Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 508: Chapter 508

The soft morning sunlight streamed gently through the window, casting a warm glow on the living room floor. However, despite the warmth, it failed to dispel the faint tension lingering in the air.
I had just hung up the phone, still reeling from the conversation, when I felt a probing gaze directed at me.
Alex leaned in slightly, his expression filled with concern as he asked in a gentle voice, "What happened?"
Instinctively, I pressed my lips together and replied dismissively, "Nothing, just a minor issue."
Alex frowned slightly, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. He seemed like he wanted to press further, but in the end, he simply nodded and said nothing more. Instead, he rose to his feet and quietly turned away to put on his coat.
I got up and just walked out of the room when I bumped into Maliyah Peters, who was coming in.
The moment she caught sight of Alex, she abruptly stopped in her tracks. A fleeting look of surprise crossed her face, but it vanished just as quickly.
Almost immediately, she curved her lips into a bright smile and called out cheerfully, "Alex."
Hearing his name, Alex lifted his head and returned her smile, albeit faintly. "Maliyah, good morning," he greeted.
During breakfast, the atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.
Everyone ate in silence, exchanging only the occasional polite pleasantries.
Alex quietly sipped his coffee, his gaze occasionally drifting toward the window, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Maliyah kept her head down, absentmindedly stirring her food. Her fork scraped softly against the plate, producing a barely audible sound.
I took a sip of milk, attempting to break the oppressive silence, but the words that reached my lips were swallowed back down.
After finishing his meal, Alex set down his fork with an unreadable expression and said calmly, "I have some matters to handle at the company. I need to leave now."
His voice was steady, yet I still caught the brief flicker of complicated emotions in his eyes.
Maliyah, who was sitting beside me, looked as though she wanted to say something but hesitated. Her gaze occasionally shifted toward me, as if waiting for me to speak up.
I merely nodded without a word, though deep down, I knew that going to the company might not be his true intention.
As soon as Alex left, Maliyah eagerly leaned in, lowering her voice. "Laurel, did you hear? Alex was dismissed from his position as president due to his injury. For now, Leah is acting as his temporary replacement."
Her eyes were filled with worry, her brows tightly knit. Without realizing it, she had grabbed my arm, her grip tense.
I remained composed and nodded in response, "Looks like the rumors about the heir change weren't baseless after all."
Maliyah grew even more anxious. Her face was lined with concern as she asked, "Laurel, didn't you say for sure that they wouldn't replace the heir? But now, the shareholders have allowed Leah to take over temporarily."
I gently patted her hand and reassured her, "It's only temporary. I'm sure someone else is more anxious about this than we are."
Maliyah hesitated for a moment before her eyes suddenly widened as if something had just dawned on her. "Austin?" she asked.
Her voice carried a hint of uncertainty, but I silently nodded.
Watching from the sidelines, I knew that Austin was more desperate than anyone else.
Maliyah fell into a brief silence, seemingly deep in thought. Then, she lifted her head, her gaze filled with confusion and worry, and asked, "Laurel, why are you so determined to send Javier abroad?"
I looked at her in puzzlement and asked, "Isn't going abroad a good thing?"
She shook her head, her face filled with apprehension as she answered, "Even in this country, he keeps getting into trouble. If he goes abroad, where everything is unfamiliar, I'm afraid for him."
As she spoke, her eyes turned slightly red, and her hands subconsciously clenched the fabric of her clothes.
Smiling, I took her hand and said softly, "He has to learn to grow up. Some paths in life, he must walk on his own."
Maliyah seemed like she wanted to say more, but at that moment, her phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the caller ID, and her expression changed slightly before saying, "I have something urgent to deal with. I have to go."
Without another word, she turned and hurried away.
Not long after she left, Sophina rushed over, her face filled with urgency. She held out her phone to me, her expression furious as she exclaimed, "Laurel, look at this!"
Her face was flushed red with anger, and her eyes burned with indignation.
I took the phone from her, and an entertainment article popped up on the screen.
Though it didn't mention any names directly, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the subject of the article was me.
[The Scheming Diva.] The headline made my heart clench slightly. As I read further, I saw that they had even twisted my miscarriage into a ploy to earn my husband's sympathy and the public's pity. They distorted my journey—from an unknown nobody struggling at the bottom to a wealthy industry powerhouse—into something scandalous and ugly.
Seeing such a report, I simply smiled faintly. But Sophina was fuming, exclaiming, "They're just making things up for attention! This is outrageous, Laurel!"
I shook my head lightly and said, "People can say whatever they want. It's their mouth, after all."
The truth was, I knew I wasn't innocent either.
When someone took my toy at six years old, I didn't cry. Instead, I shoved the older child down without hesitation and took back what was mine. I knew they would take it from me again if I didn't fight for it.
At ten, whenever I saw someone I disliked, I avoided them. No interaction meant no resentment. If I did encounter them, I would simply put on a harmless, sweet smile while calculating the best way to steer clear of trouble.
At sixteen, I concealed my beauty and intelligence, allowing others to bully me, because I understood that I had no power to resist authority.
By twenty, I had learned that crying was useless. Changing others was a futile effort—it was better to change myself. Complaining about fate would never help.
I lifted my head and looked at Sophina, saying, "I'm heading out today. You don't need to follow me."
She nodded but then hesitated before asking about the article, "Laurel, are you just going to let this go?"
I smiled faintly, "The truth will speak for itself. There's no need to care."
In reality, I was curious about who had leaked the information and how much money they had paid those media outlets. This level of petty gossip meant nothing to me.
At the agreed time and place, I arrived at the café where Harold had asked to meet.
Though I had doubts about whether he truly had treatment for Alex's leg injury, I couldn't afford to miss this opportunity—no matter the cost. More importantly, given his influence and connections, I was curious to find out what kind of help Harrold could possibly need from me.
The café was located on the outskirts of Nifelheim City, nestled in a quiet, secluded area with few people around.
I pushed open the door and saw a middle-aged man sitting in a corner. When he spotted me, he gave a meaningful smile, stood up, and inclined his head slightly before greeting, "Miss Parks, long time no see."