Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 50: Chapter 50
You are reading Falling For My Ex's Uncle, Chapter 50: Chapter 50. Read more chapters of Falling For My Ex's Uncle.
The entire banquet hall fell into an eerie silence, as if the very air had frozen in that moment.
No one had expected Kayden, the always gentle and refined figure, to raise his hand against his beloved son.
"Kayden, why did you hit your son?" Amanda couldn't help but blink back tears, her eyes wide in disbelief as she stared at him.
"Shut up," Kayden snapped, his eyes widened as he turned to face her. His voice was cold and harsh. "If Rosemary's not feeling well, take her home. A too-indulgent mother only spoils her child."
With those words, he cast a fierce, silent gaze toward Rosemary, his anger evident in his eyes.
Angela looked at me in confusion, and I couldn't help but smile faintly.
Finally, someone understood.
Austin, observing Kayden's fury and watching his mother storm off with Rosemary in tow, fell into a brief silence before finally speaking up. "Alex, I'm sorry."
Alex smiled lightly, his expression unbothered as he glanced briefly at Austin, seemingly indifferent to the drama that had just unfolded.
As Austin turned and left, dejected, the mood in the room shifted back to its previous energy, the crowd's chatter and laughter picking up once more.
Meanwhile, Alex's handsome face remained adorned with a warm yet distant smile as he greeted the guests around him.
"Honestly, I was ready to go down with the ship—if Kayden hadn't stepped in and slapped him, stealing my thunder, I would've never let him off the hook," Angela muttered, hooking her arm through mine, her face puzzled. "Wasn't it always said that Kayden was so fond of his son? Why did he suddenly hit him?"
Kayden, Austin's father, had always been a laid-back man. Though technically the manager of the Herrera Group, he never involved himself in the company's decision-making.
He merely held a title, showing up at the office only a few times a month.
He had no ambition beyond his hobbies of fishing and chess.
The only thing that seemed to truly matter to him was his son, Austin.
He had spoiled him to the core.
After Kayden and Amanda had married, it took years for them to have a child, despite there being no medical issues on either side.
When they finally had Austin, their joy knew no bounds.
To better care for their child, Kayden had chosen to become a full-time stay-at-home dad.
This decision earned him the affectionate title of "Best Dad."
Perhaps it was because of this that I always assumed Kayden's kindness toward me was simply a byproduct of his love for Austin.
And whenever he was around, even Amanda's attitude toward me seemed a bit different.
For the longest time, I had believed that the strong-willed Amanda listened so obediently to Kayden because their marriage was strong.
But today, I saw Kayden in a whole new light.
"It seems the real powerhouse in Austin's family isn't Amanda, but Kayden."
Angela tilted her head, squinting slightly, then asked, "You sound just like my mom."
She bit her lip, then asked again, "He seems so humble, almost like a gentleman. How could he..."
"Because the true gentleman is often the most ruthless," I finished for her.
Angela blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Have you ever wondered why a woman as powerful as Amanda allows Kayden to have such control over her?"
Angela's eyes widened slightly as she asked, "But I thought they had a good relationship?"
"If their relationship was so good, why would Kayden spend all his time fishing, playing chess, and painting while Amanda is obsessed with her appearance?"
"Hmm, that makes sense," Angela said thoughtfully. "But you still haven't answered the big question: why did Kayden hit Austin?"
I casually accepted the whiskey from the waiter, took a lazy sip, and responded, "Because if he hadn't, Alex would've."
Kayden was a master at reading people, so he'd picked up on even the subtlest of expressions from Alex.
Had Alex made a move, things could've spiraled out of control.
If Alex had acted, it wouldn't just have been Amanda and Rosemary kicked out of the hall.
Even Austin, if he ever wanted to return to the Herrera Group, would find it impossible after such a public spectacle.
And even if he did manage to re-enter, who would take him seriously after the chaos he caused at Alex's birthday party?
Anyone who managed to stay in the higher ranks of the Herrera Group had to be sharp.
And Austin had a father who appeared to be uninvolved with the world—how could he possibly maintain a foothold in such a cutthroat environment?
