Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 181

Gabriel’s POV

Clairessa didn’t look at me. Not once.

I ended the call mid-sentence. Whatever deal it was could wait. I couldn’t focus anyway.

My hand dropped to my side as I watched her climb the stairs like she was dragging the weight of the world behind her.

Her shoulders were hunched, arms wrapped tight around those shopping bags like they were the only things keeping her together.

The way her foot dragged on the top step made my chest twist.

I’d seen her bruised before—but not like this.

This was devastation.

And her eyes… I didn’t need a clear view to know they were red and swollen. She’d been crying.

Dammit. Watching her like that—broken—and not being able to go to her, to comfort her… it tore at me.

The front door closed with a soft thud, pulling my attention back.

Adrian stepped in, locking it behind him. His face was pale, hair tousled like he’d been dragging his fingers through it for hours.

“Dad…”

I didn’t answer right away. Couldn’t.

My eyes stayed on the staircase—waiting. Hoping she’d come back down. That I could say her name and she’d stop pretending I didn’t exist.

But that wasn’t going to happen. Not with Adrian standing there, needing me.

I sat up straighter and turned toward him. “What is it?”

He walked over fast, then stopped beside me with something raw in his eyes.

“She lost everything.”

I lifted a brow. “What do you mean?”

"Everything in her apartment’s gone—burned. Clothes, photos, even her laptop. She completely broke down when she saw it. I’ve never seen her cry like that."

He lowered himself onto the armrest, his hands gripping his knees.

“I tried to comfort her… but I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to help.”

Guilt burned through me like fire under my skin.

Maybe I’d gone too far.

I’d been cold. Distant. Determined to punish her for what happened—for the lies and betrayal.

“She was holding it together the whole ride,” Adrian added. “But once she saw it… the place—it was just gone.”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My voice caught somewhere between shame and disbelief.

The image of her dragging herself up those stairs haunted me—tired, defeated.

And now I saw the full picture.

I was so focused on protecting myself that I never stopped to consider what she was facing.

The fire didn’t just take things.

It took her memories. Her safety. Her sense of control.

And what had I done?

I’d pushed her away. Told her to leave. Treated her like she meant nothing.

And now, my actions made me feel like a monster.

I kept telling myself this distance was for the best. That if I didn’t feel too much, I couldn’t be hurt again.

But the truth?

All I wanted was to run after her.

Climb those stairs. Open her door. Wrap her in my arms. Give her back everything she lost. A new home. A blank check. Anything—anything—to keep her from crying again.

But I didn’t move.

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