Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 294: Chapter 294

Morning light slipped through the gap in the curtains, casting a faint glow over the vacant side of the disheveled bed.
I slowly woke up, my entire body aching as if every muscle was protesting even the slightest movement, the soreness seeping into my bones. Feeling groggy, it took a while for my scattered memories of last night to come together, like fragments of a puzzle falling into place.
When I saw the time, my drowsiness vanished instantly—it was already ten.
With a groan, I sat up at the edge of the bed as the events of last night with Alex gradually came back to me. For a moment, I almost suspected he had drugged me. If not, then he had certainly seduced me with his good looks.
The image of him injured flashed through my mind out of nowhere, making my heart ache. Someone attractive and capable like him should have been adored by many. And yet, all he had ever known was pain and suffering.
I used to think my life was already miserable enough, but compared to his, maybe I had it easier. At least I had a mother and family who loved me.
Alex, on the other hand, had spent years shackled by the burdens his family had placed on him, carrying a weight that no one should have to bear.
No one ever asked him what he truly wanted. I had assumed he married me because he refused to bend to his family's will. But I've come to realize that he was simply doing everything in his power to protect the people around him.
I thought this marriage was just a strategic move, but in reality, it was his way of looking out for others. No matter the toll it took, he never hesitated to step up, even if they weren't particularly close to him.
But who was there to protect him?
Outside, the rain had stopped. The warm sunlight dispelled the lingering gloom, and the air was filled with the faint scent of fresh flowers, crisp and calming. I took a deep breath to collect myself before getting out of bed to freshen up.
By the time I went downstairs, my stomach was already growling. Hector greeted me with a concerned expression. "Mrs. Herrera, have something light to eat first. Lunch will be ready in about an hour," he said.
I had barely sat down when my phone rang. It was Ivan.
"What exactly happened yesterday?" I asked, rubbing my temples. My mind was still foggy.
Ivan sounded a little shaken over the phone. "I was meeting up with a friend, and on my way back, I suddenly felt dizzy. The next thing I knew, my car hit the curb. Luckily, I wasn't seriously injured."
I was taken aback when I heard his response. "Did you drink?"
"Of course not," Ivan replied without hesitation.
I narrowed my eyes. "How's Juliet? I heard she moved back to the Hill family and even got herself a boyfriend," I asked casually. I just couldn't shake the nagging feeling in my gut, especially since, of all people, why would his emergency call have gone to me?
"She didn't move back to her old place. She's actually living with Grandpa now," Ivan said before pausing, his voice tinged with skepticism. "It's strange. He never cared for her much before, but since she lost her memory, our aunt has been shielding her, and his attitude seems to have softened."
"She's dating a guy named Jayden Woods, right? And he just happened to be there when you had your accident?" I probed further.
Ivan fell silent for a few seconds before replying, "I thought that was odd too. Jayden was right there when it happened and was the one who called for help. But he's not actually the biological son of the Woods family. He's adopted."
When I first heard the name, I was slightly bewildered. However, since he was adopted, he might have changed his name.
No matter how much time went by, I could never forget that voice. In that instance, an old memory of Jesse's sly, arrogant smirk surfaced in my mind. "Do you have a picture of Jayden?" I asked urgently, my voice rising slightly.
"Yes," Ivan replied. "Why? Do you know him?"
"I just think the timing of him showing up is too much of a coincidence."
"I'll send it to you."
A moment later, my phone buzzed with a message. I opened the image, and sure enough, it was Jesse. Even after all these years, even with a new identity, there was no mistaking the wicked glint in his eyes.
Jesse had a scar on his forehead. He had tried to climb over a wall but slipped and hit his head, bleeding profusely. Yet, he didn't cry. He merely cursed under his breath, took off his shirt, and pressed it against the wound.
Ivan must have sensed something was off. "Do you know Jayden?" he asked.
"We're not close. We met when we were kids, and he's not someone to take lightly. You should be careful around him," I replied seriously.
While I had no idea what kind of person Jayden was, the Jesse I knew was terrifying.
Like father, like son.
There was a brief silence on the other end before Ivan spoke again, "Got it. I'll look into him. You watch your back too."
After hanging up, I stared out the window at the bright morning sun, yet my heart felt unbearably heavy. I wondered how Alex was doing. Was his injury getting better? Had his family caused him any more trouble?
I was lost in thought when I heard footsteps approaching from behind. I turned around and saw Alex walking toward me. His face was drained of color, and his eyes were bloodshot. His steps were slightly unsteady, but he still forced himself to stand tall.
Alex managed a faint smile when he saw me, though his eyes betrayed his fatigue. "You're up," he said as he approached me.
I stared at his injuries and frowned. "Your wounds haven't fully healed yet. Shouldn't you go to the hospital? What if it gets worse?" I asked with concern.
Alex gently brushed a hand through my hair as if to reassure me. "Don't worry. I just changed my bandages. I have some urgent matters to attend at the company, so I need to head out," he replied.
His gaze was so tender that it made my heart flutter.
I nodded, watching as he walked away. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Ivan again.
"I just looked into Jayden, and something about him is really off," Ivan said quickly, his voice urgent and serious. "He moves around a lot, and the people he associates with are all as shady as hell.
"I also checked the restaurant's surveillance footage. Everything after I walked in was deleted. It was clearly done on purpose."
I took a deep breath and replied firmly, "Stay away from him. Be careful."
"You think he'd actually try to kill me? If he wanted to, he had plenty of chances while I was unconscious."
"Maybe he doesn't want you dead. Perhaps he just wants to gain your trust."