Semua Bab Falling For My Ex's Dad: Bab 231 - Bab 235

Clairessa’s POV My heart pounded so loud I could hear it in my ears. The moment I heard Adrian’s voice outside the door, my heart stopped for a second. “Dad... morning to you,” Adrian called. I could barely breathe. He was right outside the door. No, no, he couldn’t find me here. Not like this. I glanced at Gabriel, who was already moving, positioning himself in front of the door like a shield. I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hand gripped the doorframe tightly. "Dad... why are you holding the door? Can I come in?" Adrian’s voice was too close and suspicious. The panic hit my throat. Before Gabriel could say anything else, I ran. Not far. Just to the balcony. I slipped through the glass doors, stepping out into the cool morning air, and pulled the curtain halfway shut behind me. I pressed myself against the wall, trying my hardest not to make a sound as my eyes darted over the floor, then down. God, the drop was brutal. There was no way down from here

Gabriel’s POV I almost held Clairessa's hand back, but it would’ve drawn too much attention. Too many eyes were already on us. So I nodded once, barely, and let her go. “See you both later,” she said, waving lightly as she followed Randolph and Lisa into the crowd. And just like that, I was left standing with Adrian on one side and Angelique on the other. What a goddamn disaster. This was certainly not the place for a family reunion, but it was happening, whether we liked it or not. Angelique shifted closer now, trying too hard to smile. “Gabriel, I'm sorry that we’re reuniting like this,” she said, her voice thin. “I wish it could’ve been... different.” I laughed coldly. “No, you don’t.” My tone was harsh. “It’s obvious now that you orchestrated this little reunion with Randolph’s wife. So tell me, Angelique, all for what?” She took another careful step even closer, her face soft with remorse. “So we could talk.” I exploded. “Talk?” I snapped. “And you did

Gabriel’s POVClairessa’s head tipped back slowly against my shoulder, lips parted, breath shallow. I felt the tremble in her body press into mine.“Gabriel…” she whispered. “Do you really mean that? Because if this ends… if you walk away again, I won’t survive it. I can’t go through what happened before. I can’t relive that.”Immediately, I turned her gently, forcing her to look at me.Her eyes were glassy, vulnerable as she searched mine.“I’m not walking away,” I assured her softly. “This is real. I’m real. And I will fight until my last breath to make sure you know that.”I drew her closer, my arm firm around her waist.Then I leaned in and kissed her—slow, certain, and full of everything I didn’t have the words to say.Her breath hitched.“Does that feel real to you?” I asked, brushing my lips against hers.She shook her head faintly. “I don’t know.”I kissed her again. Harder this time. Her hands tangled in my shirt, clutching and needing me.My mouth took hers, passionately dev