Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 189

Chapter 189: Dawn Who?
Emma’s body went rigid, her heart pounding so loudly that she could barely hear the murmurs around her. She blinked once. Twice. Hoping and praying that she had misheard.

But she hadn’t.

Jake’s words hung in the air like a thunderclap.

“Meet Natalie, Alex’s nightstand and Dawn, Alex’s daughter.”

Emma’s breath hitched. No. Daughter? It couldn’t be true. Jake was probably up to one of his silly games.

She turned to Alex, her pulse racing. His expression was unreadable, his gaze fixed on the small girl standing beside the woman—Natalie.

Emma followed his gaze, and for the first time, she truly looked at the child.

Dawn.

She looked about five years old. Dark brown eyes. Soft brown curls framing her round face. There was something painfully familiar about her features—something Emma refused to acknowledge.

Her stomach twisted violently as she shook her heard. No. No, no, no.

This wasn’t happening. The warm glow of happiness that had wrapped around her moments ago shattered into sharp, piercing shards.

She forced herself to breathe, to think at least. It was supposed to be her birthday but what was happening?

This had to be a mistake. A cruel joke.

Her fingers curled into fists and she turned to look at Jake. “Jake, if this is some kind of sick game—”

“It’s not a game, Emma,” Jake said, his voice softer now, almost… apologetic. “You deserve to know the truth and this is the truth.”

Emma’s throat tightened. She turned back to Alex, needing him to say something.

But he was silent. His jaw clenched, his body tense. And that silence… that silence was the loudest betrayal of all.

Emma’s hands trembled. “Alex,” she whispered. “Tell me this isn’t true.”

Alex exhaled slowly, finally tearing his gaze away from the child to look at her. His lips parted… but no words came out.

And that told Emma everything. A sharp, piercing pain exploded in her chest.

Her vision blurred. She couldn’t breath as she exhaled.

She took a step back, as if putting distance between them would somehow ease the suffocating weight pressing against her lungs.

Her voice cracked as she spoke, raw and barely above a whisper. “You lied to me. Have you always known?”

Alex’s eyes darkened. “Emma, I—”

“You lied to me!” she burst out, her voice louder now, thick with betrayal. “All this time, all your promises—you made me believe I was your only one. That we had a fresh start. That I could trust you.” Her breath hitched. “But the whole time, you had a child? With—” She turned to Natalie, eyes burning with disbelief. “With her?”

Natalie raised a perfectly arched brow, completely unfazed by the tension.

Then, as if snapping out of a daze by hearing those words, Alex’s expression hardened. His gaze shifted from her to Jake and to Natalie before he took a sharp step forward.

“That’s a lie. It’s all a lie. I don’t.. I don’t have a child with her and I never lied to you. Though I’ve had a one night stand with her, once at a business meeting back in Paris at about six years ago, I know for a fact I’m not the father of that girl. She’s not mine. Natalie and Jake, they’re lying,” Alex said, his voice cold and firm.

Natalie lifted her chin slightly, unfazed. “It’s not a lie. You’re Dawn’s father.”

Alex let out a humorless chuckle. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I don’t have a child.” His jaw clenched. “Yes, we had a night together six years ago in Paris. But I used protection. You know that so why this lie? Why this game?”

A tense silence settled in the air.

Emma’s eyes flickered to Natalie, searching for any sign of hesitation, any slip that would reveal the truth. But the woman didn’t waver. It was as though she had planned it.

“It happens,” Natalie said smoothly, crossing her arms. “Protection isn’t always a hundred percent.”

Alex scoffed, his frustration growing. “And I’m supposed to believe that after six years, you suddenly appear out of nowhere to tell me I have a daughter?”

Natalie exhaled, shaking her head. “I didn’t want to bother you. I could take care of myself and my baby, and I did. But as Dawn got older, I realized it wasn’t fair to deprive her of a father’s love. That’s why I came now after I saw in the news that you have a wife and a family. I needed to give Dawn, our child her family too….”

“Don’t call her my daughter!” Alex snapped.

Emma swallowed, watching Alex’s face closely.

His features were tight with anger, his fingers clenched at his sides. His denial was immediate, unwavering—but Natalie looked so sure.

Claire, standing beside them, finally spoke. “And why now?” she asked, her voice calm but sharp. “If you were so concerned about this child having a father, why wait six years? Alex was in Paris up until a few months ago. Why didn’t you reach out then?”

