Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Amanda shot Austin a suspicious look. "What does Alex have to do with this?"
Austin's expression remained neutral. He replied, "Mom, let's go home first. I'll explain everything there."
But Amanda shoved his hand off her arm and glared at him. "Austin, this engagement has to be called off. This whole thing has blown up, and the family elders know about it now. How is Rosemary supposed to stay in our family after this? We have to stand up for her."
Leaning against the doorframe, I spoke with a lazy drawl. "Didn't you all say Rosemary was missing? Funny how that changed to worrying about how she'll stay in your family."
Honestly, I had already guessed Rosemary wouldn't go down without a fight. What I didn't expect was her using Amanda as a weapon.
But it made sense. Amanda had always spoiled her adopted daughter, so of course, she wouldn't sit back and watch her suffer.
The way Austin was handling this mess left me feeling completely disillusioned. Whenever there was a conflict between me and his family, he always stood by them.
Never once did Austin consider how I felt. And he knew damn well that if that press conference happened, I'd be thrown to the wolves.
Even if someone did want to be with me, they wouldn't dare cross the Herrera family. And my mom—she'd be dragged into this, too.
The Herreras all knew she had a heart condition. Knew she couldn't handle stress. Yet they didn't care if this killed her. They even used her life to threaten me. They were so heartless and weren't worth another ounce of my feelings.
Austin hesitated at my question. "We found her."
I raised an eyebrow and asked directly, "Then why the hell are you still here, pounding on my door?"
Amanda scoffed. "Laurel, Rosemary had a breakdown because of you. If you publicly apologize to her, I'll let this slide."
A sharp laugh escaped me. Like mother, like son—their words were practically identical.
"Sure. Let's do it." My eyes swept over them, cold and unbothered. "I'll make sure to apologize properly. After all, I shouldn't have wasted my time arguing with a lunatic. But Austin, you better be kneeling and apologizing to me, too. Why the hell did you steal my stuff and give it to Rosemary? She's crazy—what's your excuse?"
Amanda froze for a moment before snapping, "What do you mean 'yours' and 'his'? You're Austin's girlfriend. What's yours is his. And what's his, Rosemary can borrow it if she wants. He's bought you plenty of things—why are you making a fuss?"
So everyone knew Rosemary had been using my things. Everyone except me, the idiot who tore my place apart looking for them.
"You don't get to decide what's considered stealing." I let out a sigh and turned to Austin, asking, "Girlfriend? Austin, am I really your girlfriend?"
Amanda snorted, her eyes filled with mockery. "What, trying to cling to him now? You're the one who moved in with him before you even graduated college. You have no shame, and now you're trying to act innocent?"
"Mom, that's enough," Austin muttered, looking uncomfortable.
"What, I can't speak the truth?" Amanda sneered. "Look at her, all tangled up with that man. She was never a good woman to begin with. A girl who shacks up with a man before finishing school—what do you think that makes her?"
Hearing this, I took a deep breath, my hands clenching into fists. "Then what does that make your son? And your daughter? Didn't she get violated as a child? Started seducing men when she was barely out of diapers, didn't she?"
Instantly, Amanda's face turned beet red. With a shriek, she lunged at me.
I sidestepped easily, and she crashed into the doorframe, eyes burning with fury. "Laurel, that was too far!" Austin hurried to help her up, then turned to me with a furious glare. He strode toward me, eyes dark with anger.
Amanda's voice rang out, sharp and venomous. "Hit her! Teach that disrespectful bitch a lesson!"
I let out a cold chuckle. "And who's the real bitch here?"
Just as Austin raised his hand, the elevator dinged. Before his slap could land, someone yanked me into their arms.
SMACK! The sound of a slap echoed through the hallway, but it wasn't me who got hit.
At that time, Amanda's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the man who had just appeared—Alex.
I clutched his shirt tightly, looking up at his stormy expression. My lips curled into a faint smile. Taking a deep breath, I turned to Austin, then let my gaze drift to Amanda's livid face.
"You're right. I do have another man," I said, my voice clear and unwavering. "But it's not Lucas. It's Alex. In the six years I was with your son, he never even touched me."
As soon as the words left my lips, my body gave out. Then a strong arm wrapped around me.
My eyes fluttered open, and the first thing I saw was Alex's breathtakingly handsome face. But his expression was cold, his entire presence radiating fury.
He was pissed that I dragged him into this? With a soft sigh, I tugged lightly on his collar and mumbled, "Sorry."
After all, Alex's name had been on that list that night. I had no other choice. It was the only way to shut Amanda up.
Dizzy and barely conscious, I clung to Alex's neck for warmth. My grip tightened instinctively until everything went black.
"Laurel... Don't be scared. I won't let them hurt you again," Angela said softly.
When I finally woke up, Angela was sitting beside me, eyes red from crying. The moment I opened my eyes, she threw her arms around me.
I had been burning up from the alcohol, my fever spiking overnight. The second Alex showed up, I had finally reached my limit.
"I... I think I screwed up," I said to Angela.
Angela pulled back just enough to cup my face. "Don't worry. I'm here. You've already recovered from the fever. Laurel, you know what? I'm so worried."
I sat up quickly, gripping her hands. My heart pounded against my ribs. "I used Alex as a shield."
Angela didn't even blink. "Isn't that why you married him in the first place?"
"I told Austin and Amanda that Alex was my man. That there was never anything between Austin and me," I explained.
Angela's jaw dropped. "Alex was there?"
I nodded firmly. For a few seconds, Angela just stared at me in shock. Then, unable to hold it in, she burst out laughing.
Slapping my shoulder, Angel grinned. "Laurel, you are bold as hell! That was a power move.
"And don't worry—when it comes to how people see you, you get to decide that for yourself. Besides, Alex is your husband. Whether he likes it or not, he's stuck with you now."