"Laurel, you're going to be my rock from now on," Angela said, hugging my arm. "Alex stood up for you in public, and he even wanted to step in and teach that scumbag a lesson. Looks like you're destined to be Mrs. Herrera!"
I gave a bitter laugh. "Alex didn't publicly claim me as his. He just used me as a pawn."
Angela furrowed her brows. "Laurel, I don't get it. How do you know all this? You seem to understand the schemes of the upper class better than me."
"Well, it was you who told me to watch more of those aristocratic dramas," I teased with a smile.
Angela shot me a sideways glance, pouting. "I watch just as many palace dramas and socialite shows as you do. Why can't I see through it?"
I sighed quietly, smiling slightly.
Sometimes, ignorance was bliss.
"Don't worry. From now on, I'll be your strategist. Once you marry into the aristocracy, I'll make sure no one bullies you."
Angela nodded enthusiastically, her eyes narrowing with pleasure as she grinned. "Do you think Rosemary will be furious when she finds out we never filmed the video? I bet she's going to be so mad!"
"Maybe. But after the last few times she suffered in silence, she had no choice but to believe I had real proof this time." I shot Angela a disapproving glance. "You were a bit late to the party, but I didn't expect you to act so well."
Angela raised an eyebrow, grinning playfully. "Of course. You don't think I've been on enough blind dates to know how to play a part?"
"Anyone catch your eye here?" I teased, glancing around the room.
At that moment, I noticed a pretty, sly face making its way toward us, wearing a mocking smile.
Kailyn shot me a side-eye, then turned to Angela, her voice dripping with ice. "I'm curious, who exactly is Angela?"
Angela, sensing the hostility, responded without hesitation, "Who are you?"
"Kailyn."
Angela gave her a look of pure disdain, as if she were sizing up a fool, then smirked and said, "Miss Shepherd, I don't think we've met."
Kailyn locked her gaze on me, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Does your friend know you're impersonating her?"
I shrugged casually, giving her a small, disinterested smile. "Did I ever say I was Angela?"
No one had expected Kayden, the always gentle and refined figure, to raise his hand against his beloved son.
"Kayden, why did you hit your son?" Amanda couldn't help but blink back tears, her eyes wide in disbelief as she stared at him.
"Shut up," Kayden snapped, his eyes widened as he turned to face her. His voice was cold and harsh. "If Rosemary's not feeling well, take her home. A too-indulgent mother only spoils her child."
With those words, he cast a fierce, silent gaze toward Rosemary, his anger evident in his eyes.
Angela looked at me in confusion, and I couldn't help but smile faintly.
Finally, someone understood.
Austin, observing Kayden's fury and watching his mother storm off with Rosemary in tow, fell into a brief silence before finally speaking up. "Alex, I'm sorry."
Alex smiled lightly, his expression unbothered as he glanced briefly at Austin, seemingly indifferent to the drama that had just unfolded.
As Austin turned and left, dejected, the mood in the room shifted back to its previous energy, the crowd's chatter and laughter picking up once more.
Meanwhile, Alex's handsome face remained adorned with a warm yet distant smile as he greeted the guests around him.
"Honestly, I was ready to go down with the ship—if Kayden hadn't stepped in and slapped him, stealing my thunder, I would've never let him off the hook," Angela muttered, hooking her arm through mine, her face puzzled. "Wasn't it always said that Kayden was so fond of his son? Why did he suddenly hit him?"
Kayden, Austin's father, had always been a laid-back man. Though technically the manager of the Herrera Group, he never involved himself in the company's decision-making.
He merely held a title, showing up at the office only a few times a month.
He had no ambition beyond his hobbies of fishing and chess.
The only thing that seemed to truly matter to him was his son, Austin.
He had spoiled him to the core.
After Kayden and Amanda had married, it took years for them to have a child, despite there being no medical issues on either side.
When they finally had Austin, their joy knew no bounds.
To better care for their child, Kayden had chosen to become a full-time stay-at-home dad.
