Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 190

Chapter 190: Hello, Ex, I Finally Found My Worth!
The night air was crisp against Emma’s skin as she stepped out of the gallery, her heels clicking against the pavement.

She didn’t stop walking, didn’t slow down. She just needed to get away. Away from the crowd, away from the whispers, away from the heavy weight pressing down on her chest.

Ivy was right behind her, calling her name, but Emma barely heard her. The only thing echoing in her mind was that name—Dawn.

Alex’s supposed daughter.

Emma sucked in a shaky breath, her mind still reeling from everything that had just unfolded. Her birthday, which had started as a beautiful, joyous evening, had turned into something she could never have imagined.

A child.

Not just a child but a child with another woman.

Even though Alex had denied it, and even though she believed him, there was still something about it that left her shaken. Not because she thought he was lying, but because of what it meant.

Alex had been with other women.

Of course, she had always known that. He was a grown man, successful and handsome, and he hadn’t spent his entire life waiting for her. She had never asked about his past relationships because it wasn’t her place, and she had told herself it didn’t matter especially since after she heard about him losing his fiancee to the cold hands of death.

But standing in front of Natalie tonight, seeing that child… something ugly and unfamiliar had coiled in her stomach.

Was it jealousy or what?

Emma exhaled sharply, shaking her head. Was she really jealous of the women Alex had been with before her? That there’s a possibility of another woman other than her having Alex’s child.

The rational part of her knew how ridiculous that was. His past was his past, just like hers was hers. But tonight, faced with a living, breathing reminder of it, she had felt something she hadn’t expected.

A sharp pang of possessiveness. Was that how he had always felt seeing Jake and her in the same space? How had he managed to hide it so well?

She had never wanted to think about him with anyone else. Never wanted to picture him touching, kissing, or making love to another woman.

Yet, Natalie had stood there tonight, claiming she had a piece of Alex that Emma never could. A child. Not that she couldn’t, but was yet to.

Emma wrapped her arms around herself, feeling suddenly cold despite the warm evening.

But it’s not true.

She reminded herself of that fact. Alex had been firm. He had called Natalie a liar, had refused to even consider the possibility that the child was his. She believed him, she did.

But it didn’t erase the emotions that had surged through her. The strange insecurity, the lingering unease.

“Emma, slow down!” Ivy caught up to her, grabbing her wrist gently. “You’re walking like you’re being chased.”

Emma blinked, startled out of her spiraling thoughts. She hadn’t even realized how fast she had been moving.

“I just… I needed to get out of there,” she admitted, pressing a hand to her temple. “I couldn’t breathe.”

Ivy softened. “I know. That was a lot to take in.” She paused, searching Emma’s face. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Emma let out a hollow laugh. “Where do I even start?”

Ivy smiled gently. “Start with what’s bothering you the most. What if that child is his? I know he said otherwise but he slept with her so there’s a possibility,” Ivy said reasonably.

Emma hesitated, then sighed. “It’s not that I don’t believe Alex,” she said slowly. “I do. I saw it in his eyes—he wasn’t lying. I don’t know why but I believe him. If he says he’s not responsible then there’s probably a good reason why he’s so firm in his stance. But…” She shook her head. “I didn’t like hearing about his past. I didn’t like seeing that woman standing there, so confident that she had something that tied her to Alex forever.”

Ivy hummed in understanding. “It’s natural, Em. You love him. It’s not easy hearing about the people who came before you, especially when they show up out of nowhere making wild claims. I totally understand how you feel but don’t you think he feels the same way too, especially since your ex husband was his own nephew.”

Emma chewed on her bottom lip. “I know, I know and I feel stupid for even thinking about it….”

“Don’t,” Ivy cut in firmly. “You’re human. And you’ve been through a lot tonight. Give yourself a break and just think about how you truly feel beneath that jealousy.”

Emma sighed, her shoulders slumping. “I want to think but then, there’s Jake…”

Ivy frowned. “Yeah. That was weird. He just happened to be that had found Natalie? And was even telling you to go back home with him. That can’t be a coincidence.”

Emma nodded, her mind racing again. “That’s what I’ve been thinking. How does he even know Natalie? How did he know to bring her here tonight of all nights? Who even told him about the gallery opening?” She shook her head. “I can’t help but feel like this was all planned. Did I tell you he’s been trying to get me back?”

Ivy’s eyes darkened slightly. “He’s been what? Was that why he tried to say those nonsense tonight?”

“Yeah. I was too angry and shaken by everything. Otherwise, I would have told him, ‘Hello, Ex-husband, leave me the fuck alone! As you can see, I have finally found my worth,’ when he first approached me. Who knew he was going to tell me about the possibility of Alex having a child with another woman?” Emma said and Ivy couldn’t help but giggle.

“Did you just say, ‘hello, Ex-husband, I finally found my worth’? Why? Because Alex has spoilt you silly?” she asked and Emma glared at her, making her raise both hands in surrender.

“I understand what you mean and honestly, it definitely felt like a setup.”

Emma exhaled. “Jake wants me back. He made that very clear. And what better way to break me and Alex up than to drop a supposed love child into the mix?”

Ivy’s expression turned grim. “And Natalie? What does she get out of this?”

Emma frowned. “I don’t know.”

That was the part that confused her the most. If Natalie was lying, if Dawn wasn’t Alex’s child, then why was she doing this? What was she hoping to gain?

Money? Attention? Revenge?

Was she even the little girls mother? What mother would put her child through such drama just to tear another woman’s home?

She had seen the sadness in the little girl’s brown eyes and though she had been angry, she had felt a pang of guilt for being the reason Alex wasn’t even considering the fact that he could be the child’s father.

Was there a woman who’d lie about a child’s paternity knowing a simple paternity test could solve the whole case? She mused and her heart skipped a beat.

What if they go for a DNA test and it turns out positive, what would she do then? Would she still want to be with Alex with someone like Natalie in the picture? Or was she going to leave? Why was her life which was beginning to go back to normal getting all messed up again?

Emma’s stomach twisted. She didn’t have the answers to all her questions and right now, she wasn’t sure she wanted them. She wouldn’t even be able to face it.

She just needed a moment to breathe. A moment to think and calm her head.

She needed a moment away from Alex, from Natalie, from Jake and all the chaos since it was suffocating her.

“Ivy,” she said suddenly, turning to her friend. “Can I stay at your place tonight?”

Ivy’s eyes widened slightly in surprise before she nodded. “Of course. Are you sure, though? Alex might worry.”

Emma hesitated, guilt flickering in her chest. She didn’t want Alex to think she was leaving because she doubted him.

But right now, she wasn’t sure she could go home and act like everything was normal. She needed time to clear her head, to push past the tangled emotions that tonight had stirred.

“I’ll text him,” she said. “Let him know I just need some space tonight. That it’s not about him, I just…” She sighed. “I just need to process everything.”

Ivy nodded in understanding. “Then let’s go. You can stay as long as you need.”

Emma sent Alex a quick message, letting him know she was safe and staying at Ivy’s for the night, before following her best friend toward the car.

As she slid into the passenger seat, she let out a slow breath, staring out the window.

Tonight had been a disaster. A mess of lies, accusations, and painful emotions she hadn’t been prepared for.

But one thing was clear. No matter what, Jake and Natalie were planning, she wasn’t going to let them break her and Alex apart.

She wasn’t giving them that power. Not now. Not ever. She was just going to clear her head so when next she was to face them, she’d do so with a clear head.