Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 194

Chapter 194: Distraction
Jake walked into his penthouse, his mind racing with everything he had uncovered over the past week. He tossed his jacket onto the couch and ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.

Despite all the chaos, at least there was a way he could manipulate Dawn’s paternity test. That alone was a win.

As he sank into a chair, his thoughts drifted back to the day he had gone to the orphanage, where Margaret had finally told him that Alex was adopted. That revelation had been shocking, but he hadn’t stopped there.

He had asked more questions, trying to dig into Alex’s past since he had been looking for anything he could use to separate him from Emma.

That was when he learned something even more intriguing—someone had come looking for Alex shortly after he was adopted years ago.

The staff at the orphanage had recalled that the person claimed Alex’s real name was Carter Howells.

But they had been unable to confirm anything since a fire had broken out at the orphanage three days after Alex’s adoption, destroying most of the documents—including Alex’s adoption records and pictures.

The person had provided pictures of Alex when he was younger and the head at the orphanage had confirmed the person in the picture to be Alex, they wasn’t much they could do since the couple who adopted Alex had left the city then.

That had made it impossible for them to provide further details. However, the person who had come searching for Alex had left behind a contact number, hoping to be reached if any new information surfaced.

Despite the fact that it’s been several years ago, Jake, desperate for any dirt on Alex, had taken the number without hesitation.

He had called, expecting an older relative or someone with a grudge against Alex. Instead, he had been met with the voice of a young woman.

Because of his imaginations, he had thought something else and had quickly arranged a meeting with her.

She had introduced herself as Fiona and claimed her mother had told her about a brother she had never met. According to her, before her mother passed away, she had insisted that Fiona had an older brother who had been adopted.

As a child, Fiona had begged her adoptive parents to find him so they could adopt him as well, but by then, Alex—or Carter—had already vanished, leaving no trace of him.

Jake had listened carefully, intrigued. Could it be true? Could Alex have a biological family out there he didn’t even know about? More importantly, how could he use this to his advantage? And why had Alex forgotten all about his family? He had thought.

Back in the present, Jake leaned forward, his mind already forming a plan. Fiona. She could be useful.

Though he wasn’t certain of his suspicion but he could use her.

He would go to her, tell her that Alex had finally been found, and pretend that Alex had sent him to collect a DNA sample. She would have no reason to doubt him since she thought he was only helping her.

If she agreed, he could use her sample in place of Dawn’s for the DNA test, ensuring the results came out in his favor.

Just as he smirked to himself, satisfied with his plan, his phone buzzed on the table. He absentmindedly picked it up, expecting a random notification—until his eyes locked onto the message on the screen.

“You not only sold me out when all I did was for your own good, but you also discarded me, forgot about me, and ran back to your ex-wife, professing your love for her while I’m in hiding. I hope you are able to protect yourself and her from me because I won’t take your betrayal lightly.”

Jake’s blood ran cold. His fingers tightened around the phone as his heartbeat quickened.

It was no doubt, Vanessa King.

There was no doubt in his mind that she was the one who had sent the message. But how? How did she find out what had happened? Where was she now?

He smacked his forehead when it hit him. The news. She had seen everything there. How could he have been so tactless with that action of his?

She must have seen the trending reports, the videos, everything. It was all over the media and now she was out against him too. Damn it.

Jake cursed under his breath and stood up abruptly, pacing the room. Vanessa was dangerous. She was unpredictable. If she was still alive and back in the picture, it meant trouble—not just for him, but for Emma as well.

He had to find her before she got to him. Or worse… before she got to Emma.

Away from there, Vanessa stood in the dimly lit motel room, her fingers tightening around the burner phone as she read the message she had just sent to Jake. Her lips curled into a smirk, satisfaction gleaming in her dark eyes.

But she wasn’t foolish. She knew Jake. The moment he saw the message, he would panic and start searching for her. She couldn’t let that happen.

With a flick of her wrist, she pulled the SIM card out of the phone and tossed it into a half-empty glass of water on the bedside table. The tiny chip sank to the bottom, useless now. She wouldn’t make the mistake of leaving a trail like she had done the last time.

She started pacing, her boots clicking against the floor, her mind working rapidly. How could she get to Emma? That was the real question. She had been following her from a distance for over two weeks now and she’d have to admit it wouldn’t be as easy as it had been the last time since she was always in the company of people.

It had been months since she had lost everything, her life, her man even her freedom. And it was all because of her.

Her fingers curled into fists as she thought about what she’d seen in news.

Jake thought he could discard her like trash. That he could betray her, run back to Emma, and act like she never existed.

No.

She wouldn’t allow it. Not when she was living this way.

She needed revenge, and she needed it now.

But she had to be smart. She had to be careful.

Her eyes flickered to the small television in the corner of the room. The news was still playing, reporters talking excitedly about Alex and the unexpected scandal surrounding him.

Vanessa tilted her head, considering.

Right now, everyone was too distracted by the paternity test drama. Alex. Emma. And Jake with wanting to get Emma back. Even the media.

That meant no one would see her coming. They’d be too distracted to even notice the danger she was. And that was exactly what she needed. The distraction.

Her lips stretched into a slow, chilling smile. Now was the perfect time to strike.