Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 207

Clairessa’s POV

Still trying to catch my breath after what just happened in Gabriel’s office, I stepped into the hall—only to come face to face with the last person I wanted to deal with.

Adrian.

Leaning against the wall like he’d been waiting all day.

He straightened the moment he saw me.

“Clairessa—hey, wait—”

“No.” I brushed past him, but he fell into step beside me.

“Just let me explain. Please.”

“You had all day yesterday to explain,” I snapped, not slowing down.

“I called you over a hundred times. And instead of answering like a decent person or replying to a single text, you ghosted me—knowing how important today was. And now I’m supposed to stand here and listen to whatever crap you have to say?”

He dragged a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t thinking straight after our last conversation. I… I just need you to try to understand me.”

I stopped mid-stride and spun on him.

“Understand you? You mean like I was supposed to when you cheated? Or today—when I had to cover for you because you showed up late to one of the most important meetings of our careers?”

His expression cracked.

“It’s clear you haven’t changed.” My tone was firm, so he knew I wasn’t kidding. “You’re still that same entitled, selfish boy who thinks the world revolves around him—and that someone else will always clean up the mess.”

His eyes flashed with hurt. “Claire, that’s not fair.”

“I’m not here to be fair. I’m being honest.”

He looked vulnerable—and damn it, I hated that a small part of me still cared how he felt.

Then he kept talking.

“I know ghosting you was wrong. I’m sorry. But what did you expect me to do when you broke my heart?”

I blinked, stunned.

He did not just say that.

He had the nerve to flip this on me?

“You think I broke your heart?” I scoffed, nearly laughing at the irony of it all.

“Adrian, I walked in on you screwing Nicole. And don’t even try the ‘one-time’ excuse—I found out about the six-month affair. You even helped her get this job. And now you want me to feel bad for saying no to getting back together?”

His eyes dropped, shame creeping in.

“You’re unbelievable. Trying to play the victim. Trying to guilt me.”

He reached for my hand. And for some reason—some stupid reason—I let him hold it.

“You’re right about everything,” he murmured. “And I’m sorry for leaving you hanging. You have every reason to be upset.”

“Damn right I do.”

His fingers tightened slightly. “Please… just forgive me. This once. I swear I won’t mess it up again.”

I yanked my hand free. “You’ve said that before. I’m not falling for it.”

“Trust me. Just this once.”

I laughed coldly. “That’s never going to happen again.”

He hesitated, then tried a different approach.

“Claire… think about it. In the end, it worked out. The pitch, the project—it was your idea. Maybe it’s better the CEO saw that. Maybe it was meant to be.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

“You really think that excuses you? You showed up late, gave the company a bad impression, and left me to fix everything. We got lucky—that’s all. Don’t twist this into some silver lining that lets you off the hook.”

“I know it doesn’t.” His voice softened again. “But we won the pitch, didn’t we? Or… did my dad say the CEO changed his mind after we left the room?”

“We won,” I bit out. “No thanks to you.”

His face lit up. “Then let me make it up to you. Just one drink?”

I let out a dry, bitter laugh. “You think I can stand to be around you right now?”

He looked desperate. “I know you’re mad. But please—”

“Stop,” I cut him off, stepping back. “All I want is space. If you’d shown up like you were supposed to, maybe we’d be celebrating right now. But since you pulled the classic Adrian move—disappearing when it matters—I just want to be alone.”

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