Semua Bab Falling For My Ex's Dad: Bab 281 - Bab 290

Clairessa’s POVThe slender blonde-haired hostess led us through the dimly lit restaurant, soft light glinting off the table. Gabriel walked ahead, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back, his presence commanding even in such an elegant space.She guided us to the main table, set beautifully with flashing candles, crystal glasses, and little petals of red roses scattered across the white linen. When we reached it, he smoothly drew out my chair, waiting until I sank into it before taking his place across from me.I let my eyes take in the scene, my voice in awe. “This… this is beautiful.”His lips curved into that arrogant, irresistible way that was so purely him.“You deserve only the best,” he said, his tone equal parts sweet and maddeningly confident.He leaned back slightly, eyes holding mine with that pure heat. “I’m a man who can give you more than flowers and candlelight… I can give you everything you’ll ever need, and more,” he added, his words washing over me like a p

Gabriel’s POV Marco’s laughter rattled through the restroom. “Is that why you ruined my ties with the others? My partners? You had no right to interfere in what wasn’t yours!” “I didn’t ruin anything,” Gabriel shot back. “I wasn’t the one stealing from them. I wasn’t the one hiding money in offshore accounts. All I did was expose you for the bastard you are.” Marco’s chest heaved, his breath ragged. “And yet… I walked free. You tried to bury me, Gabriel, but here I am. Untouchable.” “You think so?” Gabriel leaned in, his voice threatening. “Go near Clairessa again, just try it, and this time, there’ll be no getting out. I’ll make sure of it.” Marco wiggled against Gabriel’s hold, fury twisting his face. “You think you’ve won? No… I’ll burn down everything you love, everything you built. Both of you will pay. Mark my words.” Before I could breathe, Gabriel’s hand clamped around Marco’s throat and squeezed tightly. His heels scraped helplessly across the tiles, his face reddening

Clairessa’s POV The panic in his tone hit me harder than the words themselves. He was spiraling, every instinct gearing toward danger, toward protecting me, and I knew if I didn’t stop him now, he’d work himself into a storm he couldn’t climb out of. I slid my hand down from his arm, forcing him to face me. “Gabriel, look at me,” I whispered. “Look at me.” His restless eyes finally landed on mine. “Tonight belongs to us,” I told him confidently, willing him to hear me. “Maybe Marco has been watching. Maybe he did follow us here. You’re right, he’s probably plotting something. But tonight was supposed to be different. It was supposed to be ours. After the scandalous week we’ve had, I’m not going to let him ruin it.” He shook his head, his hand raking through his hair like he couldn’t let go of the thought. “You don’t understand. He’s dangerous, Rissa…” “I do understand,” I cut in, firmer this time. I stepped closer, close enough that the streetlamp lit the flecks in his eyes. “L

Clairessa’s POV“Yes,” Gabriel replied immediately. “Cole will be handling sweeps, checking the apartment for bugs, making sure we’re secure.”My brows shot up. “Sweep the apartment? Gabriel, don’t tell me you think our place is bugged.” I laughed under my breath, but the sound fell flat the second I said it. The idea slid down my spine like ice water. “Because that’s… no. That’s ridiculous.”His eyes pinned mine. “We don’t know what Marco is capable of. And until I know for certain, I won’t take chances.”Before I could respond, he gestured to Andrew. “Andrew goes wherever you go. Grocery store, walk outside, work, everywhere.” Gabriel’s tone softened, but it was still firm. “Claire, you cannot go anywhere without him.”Andrew gave me a small nod, professional but kind. Cole didn’t so much as blink. They looked like they’d been born to stand guard.I set my coffee aside, rose from the sofa and tugged on Gabriel’s sleeve, pulling him a few steps away, lowering my voice. “Gabriel, don’

Adrian’s POVI sat in the corner booth of the Wave restaurant, waiting for Clairessa. The place was private, and that was the only reason I picked it. I didn’t need anyone snapping pictures of me sitting across from her. I’d already been waiting thirty minutes, and every passing second just made me more restless. She’d promised she’d come. No excuse was good enough. Maybe she was stalling, trying to figure out how to slip away without me noticing. Or maybe she thought she could avoid me altogether. Either way, she was wrong. She had to face me. The past few days had been hell. Sleep wouldn’t come, not with the image of her tangled up with my father burned into my mind. It made me sick. I wasn’t even sure why I needed this meeting so badly, but deep down I knew. I wanted her to say it to my face, to choose him, to force me to hear it so I could finally tell her exactly what I thought of her. If I were ever going to fix things with my dad, she had to be gone. There was no place for her