Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 175: Chapter 175

"Yeah, I didn't expect it either. Austin actually married into the Parks family; how ridiculous! I thought he would marry that adopted daughter instead," said Gideon curling his lips into a mocking smile. ^=^ Then, as if remembering something, he looked at me with a faint gaze. "Laurel, you two were together for six years and even planned to get married. But in the end, you two broke up. However, a man like him, who is fickle and abandons relationships, isn't worth any regret."
"Gideon," Willow glared at him and said, "Can you stop bringing up that topic? If you can't say anything nice, just be quiet."
"Mom, I was just comforting her," said Gideon, blinking innocently, his bright red hair standing out starkly.
"Comforting her? You call that comforting? That's a direct stab to the heart," Willow said with a hint of anger as she looked at him.
To them, I must have been deeply attached to a six-year relationship with Austin. However, it was actually more than six years since we met and fell in love.
The woman everyone once envied for having Austin as her boyfriend had become a joke. With a dream of marrying into a wealthy family, I humbled myself, followed Austin to Newton City without hesitation, abandoned a bright future, and left behind longtime friends. If not for love, why would I have given up so much?
No one would believe me if I said I had long since given up on Austin. After all, six years of youth should leave a lasting imprint. Besides, in the eyes of others, Austin truly loved me, and I loved him just as deeply.
He was the one who would search the entire city to get me my favorite cake when I was feeling down, secretly placed breakfast on my desk every morning with a gentle smile, and shielded me behind him when I faced hostility.
Everyone believed he was hopelessly in love with me and quietly protecting me all along. It was not until after our college entrance exams, when the Herrera family sent someone to take him home, that people realized the handsome, intelligent, and deeply affectionate Austin was actually the heir of the Herrera Group.
Some called me a scheming gold digger. They said I must have already known his identity and accepted his affection.
However, I truly had no idea. In the beginning, I did not even know who left breakfast on my desk every morning. I accepted it because I did not want to waste food.
As for the gifts from other suitors, most were too expensive or impractical, so I returned them. Moreover, for the three years after meeting Austin, he never once told me about his background.
I accepted his love before I knew his identity. Yet, to others, I was trying to marry into a wealthy family.
What I loved about him was not his status but his care, devotion, and the way he acknowledged me. He once said that after we graduated from university, we would get married. He promised to give me a home.
A relationship that did not lead to marriage was just playing around. So when he said those words, I could not help but be moved because I desperately wanted a complete home. I just never expected that promises could change, and the same with people.
"But how did the Herrera family agree to let Austin marry into the Parks family?" Gideon muttered. "His mother isn't one to be trifled with."
I paused, curiosity flashing in my eyes as I looked at Gideon. Even Asher, sitting beside me, narrowed his eyes slightly. "How do you know that?" he asked.
Gideon coughed slightly to clear his throat, sat up lazily, and smirked. "If you don't believe me, just ask Laurel," he said.
"Are you having a loose tongue?" Willow rolled her eyes at Gideon again. I finally understood why Gideon had chosen to sit so far away from Willow.
"Mom, I've given Laurel the invitation. I'm just preparing her in advance for seeing the Herrera family again," Gideon said, grinning. Willow was speechless. It seemed even she agreed that he had a point.
"Laurel, are you really Maddox's daughter?" Gideon furrowed his brows slightly and asked. "That means Isaac is your brother?"
I froze for a moment. Wasn't that topic switched a little too fast? When Henry mentioned that Willow and my mother were old friends, I had guessed that she must have known my mother's identity.
Before I could respond, tears suddenly welled in Willow's eyes as she stared at me. "Can I call you Laurel?" she asked softly.
I nodded, slightly unaccustomed to her unusually gentle gaze for a moment. "Mom, don't be too emotional. You might scare her off." Gideon's words broke the emotional atmosphere, making Willow glare at him in annoyance.
I smiled and finally understood why Lucas found Gideon so annoying. Willow pulled me to sit beside her, gazing at me intently. "You're so beautiful. The Parks family is so lucky."
"Mom, don't scare her. You're acting like she's your long-lost daughter," Gideon said again.
Willow could not help but glare at Gideon again. "I'll get someone to throw you out if you don't shut up," she said. Gideon let out a long sigh, looking dejected as he lowered his head and fell silent.
I could not help but laugh, feeling my initial tension ease. The rumors seemed not entirely true. People had said the Hawke family could not control Gideon, so they sent him abroad. But I suspected it was more likely that Zhou Wen could not stand his constant chatter and thus kicked him away.
Willow took my hand, her formidable aura now softened, her gaze lingering on me. I normally disliked being so close to strangers, but somehow, I did not mind with Willow.
"Laurel, you're so beautiful," she murmured. "If I could have had a daughter as lovely as you, I'd be content for life."
"Mom, stop dreaming," Gideon interjected, his eyes flickering toward me. "But I could find a pretty wife."
"Get lost!" Willow glanced at him and then said indifferently, "Don't even think about it. You're not good enough for Laurel."
"Mom, sometimes I wonder if I'm really your biological son." Gideon pouted, his eyes brimming with a hint of sadness.
His words, however, drew laughter from everyone present. Except for Jenna, who looked at me with concern, hesitating before finally saying, "Laurel, are you really planning to return to the Parks family?" There was a hint of worry and fear in her voice.