Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 436: Chapter 436

The first rays of sunlight struggled to pierce through the thick curtains, casting fragile beams of light across the room.
I suddenly jolted awake, sitting up on the bed, my mind still foggy from sleep.
My eyes scanned the familiar room, noticing the change of clothes I was wearing and the red, swollen bruise on my knee, faintly turning purple with small signs of being bumped. My mind went blank, and I felt completely disoriented.
"Did I drink too much and black out?" I murmured to myself, trying to recall what happened. After a few moments of deep thought, I vaguely remembered getting into some kind of fight yesterday.
I froze for a moment, panic flashing across my face. In a rush, I pulled up my sleeve to check the bracelet I was wearing. When I saw that it was still intact, I exhaled with relief, feeling an immense weight lift off my shoulders.
The bracelet had been a gift from Alex's mother, worth over a hundred million, and it was far too precious for me to risk breaking it.
Reluctantly, I decided to take it off and store it safely, just to be cautious.
As I struggled to remove the bracelet, it was a bit tight, and I found myself sweating from the effort, my face flushed with frustration. Just then, Sophina knocked lightly on the door and walked in.
"Laurel, what... what are you doing?" Sophina asked, her voice filled with confusion and caution as she observed my struggle.
"I'm taking off the bracelet," I replied, furrowing my brow and casting an annoyed glance at her, though my hands didn't stop moving. "How did I get back last night?"
Sophina walked over and gently tucked a few stray strands of hair behind my ear. "Liam brought you back."
I let out a quiet sigh of relief. At least it wasn't Yaeger who brought me back—if it had been, I wouldn't even know how to face him.
"Laurel, did you go out drinking with the guy upstairs?" Sophina's question cut through my thoughts.
My heart skipped a beat, and a cold, tight feeling gripped my chest. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nervous energy, and responded as calmly as I could, "How do you know that?"
"You told me," Sophina blinked innocently, a confused look on her face.
"What else did I say?" I stared at her, utterly exasperated, realizing just how much I'd drank last night, given that I couldn't even remember anything clearly.
Sophina tilted her head thoughtfully, then slowly answered, "I don't think there was much else... But maybe you should lay off the alcohol next time."
I froze, staring at her wide-eyed, the guilt and shame creeping up on me. "What else did I do?"
Sophina glanced at me nervously, as though afraid I'd be upset. After a pause, she spoke in a soft voice, "You really don't remember anything? Not even... you hit Liam?"
My face fell, and I stared at her in stunned silence. I couldn't even speak. I just nodded numbly.
I couldn't believe it. I'd blacked out, and on top of that, I'd hit someone. It was completely ridiculous.
Apparently, Liam had personally brought me back and handed me off to Sophina. Maybe he was worried that I might cause more trouble on the way back, so he kindly escorted me upstairs.
After breakfast, I began to remember some details. Yes, I had been drinking heavily, and Yaeger had helped me leave the restaurant. However, he hadn't taken me home—Liam had intercepted us halfway. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't recall the events that followed, including how I had gotten injured or what had actually happened.
After a brief reflection, I realized I needed to talk to Liam. I had to apologize for hitting him—it was the least I could do.
As I got into the car, I noticed that Liam was wearing sunglasses. That's when it hit me—no wonder Sophina had noticed that I had hit him. He had a bruise on his face.
Guilt surged through me. I cautiously asked, "Apart from your face, are you hurt anywhere else?"
His expression was unreadable, but he simply shook his head, his face as impassive as ever.
"You should take the day off," I said softly, my voice filled with concern. "Go to the hospital and get checked out."
"I'm fine," Liam replied in a low, steady voice.
I was relieved, but still felt the need to remind him, "Next time, remember to fight back."
He paused, clearly taken aback by my words. His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and his gaze fixed on the road ahead as if lost in thought. After a moment, he muttered, "If I had fought back, I wouldn't be sitting here. I'd be in the hospital by now."
My face flushed with embarrassment, and I forced a sheepish smile. "Sorry... I drank too much last night. Maybe you should go get checked out?"
As the car stopped at a red light, Liam slowly pressed the brake. He turned his head slightly, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness. "It's not about that. I just... I couldn't accept the fact that I couldn't beat you."
I was surprised by the depth of his words, sensing his frustration. Quickly, I replied, "Forget about what happened yesterday."
Liam nodded without hesitation, seeming to understand exactly what I meant. His voice firmed as he said, "Don't worry. I'll keep it to myself."
I nodded silently, but something felt off. Was he possibly thinking that I had cheated on Alex? My mind raced, and unease settled in.
Once we arrived at the office, I got out of the car and saw Bailee approaching. She was wearing a black-and-gold Chanel suit, her makeup immaculate. She gave me a mocking smile and leaned in close, whispering in my ear, "Mrs. Herrera, you really are something. You hold onto the title of Mrs. Herrera, yet you're out there flirting with other men. You've even caught two in one go. Aren't you afraid Mr. Herrera finds out?"
I took her in, noting how she looked—she was attractive enough, but it was wasted on someone with such an obvious agenda.
"Did you get fired?" I raised an eyebrow and glanced at her with disdain. "If you're unhappy, you should take it up with Mr. Herrera. Don't go around spreading rumors about me."