Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 357: Chapter 357

Yvonne was speechless, her face flushed with anger as her chest rose and fell with each sharp breath. She glared at Marvin, her eyes filled with a fury that seemed like she could devour him whole.
Her hands were clenched at her sides, her well-manicured nails digging deeply into her palms, the knuckles turning pale.
It took her a while before she squeezed the words out through clenched teeth. "You... you're doing this on purpose to make me mad!"
Marvin, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened. He casually slipped his hands into his pockets and shrugged, wearing that same carefree, nonchalant expression.
"Mom, I don't have the time or energy to upset you. I'm just speaking the truth," he said, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Yvonne. A faint, almost imperceptible smile curled at the corners of his lips, but it didn't reach his eyes, which remained cold and distant.
I stood quietly to the side, watching their tense standoff, unsure what to say. Marvin usually appeared carefree and lighthearted, but I knew his personality had always been more reserved and introspective.
It hadn't been easy for him to get to where he was, becoming a police officer. Perhaps this profession had given him the strength and courage to stand firm.
I couldn't help but speak up, trying to ease the tension. "Yvonne, Marvin has his thoughts on this. Please, try to calm down."
Yvonne suddenly turned to look at me as if she had just remembered I was still there. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her voice still trembled with emotion.
"Laurel, just look at him! He is determined yet chooses to be a cop instead of taking over the Adams Group. Out there in all kinds of weather, barely making any money—what's he even doing it for?"
Marvin raised an eyebrow and responded, "I'm doing it for peace of mind, for freedom. That's far more fulfilling than being tied to the Adams Group."
Yvonne scoffed. "Go ahead and keep acting like this! When you end up broke and powerless, wandering the streets, don't expect your dad or me to help you."
Marvin's smile deepened, but there was a tinge of sadness. "Don't worry, Mom. If I end up on the streets, I'll accept it. It's better than being trapped in this cage, pretending to be happy." He paused for a moment, his gaze locking with Yvonne.
There was a hint of seriousness in his eyes for the first time. "As for you, stop focusing all your attention on me. If you're so worried about the Adams Group, why not try harder and give me a brother or sister?"
Yvonne seemed struck by his words, her body swaying slightly as a complex expression crossed her face—surprise, realization, and an indescribable hint of sadness. She fell silent for a long while before finally speaking, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"You cheeky little brat, how could you say something like that?" She paused, unable to finish her sentence. With a gentle shake of her head, she turned and walked away.
As she reached the door, she stopped and turned to look at Marvin, her tone softening slightly. "The path you choose is yours to make. I hope you won't regret it later." With that, she huffed in frustration and stormed out.
The surroundings immediately fell silent. Marvin's tense shoulders finally relaxed, and he let out a deep sigh, the exhaustion on his face no longer hidden. I stepped forward and gently patted his shoulder. "What you said just now was a bit too harsh," I said.
Marvin smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I meant every word. I want her to give up on me completely. I want to live the way I choose, for once."
Before long, Casey hurried over, her steps quick and urgent. She stopped right before Marvin, her wide eyes filled with curiosity as she stared at him intently. She asked, "What exactly did you say to Yvonne? You've got her so upset, not in a good shape."
Marvin raised his head and shrugged nonchalantly, his hands casually stuffed in his pockets. "I just told her I don't want to get married, don't plan on having kids, and don't want to take over the Adams Group.
"I want to live my life on my terms. If it's that important to her, I suggested she try and have another kid. Maybe she'll get an heir out of it. But as for me, I'm done." When the words "Adams Group" were mentioned, a subtle flicker of disdain crossed his eyes, barely noticeable.
Casey's mouth dropped open in shock, momentarily stunned by his words. After a beat, she snapped back to reality and shot Marvin an exasperated glare, clearly frustrated. "That was way too much! You've hurt Yvonne, indeed. If it were me, I'd have slapped some sense into you to wake you up."
We had lunch together, the three of us. Afterward, seeing how sleepy I looked, Marvin offered to take me back. I couldn't argue with him, so I reluctantly agreed.
As soon as I got into Marvin's car, his phone rang, the sudden sound breaking the silence inside the vehicle. He quickly pulled out his phone and saw it was Alfie Watts's call. Without hesitation, he answered it, his eyes lighting up, and a bright smile curled at the corners of his lips.
After hanging up the phone, he turned to look at me, barely able to hide his excitement. He said, "Laurel, the truck driver is showing signs of regaining consciousness. We've been waiting for this lead for so long, and now we've got a breakthrough."
I couldn't help but clench my fists excitedly, a wave of joy rushing me. With this new crucial lead, we were one step closer to uncovering the truth.
Just as we were about to drive off, my peripheral vision caught a familiar figure. Bailee was leisurely pushing Alex in a wheelchair as they headed into the Seastar Hotel. However, I noticed that there was no sign of Lawrence.
I took a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger inside me. Marvin noticed, too. He looked puzzled, slightly turning his body toward me and asking, "Laurel, what's your so-called husband doing here? Could he be looking for you?" There was a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"No, he wouldn't," I replied instinctively, shaking my head. Bailee's alluring face immediately flashed across my mind. "Alex has no idea I'm back at the Seastar Hotel. I told him not to mention it to Alex when Lawrence left earlier, so he definitely won't bring it up."
What was Bailee doing here now? I watched Bailee walk up to the counter. She calmly exchanged words with the staff and took the room key they handed her.
Upon seeing this, a playful glint flashed in Marvin's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled into a barely perceptible smile. He raised an eyebrow and nudged me with his elbow, teasing, "Your... so-called husband isn't sneaking around here, is he? Quite bold of him if he is."
My heart skipped a beat. Though I didn't want to believe it, the words Bailee had said to me lingered in my mind. "Take me back," I said, my voice steady despite the unease that had settled in.
"What, don't you want to check on it?" Marvin said, his expression stiffening slightly. "He's at a hotel at this hour. He's probably not here just for a meal. As a man, I can tell you exactly what's going on. Why don't you call and ask him where he is?"