Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 46: Chapter 46

Angela had no rebuttal for me.
After our back-and-forth, I finally got my way and picked a bespoke wine-red fringe dress. It wasn't my money, but it still stung a little.
Thirty minutes later, Alex sent a black business car to pick up me and Angela for the party.
The venue was located on a mountain in the suburbs, a sprawling white castle-like building, with a wine cellar nestled into the hills. The surroundings were lush with trees, and there were large windows that offered a sweeping view of the ocean. The air was thick with the scent of pine trees and fresh sea breeze.
As soon as the car door opened, I stepped out, reaching for Angela's arm to steady her as she teetered on her slender high heels.
"That's at least 3 feet, isn't it? Are you trying to crush me under your heel?" I teased.
Angela flashed a smile and quickly readjusted her expression, adopting a professional air. "The guests here tonight are all influential people—celebrities, wealthy businessmen, fashion icons, even political figures. Do you know what that means?"
"What?" I raised an eyebrow, curious.
"This is basically a high-quality matchmaking event. If I find someone I like, I could finally escape my mom's clutches. Do you think that's important for me?"
I nodded. "Actually, I'm curious, too. What kind of man would catch your eye?"
"I don't even know," Angela admitted with a trace of helplessness in her voice.
The driver led us into a private lounge, and Angela immediately locked the door behind us. She sank onto the couch, quickly kicking off her shoes.
"Your heels are killing you. Why not switch to something else?"
"No need," Angela waved dismissively. "I've got band-aids, and I can tough it out for one night."
I watched her handle the situation with surprising efficiency, but couldn't help but feel a mix of pity and amusement. "You knew those shoes wouldn't fit, yet you insisted on wearing them. Why do that to yourself?"
"Easy for you to say. You're already off the market, so don't act all high and mighty."
I smiled bitterly. "If it wasn't for circumstances, I wouldn't want anything to do with the Herrera family."
Angela froze. "Laurel, you don't like him?"
"Can liking someone really last a lifetime?"
Angela looked thoughtful, her gaze distant, before shaking her head. "You've got to learn to be content. What you have in your hand is something most people can only dream of."
I studied her, then spoke softly. "You say love can last a lifetime, but why can't people?"
"Because people change."
Angela dropped her gaze, and in that moment, I saw something I hadn't noticed before—a shadow of sadness in her eyes, something buried deep beneath her usual smile.
"Angela, do you like Alex?"
She hesitated, then smiled playfully. "If I said yes, would you let me have him?"
She sighed, slipping back into her shoes. "I don't fall in love at first sight like you. I'm not that brainless."
I couldn't help but chuckle. I wasn't exactly a romantic either. When I first liked Austin, it wasn't about love at first sight. It was because he treated me well, so well that I believed his affection would last forever.
But I never expected that we wouldn't even make it past the seven-year itch.
Even now, Alex treated me well, but I didn't feel the slightest trace of love or affection.
In the world of the rich, everything has a price tag, and that included me.
Angela stood up and adjusted her slightly wrinkled dress, touching up her lipstick.
Her phone buzzed softly, and she glanced at the screen. "My parents are here."
"Has the party started?"
"It should have by now."
"Why don't you go meet them? I'll hang back for a while."
Angela hesitated, and I urged, "Hurry up, quality men are hard to come by. If you wait too long, they'll be gone."
"You'll just keep hiding here, then?"
"Yeah, I know."
After Angela left the room, I sighed deeply.
Honestly, I would have preferred to stay in the lounge and avoid the party altogether, but I knew hiding wasn't going to solve anything.
Eventually, I'd have to face whatever came.
Less than ten minutes after, I received a text from Alex: "You planning on staying hidden in the lounge until the party's over?"
I glanced up, instinctively scanning the room. No cameras. Still, I was sure that crafty old fox was keeping tabs on me, making sure I didn't cause any trouble.
But it was him who invited me to this party.
Taking a deep breath, I stood and walked out the door.
The hallway was empty, and my tense nerves began to relax. I had been to these kinds of events before, but I still never quite felt like I belonged.
Everyone was impeccably dressed, the men gentlemanly yet restrained, the women draped in diamonds and pearls, exuding elegance and grace.
Even the air felt luxurious.
Looking down at the sea of perfectly groomed men and women, I couldn't shake the feeling of being an outsider.
After all, I wasn't one of those born with aristocratic airs.
During my six years with Austin, he rarely brought me to events like this.
It wasn't just because he thought I wasn't good enough for them—it was that I always seemed out of place among these people.
Every time I showed up, it felt like self-inflicted humiliation.
And of course, the high-society women always whispered behind my back, knowing they'd never offend anyone from the Herrera family.
"Laurel, I didn't expect you to show up." A sweet, almost sickly voice called from behind me.
I froze for a second, then turned to see Rosemary in a white couture dress, her eyes narrowing with curiosity, her lips curling into a radiant smile.
She clearly despised me, but she still had the audacity to wear that fake smile. How hypocritical.
I wasn't interested in wasting my time playing games with her. I turned to walk away.
But Rosemary blocked my path, her gentle smile still plastered on her face.
It was the same kind of fake smile, but when Alex smiled, it didn't bother me the way hers did.
"Dumped Austin, huh? Planning on seducing Alex next? Laurel, I didn't think your skin could be this thick," she whispered, leaning in close, her voice dripping with mockery.