Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 253: Chapter 253

I froze for a moment before quickly speaking, "It wasn't Dorothy's fault."
Alex raised an eyebrow, his tone calm but laced with something unreadable. "Then whose fault was it?"
"Mine." I met his gaze again, and a faintly amused smile flickered across his eyes.
So that was it. He just wanted me to admit I was wrong. How childish.
Looking at that face—one that could easily ignite a possessive desire in others—and those dark, gleaming eyes carrying a hint of amusement, my heart skipped a beat.
I quickly looked away and turned to leave.
Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around my waist. Before I could react, he lifted me effortlessly.
His familiar scent surrounded me completely. My gaze turned complicated as I stared at him. "Put me down."
He ignored me, his warm breath brushing against my ear. "Don't move. If I let go, and you fall, that wouldn't be good, would it?"
At his words, my heart skipped a beat. Instinctively, I clung to his neck.
If I had to act along with him to protect the child in my stomach, so be it. It wasn't a big deal. The only pity was that the most important audience was missing.
"Aren't you afraid Helena will see this and be heartbroken?" My gaze locked onto his, my tone laced with provocation.
Alex's steps paused briefly before his lips curved into a faint smile.
A sense of unease crept up my spine as the realization settled—he was up to something.
"I only see Helena as... family."
I let out a cold laugh. "Family? And what about me?"
Alex didn't answer. Not until he placed me gently on the bed and leaned down to whisper against my ear, "My wife. My woman."
Before I could react, he placed a kiss on my forehead. His deep gaze was filled with something so tender it almost felt real.
I glanced around. There were no cameras, no spectators.
It was unclear what he was trying to do. If this was all an act, there didn't seem to be an audience.
"You'll stay in the hospital for observation tonight. I'll pick you up in the morning," Alex said, his slender fingers brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
My heart pounded wildly in my chest. I gripped the blanket tightly, my palms damp with sweat.
The wound on his forehead hadn't fully healed, yet there was still a faint smile on his lips.
There was something unsettling about his gentleness, like poison hidden beneath honey.
It was only after he turned and left that I finally let out a deep breath.
Yet, the rapid beating of my heart refused to settle.
"Laurel, are you okay?"
I shook my head, feeling utterly drained.
With nothing else to do in the hospital room, I lay down to rest. I slept for a full four hours, and when I woke up, the exhaustion had faded quite a bit.
It had to be Alex who had worn me out.
Javier had stayed in the hospital room to take care of me. Through Sophina, I learned that Alex had gone to the company, and Helena had taken Jessica to another hospital.
Upon hearing this, I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. Alex must have been afraid that I would bully her again.
Later that evening, Lawrence arrived with an assortment of food, all prepared by Dorothy.
I forced myself to eat even though I had no appetite.
But for once, I managed to keep it down without feeling nauseous. Maybe it was because I was finally in a good mood.
After eating too much, Sophina took me out for a walk. The hospital was especially quiet at night.
Halfway through, Sophina suddenly spotted Alex approaching from a distance.
I stiffened for a moment, then turned my head just in time to see Sophina tactfully stepping away.
"It's late. Why are you out here?" Alex's voice was gentle as he slipped off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
Sometimes, I couldn't tell what was real and what was fake.
There was no one else around. He didn't need to put on a show.
His intentions were too obvious.
"Just walking off a full stomach," I said flatly, though a strange unease stirred in me.
Honestly, I didn't understand why I felt afraid of him. If it came down to it, I could take him in a fight.
But when it came to power and influence, there was no contest.
Alex walked beside me for a long time, staying silent the entire way.
Just like Gideon had said—I had never truly understood the man beside me.
I didn't even know his preferences, yet I had recklessly become his wife.
I had only wanted his money and connections, but deep down, I had foolishly wished for more—an impossible dream of truly becoming his wife.
Greed was a dangerous thing. Once it took root, it led people to make irrational choices.
I refused to become the kind of woman I had always despised, clinging to something that was never mine to begin with.
The frustration burning in my chest was abruptly doused by a cold wave of reality.
"Laurel," Alex suddenly called my name, hesitating slightly.
I had already guessed what he wanted to say—he wanted me to clear up the rumors about his relationship with Helena.
There were also whispers that Carolina was preparing to divorce Malcolm.
If public opinion continued to escalate, Malcolm would undoubtedly choose to protect himself and cut ties with Helena completely.
The Herrera family would never allow the daughter of a mistress to step through their doors. Even if she was only kept as a sugar baby, they likely wouldn't allow it.
Without the Cole family's protection, the Reynolds family would never let Helena and Jessica off so easily.
Even if Alex wanted to protect them, he had to consider his current position.
So he had no choice but to ask me to prove that his relationship with Helena wasn't what the rumors made it out to be.
"You want me to help Helena, don't you?" I looked up at him.
Alex responded immediately. "Don't worry. I won't force you."
Hearing that, I nodded and forced a smile. "Alright, I'll do it."
"Really?" He looked surprised. "You're really willing to help Helena?"
"No." I pressed my lips together, a dull ache forming in my chest. "I'm helping you."
I paused, my fingers clenching tightly under my coat, nails digging into my palm.
The sharp sting grounded me. The man standing in front of me had never loved me.
"Consider it repaying you for saving my life," I said with a bright smile.
The emotions I had been suppressing shattered in an instant.
Somewhere along the way, I had fallen for him. The pain in my chest was proof enough.
Watching him lower himself for another woman made my heart ache.
Alex halted for a moment, his deep gaze locked onto mine. After a brief silence, he curved his lips into a smile, cold and distant—just like the first time we met.
He said, "Alright, you'll get everything I promised."
I hesitated for a second before nodding.
In truth, I didn't care about the money. But I couldn't afford to break the persona of a woman who only loved wealth.
More importantly, I couldn't let him see how foolish I had been—how I had made the same unforgivable mistake all over again. Six years of that relationship should have been enough of a lesson.