Gabriel’s POV
Adrian flinched at my words—like I’d swung a fist.
Why the hell did he look hurt?
What did he expect? After everything that happened? After showing up late? After playing his part so poorly—so selfishly? Did he really think he could manipulate my emotions?
That wasn’t going to work. Not anymore.
“For what it’s worth,” Adrian said, his voice cracking, “these past few weeks… I gave everything I had to this project. God knows I tried—”
I scoffed, bitterness rising like bile. “You gave your all? And yet you didn’t show.”
My voice turned cold. “Enlighten me, son. What, exactly, was so goddamn important that you blew off a multi-million-dollar meeting and embarrassed everyone tied to your name?”
He blinked, jaw working, but no sound came out. Finally, he muttered, “I… I don’t think you’d understand, Dad.”
“No shit.”
His face crumpled, shoulders sagging under the weight of guilt he couldn’t shake.
I stared at him for a long moment, exhaling a breath full of emotion.
“That’s what I thought.”
Behind him, Clairessa remained still—her hands tightly clasped in front of her, eyes on the floor, lips pressed into a thin, unreadable line.
“Get out,” I said, low and controlled. “Adrian, get out before I say something I won’t take back.”
“I tried, Dad—”
“And you failed. As always,” I snapped, my voice cracking—not from rage, but from the weight of disappointment that had been building for years.
“You want to be treated like a man? Then act like one. Show up. Own your shit. Stop running late and calling it bad luck. Stop fucking around and expecting praise for mediocrity.”
His eyes shone, red and wet—filled with that same blend of shame and resentment I’d seen too many times before. The boy couldn’t decide whether he wanted to cry or scream.
He turned toward the door, jaw tight.
Clairessa shifted to follow, but I raised a hand. “Not you.”
Adrian spun back, panic flashing across his face. “Wait—why?”
He crossed the room faster than I expected, chest rising and falling with shallow, anxious breaths.
“Dad, please. I hope you’re not… don’t take this out on her.”
I narrowed my eyes. My fury deepened.
He clasped his hands tightly, pleading. “It’s my fault. All of it. She kept calling me, asking where I was—I ignored her. I was the one who couldn’t get my act together. Don’t blame her for my screw-up.”
He turned, glancing at Clairessa—guilt plain in his eyes.
“She doesn’t deserve that. If you’re mad, be mad at me.”
Behind him, Clairessa stiffened. Her fingers twitched at her sides, but she said nothing.
Adrian kept going, like he could somehow fix this.
“She’s the reason that pitch even happened. She carried it. She saved it. Don’t punish her because I’m the one who failed.”
Each word scraped at my patience.
“This,” I growled, stepping in, “is the worst possible time to challenge me, Adrian.”
He opened his mouth.
I raised a hand sharply. “Not another word.”
He froze, lips trembling.
“You don’t get to decide how I handle this. You don’t get to shield her now like some martyr, after you let her carry your failure.”
“I’m just saying—”
“Get. Out.”
He flinched at the command. His face twisted—half anger, half heartbreak—but he obeyed.
He looked back at Clairessa once more, eyes soft with guilt.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
She didn’t answer. Arms crossed, jaw locked, eyes like stone. She wouldn’t even glance his way.
He stood there a moment, wilting under the weight of her silence.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked out.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)
Please release next chapters...
Next chapters please...
Next chapters please...
Next chapters please!!!...
Hi Author - please I expect some twists and turns, not to be same old story like Nichole share the photos to Gabriel and he believed that and started giving lot of troubles to Clarissa in the office , project will go to Nicole and she gets appreciation and to travel lot with Gabriel, blah blah blah. Something new we are expecting....
Oooooooo going to be very interesting...
Update pls...
I love this story! I check back everyday waiting for the next! I’m hooked...
Eek still loving this story, keep going...
Love this story, but wish she would just tell him about Adrian. She's p*using me off lol I'm already sad for Gabriel, it's going to break his heart, after he just opened it up again....