Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 44: Chapter 44
You are reading Falling For My Ex's Uncle, Chapter 44: Chapter 44. Read more chapters of Falling For My Ex's Uncle.
"Do you feel like someone's watching you?" Angela asked casually, pulling a bottle of mineral water from the fridge and chugging it down in large gulps. After finishing, she continued her complaints, "The food from the hotel is bland. Should we change the main course?"
Angela's thoughts jumped around quickly. I shot her a side-eye and said, "Are you on another diet again?"
"Wow, how did you figure that out?" Angela stared at me in disbelief.
I rolled my eyes and replied, "You spend at least half the month complaining about dieting, then you eat salad every day. Do you expect grass to taste good?"
"Do you think I want to? My mom's a total freak. She buys me clothes in the smallest size, and that brand only makes small sizes. When I tried to exchange them, they told me that was the biggest size."
This was the first time I'd ever heard someone be so bold as to call their own mother a freak.
"Aren't you afraid lightning's gonna strike you for calling your mom a freak?"
Angela wasn't fazed in the slightest. "I'm just speaking the truth. If heaven really had eyes, it should strike down all the treacherous bastards in the world."
"Angela, if I didn't know you since we were kids, I'd think you've been hurt badly by some scumbag."
I walked over to her, looking at her with piercing eyes. "Come clean. Did you have a boyfriend overseas? Did he dump you?"
"I wish. Unfortunately, I'm too enlightened for that," Angela sighed dramatically, patting my shoulder. "I can't fully invest in relationships because I avoid all risks."
I paused for a moment, then scoffed, "So, are you saying that means I'm just love-struck?"
"Laurel, so you finally admit you're love-struck? Looks like there's progress," Angela teased.
I shot her a pointed glare and sighed. "I'm self-aware, but you're right. For a businessman, emotions are just an exchange—a deal."
"But I don't think Mr. Herrera sees it that way," Angela said with a small smile.
"Why not?"
Angela smirked. "He gives you 1.5 million dollars a year. Don't even talk about that. There are plenty of women who would climb into his bed without getting a dime. So, Laurel, you better hold on tight to this opportunity."
I gave a self-deprecating laugh. Maybe to Alex, a woman like me—one who wasn't blinded by beauty—was just the safest option.
"Are you sure he likes women?"
Angela slammed her empty bottle down and placed her hands around my neck in mock threat. "Laurel, I'm giving you one more chance. Ask me the right question."
"I just feel like someone's watching me."
Angela gave me an exaggerated frown, then I changed the subject. "Maliyah got fired from her internship company today. I was going to find a lawyer to help, but then she messaged me saying it was all settled. They didn't ask her to pay for the damages, and she even got three months of extra pay."
"And then?"
I looked at Angela, completely confused.
"Anything else weird going on?"
Angela's eyes narrowed as she added, "Everything seems a bit too smooth. Oh, and today I went to the Norfield police station. They seemed to think I was you. And Flynn even knew the people involved. Oh, and that outfit you sent me? I wore it for the first time, but I accidentally ruined it, so I took one from your trunk. I'll wash it and return it to you.
"As for the clothes, you really don't need to buy anything for now. Also, Flynn? You really think he spared you for my sake? Think again. You hit the Simpson family's young master, but that kid really needed a beating—how dare he cause trouble on my turf."
"Angela, did you install surveillance on me? And what do you mean by 'your turf'?"
Angela shrugged. "I haven't installed anything on you. But Javier went to that bar a few days ago, liked it, and bought it. They didn't change the management, so they didn't know Javier was working for me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had to step in."
I was left completely stunned. Before I could ask more, Angela's phone rang, and she was gone before I could get another word in.
My mind was racing with anxiety, so I pulled out my phone and used an app to check for hidden cameras in the room. Nothing. But there were several items in the closet with tags still on them. The price tags made my eyes widen.
I texted Angela. [Did you buy all the clothes in my room?]
Aside from knowing Angela, who else in my life could afford such things?
And the most suspicious thing? Those clothes were all my style.
Only Angela knew me that well.
[You really overestimate me. I told you I bought a bar. Where would I have money to buy you a closet full of clothes and bags? Besides, many of those clothes are limited editions—money alone can't buy them.]
[Did Alex buy them?]
[Looks like you're not as dumb as you look. What a great guy he is, it makes me want to get married. I have a meeting at the headquarters this afternoon, so you go have fun on your own.]
The afternoon sun made me sleepy, and as I climbed into bed, Alex's beautiful face flashed in my mind—his gentle smile, yet cold and distant, impossible to get close to.
My heart raced uncontrollably. Just thinking about him made me feel an unshakeable fear.
When I woke up, it was already dark outside.
I washed my face and headed to the barbecue place as planned.
Two hours later, I was back in my hotel room.
I texted Angela, and she replied with a crying emoji.
It seemed I couldn't escape the matchmaking tragedy.
I didn't understand why women insisted on marriage. Even Angela, who had everything, still felt the pressure.
Yet her mother wasn't happy in her marriage, yet she was still pushing her into the same cage.
What was it all for?
I thought that after sleeping so much during the day, I'd be up all night. But, to my surprise, I still felt an overwhelming drowsiness.
The next morning, I was woken up by a rapid knocking at the door.
Angela must have had a lot to complain about regarding the matchmaking. With blurry eyes, I opened the door, only to find Austin standing there, looking dark and serious.
"What's up?"
"It's Alex's birthday today. I don't want you showing up at the dinner."
In the quiet hallway, Austin's voice sounded calm, but I could feel the anger simmering beneath the surface, hiding behind his polite mask.
