Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 328: Chapter 328

"Who is that man?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Blake, the youngest son of the Woods family. He's always been frail and sickly."
From Marvin, I learned that Blake had been in poor health since childhood. The Woods family had once had an elder son, Jayden, who tragically drowned in an accident.
Since then, they had focused all their attention on Blake, taking extra care of him due to his health.
In doing so, they had unknowingly neglected Jayden, and after the tragedy that befell him, Mr. and Mrs. Woods were left with a deep sense of guilt and regret.
To fill the emptiness left by Jayden's death, Mr. and Mrs. Woods went to an adoption agency, hoping to adopt a child. They sought comfort, but more importantly, they wanted someone who could look after their biological son, Blake, after they were gone.
That's when they brought home Jesse and Hallie from the adoption center.
Over the years, Jesse and Hallie had always been obedient and well-behaved in the Woods family, never causing any trouble. They had earned the deep affection and favor of Mr. and Mrs. Woods.
After their adoption, their names were immediately changed.
How much of their story was real and how much was fabricated, who could say?
'But I couldn't help wondering—if Jesse and Hallie loved to torment me back then, did they ever turn that same cruelty on the frail Blake?'
"Mrs. Herrera, are you available? There's something I'd like to discuss with you." The soft voice caught me off guard, snapping me back to reality. Marvin gently nudged me, and I quickly realized my lapse in composure.
Looking up, I saw Bailee in a strapless white gown, her skin glowing like snow. The golden crown necklace around her neck shimmered, making her look like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
She looked completely different from the first time I saw her. Back then, she seemed pure and sweet. But now, she radiated a distinct, captivating elegance that drew the gaze of every man in the room.
I took a deep breath, forcing my emotions back into check, and followed her to a quieter corner.
"What are you trying to say?" I asked directly.
Bailee's eyes locked onto mine, her expression calm and composed.
"Mrs. Herrera, I apologize for the delay in passing this along. Alex asked me to inform you that he's been tied up with company matters lately and won't have much time. Honestly, there are things he would discuss, but you probably wouldn't understand."
I paused for a moment, a smile tugging at my lips. "Is that what Alex asked you to tell me?"
Bailee nodded. "Mrs. Herrera, please don't be upset. Alex hasn't been in the best mood lately."
Her words made a bitter smile tug at the corner of my lips. Bailee's voice was sweet enough to melt the coldest heart, yet her words pierced me like needles dipped in poison.
'I guess I underestimated her. Didn't expect someone so young to be so calculating. I scoffed inwardly, but then I reconsidered. Anyone who could stay by Alex's side for this long must have some tricks up their sleeve.'
Alex never mentioned anything about work to me. I couldn't help but think—half of what Bailee said might be accurate, but who knows about the rest?
I didn't want to dig into whether it was real; words alone don't prove anything. Bailee could easily accuse me of slandering her.
I narrowed my eyes slightly, a smile playing at the corners of my lips as I asked, "I heard you got dismissed from the hospital?"
I paused momentarily, watching panic flash across her eyes before I smiled and added, "But considering how kind you've been taking care of Alex, don't worry. I'll call the hospital tomorrow and clear everything up.
"Besides, how could you possibly be interested in him? You're young, beautiful, and come from a good background. What could you possibly want from someone like him?"
Bailee's expression shifted. There was a brief look of surprise in her eyes before she quickly forced a smile. "Mrs. Herrera, I think you've misunderstood. I resigned from the hospital voluntarily to take better care of Alex."
Her voice was soft, almost syrupy—but to me, it was nothing more than a thinly veiled lie.
I clenched the hem of my dress, fighting the urge to slap her across the face.
"Take care of Alex?" I repeated her words through clenched teeth. "But I've already planned to go back to Westbrook with him. As his wife, it's my responsibility to take care of him."
Bailee's eyes widened momentarily, panic creeping into her gaze before she quickly lowered her head. "Mrs. Herrera, aren't you pregnant? How could you possibly take care of Alex in your condition?"
Then, as if a thought occurred to her, she looked up with an expression of feigned sincerity. "Mrs. Herrera, you must have seen the online rumors, which is why you're upset. But I'm only doing as Alex instructed. I've never crossed any boundaries."
Her words were so carefully crafted, so convincing. If someone didn't know better, they'd think she was kind and attentive.
I lightly tapped Bailee's arm, my smile calm but polite. "I know, and I'm sure you wouldn't do anything inappropriate. But you know, rumors can be cruel. You're still young, and if they keep spreading, how will you ever find someone to marry?"
"I haven't thought about marriage yet," Bailee said quickly, her tone steady.
I gave her a look of sincere advice. "You should think about marriage sooner rather than later. Look at me—pregnant at my age, and everyone's already talking about Alex having someone else looking after him.
"People who don't know the whole story might think I'm neglecting him, letting him do whatever he wants. Thankfully, it's just his leg that's hurt, or I'd never be able to explain myself."
"Mrs. Herrera, I was hired by Alex. I'll speak to him if you have an issue with it."
Bailee's voice remained smooth and composed, not a hint of anger in her expression.
'I couldn't help but admire her composure—a true professional who handles everything calmly. I remember when I was younger—I would've stomped my feet in frustration, probably already planning to slap her across the face. Even now, I might still do the same.'
'I hadn't acted on it because I could already tell—she was trying to provoke me, hoping I'd slap her right here. That way, she could complain to Alex about it.'
'I wasn't in the mood for that today. I wasn't foolish enough to make a scene on someone else's turf and risk embarrassing the Parks family. She didn't just want to make me look bad—she was trying to ruin the entire Parks family's reputation.'
'It seems like her backer has a grudge against the Parks family. Maybe I can sit back and watch the drama unfold if that's the case.'
'But then, something felt off. After Alex had gone missing, the police sent out a search team, yet no one could find him. Yet someone else managed to find him first. Was that a coincidence? Or was it all part of some plan?'
I suddenly hardened my expression, turning my gaze to Bailee. My voice was cold as I said, "Where is Alex? I'll speak to him myself."
Without waiting for Bailee to answer, I turned and scanned the room. As soon as I spotted Alex, I made my way toward him.
But to my surprise, Bailee quickly grabbed my arm from behind, stopping me.
"Mrs. Herrera," Bailee said, her voice soft but firm. "It would be best not to interrupt while Alex is in a meeting."