Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 467: Chapter 467

Kailyn was completely intimidated by Alex's cold and sharp gaze, and even her sobbing came to an abrupt halt.
Samantha looked at the man in the wheelchair with confusion in her eyes, as if she couldn't understand why he was standing up for me.
After understanding the whole situation, Maddox frowned slightly and reprimanded Kailyn.
Kailyn said, "Laurel, I'm sorry. It was my fault."
Looking at Kailyn, teary-eyed and trembling as if she were deeply wronged, I smiled. My voice was gentle as I said, "Yes, it was your fault. After all, I did tell you that this bracelet was expensive and that I couldn't lend it to you."
Kailyn was momentarily stunned. Tears clung to her long eyelashes, but a flicker of resentment flashed through her eyes.
Even if I had falsely accused her, so what? If she spoke up now, no one would care.
After all, half of what I said was true. No one really cared about the truth of our conversation. What they cared about was who won this round.
Kailyn had originally planned to use this banquet to ruin my reputation, but she never expected Alex to step in and support me.
To my surprise, Kailyn had chosen to side with Samantha, and I had become their common enemy.
Samantha had always been a smart woman. How could she not see Kailyn's ulterior motives regarding Alex?
Perhaps she was simply too confident, convinced that as long as she could separate me from Alex and destroy my reputation, he would surely divorce me.
But what she hadn't expected was that, despite his resentment toward me, Alex would not only defend me but do so in such a domineering and protective manner.
"Laurel, we've spoiled Kailyn too much. Whatever she wants, we give her, and she's never learned proper boundaries," Melody said. She cast a feigned scolding glance at Kailyn. "If you like the bracelet, your brother can buy you one later."
Though it sounded like she was blaming her daughter, what she was truly doing was sending me a message. Kailyn was the true daughter of the Parks family.
Whatever she wanted, they would give her, while I, as her elder sister, was being petty over a mere bracelet.
She even brought up Isaac, my brother.
With just a single sentence, Melody made it clear to me that, even with Alex protecting me, in the Parks family's eyes, I was still an outsider.
Isaac was my own brother, yet when I clashed with Kailyn, he never even questioned the situation. To him, no matter what Kailyn did, I should always tolerate her unconditionally, simply because I was her elder sister.
How ironic. The Shepherd mother and daughter could never truly accept Zachary and me, yet they still expected me to obey them. But I didn't return to the Parks family to endure their oppression.
With a bright smile, I lifted my gaze and glanced at Isaac before shifting my focus to Kailyn's hand. Then, I responded in agreement, "Isaac dotes on you. He will surely be willing to buy you one."
Kailyn hesitated for a moment before putting on an obedient expression, lowering her voice as she said, "I just thought it looked pretty. I never meant to take it from you."
I smiled, not only at Kailyn's foolishness but also at how she hadn't inherited even a fraction of Melody's cunning.
If she hadn't tried to take it, then why would I have pushed her away?
I said, "A piece worth about ten million dollars is beautiful. I only wear it on important occasions. After all, even if you have the money, you may not be able to buy it."
As soon as I finished speaking, Alex corrected me with an expressionless face. "It's worth more than 40 million dollars."
Everyone immediately exchanged glances. My heart thudded in shock, and my legs went weak.
If I had known the real price of this bracelet, I wouldn't have worn it even if someone had beaten me to death.
I only wore it at public events to maintain appearances. Because compared to those rich young ladies, I had nothing truly remarkable to show off.
After all, the handbags they casually carried were worth over 300 thousand dollars.
Meanwhile, I only bought bags for convenience and never cared about excessively high prices.
The most expensive bag I had ever purchased was second-hand from a luxury boutique, and it had never cost more than 15 thousand dollars.
As for those costing hundreds of thousands or even a million dollars, I did own a few, but they were all gifts from Alex, sitting untouched in the display cabinet.
Taking things from others always comes with a price, and besides, I never attended events that required such extravagant bags.
Maddox's face lit up with an obvious smile, enthusiastically pulling Alex toward the living room for coffee and conversation.
I silently followed behind, leaving Samantha fuming with anger.
She had thought she could take advantage of Alex's resentment toward me and worm her way into his good graces, only to find that he had already forgiven me in just one day.
Finally, Maddox was pulled away by someone else.
Alex asked me to take him outside for some fresh air.
I asked, "Why did you help me? Aren't you afraid of ruining your plans?"
Alex shook his head and replied in a deep voice, "Everything is within my plan. After all, you are my wife. How could I let others bully you?"
I was momentarily stunned, then chuckled softly. Alex gazed at me coldly but didn't ask any further questions.
"Do you know who killed my child?" I asked abruptly.
I had always believed it was Austin and Bailee who had conspired together, using Edwin to push me down the stairs. I had barely survived, but my child hadn't been so lucky.
It wasn't until much later that I discovered the true culprits weren't Austin, but Kailyn and Bailee.
What Kailyn didn't know, however, was that Bailee had once saved Alex's life.
The reason she had appeared here was simple. She wanted to get rid of me and take my place as the Herrera family's matriarch.
Alex didn't immediately answer my question. He remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "It wasn't Austin."
He sighed softly. "Austin doesn't have the guts. Harold, Bailee's uncle, once did me a great favor. I can't hurt Bailee."
"What about Kailyn?" I turned to look at Alex, my gaze sharp. "Because she's Melody's daughter, you don't dare to offend her either, do you?" Perhaps he had his own burdens and unavoidable circumstances.
But the one who died was still his own child.
Every time I thought about the baby in my belly, it felt like a knife was carving out my heart.
Alex was silent for a long time before he apologized to me.
I smiled faintly, my expression calm. My tone was even as I said, "It doesn't matter. After all, you never wanted this child anyway."
Alex stared at me in stunned silence, as if he couldn't understand why I would say such a thing.
I asked, "Am I wrong?"
If he had truly wanted the child, he wouldn't have spent a fortune to force me into an abortion.
Alex turned his gaze toward the sunlight outside.
"I never disliked the child," he murmured. "I just wasn't ready to be a father." His cold, quiet voice echoed in my ears, and his sorrowful eyes locked onto mine.