Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 25: Chapter 25
You are reading Falling For My Ex's Uncle, Chapter 25: Chapter 25. Read more chapters of Falling For My Ex's Uncle.
Alex stood in a black dress shirt and matching suit, his demeanor calm and refined. He glanced down at me, the corners of his lips curving into a faint, almost seductive smile. I froze momentarily, staring at him, my mind struggling to catch up with my words.
"You... why are you—" I couldn't even finish my sentence. My mouth wasn't keeping pace with my thoughts, but I knew exactly why he was there. I had caused a scene at the charity auction earlier.
Austin's anger didn't concern me as much as the fact that I had embarrassed the Herrera family. I had already braced myself for whatever was coming—I just hadn't expected Alex to show up this fast.
His gaze swept over me, calm yet unreadable, and a chill ran down my spine. Without a word, Alex lifted me into the back seat of his car. His deep-set eyes still carried that habitual, almost soothing smile—like a warm spring breeze.
But to me, it felt anything but reassuring. Something was unsettling about it, though the alcohol dulled my fear. Liquid courage really was a thing.
Not that I was ever the timid type. It was just that, standing before Alex, I always had this strange feeling—like he effortlessly saw through people's fears. Then how else could he always know exactly where to strike?
The enclosed space was filled with the faint, woody scent of his cologne, crisp and cool. It was oddly comforting, making the tension in my chest loosen just a little.
That scent... had a way of pulling people in. Before I knew it, my eyes drifted shut again.
The car had barely come to a stop when I shoved the door open and bolted. I barely made it to the nearest flower bed before throwing up everything in my stomach. My head spun, eyes stinging as I heaved until I felt like I was going to spit out my soul.
Never drinking on an empty stomach again. And definitely not punishing myself over someone else's mistakes.
The moment I was done, my head cleared just enough for me to catch my breath. Pressing my fingers to my temple, I turned—and froze.
Austin was walking toward me, his face unreadable, his steps quick. Instinctively, I took a step back.
"Laurel, are you okay?" Austin asked anxiously. His hand reached out, hesitation flickering in his eyes. "Come on, stop this. What happened tonight—let's just put it behind us. Tomorrow, we'll go get the marriage certificate, and after that, we'll visit Mom at the hospital. Okay?"
I stilled, completely caught off guard. It had only been a few hours, and now he was apologizing?
Over the past six years, we'd had our fair share of arguments. At first, Austin would still try to smooth things over, but at some point, he stopped bothering. Stopped explaining.
And I adjusted. Everyone around me made sure I did. They said, "Laurel, you're twenty-five. Austin's a good man—don't be stupid. Just marry him already.
"Every marriage has problems. You can't be so naive. As long as it's not something major, just let it go."
I had wanted a home of my own. Coming from a broken family, I longed for something stable, something real.
Even if his parents didn't like me. Even if Rosemary was always hovering around him.
I had convinced myself that marriage would change things. That his family would warm up to me over time. That Rosemary would finally back off.
I had clung to those hopes, even when Austin hit me for the first time—because Rosemary had attempted suicide, and somehow, that was my fault.
I had still hoped, right up until the moment Austin brought Rosemary along when we were supposed to get our marriage certificate.
And when Austin laid hands on me again, because of Rosemary's lies, whatever hope I had left shattered.
"Austin, don't come any closer. I think we should keep some distance," I said warily, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
"Laurel, your mom's still in the hospital. I promised her we'd get married today. If not today, then tomorrow, okay?" Austin said.
Austin ignored my warning, stepping forward and grabbing my arm like he thought I had come here looking for him.
I just couldn't understand why Austin wasn't angry at all after I caused such a scene? Did he really think we can just go back to the way things were?
Before I could say anything, a deep, cool voice cut through the night. "Let her go."
Austin stiffened. Turning around, his eyes flashed with something close to disbelief. "Uncle?"
Then I jerked my arm free, exhaling quietly as I took a step back.
Alex had been leaning casually against his car, cigarette between his fingers, watching the whole scene unfold. He only stepped in when Austin grabbed me—probably because he had no choice.
After all, no one in the Herrera family knew about our marriage plans. If they had, it would've already caused an uproar.
Was that why he was intervening? To keep this hidden? But something was off. If Alex wanted a secret marriage, he could choose anyone. Why me?
Austin swallowed, his expression uneasy. "Uncle... why are you still in Nifelheim City?"
Alex didn't even look at him, his eyes steady on me, his voice unhurried. "Austin, Laurel already ended things with you. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Austin's head snapped up. He retorted, "We were just fighting! We didn't break up."
"Oh? Is that so?" Alex raised an eyebrow before shifting his gaze to me, waiting.
What a joke. Like I'd risk my life crossing him a third time. He could't possibly think that I still had a different kind of relationship with Austin, could he?
"Austin, I already told you when I left for Harbor City—we're done," I said, my voice firm. Without hesitation, I stepped behind Alex.
Austin stood there, thrown off balance. He opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but Alex shut him down with a single glance. "Figure out how you're going to tell the family yourself," Alex said coolly. "Don't expect her to cover for you."
Then Alex turned to me. "I'll have my driver take you home."
I nodded immediately. As I slid into the car, I stole a glance at the Bluestar Hotel in the distance, a sudden wave of regret washing over me.
