Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 170

Gabriel’s POV

“Dad?”

I didn’t bother looking up as I stirred the pot, letting the aroma rise and fill the kitchen. “I’m here,” I called out.

I heard Adrian’s footsteps draw closer. He stopped at the kitchen threshold, and the silence that followed stretched just long enough to make me smirk without turning around.

“Wait—are you cooking?” he asked, disbelief lacing his voice. “Dad, I’m shocked. You haven’t cooked in… what, years?”

I finally turned to face him, wiping my hand on the kitchen towel slung over my shoulder.

“Gretchen told me earlier she had a personal errand to run and would be back by noon.” I offered a casual shrug, reaching for the ladle and giving the pot another stir. “I was hungry and couldn’t wait that long.”

I could feel the lie burning on the tip of my tongue.

Truth was, I wasn’t hungry. Eating was the last thing on my mind.

The food I was cooking—it was for Clairessa. I wanted her to have something warm when she woke up, something to ease the aftermath of the fever. She didn’t need to know that. And I didn’t need Adrian questioning why I cared enough to do it.

I hadn’t expected him to walk in just as I was scrambling to get everything ready.

“Right,” Adrian muttered, clearly unconvinced. He reached into his bag and pulled out a black file, handing it to me. “The contract you asked for. I got it back.”

“Oh. Yeah. The contract.” I took it and placed it absentmindedly on the counter beside me, right next to the chopping board.

It was the last thing on my mind. Honestly, I hadn’t thought about that damn contract all morning.

Adrian eyed me, suspicion lining his face as his brow creased. His gaze lingered on the way I’d casually dropped the file onto the counter. “I thought you said the contract was urgent.” His arms folded slowly across his chest, watching me like I was hiding something.

I glanced at the envelope, then back at him, before offering the calmest response I could muster, one that wouldn’t pique his suspicion further. “It is important. But with contracts like these, you can’t just rush through them. I need to go over the fine print again. Thoroughly.”

Adrian seemed to accept that, though I could tell he wasn’t entirely convinced. He didn’t press the matter further, which I appreciated.

“So,” he continued, his eyes glancing over his shoulder down the hallway. “Where's Clairessa?”

“In her room,” I replied, intentionally avoiding his gaze as I stirred the soup a little more. I didn’t look up, not even when I felt him shift—hovering there in the corner, watching.

“She... um... forgot to close her windows, I guess. The storm was heavy, and the wind and cold got to her... so... she came down with a high fever.”

Another fabrication. My brain barely kept up with how easily the falsehoods rolled off my tongue.

Adrian’s face softened, concern flashing across his features. “Oh, man. I had no idea. I should go check on her.”

“Let her rest for a bit.” I reached out, placing a hand on his arm before he could move. “I checked on her earlier—she’s probably still asleep.”

He looked at me, eyes wide. “Wait… you stayed with her?”

I didn’t respond right away.

For a moment, I contemplated telling him everything—laying the truth bare about Clairessa and me. But I knew this wasn’t the right time. That kind of confession needed to come from her, not me.

I shrugged, keeping my tone casual. “You literally threatened me in a message to look after her. I figured I didn’t have much of a choice.”

Adrian let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. “That’s right. Thanks, Dad.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “Still, I should go check on her.”

I raised a hand before he could take a step. “You can do that later. For now… sit. We need to talk.”

He paused, brows knitting. “Talk about what?”

“Your future.”

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