I nodded. "As long as you can convince Alex, I won't attend the party. After all, I can't afford to offend anyone from the Herrera family."
Angela's thoughts jumped around quickly. I shot her a side-eye and said, "Are you on another diet again?"
"Wow, how did you figure that out?" Angela stared at me in disbelief.
I rolled my eyes and replied, "You spend at least half the month complaining about dieting, then you eat salad every day. Do you expect grass to taste good?"
"Do you think I want to? My mom's a total freak. She buys me clothes in the smallest size, and that brand only makes small sizes. When I tried to exchange them, they told me that was the biggest size."
This was the first time I'd ever heard someone be so bold as to call their own mother a freak.
"Aren't you afraid lightning's gonna strike you for calling your mom a freak?"
Angela wasn't fazed in the slightest. "I'm just speaking the truth. If heaven really had eyes, it should strike down all the treacherous bastards in the world."
"Angela, if I didn't know you since we were kids, I'd think you've been hurt badly by some scumbag."
I walked over to her, looking at her with piercing eyes. "Come clean. Did you have a boyfriend overseas? Did he dump you?"
"I wish. Unfortunately, I'm too enlightened for that," Angela sighed dramatically, patting my shoulder. "I can't fully invest in relationships because I avoid all risks."
I paused for a moment, then scoffed, "So, are you saying that means I'm just love-struck?"
"Laurel, so you finally admit you're love-struck? Looks like there's progress," Angela teased.
I shot her a pointed glare and sighed. "I'm self-aware, but you're right. For a businessman, emotions are just an exchange—a deal."
"But I don't think Mr. Herrera sees it that way," Angela said with a small smile.
"Why not?"
Angela smirked. "He gives you 1.5 million dollars a year. Don't even talk about that. There are plenty of women who would climb into his bed without getting a dime. So, Laurel, you better hold on tight to this opportunity."
I gave a self-deprecating laugh. Maybe to Alex, a woman like me—one who wasn't blinded by beauty—was just the safest option.
"Are you sure he likes women?"
Angela slammed her empty bottle down and placed her hands around my neck in mock threat. "Laurel, I'm giving you one more chance. Ask me the right question."
"I just feel like someone's watching me."
Angela gave me an exaggerated frown, then I changed the subject. "Maliyah got fired from her internship company today. I was going to find a lawyer to help, but then she messaged me saying it was all settled. They didn't ask her to pay for the damages, and she even got three months of extra pay."
"And then?"
I looked at Angela, completely confused.
"Anything else weird going on?"
Angela's eyes narrowed as she added, "Everything seems a bit too smooth. Oh, and today I went to the Norfield police station. They seemed to think I was you. And Flynn even knew the people involved. Oh, and that outfit you sent me? I wore it for the first time, but I accidentally ruined it, so I took one from your trunk. I'll wash it and return it to you.
"As for the clothes, you really don't need to buy anything for now. Also, Flynn? You really think he spared you for my sake? Think again. You hit the Simpson family's young master, but that kid really needed a beating—how dare he cause trouble on my turf."
"Angela, did you install surveillance on me? And what do you mean by 'your turf'?"
Angela shrugged. "I haven't installed anything on you. But Javier went to that bar a few days ago, liked it, and bought it. They didn't change the management, so they didn't know Javier was working for me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have had to step in."
I was left completely stunned. Before I could ask more, Angela's phone rang, and she was gone before I could get another word in.
My mind was racing with anxiety, so I pulled out my phone and used an app to check for hidden cameras in the room. Nothing. But there were several items in the closet with tags still on them. The price tags made my eyes widen.
I texted Angela. [Did you buy all the clothes in my room?]
Aside from knowing Angela, who else in my life could afford such things?
And the most suspicious thing? Those clothes were all my style.
Only Angela knew me that well.
[You really overestimate me. I told you I bought a bar. Where would I have money to buy you a closet full of clothes and bags? Besides, many of those clothes are limited editions—money alone can't buy them.]
[Did Alex buy them?]
[Looks like you're not as dumb as you look. What a great guy he is, it makes me want to get married. I have a meeting at the headquarters this afternoon, so you go have fun on your own.]
The afternoon sun made me sleepy, and as I climbed into bed, Alex's beautiful face flashed in my mind—his gentle smile, yet cold and distant, impossible to get close to.
My heart raced uncontrollably. Just thinking about him made me feel an unshakeable fear.
When I woke up, it was already dark outside.
I washed my face and headed to the barbecue place as planned.
Two hours later, I was back in my hotel room.
I texted Angela, and she replied with a crying emoji.
It seemed I couldn't escape the matchmaking tragedy.
I didn't understand why women insisted on marriage. Even Angela, who had everything, still felt the pressure.
Yet her mother wasn't happy in her marriage, yet she was still pushing her into the same cage.
What was it all for?
I thought that after sleeping so much during the day, I'd be up all night. But, to my surprise, I still felt an overwhelming drowsiness.
The next morning, I was woken up by a rapid knocking at the door.
Angela must have had a lot to complain about regarding the matchmaking. With blurry eyes, I opened the door, only to find Austin standing there, looking dark and serious.
"What's up?"
"It's Alex's birthday today. I don't want you showing up at the dinner."
In the quiet hallway, Austin's voice sounded calm, but I could feel the anger simmering beneath the surface, hiding behind his polite mask.
I nodded. "As long as you can convince Alex, I won't attend the party. After all, I can't afford to offend anyone from the Herrera family."
End of Falling For My Ex's Uncle Chapter 44. Continue reading Chapter 45 or return to Falling For My Ex's Uncle book page.