Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Clairessa's POV

Still trying to catch my breath after what just happened in Gabriel's office, I

stepped into the hall-only to come face to face with the last person I wanted to deal with.

Adrian.

Leaning against the wall like he'd been waiting all day.

He straightened the moment he saw me.

"Clairessa-hey, wait—"

"No." I brushed past him, but he fell into step beside me.

"Just let me explain. Please."

"You had all day yesterday to explain," I snapped, not slowing down.

"I called you over a hundred times. And instead of answering like a decent person

or replying to a single text, you ghosted me-knowing how important today was. And now I'm supposed to stand here and listen to whatever crap you have to say?"

He dragged a hand through his hair. "I wasn't thinking straight after our last conversation. I... I just need you to try to understand me."

I stopped mid-stride and spun on him.

"Understand you? You mean like I was supposed to when you cheated? Or today when I had to cover for you because you showed up late to one of the most important meetings of our careers?"

His expression cracked.

"It's clear you haven't changed." My tone was firm, so he knew I wasn't kidding. "You're still that same entitled, selfish boy who thinks the world revolves around him—and that someone else will always clean up the mess."

His eyes flashed with hurt. "Claire, that's not fair."

"I'm not here to be fair. I'm being honest."

He looked vulnerable and damn it, I hated that a small part of me still cared how he felt.

Then he kept talking.

"I know ghosting you was wrong. I'm sorry. But what did you expect me to do when you broke my heart?"

I blinked, stunned.

He did not just say that.

He had the nerve to flip this on me?

"You think I broke your heart?" I scoffed, nearly laughing at the irony of it all.

"Adrian, I walked in on you screwing Nicole. And don't even try the 'one-time' excuse-I found out about the six-month affair. You even helped her get this job. And now you want me to feel bad for saying no to getting back together?"

His eyes dropped, shame creeping in.

unbelievable. Trying to play the victim.

my hand. And for some reason—some stupid reason I let him

I'm sorry for leaving you hanging. You have every

"Damn right I do."

This once. I swear I won't mess it

yanked my hand free. "You've said that

me. Just

coldly. "That's never

tried a different

think about it. In the end, it worked out. The pitch, the project-it was your idea. Maybe it's better the CEO saw that. Maybe it was

stared at him,

up late, gave the company a bad impression, and left me to fix everything. We got lucky-that's all. Don't twist this into some silver lining

we won the pitch, didn't we? Or... did my dad say the CEO

out.

face lit up. "Then let me make it up to you. Just one

laugh. "You think I can stand to be around you

looked desperate. "I know you're mad.

maybe we'd be celebrating right now. But since you pulled the classic Adrian move-disappearing when it matters-I just want

please. Just one drink.

really think a

still holding on. "Then tell

shook my head slowly. "I don't know.

waiting for his response, I spun around and walked away, done with the

myself into my office, exhaustion crashing over me like

out-physically drained and

the whole building felt like it was

needed to get out. I didn't care how early

closed the deal, and held everything together while it

apart. I deserved

about

damn... Gabriel's

feel like diving headfirst into everything I'd been trying

around Adrian.

a fresh space. Somewhere that didn't

Somewhere quiet.

could

a clear

was only

the drive just the

day pressed into my shoulders. By the time

was barely holding it

ve

barefoot in an oversized T-shirt that read *Men Are Cancelled in glittering silver letters. I almost laughed until her expression shifted from confusion to

squealed,

over?"

past her and stepping inside like I lived there. Jess shut

miss—where do you think you're going? No hello? No 'Hey Jess, how've you been?' After blowing me off

heels with a groan and collapsing onto her velvet couch like my bones had