Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 199

Clairessa’s POV

We started down the sidewalk.

The streets were quiet. A few cars passed, but nothing constant. Even the city seemed to be moving in slow motion.

And so were we.

Our pace was slower than I liked. It felt too casual—like a couple out for a lazy afternoon stroll. But that wasn’t what this was.

This wasn’t that.

Suddenly, he turned to me.

“Clairessa.”

I glanced over, guarded. “What?”

“There’s something I need to ask you.”

I slowed my steps, sensing the shift. “Okay. Go ahead.”

His voice dropped slightly. “Have you forgiven me? I mean—truly, completely forgiven me? Let go of the past?”

My feet stopped before I even realized it. So did everything else.

I didn’t answer right away. I stared ahead, letting the question hang between us, giving myself space to search my heart—so I could be honest. Not just with him, but with myself.

The truth was, the years with Adrian—the relationship, the hurt, that night—hadn’t really been on my mind. Not since I fell in love with Gabriel.

I didn’t even see him that way anymore.

But I couldn’t say that. Not like that. So I gave him what I could.

I let out a slow breath. “Honestly... I have.”

“I don’t know when it shifted, or what moment changed it. But I’m not angry anymore. I’ve let it go. All of it.”

He gave a small shrug, as if a weight had rolled off his shoulders. A faint, almost relieved smile tugged at his lips. There was something in his eyes—hopeful, quietly searching.

Then, gently, he reached for my hand.

I flinched, instinctively pulling back—but the flicker of hurt that passed through his expression stopped me.

So I let him.

Just for now.

If Adrian pulled this off—if he nailed the pitch—my contract with Gabriel would be over. And right now, that was all I cared about.

His fingers slid over mine, slow and deliberate, caressing the back of my hand.

But I felt nothing.

No spark.

No fire.

He gently drew me closer until I stood right in front of him.

“I want you back, Clairessa,” he said quietly.

“No.”

The word slipped out before I could fully process his.

I pulled my hand from his grasp immediately.

But he didn’t back off. He stepped in again, closing the distance between us.

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