Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57 Mr Perfect Is Also Human 

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Gabriel opting out of lunch didn’t surprise me. His dislike for Daniel was clear for everyone to see. From the moment Daniel stepped into Sergio’s office, Gabriel’s mood shifted. Earlier, he had seemed slightly uptight, but as the meeting progressed, he loosened up just enough to be tolerable–until Daniel walked in. At Daniel’s mere presence, Gabriel’s expression hardened, the disgust he felt toward him etched plainly on his face. 

Whatever had happened between them must have been more than a minor disagreement. Gabriel’s reaction wasn’t just annoyance–it was anger mixed with resentment. The memory of how he’d acted by the pool came rushing back to me–the fury in his eyes, all because he’d seen me swimming with Daniel. 

The Gabriel I knew was usually good at hiding his emotions, but when it came to Daniel, it was like he couldn’t help himself. 

Since Gabriel saw Daniel and me in the elevator, he had been different–more distant, more possessive. He acted like I belonged to him, yet he wouldn’t let himself get close to me. He wouldn’t kiss me, wouldn’t let anything happen between us, but at the same time, he made it clear I wasn’t free to be with anyone else. He couldn’t have it both ways, and honestly, I was getting tired of it. 

A part of me was relieved when Gabriel left. I didn’t want to deal with another intense argument. 

Sergio, on the other hand, had been so kind since we arrived. His warmth and friendliness eased the awkwardness, making everything feel lighter. 

Lunch started out pleasant. The chef served the gourmet dishes, and we began eating. 

Halfway through the lunch, Sergio paused to apologize for Gabriel’s behavior, brushing it off as stress. 

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Chapter 57: Mr Perfect is Also Human 

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But we both knew the truth. Gabriel’s actions weren’t stress related they were about Daniel. Whatever had gone wrong between them ran deeper than I could guess. 

Daniel didn’t seem affected by any of it. He just smiled, calm and unbothered, waving off Sergio’s apology. “That’s alright,” he said, his tone light, as if Gabriel’s anger wasn’t worth his time. 

As we ate, Sergio kept the mood light. He made small talk and cracked a few jokes, and I found myself laughing more than I expected. It was nice–a much–needed break from the earlier tension. 

Still, I couldn’t help noticing the hushed moments between him and Daniel. They whispered to each other every now and then, their connection obvious. It made me feel like an outsider, but I reminded myself that it wasn’t my place to ask questions. 

For now, what mattered was that the project was approved. Months of hard work had finally paid off. Nicole and I had pushed ourselves to the limit for this, and I couldn’t help feeling proud of what we’d achieved. For once, something was going smoothly. 

Then Sergio’s phone rang, and he excused himself, leaving me alone with Daniel. 

Daniel’s expression softened as he turned to me. “I’m sorry about how Gabriel treated you,” he said, his voice gentle. His hand brushed against mine, and the touch caught me off guard. 

I pulled my hand back quickly. “It’s alright,” I murmured, giving him a brief smile. 

“Is Gabriel always like that with you?” Daniel asked, his eyes searching my face. “Controlling your every 

move?” 

I swallowed hard, unsure how much I wanted to share. “He’s mostly been like that since you came into the picture,” I admitted, my eyes meeting his. “Tell me, Daniel. What happened between you two?” 

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For a moment, Daniel’s playful look disappeared, and his face turned serious. His eyes revealed pain, maybe even regret. “T’ll tell you everything,” he said, his voice low and serious, “but only if you agree to have dinner with me.” 

“Daniel…” I began, shaking my head. “I can’t. Gabriel would lose it if he found out. He’s my boss, and I’m here to work, not to get caught up in… whatever this is.” 

“I get it,” he said softly, leaning forward just a little. His hand brushed mine again, more slowly this time, and his tone grew even gentler. “But you deserve to know the truth. Have dinner with me, and I’ll explain everything. 

I wanted to say no. The last thing I needed was more drama. But Daniel was right. I needed answers. Gabriel’s behavior made no sense, and this dinner seemed like my only chance to understand everything that was going on. 

“I’ll think about it,” I finally responded. 

Daniel smiled, his confidence returning. “I’ll text you,” he murmured, giving my hand a slight squeeze before letting go just as Sergio returned to the table. 

I shifted back in my seat, forcing a polite smile as the conversation returned to lighter topics. 

I was drifting between sleep and consciousness when a loud crash jolted me awake. My heart pounded hard against my chest, the sound echoing in the quiet suite. It was so sudden, so loud, that I couldn’t think straight. 

I sat up quickly, my breaths shallow as fear and confusion flooded my mind. My hands shook as ! fumbled to switch on the bedside lamp, desperate to see what was happening around me. 

The soft light came on, spreading a dim glow across the room and part of the living area. My eyes squinted as I adjusted to the light and tried to make out a tall figure standing in the shadows of the living area.