another stir. "I was hungry and couldn't wait that long."

I could feel the lie burning on the tip of my tongue.

Truth was, I wasn't hungry. Eating was the last thing on my mind.

The food I was cooking-it was for Clairessa. I wanted her to have something warm when she woke up, something to ease the aftermath of the fever. She didn't need to know that. And I didn't need Adrian questioning why I cared enough to do it.

I hadn't expected him to walk in just as I was scrambling to get everything ready. "Right," Adrian muttered, clearly unconvinced. He reached into his bag and pulled out a black file, handing it to me. "The contract you asked for. I got it back."

"Oh. Yeah. The contract." I took it and placed it absentmindedly on the counter beside me, right next to the chopping board.

It was the last thing on my mind. Honestly, I hadn't thought about that damn contract all morning.

Adrian eyed me, suspicion lining his face as his brow creased. His gaze lingered on the way I'd casually dropped the file onto the counter. "I thought you said the contract was urgent." His arms folded slowly across his chest, watching me like I was hiding something.

I glanced at the envelope, then back at him, before offering the calmest response I could muster, one that wouldn't pique his suspicion further. "It is important. But with contracts like these, you can't just rush through them. I need to go over the fine print again. Thoroughly."

Adrian seemed to accept that, though I could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. He didn't press the matter further, which I appreciated.

"So," he continued, his eyes glancing over his shoulder down the hallway. "Where's Clairessa?"

"In her room,” I replied, intentionally avoiding his gaze as I stirred the soup a little more. I didn't look up, not even when I felt him shift-hovering there in the corner, watching.

"She... um... forgot to close her windows, I guess. The storm was heavy, and the wind and cold got to her... so... she came down with a high fever."

Another fabrication. My brain barely kept up with how easily the falsehoods rolled off my tongue.

across his features. "Oh, man. I had no idea. I should go check on

hand on his arm before he could move.

wide. "Wait... you stayed with

respond

him everything-laying the truth bare about Clairessa and me. But I knew this

literally threatened me in a message to look after her. I figured I didn't

out a quiet chuckle, shaking

"Still, I should

step. "You can do that later. For now... sit. We need

paused, brows knitting. "Talk

"Your future."

hand through

shoulders slumped, the weariness of the

at the restaurant. I barely slept. I really don't have the energy

already turning to

hand down my face, trying to breathe through the irritation brewing

"Adrian. Get back here."

in

through the room, firm enough that he turned to face me. "Your future isn't going to wait until you're in the mood. It's time

toward me, standing

with him, my tone leaving no

going. You want me to join Storm Innovations. Be the golden boy. Fit into this perfect little mold you've carved out. But I'm not that guy. I never

Adrian's excuses. He had no drive, no ambition. Just a string of half-hearted

talk to me about

snapped. "I've poured millions into every

chased. Every venture

what did you do? You either abandoned them or ran each one into the ground. So

Adrian's voice softened. "Dad...

right about everything. You've helped me out

of

a little more faith. Give

me save the restaurant. I mean it this time.

won't screw it up."

him with a cold stare, my

making this

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