This decision earned him the affectionate title of "Best Dad."
Perhaps it was because of this that I always assumed Kayden's kindness toward me was simply a byproduct of his love for Austin.
And whenever he was around, even Amanda's attitude toward me seemed a bit different.
For the longest time, I had believed that the strong-willed Amanda listened so obediently to Kayden because their marriage was strong.
But today, I saw Kayden in a whole new light.
"It seems the real powerhouse in Austin's family isn't Amanda, but Kayden."
Angela tilted her head, squinting slightly, then asked, "You sound just like my mom."
She bit her lip, then asked again, "He seems so humble, almost like a gentleman. How could he..."
"Because the true gentleman is often the most ruthless," I finished for her.
Angela blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Have you ever wondered why a woman as powerful as Amanda allows Kayden to have such control over her?"
Angela's eyes widened slightly as she asked, "But I thought they had a good relationship?"
"If their relationship was so good, why would Kayden spend all his time fishing, playing chess, and painting while Amanda is obsessed with her appearance?"
"Hmm, that makes sense," Angela said thoughtfully. "But you still haven't answered the big question: why did Kayden hit Austin?"
I casually accepted the whiskey from the waiter, took a lazy sip, and responded, "Because if he hadn't, Alex would've."
Kayden was a master at reading people, so he'd picked up on even the subtlest of expressions from Alex.
Had Alex made a move, things could've spiraled out of control.
If Alex had acted, it wouldn't just have been Amanda and Rosemary kicked out of the hall.
Even Austin, if he ever wanted to return to the Herrera Group, would find it impossible after such a public spectacle.
And even if he did manage to re-enter, who would take him seriously after the chaos he caused at Alex's birthday party?
Anyone who managed to stay in the higher ranks of the Herrera Group had to be sharp.
And Austin had a father who appeared to be uninvolved with the world—how could he possibly maintain a foothold in such a cutthroat environment?
"Laurel, you're going to be my rock from now on," Angela said, hugging my arm. "Alex stood up for you in public, and he even wanted to step in and teach that scumbag a lesson. Looks like you're destined to be Mrs. Herrera!"
I gave a bitter laugh. "Alex didn't publicly claim me as his. He just used me as a pawn."
Angela furrowed her brows. "Laurel, I don't get it. How do you know all this? You seem to understand the schemes of the upper class better than me."
"Well, it was you who told me to watch more of those aristocratic dramas," I teased with a smile.
Angela shot me a sideways glance, pouting. "I watch just as many palace dramas and socialite shows as you do. Why can't I see through it?"
I sighed quietly, smiling slightly.
Sometimes, ignorance was bliss.
"Don't worry. From now on, I'll be your strategist. Once you marry into the aristocracy, I'll make sure no one bullies you."
Angela nodded enthusiastically, her eyes narrowing with pleasure as she grinned. "Do you think Rosemary will be furious when she finds out we never filmed the video? I bet she's going to be so mad!"
"Maybe. But after the last few times she suffered in silence, she had no choice but to believe I had real proof this time." I shot Angela a disapproving glance. "You were a bit late to the party, but I didn't expect you to act so well."
Angela raised an eyebrow, grinning playfully. "Of course. You don't think I've been on enough blind dates to know how to play a part?"
"Anyone catch your eye here?" I teased, glancing around the room.
At that moment, I noticed a pretty, sly face making its way toward us, wearing a mocking smile.
Kailyn shot me a side-eye, then turned to Angela, her voice dripping with ice. "I'm curious, who exactly is Angela?"
Angela, sensing the hostility, responded without hesitation, "Who are you?"
"Kailyn."
Angela gave her a look of pure disdain, as if she were sizing up a fool, then smirked and said, "Miss Shepherd, I don't think we've met."
Kailyn locked her gaze on me, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Does your friend know you're impersonating her?"
I shrugged casually, giving her a small, disinterested smile. "Did I ever say I was Angela?"
End of Falling For My Ex's Uncle Chapter 50. Continue reading Chapter 51 or return to Falling For My Ex's Uncle book page.