Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 223

CLAIRESSA'S POV

Gabriel was right.

God, I hated that he was right.

I couldn't keep pretending nothing had happened between us-not after last night, not after what almost happened on the porch if Adrian hadn't walked in. This fire between us wasn't something I could just brush under the rug and keep walking.

It shook me to my core.

And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't outrun it.

I hadn't been able to focus on anything since it happened. And maybe, yeah—l wanted him to sweat. To feel even a fraction of what I felt when he left me... when he handed me off like I was something to be passed down.

But now, as my eyes searched his—caught the anguish etched across his face and heard the raw, unfiltered pain in his voice when he said we needed to talk-— something inside me melted.

He was watching me-those eyes dark, waiting, tense, like he was bracing for another blow. Ready to fight if I pushed him away again.

For the first time in what felt like forever, I let my walls fall.

"Gabriel..." I swallowed hard. "You're right."

His expression shifted-slowly-like he hadn't heard me right at first. His brows drew together, then lifted, stunned.

"I can't pretend last night didn't happen," I said softly. "Because it did. And it... it shook me to my core."

I swallowed again, eyes locked on his. "I'm sorry, Gabriel. I'm sorry for acting like

it didn't matter. For brushing you off when you tried to talk to me this morning. That wasn't fair."

He stepped closer. I didn't stop him.

"It's a lot," I whispered. "We went from silence to you saying you want me back- emotions, passion, almost losing control. It's too much, too fast. I don't even know what I feel right now."

I drew a breath, voice quiet. "I just... I need time to process it."

"Then let's process it together."

He reached across the small space between us, his fingers curling around mine in a warm grip.

by side. No more running. No more pretending. It's you

that sound

to believe him.

to," I whispered. "But I

my hand from

he looked hurt-but not

quietly. "What's

scared, okay?" The words burst from me, small and

scared that if I trust you again... if I open my heart and give it to you the way I did before... then

don't trust that you'll be able

behind his eyes-like my words had stirred

not to trust me," he said gently. "But not this

in closer, his presence overwhelming every one of my

you... I'll see this through. All

and looked away. It was easy to make

he'd have to face the weight of losing

noticed. He always

time,

he let the silence settle... then

me if you liked the mini home I created

blinked, then smiled softly. "You're right. I

but I

meaning

even asking. It made me feel seen. Heard.

lit

glad you

"But why? Why go through

me. When it felt like

hate you," he said, his voice tight. "I hated

I behaved like an ass. And I regret every second

He exhaled slowly.

single thing I

like I was close to

us." śwnovel

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