Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 108

Chapter 108: We Should Forgive Him

Claire pressed her lips together, fingers curling tightly around the phone. She wanted to speak, to explain, but the weight of Alex’s disappointment made her chest ache.

How was she supposed to tell him what she was thinking in her mind when obviously from what Alex said, he wasn’t in ready to forgive Jake or Margaret?

Could she tell him her thoughts? She mused and the took a deep breath. She needed to voice it out. She told herself as she looked directly into Alex’s piercing eyes.

Finally, she forced the words out.

“Actually…” she whispered, “I spoke to Jake, at the police station today….”

Alex’s eyes narrowed, his eyes darkening as he looked at her, his face a mix of disbelief and something sharper—betrayal. “You what?”

Claire swallowed. “When Margaret called earlier before we found Emma to tell me it was Vanessa, there was something about her and what she said about Jake that I needed to confirm. And… after speaking to Jake myself…. I think we should forgive him, Alex.”

The room seemed to freeze the moment the words left her mouth.

Alex stared at her, eyes narrowing as if trying to understand words that didn’t make sense. His voice dropped lower, rougher.

Why on earth would Claire say something like that when she had witnessed just how much danger Jake and Margaret had placed Emma?

What if Emma had died in this process? What was wrong with Claire? He mused, his eyes flashing with anger.

“Forgive him? Claire, Emma almost died. She was kidnapped, hurt because of—because of them! How could you, despite knowing all this expect me to forgive him still?”

Claire opened her mouth to speak but before she could respond, the phone rang again, the sound loud and intrusive in the tense silence.

Claire glanced at the screen. It was Margaret again calling her. Claire flashed Alex an apologetic look and without another word, she answered.

“Hello?” Claire called the moment she received the call.

Margaret’s voice was shaky, almost timid. “Claire… it’s me. I—” She hesitated. “Did you—did you find Emma? Is she okay? Please, tell me she’s safe and no harm came to her. Did you catch Vanessa?”

Claire’s throat tightened. She hated how fragile Margaret sounded, how genuine the concern in her voice seemed despite everything.

And the thought that Margaret had hated Emma so much hours ago yet was caring so much and was feeling really guilty made her heart soften.

“We found her,” Claire said quietly. “She’s in the hospital. Recovering.”

A breath of relief came from the other end. Then, softer, “Oh, thank God, she’s safe. What about Vanessa? Was she caught? Is she arrested now…?”

Claire closed her eyes and then exhaled. “Vanessa escaped.”

A soft gasp. “Oh God. I—I’m so sorry, Claire. I—If I’d known any of this— It’s all my fault… I should never have….”

Claire cut her off gently. “I know, Margaret. I know you didn’t want this.”

There was a beat of silence before Margaret whispered, “Where are you? I want to come. Please. I need to see Emma. I need to explain— to ask her forgiveness. I need to speak to Alex too. Which hospital is she?”

Claire sighed, torn between empathy and exhaustion. After a moment, she relayed the hospital’s name and room number.

Margaret whispered another soft, broken apology before the call ended.

When Claire lowered the phone, Alex was already watching her, his face hard with disbelief.

“Claire,” his voice was tight, controlled but trembling with anger. “You’re talking to her? You’re giving them the time of day after everything they’ve done? Are you even on my side? Do you care about Emma at all?” he asked while Chris watched them both, waiting to see how things would play out since he could understand them both.

“Alex, I—”

“No.” His voice cut through hers, sharp and final. “I don’t want to hear it.”

And then, almost as if the universe felt their troubles, the door to Emma’s ward opened slightly. A nurse stepped out, offering a small, reassuring smile.

“She’s stable. You can see her now, but only one person at a time,” she said gently.

Without another word or glancing at Claire, he turned away, pushing the door open and disappearing into Emma’s room, leaving Claire standing there with her heart twisting painfully in her chest.

