Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 139: Chapter 139

After dinner, Alex took me back to his place.
He didn't say a word the entire way, keeping his eyes closed, resting. He really did look exhausted.
Since he wasn't speaking, I finally felt some of the tension ease from my chest.
"Mr. Herrera, welcome back." Hector greeted us with a warm smile as he opened the door. He glanced at me, then said softly, "I had the kitchen prepare some oatmeal. Miss Parks, would you like a bowl? It's still warm."
I nodded eagerly. To be honest, I had been too focused on watching the family drama unfold to eat much at dinner.
After finishing a large bowl of oatmeal, I felt a comforting warmth spread through me, even the lingering unease from earlier fading away.
I said, "Thank you, Hector."
Hector chuckled. "It was Mr. Herrera's idea. He figured you wouldn't have much of an appetite at the manor, so he asked me to have it ready in advance."
I paused, momentarily caught off guard. For a second, curiosity got the best of me. What kind of person was Alex, really?
Most of the time, he seemed composed and distant, giving off an air of untouchable coldness.
But then there were moments like this. When he somehow anticipated my needs and quietly took care of things for me, without asking for anything in return.
If I didn't know he had been forced into this marriage, I might have actually believed he'd had feelings for me all along.
He could read my moods at a glance, almost instinctively.
Then again, from what I'd observed, he seemed to have a way of seeing right through people. It was like he had some kind of supernatural ability to pinpoint their weaknesses and pain with frightening accuracy.
Being around someone like that was unnerving. It was probably best not to push my luck with him. Who knew when I might find myself on the receiving end of that sharp insight, with no way out?
I asked, "Hector, is there any more oatmeal left?"
Hector replied, "There's still some in the pot. Would you like another bowl?"
I quickly shook my head. "Alex barely ate tonight either. Give him a bowl instead."
"No need," Hector said in a lowered voice. "Mr. Herrera doesn't care for oatmeal. He only had it made because he knew you'd be coming."
"Picky eater," I muttered, unable to stop myself from complaining. Some people really had no idea how good they had it.
I handed my empty bowl to Hector. "In that case, I'll take another one."
To be honest, I was still a little hungry. And oatmeal, well... it wasn't exactly filling for me.
Hector chuckled and nodded before heading back to the kitchen.
I pulled out my phone and sent a quick text to Angela, letting her know I was safe. Better not forget, or she just might storm in here by herself.
"Miss Parks, you are easy to please. You're not picky at all." Hector's tone was warm as he returned with my second bowl. Then he added, "Now that you've returned from Herrera Manor, should we be changing how we address you?"
I nearly choked. "No, no need!" I waved my hands hastily.
Now wasn't the right time to make my identity public. Alex may have acknowledged me in front of the Herrera family, but nothing had been officially announced.
There had been no wedding, no formal statement. Jumping the gun now might cause unnecessary trouble.
More importantly, Samantha and Kailyn were still clinging to Alex.
No way was I letting this show end before it even started. Besides, I had something far more important to take care of first.
Hector noticed the flicker of panic on my face and chuckled. "Then we'll wait until after the wedding to change the way we address you."
After that, he smiled warmly, folding his hands in front of him. "Miss Parks, Mr. Herrera is a good man. Now that you've married him, he will treat you well."
I paused, looking up at him. His eyes were slightly wet, yet there was still a smile on his face.
He said, "Seeing Mr. Herrera settle down... it truly makes me happy."
It was obvious that Hector cared deeply for Alex, so much so that he treated him like his own child.
After eating my fill, I headed back to my room.
As I turned the corner, I spotted Alex leaning against the balcony railing, a cigarette between his fingers. The scent of the smoke was faint, carrying a subtle, rich aroma, almost like sandalwood.
I didn't recall seeing this kind of cigarette on the market before. It didn't have the usual sharp, smoky smell.
The lighting in the stairwell was dim, casting soft shadows.
The moment Alex saw me, he glanced at the cigarette in his hand, then calmly extinguished it in the glass ashtray on the balcony's side table.
He walked toward me, his gaze steady. "For now, you'll stay in the guest room. After the wedding, you can move into the master bedroom." His voice was soft, almost casual.
I nodded blankly. He made it sound like I had been eagerly waiting to share a room with him.
"What? Can't bear to be apart from me?" He smiled teasingly.
"Not at all." I frowned.
Alex chuckled, and for a moment, his usually aloof and distant eyes seemed to carry a rare warmth.
"It's late. Go rest." He reached out and ruffled my hair. I found it annoying. It was like he was petting a small animal, but I didn't dare protest. Sometimes, you had to pick your battles.
Only when he finally pulled back his hand did I turn on my heel and head back to my room.
After a hot shower, I collapsed into bed. It had been an exhausting day, and I was drained.
The next morning, I slept in, waking up naturally. When I rolled over and checked my phone, I was startled to see that it was already 9 am.
Frustration hit me instantly. I usually slept lightly and had trouble adjusting to new places. Yet somehow, I had slept like a log in this unfamiliar house.
After getting up and washing up, I quickly changed and hurried downstairs.
"Miss Parks, you're awake?" Hector greeted me. "What would you like for breakfast? Fine cuisine, or something in between?"
"Anything is fine," I said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Honestly, I don't need breakfast at this point. It's almost noon."
Hector chuckled lazily. "Breakfast is still important. Besides, being able to sleep well is a blessing. You can sleep as long as you want. Mr. Herrera even told us to keep things quiet this morning so we wouldn't wake you."
I asked, "He left already?"
Hector replied, "He said he'd be back around noon."
I nodded silently. I never asked him to come back. I had planned to go out for a bit, maybe stop by Belle Spa to check on things. There were still a few days until Friday, and I needed to prepare.
Just as I sat down on the couch, I heard the sharp screech of brakes outside.
That wasn't Alex's car. I took a deep breath. Looks like someone had decided to show up early.
When I saw Samantha step out of her sports car, I wasn't surprised in the slightest.
But as she stood at the door and caught sight of me, I saw something flicker in her eyes, hatred.
As expected. After all, how could I take the money and still have the nerve to show my face here?
So, the Harvey family's precious heiress had already heard that Alex had brought me back to the Herrera estate.
I wondered what else she had found out. That we were legally married?