Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 116: Chapter 116

Abigail was furious when she heard me insult her like that. She lunged at me, ready to hit me.
Samantha, standing off to the side, didn't make the slightest move to intervene. Her eyes darted back and forth between us, stunned, as if she couldn't decide what to do.
"Laurel, you shameless bitch!" Abigail screamed, her voice dripping with venom. "You're not just relying on your looks. I'll ruin your face, and we'll see if you can keep pulling your dirty tricks. I'm ashamed for your parents!"
Fury flared in her eyes as she reached out to grab my face, but she clearly didn't think through whether she could actually take me on.
Being used and taking the fall once, she hadn't learned a thing.
But once my parents were dragged into it, something in me snapped. My eyes darkened, and I seized Abigail's hand, using a firm grip to push her back.
Samantha, standing nearby, stumbled several steps backward. Just as she looked about to fall, a quick figure reached out and steadied her.
"Laurel, are you insane?" Austin's voice thundered, his eyes burning with anger. "How can you get into a fight with Samantha?"
"You used to be so obedient and well-behaved. I never imagined you'd turn out like this," he said.
"I used to be the one who tried to respect you all," I shot back nonchalantly, "but now it seems some people don't deserve my respect."
Samantha pursed her lips, her dark eyes glistening with unshed tears, her face set in a stubborn, stoic expression. "Austin, I'm fine. Don't be angry with Laurel. She's here to see your uncle."
Samantha, this woman, was really something. She pretended to be the peacemaker, but she was just stoking the fire.
I couldn't help but admit that she was truly a force to be reckoned with.
"My uncle?" Austin snorted coldly. "Laurel, are you trying to seduce my uncle to get back at me? Or do you just want to make me miss you? Yesterday, you were with some other guy, and now you have the nerve to show up here?"
"How does even Mr. Herrera know this woman?" someone whispered.
"Don't you know? She's Mr. Herrera's ex-girlfriend," another one said.
"Oh my God, this kind of woman is shameless, isn't she? What bad luck! How dare she still show her face here after trying to seduce Mr. Herrera's uncle?" a person said.
Surrounded by insults and accusations, my face remained as calm as ever.
"Who exactly did you see me seduce? Was it me who crawled into anyone's bed?" I curled my lips into a mocking smile. "Yes, I'm Austin's ex-girlfriend, but he's not a real man. Why should I keep waiting for him? Why don't you all take your turn?"
The crowd's gaze instantly shifted to Austin. "Laurel, stop talking nonsense," Austin snapped.
"Then why did you slander my name with those empty words?" I said.
Austin waved me off. "Didn't you crawl into that man's bed?"
"Don't make it sound like you're eavesdropping from under the bed."
Abigail grabbed a water bottle from the front desk and splashed it right at me as Austin and I argued.
"Laurel, you unashamed bitch, with no upbringing whatsoever, bullying Samantha like this. You'll be in big trouble once Alex gets here!"
I wiped the water from my face, glanced at Abigail meaningfully, and smiled. My eyes didn't hesitate to meet the person standing behind her. A faint smile spread across my face. "Alex, Miss Cole says I've been bullying Samantha, and you're going to get me in big trouble."
The crowd fell silent, even the anger on Abigail's face instantly dissipated.
Samantha turned toward Alex, her voice gentle as always. "Alex, Miss Parks said she needed to speak with you, but she didn't believe me when I told her you were busy."
'Is that what really happened? She is really good at picking only what she could say in her favor,' I thought.
"Alex, this woman is shameless. Don't let her fool you. She's vain and loves money only." Abigail shot me a vicious glare, her eyes burning with unmasked hatred.
Alex's gaze turned cold, a flash of anger flashing in his eyes.
"Abigail, stop. This is Alex's business, not yours to meddle in." Samantha cut her off, her tone firm as she turned to Alex. "Alex, don't take Abigail's words seriously."
'Samantha's taking my side?' I thought, confused. The sudden shift in the atmosphere made my skin crawl.
I straightened my damp dress, which now clung to me like a second skin.
Yet I still looked as if I knew no shame.
"I'm just greedy," I said, the sarcasm thick in my voice. "I love money. Miss Harvey said you'd compensate me for the house in Honeydew Estate, so I had to hurry over here!" I looked at Alex's handsome face with a smile, my lips curling.
Samantha's face flickered with surprise, her eyebrows knitting together as a trace of frustration seeped into her voice. "I didn't say that."
I feigned dismay, though inside, I already knew Samantha would never admit to it.
"Laurel, are you crazy for money? That's Honeydew Estate! Do you think you deserve to live there?" Austin frowned, his gaze cold.
I let out a sneer.
I almost forgot that, after college, Austin told me it wouldn't be appropriate for us to live together unless we were married.
He said he'd rent me an apartment instead.
But he already had one—an apartment his family bought for him as a birthday gift when he turned eighteen.
I thought he'd let me move in, but he didn't even mention it.
Instead, he found me a two-bedroom apartment from an agency.
It was an old place, the rent cheap, the furniture outdated.
He clearly didn't like it, so he rarely came back, always finding excuses to stay away.
To the others, he seemed like a rich man's son, generous and kind.
But in reality, he couldn't even be bothered to rent me a decent place.
If anyone asked, he'd say it was because I preferred the place.
In truth, he didn't think someone like me—coming from a humble background—deserved to live in a nice house, let alone in his apartment.
But honestly, I had to thank him for being so stingy.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have worked so hard to buy a house for myself.
Details revealed whether a person was truly loved.
However, I chose to ignored it before.
Step by step, Alex approached me. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
Everyone froze. A stunned silence spread over the crowd.
He let out a long sigh, his voice low. "The house in Honeydew Estate is already in your name. There's no need to be transferred to you again."
I froze, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips.
Damn it, I didn't realize he was such a good "actor".
He definitely deserved an Oscar.