Claire and Chris remained behind, watching as he disappeared inside. And in that moment, Claire realized something. He had been deeply hurt by everything.

And for the first time in a long while, Claire felt like she was losing him by taking this chance to make everything right in their family for once.

After Alex left, the hospital corridor felt colder now, the sterile white walls pressing in on Claire as she sank back onto the bench. Her mind echoed with Alex’s harsh words, his disappointment cutting deeper than she’d expected.

She felt torn—stretched too thin between the brother who she had always protected and her younger sister who had once broken his heart but was trying to find her way back.

Margaret sounded so sincere, so full of regret. But Alex… He was still consumed by the pain of nearly losing Emma, the betrayal still raw. She could understand him, but she couldn’t help feeling confused and torn.

Her hands trembled slightly as she clasped them in her lap, her eyes fixed on the floor tiles, tracing their dull patterns as if they could offer some kind of clarity.

Chris, who had stayed silent after Alex stormed off, finally broke the silence.

“You know,” he said gently, sitting beside her, “you’re wearing that same frown you had back at the warehouse when you were chewing your lip.”

Claire blinked and gave a weak chuckle, despite herself. “Is that your way of saying I look awful? Besides, how did you get the chance to see that in that very tense moment?”

Chris tilted his head, offering a small, lopsided smile. “I couldn’t help noticing it and no, I’m not saying you look awful. It’s just my way of saying you’re overthinking and worrying too much again.”

Silence settled between them. Chris leaned back against the bench, watching her carefully.

After a long pause, she exhaled shakily. “Was I wrong?”

Chris didn’t answer right away. Instead, he watched her, considering his words. Finally, he shook his head.

“No, Claire. You weren’t wrong.”

Her eyes met his, glassy with unshed tears. “But Alex—”

Chris cut her off gently. “And neither was Alex.”

She blinked, confused as she looked at him. What did he mean by she wasn’t wrong and he wasn’t wrong.

“What do you mean?” she asked him.

Chris rested his elbows on his knees, lacing his fingers together as he spoke carefully.

“Look, you gave Jake and Margaret a chance because you saw the regret in their eyes. You spoke to him, and you felt the sincerity in his words. Only you know that. Alex… he’s not there yet. He didn’t see the regret you saw neither did he see the pain. He’s still seeing the pain, the risk they brought to Emma and all the things they cost her. And honestly? He has every right to feel that way.”

Claire nodded, staring at her hands again.

“But,” Chris continued, his voice softer, “if Jake and Margaret truly have changed… if their regret is real, Alex will see it too. You know him—he’s protective, but he’s fair. He’s not one to hold onto grudges forever, not when he sees the truth for himself.”

Claire sighed. “I just hate feeling caught in the middle. I care about them both. But Alex… he’s my brother. I’ve never seen him this hurt before, not even when Margaret did all sort of things to him.”

Chris nodded, his expression tender as he studied her face. “That’s because he’s scared, Claire. He almost lost the woman he loves. It’s not just about Jake and Margaret anymore—it’s about Emma. About losing her. And fear… it makes people lash out.”

She swallowed hard, her heart aching at the memory of Alex’s face—pale, drawn, his hands trembling when he’d paced the hallway just moments before.

Chris’s voice was steady. “Give him time. He needs to process this his own way. But trust me, Claire—he’ll come around. He’s too good of a man not to.”

She let out a shaky breath. “You really think so?”

Chris nodded firmly. “I know so.”

Silence settled between them again, softer this time. Chris shifted closer, his voice dipping lower.

“And, for what it’s worth… you’ve got a good heart, Claire. The fact that you’re even asking yourself this question shows that.”

Her lips parted slightly, her gaze lifting to meet his, and for a brief moment, the ache in her chest eased just a little.

“Thank you, Chris,” she whispered.

His smile was gentle, but there was something deeper behind his eyes—something warm, steady, and patient.

“Anytime,” Chris said, glad he could be of help to Claire at a time like this.