Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel)

Chapter 106: Getting Him To Open Up

Clairessa's POV Oh my God. It all made sense now. Everything-why Gabriel was the way he was. Daniel's story... about his friend walking in on him... But he never got to say the name of his best friend because Gabriel had walked in. Now, I finally understood the feud-how two close friends could turn into enemies. The betrayal had cut so deep into Gabriel-I could see the hurt on his face, the pain he had buried for years now rising to the surface. "Gabriel... I'm... so, so-" His expression darkened instantly. "I don't need pity," he cut me off, tilting his head slightly. "That night turned me into this man you claim is so hardened. There was a time I loved earnestly... and it was destroyed." My heart broke at the rawness in his voice. I held his gaze, willing him to see my sincerity. "It's not pity, Gabriel. It's understanding-for the hurt and pain you went through. No one deserves that kind of betrayal." His jaw tensed. "You're right... I guess you can relate. Your ex cheated too, but you moved on with grace. His voice grew rougher, filled with self-loathing. “Unlike me-I held onto the anger, let it fester. I fed it until it became a part of me." Gabriel's words pierced through me, filling me with guilt. His perception of me was so different from the truth. He saw me as the girl who moved on with grace, who had no vengeance in her heart. How far from the truth he was. If he knew that sleeping with him had started as revenge against his son, he wouldn't think so highly of me. He would surely hate me. But today, he didn't. Today, he needed me. My fingers stalled before reaching up to touch his jaw, my thumb brushing over the rough stubble. "Gabriel... my ex cheated with a stranger, and it still shattered me. I can't imagine what it's like when the betrayal comes from someone you trust." He stiffened for a split second before exhaling, his shoulders dropping slightly. “Daniel claimed he didn't know Angelique was my wife, that he met her at an art showcase..." I took a slow breath. "And after all these years, do you believe him?" Gabriel ran a hand through his hair, his features hardened, making it clear how hard this was for him. But if we were going to move forward, there was no other way. "Maybe. I don't know... I've been angry at him for so long that I never stopped to think about it logically. I never introduced Angelique to Daniel because we were all in different cities at the time, so it's possible he didn't know who she was... but that doesn't make the betrayal hurt any less.” “I know," I whispered softly. "And your ex-wife? Do still talk to her?" He looked down for a moment, then back at me. "After the divorce, we only spoke about Adrian. Strictly about his welfare. But one day, she sent me a message saying she couldn't live with the guilt. That she couldn't forgive herself for what she did to our marriage. And since I wouldn't forgive her, she was walking away- giving me full custody." "What?" I asked, shocked that a mother could abandon her child because she couldn't deal with the consequences of her own mistake. "So she just left?" "Yeah." He let out a strangled chuckle. "I tried to stop her. Told her Adrian still needed his mother despite everything. But she said she would only stay if I forgave her and took her back." I scoffed. "That's manipulative." His lips twisted into something that resembled a smirk. “I told her there wasn't a chance in hell. Those were my last words to her. She walked out and never looked back." "It's been Adrian and me ever since. I never let anyone close enough to form anything real..." His voice dropped, his fingers grazing my cheeks, his touch featherlight. “But then there's you," he murmured. "No matter how hard I tried to fight it, my feelings for you just kept growing." Warmth spread through me, heat pooling low in my stomach. "This weekend without you was torture," he admitted, his hand settling on my waist, gripping me like he needed me closer. "I need you back.” I sucked in a deep breath, my pulse quickening. “Gabriel... I don't know. There's so much unresolved between issues in here." I patted his chest softly. He nodded, his lips brushing against my forehead. "I know. But I'm willing to be open and honest... if it means I get to keep you." And then he kissed me-slow and deep. I felt every unspoken word in the way his lips moved against mine, the way his fingers tightened on my waist. He kissed me like he was afraid to lose me, like he needed to breathe me in. When he pulled back, his eyes searched mine. "Promise me, from now on, there will be no more secrets between us. That we'll be honest with each other." I- The words caught in my throat. This should be the moment I told Gabriel the truth. That I had once wanted revenge. That I had planned to seduce him just to hurt Adrian. But how could I tell him now, when he had just bared his soul to me? I couldn't. Not yet.

you

Not now. "I'm sorry for leaving you on the island," he whispered, his lips brushing my forehead. "I will never abandon you again." He kissed my check. "I will always be honest and open with you." Finally, he leaned in, his lips barely touching mine. "Promise me," he pressed, his lips grazing mine, trailing soft kisses along my cheek. Inoveldrama

The door swung open. "I'm back-" Jess's high-pitched voice rang through the room before she froze, her wide eyes darting between me and Gabriel. "Oh my God... I'm sorry for intruding," she apologized quickly, spinning on her heel. Then, with no real remorse, she turned back around, a teasing smirk spreading across her face. "But if I'm being honest, no, I'm not sorry."