Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 180: Chapter 180

After I returned to the Seastar Hotel, anxiety flashed across Sophina's face when she saw me back. "Laurel, where did you go?"
Looking at Sophina's nervous expression, I wondered if she thought I had gone to catch someone in the act.
"Didn't I tell you I went to have lunch with a friend? Have you eaten?" I asked.
Sophina quickly nodded. "Ms. Anthony took me to eat. By the way, I bought you a cup of coffee and cake."
I took the coffee and took a long sip. I suddenly thought of the baby in my belly and thought it should be okay to drink a little.
"Laurel, are you in a bad mood?" Sophina asked. "I've already done all the work you asked me to do. How about I accompany you to walk around and relax in the afternoon? We still have to catch a plane back to Newton City early tomorrow morning. Mr. Herrera will be back today."
Sophina seemed to be sulking because of the photo I had received. She even looked at me with a hint of pity.
"He has returned to Newton City," I said.
"Huh?" Sophina frowned, her eyes filled with confusion.
"What's wrong? Don't worry, I'm not angry. Men are dispensable anyway." I shrugged. "Besides, we are not suitable for each other, to begin with. Divorce is only a matter of time. I didn't take it seriously."
Sophina's eyes widened as if she couldn't believe I would say such words.
Who asked Alex to hug another woman in public shamelessly? If he was shameless, why should I show him respect?
I had the guts to say it because I was sure Alex wouldn't mention divorce anytime soon.
"He was just playing along for the sake of the occasion. There's no need to take it seriously." I patted Sophina's shoulder.
"Are marriages so scary nowadays?" Sophina frowned slightly. "Is there no such thing as true love?"
"True love?" I stared at Sophina with a smile on my face. "Yes, but it has expiration dates. But you can try and see how long the longest shelf life can be."
Sophina quickly waved her hand. "I don't want to get married yet. I still have to support my sister. A child born in a family like ours probably has a negative chance of meeting a real one."
I looked at Sophina in surprise, but she was still smiling brightly.
"You might live longer without a husband," I said.
Sophina looked at me, smiled, and said, "I think so too."
The next morning, I took the earliest flight directly to Newton City.
I slept all the way and only woke up after the plane landed.
Ever since I found out that I was pregnant, I felt extremely sleepy. I used to have to stay up very late before falling asleep, but now, I could fall asleep instantly as long as I had a bed.
The doctor said that I was five weeks pregnant, and I had to pay more attention in the first three months.
After we got off the plane, Alex sent a car to pick us up.
The car was halfway down the road when I realized it wasn't the same road I'd taken the last time.
Sophina saw the confusion in my eyes and asked, "Where are we going now? Aren't we going back to Hillside Manor?"
The driver hesitated before saying cautiously, "Mr. Herrera asked Mrs. Herrera to stay in the suburban villa temporarily. Someone has already cleaned it up."
"There's no need. Let's go to the Seastar Hotel," I said coldly, and my expression instantly darkened.
I didn't expect Alex to bring Helena back. Then why did he ask me to come to Newton City? We might as well go to the city hall and get a divorce.
"But Mr. Herrera said—" The driver still hesitated.
"Don't make me repeat myself, or we'll return to the airport." I took a deep breath and smiled self-deprecatingly. "Either we go to Hillside Manor, or you can ask Mr. Herrera."
I didn't expect Helena to be so eager to prove her status in front of me.
Too bad I wouldn't let her have her way. I might tolerate her for money if it were in the past, but not now.
With Helena's personality, she would not let it go if she knew I was pregnant with Alex's child. But if anyone dared to hurt my child, I would not take a step back.
The driver couldn't make up his mind for a moment. He parked the car at the side and called Alex.
Less than two minutes later, the driver hung up the phone, but the car still did not move.
Then, my phone vibrated. I turned it on and took a look. I thought it was a message from Alex, but unexpectedly, it was a cash deposit notification.
"One million dollars?" My lips curled into a smile. "Isn't that too little?"
I quietly transferred one million dollars back to him and returned the previous 1.5 million dollars. The total was 2.5 million dollars.
Then, I immediately asked Sophina to book a plane ticket back to Nifelheim City.
Helena wanted to prove how important she was, didn't she? Then why didn't she stand by Alex's side openly instead of spending money to have me take the bullets for her?
Returning the 1.5 million dollars meant that I wanted a divorce.
But in less than a minute, I received 4 million dollars.
I smiled and muttered, "That's more like it."
"Laurel, do you still want me to book the flight?" Sophina looked at me nervously.
"That won't be necessary." Then I looked at the driver. "Back to the Seastar Hotel. I don't want to go to the suburbs."
While the driver was hesitating, Lawrence, sitting in the front passenger seat, said, "Send Mrs. Herrera to the hotel. I'll take responsibility if anything happens."
Hearing Lawrence's answer, the driver looked relieved. He stepped on the accelerator and changed lanes.
As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I received a call from Alex. There was a hint of coldness in his voice. "Laurel, didn't I ask you to stay in the suburbs?"
"I'm coming to Seastar Hotel to check on work. The suburbs are too far away, and it's inconvenient," I said casually. "Are we going to appear at the birthday party together? But I have no invitation. I won't be chased out, will I?"
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before he said, "I'll get the driver to pick you up then."
"There's no need to go through so much trouble. I can take a taxi there myself." There was still a hint of a smile in my voice.
As I made the call, I got out of the car.
As I approached the reception desk, a waiter handed me a bouquet of pink roses and said, "Miss Parks, these flowers and this ring are for you from a gentleman."
I was slightly stunned. "A ring? From whom?"
I knew Alex wouldn't prepare a gift, let alone give me a ring.
The waiter smiled politely. "It's from Mr. Hawke."
"Mr. Hawke?" I was stunned for a second before hanging up on Alex.
"Miss Parks. I'm very sorry, but the other party didn't tell us his full name," said the waiter.
Sophina took the flowers and gifts and opened them.
I suddenly realized that the ring was the same as the one my grandmother had given me. But I knew this ring wasn't mine because it was new.