Falling For My Ex's Dad by Oma Green

Chapter 141: What Secret Could She Be Hiding

Gabriel's POV As we headed to the airport, my gaze remained fixed outside the window, but | wasn’t really

seeing the passing cityscape. | had an important meeting-a crucial one. The CEO we had been negotiating with

was on the verge of backing out, and | couldn't afford that. Not after the significant tand money we had

already invested. So, | had to schedule an impromptu meeting to reassure him, resolve whatever doubts he had,

and finalize the contract. But instead of focusing on the deal, my mind kept replaying the conversation we’d just

had in her office. | could read her better than she thought, and something wasn't right. She seemed tense.

Guarded. Distant in a way that wasn’t like her. Clairessa was usually warm, sweet, and witty-the woman | knew,

the woman | had grown to love. But today, something felt off. Even the way she looked at me, the way she

spoke-it was like she was carefully choosing her words, like she was holding something back. And then there was

the talk she had been insisting we have. | couldn’t shake the feeling that she was about to tellsomething

important. | could feel it... And then my damn phone rang, cutting her off. Dahad called, remindingthat if

we wanted to make it to Seattle in time, we had to leave immediately. No matter how hard | tried to push it

away, my mind kept circling back to that exact moment-the unfinished words. What had she been about to tell

me? Was it about our relationship? A secret she had been hiding? A feeling I didn’t like settled deep in my chest.

“Dad... you're so weird,” Adrian grumbled beside me. “You know I'm not traveling with you, yet you made me

get in the car, and now you're completely zoned out.” His voice snappedback to the present. He was right-

I'd brought him along to discuss his restaurant, yet here | was, barely acknowledging him. Now wasn’t the time

to get lost in thoughts of Clairessa. | had to focus-on the meeting, on my son. “Quit complaining about riding

with your old man to the airport.” I finally turned to him, my tone dry. “Instead, you should be givingan

update on your restaurant-and explaining why you think I'd throw half a million dollars into that sinking ship.”

Adrian let out an exasperated sigh, already gearing up for an argument. “Con, Dad. | already sent you a full

breakdown of what we need the money for. It’s in your email. You could go over it on your iPad.” | let out a dry

chuckle. “Hmm. A brief written by the ‘expert’ you hired, | assume?” He rolled his eyes. “Dad, what does it

matter who wrote it? Fine, | admit-it was the expert. But they know what they're doing. | trust them, and you

should too.” | gave him a long look. He had no idea how transparent he was. Even though he was my son, | could

see right through his bullshit. “Adrian, | asked you on this ride not because | necessarily needed your company-

let's be honest, we both know you're a sore one-but because | wanted to hear your strategies and execution

firsthand. But it's clear tonow-this restaurant was just another whim, and you don’t know what you're

doing.” He frowned. “That's not true. | have a solid plan. And besides, a few months ago, the restaurant was

thriving. We can get it back to that.” “No, you can’t.” My voice was firm. | pulled my iPad from its custom leather

compartment and tapped the screen. “You're right-the restaurant was doing well for a while. And | wondered

how you managed that. But then you ruined it.” | turned the screen toward him. “I have a detailed breakdown of

all your expenses over the past few months.” Adrian glanced at the numbers, but he didn’t say anything. How

could he? Evidence didn’t lie. When he first cto me, saying the restaurant was sinking and he needed

money, | was shocked. It had been thriving before. So | did my own digging. And what | found? He'd been

keeping secrets about the business from me. “You left your business in the hands of a manager who stole from

you, then ran off with his lover-who, by the way, was your assistant. | assthat’s how they got access to your

financials.” Adrian shifted uncomfortably in his seat, guilt written all over his face. He didn’t even try to defend

himself. “How could you be so careless?” | demanded. “Dad, it’s not my fault!” He ran a hand through his hair.

“My only crwas trusting the wrong people. But my guys are on it. Once they're caught, the money will be

returned.” | let out a slow breath, my patience running out. “Adrian, don’t lie to me. You know how much | hate

lies.” His shoulders tensed. “You were scammed because you were too busy traveling the world.” | scrolled

through another page on my iPad. “Monaco. Paris. Mexico. Private jets, luxury- one trip after another, all within a

few months. And none of it was for business. It was for frivolous pleasures

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Chapter 141: What Secret Could She Be Hiding

with those useless friends of

yours—the sones who are

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ripping you off.” Adrian swallowed

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hard. “Dad... you're right. | fucked up.

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Language,” | scolded, my tone firm.

Then | waited, giving him a chance to

. : “ ”

say something worthwhile. “Sorry,” he

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muttered. “But I'm in a bind... just give

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