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

Chapter 51: Burst Of Emotionsnoveldrama

I clenched my fists tighter as I watched Clairessa take a sip of the wine and offer Daniel a soft smile.

"It's d

delicious,” she said, her tongue brushing her bottom lip as if savoring the taste.

"I told you,” Daniel replied with a grin that was far too smug, his gaze fixed on her lips longer than it should have. I knew exactly what he was thinking, and it wasn't going to happen-not while I was present.

I could feel the rage building inside me, my chest tightening with every second. He was testing me, daring me, and he knew exactly what I was capable of.

Clairessa was mine. She didn't know it yet, but I did. She wasn't his, and she wasn't anyone else's. Daniel, of all people, should have known better. He always had a habit of going after what wasn't his, what belonged to

me

I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles whitening as I fought to keep myself in check. The room suddenly felt stifling, the casual chatter around us fading into the background as I focused solely on them-on Daniel's smug grin and Clairessa's calm, oblivious expression. Or maybe she wasn't innocent in all this silly display. It looked like she might actually be enjoying his attention.

Memories of them in the elevator flashed through my mind. The way he stood too close to her, the way he brushed her hair, and now, the way he kept feeding her wine as if she belonged to him. And it pissed me off,

even more

I was at my breaking point. The jealousy and anger were almost too much to bear. I pushed my chair back, ready to leave before I did something everyone would hate me for, but Sergio's hand on my shoulder stopped me

17:51 Thu, I Feb

Chapter 51: Burst Of Emotions

“Gabe, relax,” he said quietly, his calm gaze meeting mine. “I need you to hold it together."

20%

Something in his tone pulled me back, even if only slightly. Taking a deep breath, I sank back into my seat, pretending to join in the conversation. But I wasn't fooling anyone-least of all myself.

I've never been good at hiding how I felt, and tonight was no exception. This wasn't just about Clairessa. It was also about Daniel-the man who used to be my closest friend but had turned into my worst enemy. Now, here he was, laughing like nothing had happened, like he hadn't betrayed me in the worst way possible.

And Sergio? Inviting Daniel tonight, knowing everything that happened, was hard to stomach. He knew what Daniel had done, how deeply he had wronged me. The only reason I wasn't storming out of this ridiculous dinner was Raquel. Sergio's new love didn't deserve to see the night turn ugly, especially when it was clear he cared about her deeply.

Sergio's transformation surprised me. He'd always been about casual flings and no emotional ties, but now he seemed like a changed man. The irony wasn't lost on me-Sergio, the eternal bachelor, was in love, while I had no interest in relationships anymore.

Sergio's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "How about we head outside? The view's stunning tonight."

“That's a great idea,” Daniel chimed in, sounding far too comfortable. His smug expression only added fuel to my anger.

Reluctantly, I stood, my eyes briefly locking with Clairessa's as she rose from her seat as well. Daniel, of course, found a way to move closer to her, his every move cunning and deliberate. My fists clenched at my sides as my pace quickened, but Sergio stepped in front of me before I could react.

“Gabe,” he said quietly, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I know you're upset, but please, try to keep it together tonight. We'll talk later"

Q

<

17:31 Thu, 20 Feb w

Chapter 51: Burst of Emotion

-20%日

I turned to him, meeting his pleading gaze. For once, Sergio seemed calm and in love, as if he genuinely wanted the night to go smoothly..

"I'm not sure I can, Serg," I muttered, my voice tight with frustration.

“Please,” he insisted. "This is important to me. I need you to trust me on this,"

After a moment, I exhaled sharply and nodded. "Fine. I'll try

We stepped outside, and the cool night air hit me. The city lights reflected off the water, creating a view so beautiful it almost distracted me from the chaos in my mind. Sergio was right—it was breathtaking.

"This view is incredible," Daniel said, his voice cutting through the peace I was starting to enjoy.

I clenched my jaw as I saw him inch closer to Clairessa. He was relentless, and it took everything in me not to snap

Raquel's voice broke the tension. “So, Clairessa, how long have you been working with Gabriel?”

“Just over five months,” Clairessa replied softly. Her voice had a warmth that caught my attention, drawing me towards her.

