Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 157: If She's Innocent I'll Fight For Her Gabriel's POV I offered Tina a soft smile, my heart swelling just thinking about Clairessa. "I thought you would've figured that one out by now." She shrugged lightly. "I had a feeling the moment you kept calling her nlast night... even though you denied it at first." "I did?" I asked, brows lifting.

"Mmhmm." She hummed. "Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was those walls you've built so high around your heart. Makeswonder how she managed to get past them." A soft laugh escaped me. "Well... you once toldto let go of the past. That holding onto it only gives power to the person who hurt me, while I stay miserable. So, let's just say, I took your advice." Tina's brows lifted slightly—an almost startled expression crossing her face, like she hadn't expected that answer.

"And if I'm being honest," I continued, "I tried to fight it, but what I felt for her was too strong to ignore. So I took the risk. I opened my heart." She leaned back, arms crossing loosely over her chest, her expression thoughtful. "Gabriel Storm... in love. That's something I never thought I'd see. You fell hard. And honestly? I'm happy for you... just not entirely. We had something once, didn't we?" "Tina..." I sighed. "What we had was purely physical. We both knew that. It was never going to lead anywhere." Tina's eyes dropped briefly, then lifted with a half-laugh. "I did. But a girl can dream, right?" I gave a tight smile, saying nothing.

She tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing with interest. "Besides, she's the Clairessa. If I'm not mistaken, I saw you two at lunch a few weeks ago—the swoman you introduced as your personal assistant." "Software engineer," I corrected, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

A knowing look lit her face, like something had just clicked. "I see... the moment I saw her, I knew something was there." "Oh, did you now?" I said with a hint of a smirk.

"At that lunch, I noticed this unspoken chemistry," she added, tapping her temple. "And I could tell she was jealous when she saw us talking. You might not get it, but a woman picks up on those things." I let out a short breath, almost a huff. "I don't doubt it." Her curiosity deepened, lips curling slightly as she eyed me. "I've got to ask- what's so different about her? She's younger-early twenties, right? You always said you liked women with experience. And yet..." "Tina..." My voice dropped, softening. "Clairessa might be young, but she's everything I didn't know I was missing. She's beautiful, warm, kind, witty—and she challengesat every turn with her sass. Maybe that's what drewto her." I paused, the muscles in my neck tightening. "I tried to deny what I felt, but the more I pushed it down, the stronger it cback. And I knew I couldn't let her go -not when the thought of her with someone else madephysically sick." Tina's playful smirk faded. Her brows furrowed slightly as she studied me, no longer teasing. "That deep, huh?" "Six feet beneath the ocean wouldn't even cclose," I muttered, my voice rough, unable to hide the raw emotion that leaked through. My gaze dropped before I met her eyes again, no longer pretending.

"Then if you love her that much—and she clearly loves you—what the hell happened? Why were you even at the club?" I rose to my feet, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "It's complicated." She gave a dry chuckle. "Maybe I could help you uncomplicate it. I'm pretty decent with relationships these days." I shot her a doubtful glance. "Since when?" "Always," she shot back with a grin, eyes sparkling. "Okay, maybe not always- but I've picked up a thing or two." My shoulders tensed as I turned to face her, hands curling into fists.

"Let's just say I received information that she may not have been completely honest with me, and I'm still trying to figure out if I can trust the source." Tina shook her head, clearly trying not to scold. "Oh, Gabe. Instead of talking to her, you went and got drunk and almost slept with your ex? Classic self-sabotage move." I glared at her, raising an eyebrow. "I thought this was a no-judgment talk?" She lifted her hands in mock surrender, her expression softening. "Sorry, couldn't help it. But seriously, if you don't trust the source, why not just talk to her—or let it go?" I felt my chest tighten. "Because I can't," I snapped, my voice harder than I intended.

I started pacing, trying to regain control. "I might not trust the source, but the evidence... it looked too convincing. I needed tto get to the bottom of it. But now? Now I fear I've already destroyed everything before even finding out the truth." Tina flinched slightly but leaned forward again, her tone softer. "Maybe I could talk to her, make it clear nothing happened between us..." "No," I cut in quickly, my voice firm, more desperate than I wanted it to sound. "This is mine to fix. If there's anything left to fix by the tthe truth comes out." She studiedcarefully, eyes softening, like she was seeing straight through to the raw pain I was trying to hide. For a long moment, she just watchedin silence.

Then she leaned forward, her voice calm but pointed. "You just stood here and confessed to loving Clairessa like she's the air you breathe, like she's your beginning and end... and now you're letting sunconfirmed 'information' destroy all of it?" Her words sank intolike ice through skin.

"I'm not saying it's nothing, Gabe. Maybe there's something to it. But maybe there's not. And if there's even the smallest chance it's false—are you seriously going to let that ruin everything you have with her?" I didn't answer.

She shook her head slightly. "You say you love her. That you can't breathe

thinking of her with someone else.

That the idea of losing her guts you. So tell -what's stronger? That love... or your pride?" My chest seized, the words digging deeper than I wanted to admit. But they were fair. Brutally fair.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice. "If the roles were reversed, wouldn't you want her to cto you first? Wouldn't you want the chance to explain?" I stared at the floor, my voice low. "Yeah... I would."

"Then go," she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world! "Fix e it before it's too late. Don't let your silence speak louder than your love." I looked up at her, and for a moment, I didn't see the woman who once tried to pullinto bed. I saw someone who cared enough to pushtoward what mattered.

Toward what was right.

Then she offered one last truth, her eyes steady on mine.

"Because women like her?" Tina said softly. "They won't wait around forever." I turned back to the window, heart pounding against my ribs, her words echoing through me.

She was right.

And I'd do whatever it took to get Clairessa back—if | if found out she k_if I was innocent. Even if it meant bleeding my heart dry to prove I never stopped loving her.