Falling For My Ex's Dad (Clarissa and Gabriel) novel Chapter 308

Clairessa’s POV

Dinner had never felt this strange and yet this perfect. Just the three of us, crystal glasses, candlelight flashing across Gabriel’s impossibly handsome face.

It had been several months since the shooting, and I was completely healed. Afterward, Gabriel had suggested I take time away from work to focus on my app. I agreed and it was the best decision I could have made. The Hart app was now in its final stages, fully funded by him, just like he promised. Soon, it would be live, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like something I dreamed about was finally coming true.

The days had been flying by, maybe too quickly, especially with my due date just a few weeks away. My belly pressed against the edge of the table no matter how I sat, reminding me constantly that I wasn’t alone anymore. Nothing felt comfortable these days, another perk of being seven months pregnant. Every movement carried a weight I never thought possible. My feet were swollen, my back ached by mid-afternoon, and sometimes I swore even breathing took extra effort.

Still, compared to stories I had heard, my pregnancy had been relatively kind to me. The morning sickness hadn’t been unbearable, the cravings were mostly harmless, though Gabriel liked to tease me about midnight runs for fruit and ice cream, and my moods hadn’t been as catastrophic as I feared. I had heard of women who suffered far worse, and I was grateful every single day that it hadn’t been my fate.

But even in my moments of discomfort, Gabriel’s gaze never strayed far. He watched me constantly, that blend of tenderness and worry etched across his face. Every time I shifted in my seat, he tensed, as though my water might break right there at the dinner table and he would need to leap into action.

He had bragged more than once about being fully prepared, voice brimming with pride, but I couldn’t help the quiet chuckle that slipped from me now. Because I knew him. I could already picture him on that day, barking orders at doctors, pacing the hospital like a madman, snapping at anyone who dared move too slowly, ready to tear the walls down if something went wrong.

The image made my chest warm, equal parts amusement and comfort. He could pretend to be calm, collected and in control, but I knew the truth... he would be a wreck. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“Something funny?” Gabriel’s voice tugged me out of my thoughts.

I shook my head, lips curving as I tilted my face up to him. “No... just admiring how dashing you look.”

A smirk touched his mouth, but I could have sworn the faintest flush crept up his cheeks. My compliment had gotten to him, no matter how hard he tried to hide it.

“You,” he murmured, brushing his fingers along my cheek, “look divine.”

His touch lingered, tender and possessive at once. “And after dinner,” he added in a low promise, “I’ll be showing you something.”

I tugged at his arm with a playful scoff. “Get serious, Gabriel.”

That earned me a chuckle, deep and warm, before he forced his expression into something more serious.

Then he rose slowly from his chair, glass in hand. “I’m glad we’re all here tonight,” he began, his voice deep and commanding, filling the room as though he were addressing a board of executives instead of just me and Adrian. That was my Gabriel... always eloquent, always in control.

“These past months have reminded me of the importance of family. I want the people I love close to me at all times. Especially the woman who means everything to me.” He leaned over, pressing a kiss to my hand, his lips lingering just a moment longer than necessary.

Adrian groaned, rolling his eyes dramatically. “God, you two are going to make me sick. Seriously, Dad, do you always have to be that mushy?”

I burst into laughter, and even as I did, Gabriel turned his head slowly, pinning his son with that infamous Storm glare.

But then, as though indulging Adrian’s need for attention, Gabriel added, “Adrian... I love you too. You are my son. And I’m proud of you.”

Adrian smirked, shoulders lifting just slightly. He loved the praise, though he would never admit how much. Gabriel’s voice softened in a way I rarely heard. “This past month, I’ve seen you step up. I’ve seen you take the company seriously. I’ve seen you grow into a man who doesn’t run from responsibility. You’re making waves, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

My throat tightened watching Adrian’s face, surprise flashed, then instant gratitude, before he quickly masked it with another smirk.

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