I looked at her, really looked at her, and for a moment, my anger faded. She looked stunning tonight. Her gold dress hugged her body perfectly, the slit revealing a glimpse of her smooth, slender caramel thighs. It was just enough to drive me crazy. Her makeup was classy and bold, which was different from her usual subtle look. She looked even more elegant as her curls framed her face beautifully. She had clearly put effort into looking her best, and it worked

G

17:31 Thu, 20 Feb

Chapter 51 Burst Of Emotions

檬常20%日

I had been too distracted by my jealousy earlier to truly notice, but now, I couldn't take my eyes off her. Raquel's question brought me back. “So, Gabriel, what made you choose Clairessa to lead this project?"

I cleared my throat. "The answer is simple: she's brilliant. Her ideas were exactly what we needed to push this project forward. Sergio wanted something innovative, and Clairessa delivered.”

I glanced at her as I spoke, noticing the subtle pride in her expression. She deserved to feel proud-she

had earned it.

"She's come up with

come up with something truly impressive," I added. "Everyone will see that soon enough."

Raquel beamed at Clairessa. “That's amazing. You must be so talented."

Clairessa smiled humbly, but before the moment could last, Daniel cut in.

"About a month ago, I attended one of Gabriel's seminars and met the beautiful Clairessa," he cut in smoothly. "We spoke briefly, and I invited her to lunch-without knowing she worked with Gabriel. Small world,

isn't it?"

Small world indeed? My jaw tightened. It was more than clear to me that wanted to provoke me, and he was getting so close to succeeding

Raquel quickly changed the subject, sensing the shift in mood. “Clairessa, do you believe in love?”

Clairessa nodded. "I do"

Raquel pressed further "Is there someone special in your life right now?"

с

G

17:31

Chapter 51: Burst Of Emotions

Clairessa's smile faded slightly. "Not anymore. I just ended a two year relationship."

Raquel offered a sympathetic smile. “I'm sorry to hear that.”

"It's for the best," Clairessa replied with a slight shrug. "I found out he was cheating on me, so it's better to

know the truth than live a lie.”

Before I could speak, Daniel leaned in, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry you went through that. But not all men are like him, you know."

Clairessa gave him a faint smile, but I could see the sadness in her eyes.

“Humans are creatures of habit,” I interjected abruptly, my voice cold. "Cheating, betrayal-it's the same cycle. Better to keep your guard up than be blindsided."

Daniel removed his hand from Clairessa's shoulders before facing me head on. “Sometimes, taking a

chance on love is worth it."

I narrowed my eyes on him. “And you think she should take that chance, only to get hurt again?”

Before the argument could escalate, Raquel intervened. “Gentlemen, let's not turn this into a debate. We

could all agree to disagree. She gave us a soft smile.

Clairessa, what's your take on all this?"

Clairessa grinned. “Love is a risk, just like Daniel said. But I still believe it's worth taking. My parents had a beautiful marriage, and that gives me hope.”

111

Chapter 51. Borst of Emotions

Raquel squeezed her hand. "I admire your optimism. The right person is out there for you."

Daniel's gaze focused on Clairessa as he cut in, “Or maybe the right person is already close by."

I

That was the last straw. “Clairessa is off-limits,” I shot back, immediately closing the gap between me

and Daniel.

Suddenly I felt Sergio's armi quickly stop me in my tracks, pulling me aside. His expression was serious, “Gabe, I need you to calm down. This night isn't about your feud with Daniel.”

I barely heard him. My focus was on Clairessa, who was now laughing softly at something Daniel had said. I had seen enough. The jealousy I felt was consuming me from inside.

I turned back to Sergio. "This night is over."

Without waiting for his response, I walked straight to Clairessa and Daniel. Standing between them, I locked

eyes with Daniel.

“Clairessa is leaving with me,” I declared firmly. She gave me a look as though wanting to object, but my

,,furious stare held her back.

Daniel raised an eyebrow but stepped back. "Goodnight, Claire," he said with a smirk. He was lucky he didn't

stand in my way because I was one step away from punching him in the bloody face.

a

I turned to Raquel and Sergio, forcing a polite smile. “Thank you for the evening.”

"It was lovely having you," Raquel replied warmly.

1731 Thu. 20 Feb (

Chapter 51: Burst Of Emotions

20%

Without another word, I led Clairessa out of the room, my mind racing and my anger barely under control.

717

1721 Thu, 20 Feb

Chapter 52: You Don't Own Me

Clairessa's POV