Natalie’s lips pressed together before she gave a casual shrug. “I didn’t want to interfere in his life. I knew he was busy, and I was fine on my own. But now that he’s settled, I thought he should know.”

Alex’s fists tightened. “Bullshit.”

Emma’s mind raced. This wasn’t making sense. If Natalie had truly believed the child was Alex’s, she would have told him sooner. Not six years later.

Her gaze flickered toward Dawn again, and she exhaled shakily. The child was innocent in all of this. But the timing? It was too suspicious.

Alex ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “I don’t care what you say, Natalie. That child is not mine. And I won’t let you waltz into my life and claim otherwise.”

Before Natalie could respond, Emma exhaled, rubbing her temple. “Alex… maybe you should just take a second and think—”

Alex turned to her immediately, eyes flashing. “Emma, I know for a fact that I’m not the father. I don’t need to think about it.”

Emma held his gaze, reading the absolute certainty in his eyes. And just like that, her doubts eased. She could see the certainty in his eyes. There was no doubts what so ever and there was no way she was going to believe a complete stranger over her husband.

The man that had been there for her, stood by her and fulfilled all her dreams even the ones she’d kept hidden from him. She believed him.

Letting out a soft breath, she nodded. “Alright.”

Alex blinked, momentarily surprised by how easily she accepted it. She believed him?

Judging by how mad and shaken she had been earlier, he had thought she’d want to call their marriage off or maybe decide to leave or something but here she was, despite knowing he had slept with the lady in question, standing by his side.

But before the conversation could continue, Jake suddenly stepped forward.

“You shouldn’t let him manipulate you, Em. Don’t listen to him and go back to his house. You should leave with me now.”

Emma turned to him, frowning. “What?”

Jake reached for her hand, gripping it firmly. “Come with me, Em. I still love you. I want you back. At least I don’t have a child outside. Let’s go back to the way we were before.”

A hush fell over the group of people there.

Alex’s eyes darkened instantly, his whole body going rigid.

Emma, however, ripped her hand away.

She took a step back, glaring at Jake with nothing but disgust.

“Jake,” she said slowly, her voice sharp. “Even if I broke up with Alex over this, I wouldn’t go back to you.” Her lips curled into a scornful smile. “Not even in my worst nightmares.”

Jake stiffened, his jaw tightening.

Emma let out a breath, shaking her head. “But don’t even bother entertaining that thought.” Her eyes flickered to Alex before settling back on Jake. “Because I’m not leaving the love of my life over something that happened before me and in case you missed it, he’s not the father of the child.”

Alex inhaled sharply, his chest tightening. Her words echoed in his head—”the love of my life.”

Despite the chaos of the situation, despite the ridiculous accusation thrown at him, his heart swelled with so much love and relief.

She wasn’t doubting him. She wasn’t leaving him. He wasn’t going to lose her over this.

Gratitude and love surged through him so intensely that he wanted to pull her into his arms right then and there.

But before he could move, Emma turned away from them. “I’m exhausted. I’m going home.”

She took a step toward the exit, but Ivy quickly ran after her.

“Emma, wait—” Ivy called, hurrying after her.

As Emma stormed off with Ivy, the tension in the room remained thick.

Alex finally turned his gaze back to Jake and Natalie, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, a smirk curved his lips.

“You two planned this, didn’t you?” he said, his voice eerily calm.

Jake’s brows furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Alex stepped closer, his presence overwhelming.

“I don’t know what your little scheme is,” he said, looking between them. “But whatever plan you cooked up to try and separate me from Emma? It won’t work.”

Natalie’s eyes flickered slightly, but she remained composed.

Alex let out a cold chuckle. “And just so you know?” He crossed his arms. “I don’t need a DNA test to prove that I’m not the father. I already know. But to prove to everyone that you’re lying, bring her over tomorrow and we’ll go for a DNA. Pray it comes out negative otherwise, you’d regret ever crossing paths with me.”

Claire, standing beside him, nodded. “You’ve made a mistake if you think you can fool him.”

Jake clenched his jaw, but Alex ignored him.

Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked off, Claire and Chris following close behind.

The guests, who had been watching the whole scene unfold, murmured amongst themselves before gradually making their way out.

And just like that, the celebration that had started with love and joy ended with a storm of deception and betrayal.