Should've slept a little longer. When else was I ever going to stay in the biggest penthouse suite?
"You... why are you—" I couldn't even finish my sentence. My mouth wasn't keeping pace with my thoughts, but I knew exactly why he was there. I had caused a scene at the charity auction earlier.
Austin's anger didn't concern me as much as the fact that I had embarrassed the Herrera family. I had already braced myself for whatever was coming—I just hadn't expected Alex to show up this fast.
His gaze swept over me, calm yet unreadable, and a chill ran down my spine. Without a word, Alex lifted me into the back seat of his car. His deep-set eyes still carried that habitual, almost soothing smile—like a warm spring breeze.
But to me, it felt anything but reassuring. Something was unsettling about it, though the alcohol dulled my fear. Liquid courage really was a thing.
Not that I was ever the timid type. It was just that, standing before Alex, I always had this strange feeling—like he effortlessly saw through people's fears. Then how else could he always know exactly where to strike?
The enclosed space was filled with the faint, woody scent of his cologne, crisp and cool. It was oddly comforting, making the tension in my chest loosen just a little.
That scent... had a way of pulling people in. Before I knew it, my eyes drifted shut again.
The car had barely come to a stop when I shoved the door open and bolted. I barely made it to the nearest flower bed before throwing up everything in my stomach. My head spun, eyes stinging as I heaved until I felt like I was going to spit out my soul.
Never drinking on an empty stomach again. And definitely not punishing myself over someone else's mistakes.
The moment I was done, my head cleared just enough for me to catch my breath. Pressing my fingers to my temple, I turned—and froze.
Austin was walking toward me, his face unreadable, his steps quick. Instinctively, I took a step back.
"Laurel, are you okay?" Austin asked anxiously. His hand reached out, hesitation flickering in his eyes. "Come on, stop this. What happened tonight—let's just put it behind us. Tomorrow, we'll go get the marriage certificate, and after that, we'll visit Mom at the hospital. Okay?"
I stilled, completely caught off guard. It had only been a few hours, and now he was apologizing?
Over the past six years, we'd had our fair share of arguments. At first, Austin would still try to smooth things over, but at some point, he stopped bothering. Stopped explaining.
And I adjusted. Everyone around me made sure I did. They said, "Laurel, you're twenty-five. Austin's a good man—don't be stupid. Just marry him already.
"Every marriage has problems. You can't be so naive. As long as it's not something major, just let it go."
I had wanted a home of my own. Coming from a broken family, I longed for something stable, something real.
Even if his parents didn't like me. Even if Rosemary was always hovering around him.
I had convinced myself that marriage would change things. That his family would warm up to me over time. That Rosemary would finally back off.
I had clung to those hopes, even when Austin hit me for the first time—because Rosemary had attempted suicide, and somehow, that was my fault.
I had still hoped, right up until the moment Austin brought Rosemary along when we were supposed to get our marriage certificate.
And when Austin laid hands on me again, because of Rosemary's lies, whatever hope I had left shattered.
"Austin, don't come any closer. I think we should keep some distance," I said warily, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
"Laurel, your mom's still in the hospital. I promised her we'd get married today. If not today, then tomorrow, okay?" Austin said.
Austin ignored my warning, stepping forward and grabbing my arm like he thought I had come here looking for him.
I just couldn't understand why Austin wasn't angry at all after I caused such a scene? Did he really think we can just go back to the way things were?
Before I could say anything, a deep, cool voice cut through the night. "Let her go."
Austin stiffened. Turning around, his eyes flashed with something close to disbelief. "Uncle?"
Then I jerked my arm free, exhaling quietly as I took a step back.
Alex had been leaning casually against his car, cigarette between his fingers, watching the whole scene unfold. He only stepped in when Austin grabbed me—probably because he had no choice.
After all, no one in the Herrera family knew about our marriage plans. If they had, it would've already caused an uproar.
Was that why he was intervening? To keep this hidden? But something was off. If Alex wanted a secret marriage, he could choose anyone. Why me?
Austin swallowed, his expression uneasy. "Uncle... why are you still in Nifelheim City?"
Alex didn't even look at him, his eyes steady on me, his voice unhurried. "Austin, Laurel already ended things with you. Don't make this harder than it needs to be."
Austin's head snapped up. He retorted, "We were just fighting! We didn't break up."
"Oh? Is that so?" Alex raised an eyebrow before shifting his gaze to me, waiting.
What a joke. Like I'd risk my life crossing him a third time. He could't possibly think that I still had a different kind of relationship with Austin, could he?
"Austin, I already told you when I left for Harbor City—we're done," I said, my voice firm. Without hesitation, I stepped behind Alex.
Austin stood there, thrown off balance. He opened his mouth like he wanted to argue, but Alex shut him down with a single glance. "Figure out how you're going to tell the family yourself," Alex said coolly. "Don't expect her to cover for you."
Then Alex turned to me. "I'll have my driver take you home."
I nodded immediately. As I slid into the car, I stole a glance at the Bluestar Hotel in the distance, a sudden wave of regret washing over me.
Should've slept a little longer. When else was I ever going to stay in the biggest penthouse suite?
End of Falling For My Ex's Uncle Chapter 25. Continue reading Chapter 26 or return to Falling For My Ex's Uncle book page.