Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 243: Chapter 243

From Sophina's words, it became clear that the Herrera family's situation was far more complicated than I had imagined. Back when Alex was still studying abroad, Raphael had abruptly called him back and placed him directly in the CEO position.
It was obvious to anyone with a sharp eye—this was a deliberate setup.
Throwing a young man with no business experience into such a volatile position was nothing more than a carefully orchestrated trap, one meant to watch him fail miserably.
Yet, Alex had displayed an astonishing level of resolve.
In just three short months, he had not only stabilized the company but revived it from the brink of collapse.
From that moment on, he firmly held control over Herrera Group, securing his position as an indispensable figure within the Herrera family.
Even Raphael himself likely never expected his youngest son to be this capable. The one who had actually called Alex back was Lena.
She had probably assumed that once he faced the harsh realities of the business world, he would quickly admit defeat and be eliminated from the family's power struggle.
Yet, against all odds, Alex had not only survived but thrived, taking a position that was never meant for him.
The ones who had been waiting to see him humiliated were now the ones left dumbfounded.
"Sophina, out of all the scions of the Herrera family, who does Mrs. Herrera favor the most?
Sophina thought for a moment. "That would be Miss Herrera, Leah."
"What about the sons?"
"People say she dotes on Mr. Herrera the most, but I don't think that's true. Miss Herrera and Mr. Herrera have never gotten along, and whenever they argue, Mrs. Herrera always blames him. No matter what happens, she insists it's his fault.
"Mr. Herrera is suffered a lot because of her but doesn't dare to openly go against her."
Sophina let out a sigh, clearly exasperated.
Just then, the doorbell rang again, its crisp chime echoing through the quiet living room.
She set down her magazine and got up to answer the door.
Standing outside was Helena.
She wore a pale blue dress, her hair styled in soft waves. A faint look of anxiety shadowed her delicate features.
I gestured for Sophina to let her in.
Helena walked straight toward me, her expression filled with concern.
She bit her lip lightly before hesitantly asking, "Laurel, is Alex here?"
Her voice was soft, carrying a delicate tremor.
I felt a flicker of irritation and lifted my gaze to meet hers. "If you want to find him, just call him. Why are you asking me?"
She sighed softly and explained that she had already tried calling, but Alex hadn't answered. The unease in her heart had driven her to come here instead. Tears shimmered in her eyes as if she were terrified of losing something precious.
"Is he hurt?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
I stared at her performance with a cold smile but said nothing.
Alex wasn't even there. It was ridiculous to think she intended to keep up this act indefinitely.
Sophina had never been able to tolerate Helena's fake innocence. She scoffed, cutting in sharply, "Oh, drop the act. What does it matter to you whether Mr. Herrera is hurt or not?
"He didn't pick up your calls, so now you're showing up here? Seriously?"
The moment those words left Sophina's mouth, Helena's eyes welled up, and tears spilled over as she started sobbing.
"Laurel, I was just worried about Alex. That's the only reason I came here."
Her soft cries filled the living room, making the atmosphere unbearably stifling.
Annoyed, I shut her down without hesitation. "If you're so concerned, go find Alex yourself. Don't bother me."
She continued crying, murmuring apologies, looking every bit the helpless victim.
As Sophina stepped outside to take a call, Helena's sobs came to an abrupt halt. Her tear-filled eyes turned cold as she shot me a venomous glare. "If it weren't for you, Alex wouldn't have gotten hurt."
I leaned back, unfazed. "You're right. He insisted on saving me. Maybe you should remind him next time not to bother?"
Helena pressed her lips together, wiping away the last traces of her fake tears. Her eyes gleamed with provocation. "I've known Alex for decades.
"Do you really think you're more important to him than I am? He only pities you."
"Miss Cole, what a shame you're not an actress."
I had no patience for this and turned to leave.
Before I could take a step, Helena suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked hard, trying to pull me down.
A spark of rage ignited inside me. Without hesitation, I slapped her across the face.
Her sharp scream cut through the quiet room.
Sophina rushed over, her eyes widening at the sight of Helena sprawled on the floor, a fresh gash on her forehead. Blood trickled down, staining the soft fabric of her pale blue dress.
Sophina's gaze darted to me, concern flickering in her eyes. "Laurel, are you okay?"
I glanced at Helena in surprise, confusion swirling in my mind.
I had clearly held back my strength. There was no way she could have just happened to hit the edge of the coffee table like that.
It all happened too suddenly.
Just as suspicion crept into my mind, the sound of the front door opening reached my ears.
Then, Alex stepped inside.
Dressed in a sharp suit, his usually neat hair was slightly tousled, exhaustion lingering in his sharp gaze.
The moment Helena saw Alex Herrera, she clung to him like a lifeline, quickly wiping away her tears.
She clearly didn't want him to see her in such a pathetic state, forcing herself to put on a strong front.
As Alex stepped into the living room, his gaze landed on Helena on the floor and me standing there with a cold expression. His brows furrowed slightly.
There was a questioning look in his eyes. "What happened?"
Helena spoke up immediately, her voice still tinged with a sob. "Alex, it's not Laurel's fault. I was careless."
As she spoke, she stole a glance at Alex, trying to gauge his reaction.
A cold sneer curled at my lips. The hypocrisy disgusted me, and I couldn't be bothered to respond.
But before I could walk away, Alex's deep, firm voice stopped me. "Laurel, apologize to her."
I stared at him, my mind going blank for a moment. I couldn't believe what I had just heard.
A wave of frustration and anger surged within me as I looked at Alex Herrera. "You want me to apologize to her? Do you even know what she just said?"
Alex met my gaze without a hint of hesitation. "It doesn't matter. You hit her, and that was wrong."
It felt like a heavy blow landed squarely on my chest, the pain spreading through me.
He was taking her side without even listening. He didn't care what had happened—he just wanted me to apologize.
The tension in the room was suffocating.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Helena stealing glances at us, the faintest smirk tugging at her lips.
Sophina stood off to the side, wanting to say something but hesitating.
I looked at Alex, tears welled in my eyes. But I forced them back, refusing to let them fall.
Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself. "I won't apologize. I didn't do anything wrong."
Alex stepped closer, his handsome face darkening, his expression sharp and ruthless. His eyes were filled with a cold, dangerous edge, like he was ready to tear me apart. "Apologize to her."