Falling For My Ex's Uncle - Chapter 62: Chapter 62

"Samantha really is something else," Angela muttered, her voice laced with anger. "I saw Mr. Herrera walk out of your room this morning, and not only did she act completely unfazed, but she's still clinging to him. Don't you get angry, Laurel?"
I gave a wry smile. "Samantha truly carries herself like a queen. Honestly, if I were a man, I might like that kind of woman too."
Just then, Samantha turned and began walking toward us, her heels clicking rhythmically against the floor.
"Angela, would you get me a drink?" she asked, her tone smooth but with an edge.
"I'm afraid you'll end up getting eaten alive by Samantha," Angela replied, worry flickering in her eyes.
I patted her hand gently, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. My meat isn't that easy to swallow. Go ahead."
With a resigned sigh, Angela reluctantly walked off to the bar to get us drinks.
Now alone with Samantha, she stood in front of me, her gaze heavy with meaning. "I suppose I haven't introduced myself properly," she said, her smile faltering. "I'm Samantha, Alex's fiancée."
Her words hung in the air, and her smile quickly turned cold. She fixed me with a look that was more mocking than sincere.
I nodded, my expression remaining calm as I smiled back. "Fiancée?"
Samantha paused for a moment, as if pondering her next words carefully. "Alex clearly likes you. You have a similar aura and appearance to mine. But honestly, last night, he was just trying to get under my skin."
Her tone shifted from confident to almost apologetic, but I could see through her act. A cynical laugh bubbled up inside me. If she was truly his fiancée, then what did that make me, the woman he'd already married?
"So, how much are you offering me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes, a smirk creeping onto my face. "How much to walk away from your fiancé? I'm curious—will he give me more pocket money, or will you?"
Samantha froze, her face betraying a moment of surprise, but more than that, there was a flash of anger. She probably never expected Alex to give me money, or maybe she didn't think I'd dare to say something like that.
"Miss Parks," she said after a long pause, trying to regain control. "I know you're angry, and you probably don't believe me, but I can prove it to you."
"Prove it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Let's see who really matters to Alex, shall we?" Samantha's voice was sweet, but there was a chill beneath her smile, something dark and threatening.
I didn't have the energy to play her game, so I casually rubbed my temple as if I were having a headache. "I don't need proof. I'm a little tired. Excuse me."
Before I could leave, a waiter passed by with a tray, but he stumbled and bumped into me. Before I could even react, a hand shot out from beside me, pulling me toward the pool. In an instant, I was falling into the water—dragged down with Samantha.
The cold, dark water closed over me, and a wave of fear gripped my chest.
Since I was little, the thing I've feared the most is water, because one winter, I almost drowned in a small river not far from my grandmother's house.
That river, though small, wasn't really small at all.
And when the tide came in, the water could rise as high as a person.
In the winter, a thick layer of ice would form over the lake, but even so, the children never went near the lake's edge.
But when I was six, I was tricked into going to the lakeside, and then someone pushed me from behind.
The ice cracked open, and my body got stuck in it. I struggled to get out, but the more I fought, the faster the ice broke.
Before I could even cry out, I fell straight into the icy water.
It felt like there were hands pulling me down from beneath the water, pulling me deeper and deeper.
Later, I managed to survive, but I lost my trust in people. I went from being an outgoing little girl to someone who barely spoke.
More importantly, I never wanted to make close friends again.
Sometimes, when they're unhappy, they might take my life.
Now, with the water closing in around me, I was certain I was about to die. But then I saw Alex dive in, swimming toward me.
I reached out, but instead of pulling me toward safety, he grabbed Samantha, holding her close as he swam to the surface.
Of course. Samantha was his first love. What did I expect? He wasn't about to save a woman who, in his eyes, was nothing more than a mere convenience.
I was no one to him.
But I wasn't ready to die. Not like this. Not with my mother still depending on me, and not with Angela, who would surely be heartbroken.
In that moment, I thought of Angela crying, and I wished she would stop—her crying was far too ugly.
"Laurel, wake up."
I slowly opened my eyes, groggy and shivering, to see Angela leaning over me, her face drenched in tears.
"Stop crying," I muttered weakly. "If you keep crying, no one will want you."
I propped myself up, forcing a smile despite the chill. But as I did, I noticed a figure looming over me. It was Isaac, drenched, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low.
I shook my head, the cold still creeping through my body. "I'm fine... just cold. But Miss Harvey... is she okay?"
Angela was about to snap, but I quickly placed a hand on her arm, signaling her to stay calm. There were still plenty of people around.
"She's fine. Mr. Herrera took her back to her room," Angela said coldly.
I nodded and tried to stand, my legs unsteady beneath me.
"I'll take you back," Isaac said, offering a hand.
I shook my head, my voice distant. "No, thank you, Mr. Parks."
Isaac gave me a look of mild frustration. "Don't mention it. Just treat me to dinner next time."
I smiled weakly, nodding.
Angela gently helped me back to the room.
As I sank into the warm water of the bath, my body still trembling, I felt like I was slipping back into an old, cold place. I stayed in the bath for half an hour, trying to warm up, but the chill inside me didn't go away.
Once I felt a little better, Angela took me downstairs to the restaurant. Although it was past mealtime, food was available around the clock.
As soon as we sat down, we overheard a conversation from the next table, filled with mocking laughter.
"I told you, there's no way Mr. Herrera would give up his first love for some random woman."
"What's the big deal? Stealing him from her should be easier than from someone like Miss Harvey. But getting him from the Harvey family? Good luck with that."
"Did you see how Mr. Herrera rushed to her side the moment Miss Harvey fell into the water? He practically dove in after her." One of the women sighed dramatically. "And I heard they're going to announce their engagement next week."
Angela's face twisted with shock and disbelief.
Seeing her anger bubble to the surface, I quickly spoke up, trying to defuse the situation. "You don't like him, so what's the point in being upset?"
"Laurel, don't you care? He..."
I interrupted, cutting her off. "People have the right to choose. Even if they're married, they can get divorced."
I breathed a sigh of relief when Angela fell silent.
In truth, Alex's indifference to my life and death didn't hurt as much as it should have. It was just a transaction. And maybe, just maybe, it was better that way. People should know their place.