Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 325: Chapter 325

Though Lucas didn't tell me about Alex's leg injury, I was sure something was wrong.
'Bailee's identity is doubtful. Alex trusts her unconditionally, and she's even managed to hide Alex's injuries from everyone. There's no way her background is simple.'
As I pondered, a commotion at the door caught my attention. I saw Kailyn strut in, her tight designer dress accentuating her curves, her every step radiating arrogance. Behind her, the driver carried several bags, trailing closely behind.
"Take these to my room and be quick about it!" she ordered, her tone sharp with authority. Her eyes shot me a cold, sideward glance, her lips curling into a faint, mocking smile.
I ignored her, preparing to return to my room, when my phone rang unexpectedly. I picked it up, and my expression shifted slightly.
After hanging up, Kailyn quickly crossed the room to me, glancing before speaking. "Laurel, there's a cocktail party tonight. Philbert wants me to bring you along. Make sure you look presentable; don't embarrass the Parks family."
Just as I was about to refuse, my phone lit up with a message from Marvin: [I've arrived in Wadiff City, see you at the Woods family's party tonight.]
I froze for a moment. I hadn't expected Marvin to be in Wadiff City.
"What's the matter? Don't want to go?" Kailyn's voice rose, a gleam of triumph in her eyes. "Well, by the way, Austin said Alex will be there tonight too. I genuinely worried about you, Laurel. What if Alex doesn't want you anymore? What will you do then?"
Her eyes gleamed with malicious pleasure as she sighed lightly.
'I couldn't care less about her words, but the sting was unmistakable.' I spoke calmly, "What can I do? The Parks family is still my family. Do you think they'd cast me out just because of a divorce?"
I stood up and leisurely walked toward the stairs, catching a glimpse of Kailyn's face falling out of the corner of my eye. 'It felt surprisingly satisfying. I hadn't just avoided her anger; I'd given her the one response she most dreaded hearing.'
'She probably wished I'd leave the Parks family immediately, convinced I'd taken more than enough and was shamelessly staying on. And worst of all, Zachary was still living with me.'
Even though Zachary was still young, Kailyn couldn't hide her disdain for his existence.
After returning to my room, I took a nap and then a long shower before slowly changing into a simple black evening gown. My hair fell loosely over my shoulders.
The party wasn't suitable for children, so I had Sophina stay behind to look after Zachary.
When I went downstairs, Kailyn was already waiting, clearly impatient.
"Why are you taking so long? Hurry up!"
I didn't respond to her complaints and followed her into the car.
Kailyn sat beside me, her tone dripping with disdain. "That outfit... must be from a few years ago, right?"
I didn't bother to respond, but Kailyn wasn't finished.
"No wonder you came back to the Parks family," Kailyn said with a smirk. "Looks like the Herrera family isn't treating you too well. I thought Alex was madly in love with you when he married you against everything." Kailyn narrowed her eyes.
"You didn't make some kind of deal to get married, did you? Or have a baby as part of the deal?" Kailyn shot back with a sharp retort.
As the car drove on, my phone buzzed. I glanced down to see a message from Lucas: [Bailee got dismissed from the hospital. Now there are all these stories online about her seducing married men, and they've made it to the top three in the entertainment section.]
My brow furrowed as I quickly typed back: [With her connections, who could fire her?]
Just as I sent the message, another one from Lucas came through: [Be careful.]
I froze for a moment. 'It looks like Lucas knows Bailee has some powerful connections. The more I thought about it, the more uneasy I became.'
In no time, the brightly lit mansion of the Woods family came into view.
The car came to a stop, and the driver quickly opened the door for me. I took a deep breath and stepped out.
An incredible night breeze brushed past, lifting a few strands of hair near my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
The mansion in front of me gleamed with light, its grandeur unmistakable.
The noise hit me like a wave as soon as I entered the grand hall.
The crystal chandelier bathed the room in dazzling light. My eyes quickly scanned the crowd, searching for Marvin. Kailyn was beside me just a few steps in, like gum stuck to my shoe.
"Looking for Alex? I doubt he'll have time for you." Kailyn asked, her voice sickeningly sweet, her gaze dripping with malice.
I impatiently shrugged her off.
Suddenly, a stir went through the crowd.
I instinctively turned my gaze, and there he was—Isaac, tall and elegant, dressed in a sharp white suit, descending the stairs with effortless grace. In his arm, a woman in a striking red gown clung to him. She was stunning, her beauty sharp, and her gaze cold.
At that moment, it felt like the air around me had frozen, and every pair of eyes seemed to focus on them like spotlights.
Kailyn paused, her face showing a flicker of surprise.
"Why is Isaac so close with Thelma, the Woods family's adopted daughter?"
I stood there, feeling as if my feet were glued to the ground, unable to move.
My heart pounded violently in my chest. I hadn't realized that the Woods family was the home of Jayden and Thelma.
'No wonder Maddox mentioned something about Isaac and his connections earlier...' A chill ran down her spine, sharp and cold.
I fixed my gaze on Thelma. As our eyes met, I saw a flash of panic in her gaze before it quickly disappeared, replaced by composure.
Then, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes locking onto mine as she smiled at me.
Kailyn tugged me toward the pair, her voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. "Isaac, is Ms. Woods your partner tonight?"
Isaac smiled casually. "Is there a problem with that?"
"And who are these two?" Thelma asked, her gaze shifting to us.
Isaac gestured toward us. "Laurel and Kailyn."
Thelma paused, her face lighting up with recognition. "You're Mrs. Herrera?"
"""Yes,"" I nodded slightly. ""I've met Mr. Woods at the hospital."""
"Jayden mentioned you," Thelma said with a smile. "He said you were beautiful, truly a rare beauty. I didn't realize you were even more stunning than he described."
I couldn't help but sneer inwardly. 'After all these years, the two of them hadn't changed. Still lying through their teeth without a hint of guilt, as calm and composed as ever.'
"I feel like I've seen Ms. Woods before," I said, glancing at Thelma.
"Really? Maybe I have a very ordinary face," Thelma said with a slight smirk. "If I could have even half of Mrs. Herrera's beauty, I'd be content."
"Ms. Woods, you're too modest," Kailyn chimed in. "Isaac only dances with beautiful women."
Thelma's face softened with a hint of shyness, her expression thoughtful. "I heard Alex injured his leg. Mrs. Herrera, do you need a dance partner? I could introduce you to someone."