Hi Ex, Your Uncle Is My Hubby Now - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

"Irene...?"
Dorian looked genuinely taken aback.
He'd figured she'd be upset, but he hadn't expected that missing one date would make her cry.
When a woman truly loved a man, even the smallest things he did—or didn't do—could stir up huge emotions.
And in this moment, Dorian saw just how deeply Irene cared for him.
Strangely enough, it gave him a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Irene slowly looked up, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "Dorian…"
Her voice trembled with hurt. "I got home at nine last night. The moment I walked through the door, I had to deal with my selfish, self-centered father.
"After I finally got rid of Henry, I didn't even get a chance to be upset. I went straight to the kitchen to bake you a birthday cake."
As she spoke, she pulled back her sleeve, revealing a burn on her pale arm. Her voice hitched, full of wounded frustration. "I burned myself… and you didn't even bother to call."
Dorian's gaze dropped to the raw, blistered skin on her arm. His heart gave a sudden, sharp tug.
He could have come home last night. But Amaris had a sudden arrhythmia episode, and worried something might happen to her, he stayed at the hospital all night.
He didn't leave until morning, once she was stable. Then he rushed straight back to Eldraeth City.
And now, realizing Irene had also stayed up waiting for him—alone—he couldn't shake the bitter feeling in his chest.
For the first time, he felt a real stab of guilt toward her.
"Irene, I'm sorry. I didn't finish work until almost eleven. I figured you were busy lately, and I didn't want to wake you with a late-night call."
"That was my mistake. I should've called." He moved behind her desk, leaning in as if to hug her.
But Irene shoved him back, her tears still falling as she snapped, "Dorian, are you seeing someone else? If you've found someone new, just say so. I swear I won't hold onto you."
His stomach dropped. He felt a wave of panic.
"Why would you think that?" he asked quickly.
He couldn't let her catch on—not now. If she started digging, if she found out the truth about Amaris, everything he'd been working on would fall apart. No more trips to Halverra City.
No more phone calls. Not even a text.
If Irene found out who Amaris really was to him, the whole game was over.
"I'm just guessing," Irene said coldly.
Dorian exhaled—quietly, almost imperceptibly.
"Irene, I swear—you're the only one I'm with." He raised his right hand solemnly. "If I'm lying, if I've got someone else out there, then I…"
He trailed off.
Irene looked at him, eyebrows lifted. "Then what?"
He gave a confident smirk. "Then I deserve to be abandoned by everyone and die alone."
That finally made Irene crack a smile through her tears. She sniffled and pouted playfully, "Well then, you'd better be careful."
She thought, 'Because if you lie to me, I'll make sure you lose everything.'
"Not mad anymore?" Dorian asked, watching her closely.
Irene stuck her lower lip out in a pout and walked off to the break room. When she came back, she was holding a small, homemade cake.
It wasn't exactly pretty—just a single layer of sponge cake with a thin coating of whipped cream and a few scattered blueberries.
She set it gently on the desk. "I made three. This was the only one that turned out even halfway decent."
Then she stuck a little "28" candle into the top and lit it. Smiling softly, she began to sing.
"Happy birthday, Dorian. Make a wish and blow out the candle."
When Irene called him Dorian, her tone was a little stiff, almost awkward—but that only made it sound more innocent, more unpolished in a way that tugged at the heart. It was completely different from the sweet, affectionate way Amaris said it.