Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 192

Chapter 192: Selfish
The moment Emma stepped into Ivy’s house, an unsettling restlessness settled over her.

She had thought that being away from Alex, away from the suffocating tension of the party, would give her clarity. But instead, her mind felt like a whirlwind of emotions and endless questions.

“Ill go fix us something to eat before we go to bed. Are you going to join me in the kitchen or you’ll be in the room?” Ivy asked, and Emma shook her head.

“No. I’d just stay here. I need to think. My head is spinning,” she said and Ivy sighed.

“Just don’t overthink things and know you can always decide to figure it out with Alex rather than by yourself,” Ivy said and Emma nodded.

“I know. Thanks,” she said with a sigh.

She sat on Ivy’s couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her thoughts spiraling while Ivy headed for the kitchen to make dinner.

Immediately after Ivy got out of sight, Emma let her thoughts spiral again as she thought about what Ivy had just said about figuring things together with Alex.

What was there to figure out?

She had believed Alex when he said the child wasn’t his. The certainty in his eyes, the way he had so vehemently denied it—there was no hesitation, no flicker of doubt in him. But even with that, she couldn’t stop herself from thinking about the possibility.

What if Dawn is his?

The question echoed in her mind like a cruel whisper, refusing to be ignored. No matter how hard she tried to keep her mind from thinking in that direction, she just couldn’t help it.

Yes, he might say the child wasn’t his but then, he had slept with her so just how could he be so sure?

Her stomach twisted painfully at the thought of any possibility. If the DNA test proved that Dawn was Alex’s daughter, what would she do? He had said otherwise but what if? Just what if it turned out positive? What would she do then? Not that she had plenty choices other than just two which were either she left or remained with him knowing that stupid Natalie would always be a part of their life.

Would she be able to accept the child? To raise her as her own knowing she was from someone else?

Her heart ached at the thought of Alex having a child with another woman. A woman from his past. A woman who, despite everything, had a connection with him that Emma would never have or rather, was yet to. What was keeping her anyway? She thought as she let out a shaky breath, and then closed her eyes.

No. Stop thinking like this. She chides herself.

She trusted Alex. She loved him. He was her husband.

That single word—husband—made her open her eyes.

Alex was the man who had been there for her when she thought her world had ended. When she had given up on love, he had come into her life and shown her that love didn’t have to be painful, that she could be cherished and adored.

Despite her initial reservations and doubt, and despite her connection to his nephew, he had given her everything she had ever dreamed of without so much as making her question her worth.

He had helped her worked through her fears, her self esteem which Jake had trampled on. He had made her realize she could be so much more and could be loved perfectly, just the way she deserved.

And now, despite all that, she, at the first sign of trouble, had run away from him. How could she have done that? How could she be so selfish and make this about herself?

Her grip tightened on the fabric of her dress as guilt settled deep in her chest.

How must he be feeling right now? Was he also having doubts? Was he still firm in his stance? Where was Natalie? Had she perhaps forced her way into her home? Was Alex okay? How was he taking all of this?

He had just found out about Dawn today, the same way she had. How was he processing it? Was he angry? Was he hurt? Was he doubting himself even though he was so certain the child wasn’t his? What was he doing right now? He must be feeling alone and lonely.

But then, why was he so certain? Despite agreeing to the fact of having had sex with Natalie, he had been so certain. Why?

Emma frowned at the thought.

Is there something I don’t know?

The possibility made her stomach churn. She needed to talk to him. She needed to know exactly why he was so sure. Just like Ivy had said, she needed to figure this out with him. She needed to stand with him not against him.

If everyone else left, at least, she shouldn’t have. What must he be thinking of her now? She shook her head. She couldn’t stay here any longer. She needed to go to him. He needed her.

Without another thought, she stood up abruptly, her heart pounding with determination.

She had made a mistake. She never shouldn’t have left. She needed to go home now. She thought as guilt gnawed at her insides when she imagined herself in Alex’s shoes and knew without a doubt that Alex wouldn’t have left especially since the whole thing wasn’t his fault.

Without hesitation, she walked toward the kitchen where Ivy was, her best friend humming softly as she prepared dinner.

Ivy looked up as Emma entered, her brow lifting slightly. “You finally came out of your thoughts. Have you taken a bath? You’ll feel better after a warm shower, I garantee you that.”

Emma shook her head. “No, I need to go home,” she said with determination, but Ivy didn’t miss the guilt in Emma’s voice.

Ivy stilled, her hands pausing in their movements. “Didn’t you say you needed space?” Her tone was neutral, but there was something in her eyes—something almost hopeful.

She couldn’t help being happy that Emma had finally come to her senses and was going back to Alex. Though she hadn’t been happy about Emma’s decision to sleep over at her house, she had also understood that Emma probably needed time to take in everything and had decided that she’d speak to Emma if Emma thought about staying more than just one night.

Emma nodded, exhaling. “I did. But I was wrong.” She swallowed. “I’ve thought about everything, and I can’t do this to him. Not after all the love he’s shown me.”

Ivy turned to fully face her now, her arms folding. “What do you mean?” she asked wanting Emma to realize the truth herself.

Emma’s throat tightened. “I mean, Alex has been there for me. Through everything. He’s never once made me doubt him, never once given me a reason to question his love for me.” She sucked in a breath. “And now, when he needs me the most, I ran away. That’s not fair to him. Natalie could be just trying to defame him or maybe he could truly be the father but he also heard about it today. Though he had been certain, I’m sure there are thousands of questions swirling in his head and he needs someone to ask those questions. He needs someone to rant to.”

A small smile tugged at Ivy’s lips, but she said nothing.

Emma continued, her voice firm with conviction. “Even if the child turns out to be his, that was before me. He just found out today, just like I did. How can I punish him for something he didn’t even know about?” She shook her head. “I love him. And I know he loves me too. I’m not letting anything or anyone come between us.”

For a moment, Ivy simply stared at her, and then, with a soft chuckle, she stepped forward and pulled Emma into a tight hug.

“You made the right choice,” Ivy murmured. “Go home to him. Face this together.”

Emma closed her eyes, relief washing over her as she hugged Ivy back.

She had been drowning in her thoughts, in her fears, but now… now she knew what she had to do.

After a few seconds, Ivy pulled away and smiled. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

Emma shook her head. “No, it’s fine. My driver should be around.”

She knew her bodyguard must be nearby, probably waiting outside Ivy’s house just in case she needed him or Incase something happened since Alex had told her about it.

Reaching for her phone, she dialed his number. The line barely rang before he picked up.

“Ma’am?”

Emma took a deep breath. “Take me home.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She ended the call and turned to Ivy. “Thank you for everything, Ivy. For letting me have space to think.”

Ivy smiled warmly. “That’s what best friends are for.”

Together, they walked to the front gate, and just as Emma had expected, her driver/bodyguard was already waiting for her.

As she stepped toward the car, Ivy called out, “Hey.”

Emma turned back and Ivy grinned. “You’ve got this.”

Emma smiled, nodding. “I do.”

With that, she slid into the car, and as the vehicle pulled away, she felt the last remnants of doubt leave her.

She was going home. To her husband and to the man she loved.