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.

stepped over it anyway. I needed to see it with

cozy sanctuary was now a

completely. Only broken remains

I stepped inside.

used to

destroyed. The couch-burned down to

and singed. The walls were blackened with

to be my home, eyes wide, breathing

barely standing. I pushed

And saw everything.

My pictures gone. The bedframe was charred, the

the corner of the room that

whispered.

pile of ash and melted plastic. My Hart app. My

I broke.

cracked,

ripped through me before I could stop them. I covered my face with my

in my chest was unbearable. "Why did it have to be my

out of my

"But Adrian, this is bad. I've

clothing. Every possession ever

Bought. My laptop-it had

And now it's

at the heap of melted plastic and wires that used to

just kept falling

this happened to you,” he whispered. "But you're

stuff. It's my life. My work. My words. I

my hair away from my face and looked me

you-I'll do

get it all

talk to my dad-content

off quickly, pulling back. "Don't talk to

needed was handouts

won't. But I'm not leaving you alone in this,

and I leaned into his shoulder, the grief still coming

a voice from

"Oh, Claire..."

my neighbor. Her face was

been wondering when you'd come

"I just... I needed time to

nodded, eyes damp. “It's all so sad. But your place... it got hit

find anything?" I asked. "What caused

department's saying it might've

spun. "Arson? Who would do that? Who would

don't know. It doesn't make sense.

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