Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Done With Being A Pawn

Clairessa's POV

Adrian's hands shot out, steadying me before I could stumble back. "Whoa- where are you dashing off to?" he asked, eyes searching mine.

I opened my mouth, but no words came. My throat closed around them. “I—I just..." I stuttered, glancing away.

"What's wrong?" he asked, voice softer now. "Talk to me."

I tried to pull away, but his grip on my hand tightened-not enough to hurt, just enough to hold me there.

"Nothing. I just need to be alone," I muttered, trying again to slip free.

"No, you don't." His voice was firmer this time. "You don't need to be alone right now. Something happened. I can see it all over your face. Please, talk to me."

The kindness in his voice made something in me crack. But I couldn't tell him the truth-where I was going, what had just happened. And I knew if I said too much, he'd want to follow.

"I just..." I exhaled shakily. "I need to go back to my apartment. I want to see what's left. What I can salvage."

Adrian's expression darkened with concern, but he didn't press-not yet.

"I'll come with you," he said, like it was already decided.

"No-Adrian, you don't have to-

"I know I don't," he cut in gently. "But I want to."

"Adrian, please. This is something I have to do alone."

But he wasn't budging. "Claire, I'm not letting you go there by yourself. Not like

this. I'm coming with you, and you can't talk me out of it."

I saw it in his face the resolve. He wasn't giving me a choice.

And I was too tired to fight. I didn't have the strength.

We got into the car in silence. My thoughts raced, numb and heavy all at once.

I stared out the window, panic rising in my chest. My mind spun in circles, but all I could think about was my apartment. I hadn't even seen it since the fire. I didn't know what to expect.

I had to figure out my life-rebuild it, piece by piece. I needed to get out of this web spun by father and son before it swallowed me whole.

When we pulled up to the building, my heart sank. My breath caught.

It was worse than I imagined.

Parts of the structure stood, hollow and blackened, nothing like what the building used to be.

I hastily got out of the car, and Adrian followed closely behind.

off, but I stepped over it anyway.

once led to my cozy sanctuary was now a corridor of devastation.

the door was gone completely. Only broken

I stepped inside.

what used to be

living room was destroyed. The couch-burned

collapsed, pages scattered and

to be my home, eyes wide, breathing

door was barely standing.

And saw everything.

had turned to ashes. My pictures gone. The bedframe was charred,

the room that made me fall to

whispered. "Oh my

recognizable—a pile of ash and

I broke.

My voice cracked, barely audible. "Why?

I covered my face with my hands, but the tears still

"Why did it have

frame. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, Claire," he said quietly, brushing my hair out of my face with gentle

hoarse. "But Adrian, this is bad. I've lost

clothing. Every possession ever

Bought. My laptop-it had

And now it's all

at the heap of melted plastic and wires that used to hold my world,

kept

you,” he whispered. "But you're going

my life. My work. My words. I don't

my hair away from my face and looked me in

to you-I'll

help you get it all back

talk to my dad-content

quickly, pulling back. "Don't

I needed was handouts from

nodded. "Alright. I won't. But I'm not leaving you alone

into his shoulder, the

I heard a voice from behind

"Oh, Claire..."

see Mrs. Margaret, my

when you'd come around. I'm so

I

your place... it got hit the worst.

find anything?" I asked.

been talk," Mrs. Margaret said. "Fire department's saying it might've been deliberate. That

"Arson? Who would do that? Who would

head. "I don't know. It doesn't make sense.

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