Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 449: Chapter 449

The light in the hospital room was dim and soft, casting shadows in every corner, but it couldn't dispel the cold aura emanating from Alex.
I held onto his arm tightly, my knuckles turning white from the pressure, my eyes filled with pleading as I said, "Marvin's phone is off, and the police can't track his last location. I know you have the ability to find him. If you help me, I'll promise you something."
Alex's lips twisted into a mocking smile. His mesmerizing eyes locked onto mine, filled with confusion and disdain. "Promise me something? What could you possibly do for me?" His tone was laced with contempt, like a sharp knife, cutting straight through me, making me feel utterly uncomfortable.
I furrowed my brow, but the spark of hope in my eyes didn't waver. "What do you want, then? What will it take for you to help me?"
"You're my wife, yet you care so much about someone else's life and death?" His voice carried anger and confusion, as if I had committed an unforgivable sin.
"We're just friends," I tried to explain, keeping my tone as calm as possible.
Alex snorted, skepticism clear in his eyes. "Friends? It seems your concern for him goes far beyond that."
I didn't want to waste time arguing with him right now. He had plenty of distractions around him, yet he still doubted me.
Taking a deep breath, I suppressed the anger rising in me and said, "If I really had a special relationship with him, I wouldn't have married you in the first place."
"You married me for money, didn't you?" Alex's eyes bored into mine with an almost scrutinizing gaze, his lips curling into a half-smile.
"Yes, I wanted the money, and yes, I wanted your status. Happy now?"
At that moment, I would say anything, do anything, just for him to help me find Marvin. I couldn't bear the thought of losing someone close to me again. I had already endured that kind of pain once, and I couldn't go through it a second time.
Alex let out a cold chuckle, sitting up straighter, his deep eyes filled with an unsettling chill, as if a layer of frost had settled over him.
"Fine. If you agree to listen to me from now on, I'll help you," he said, his tone final.
His request made me want to lash out, as he was clearly trying to make it difficult for me. But what was I supposed to do? I didn't understand why he thought I still had any value to him.
Clearing my throat, I tried to make light of the situation. "I've always been greedy for money, but you're not thinking of taking mine, are you?"
I knew that someone like Alex, with his pride, would never want to leech off of me. Besides, he didn't need my money. Even if he were ever to fall from grace, he wouldn't rely on a woman to support him.
But still, I had to be cautious—what if he wanted me to reject the Adams Group shares? If that happened, I'd be forced to choose between my own survival and the well-being of the company.
"Don't worry. Your little money means nothing to me," Alex said dismissively, his gaze full of disdain, as if my comment had sullied his soul.
Despite this, I nodded in agreement to his terms without hesitation.
Alex didn't make a single phone call. He simply sent a text message and impatiently waved me off, telling me to "go away."
I could tell he was angry, but I didn't understand why. He was the one benefiting from this, so why should he be upset?
Back in the car, Liam, hearing that Alex had agreed to help me find Marvin, leaned back in his seat with a knowing smile. Just then, my phone rang. It was Sophina. Her voice dropped low as she spoke. "Laurel, do you think Mr. Herrera is upset because he still cares about you and Alfie?"
As Marvin's most loyal supporter, she sometimes swayed between both sides. "Do you think Mr. Herrera can really find Marvin?"
I bit my lip, certainty in my voice as I replied, "I believe Alex will find him."
If even Alex couldn't find him, then no one could.
I felt a sudden chill in my chest, and an ominous fear crept in.
Less than half an hour later, Alfie called me back.
"They found Marvin, unconscious, in an abandoned cold storage warehouse. He's been rushed to the nearest hospital for emergency treatment," Alfie said. I immediately wanted Liam to take me to the hospital, but he refused outright.
"Mrs. Herrera, Mr. Herrera risked his life to save Marvin. Don't you think you should be concerned about his well-being too?" Liam's words stunned me.
I looked at him, confused. "What do you mean? Shouldn't I be worried about Marvin?"
"Someone wanted to kill Marvin to silence him, which means the people behind this are powerful. You and Mr. Herrera have already saved him twice. Are you not worried they might target you both next?" Liam's words hit me hard.
I froze, realizing I had been so focused on finding Marvin that I hadn't considered the other dangers. "Does Alex know who tried to kill Marvin?" I asked urgently, my voice steady but my eyes fixed on Liam.
Liam thought for a moment and shook his head. "Do you really think Mr. Herrera knows everything? If he did, we wouldn't be in this situation..."
"Will Alex be in danger?" I pressed, my voice quiet but determined, as I caught something in Liam's words that unsettled me. He seemed to know Alex's leg might never fully recover, and yet, he was just a bodyguard. Why did Alex trust him so much?
"Yes. I'll take you back now. Don't worry about Marvin. If he can be saved, he won't get another chance to die."
I finally understood Liam's point. Since Alex agreed to help me find Marvin, he would make sure he stayed alive.
A breath of relief escaped me—if Marvin was alive, that was all that mattered.
"No need. I'll stay at the hospital tonight. I'll have Sophina bring some clothes over." I sighed, making my decision. "I'll stay here for the time being." Liam looked at me in surprise, as if he hadn't expected me to stay despite the obvious danger.
Later, when I stepped back into the hospital room, Alex was sitting on the bed, reading a financial magazine. When he saw me, his eyebrows furrowed, and he asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here again? Didn't you find him?"
"He's been found," I said softly as I walked to his bedside, gently nudging him.
Alex looked up in shock, his eyes wide. "What are you doing?"
I yawned, clearly tired. "I'm tired. Let's just squeeze in here for tonight."