Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Gunshot
After stepping out of the doctor’s office, Alex paced the hospital hallway, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Emma sat nearby, watching him with quiet concern. She knew he was on edge—this test meant everything to him. He needed everyone to know the truth, and clear his name.

She knew the reason he was this anxious was the fact that his name had been way in too many scandals recently and it was accepting not just the company but also his mental health. Alex deserved a break. She thought and then sighed.

Before she could say anything, the sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor. Alex and Emma turned just as Jake strolled in, his usual smug expression in place, followed by Natalie and little Dawn, who clung to her mother’s hand.

Jake’s gaze flickered to Emma almost instantly, his lips curving into a playful smirk as his eyes roamed over her. With deliberate slowness, he sent her a flirtatious wink.

Emma’s stomach twisted in irritation, but before she could react, Alex was already stepping forward, his expression darkening.

“Jake,” Alex’s voice was low, and dangerous. “Look at my wife like that again, and I swear I’ll file a complaint that you’re harassing her and have you locked up again.”

Jake chuckled, unbothered. “Harassment? Come on, Alex, it’s just harmless smile. Does it bother you?”

Alex took another step closer, his jaw tightening. “Try me.”

Something in his tone must have convinced Jake to back off, because he simply raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. No need to get so worked up. We’re here for the test.”

Emma exhaled, relieved that Alex had handled it before things escalated further.

Just then, a nurse approached. “Mr. Sterling, if you’re ready then please follow me.”

Alex turned to Jake and the others. “I’ll be going in with Dawn alone.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Why alone? I should be there, Natalie should be there, too.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “No, you shouldn’t. It’s her sample that’s needed, not yours or Natalie’s.”

Natalie, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward, her lips pressing into a thin line. “And how am I supposed to be sure that her samples were actually taken? What proof do I have that this test isn’t being manipulated if I’m not there to see the samples taken myself?” She said and Alex sighed before glancing at Emma.

Emma, who had been watching quietly, met Alex’s gaze and gave him a small nod.

Alex sighed, then turned to the nurse. “Fine. Natalie can come too.”

Natalie gave him a pointed look, but said nothing.

Before Alex followed the nurse, he turned back to Emma, his expression softening slightly. “Are you going to be okay out here or you want to join us?”

Emma smiled, squeezing his hand. “I’ll be fine. Don’t worry, just go and come back to me.”

Alex studied her for a moment longer, then gave a small nod. “Alright. I’ll be back soon.”

Though he didn’t like the idea of leaving them both alone, he trusted his wife. She was his and there was nothing Jake would say to change that.

With that, he, Natalie, and Dawn followed the nurse through the double doors, leaving Emma alone in the hallway with Jake.

Emma sighed, bracing herself. She had a feeling the wait was going to feel much longer than it actually was.

Emma sat on the hospital bench, her fingers loosely entwined as she stared down at the tiled floor. The silence in the hallway was unnerving, but she forced herself to stay calm.

She sensed Jake before she even looked up. His presence had a way of making the air feel heavier, more suffocating.

“You’re wasting your time, you know,” he said resting on the wall near her.

Emma sighed and lifted her gaze to meet his. As expected, he wore that same confident smirk—the one that made her uneasy.

Jake took a step closer, lowering his voice. “You should start preparing yourself to let go of Alex and come back to me.”

Emma frowned. “Excuse me?” she said wondering why he was bent on doing this.

He chuckled, shaking his head like she was being naive. “The results are going to come out positive, Emma. You might as well start accepting it now.”

Emma narrowed her eyes. There was something about the way he said it that didn’t sit right with her. “And how exactly are you so sure, Jake?” Her voice was measured, cautious. “Do you have some kind of plan to manipulate the results? Is that why you’re so sure?”

For a moment, Jake looked caught off guard. A flicker of something— was it panic?—crossed his face, but he recovered quickly, shrugging. “What? No. Don’t be ridiculous.”

Emma folded her arms. “Then how can you be so certain?” she asked in an accusatory tone, one that told Jake she wouldn’t believe he wasn’t up to some tricks even if he denied it.

Jake sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Because Natalie said she and Alex slept together. As long as Alex agreed to take the test, it means he knows it’s true.” He leaned in slightly. “Think about it, sweetheart. Why else would he go through with this if he wasn’t already convinced? I’m sure he’s only doing this just so he could lie to you and say he never knew until the results said otherwise.”

Emma shook her head, a bitter chuckle escaping her lips. “I guess Natalie didn’t tell you the full story, then.”

Jake frowned. “What are you talking about?” he asked, confused.

Emma met his eyes directly. “Alex never even climaxed during their little time together. So tell me, Jake—if he never came, how could he have possibly gotten her pregnant? Precum? Not to forget he was using protection so? I understand she could easily say condoms aren’t hundred percent but now, he didn’t even release.”

Hearing that, Jake’s smirk faltered. His lips parted slightly, as if forming a response, but nothing came out. For a second, he looked genuinely thrown.

Emma watched as he quickly schooled his expression, but she could see the wheels turning in his head. He was probably wondering if this detail could ever make Alex suspect something.

Then, just as quickly, he brushed it off, letting out a scoff. “Doesn’t matter,” he said smoothly. “Alex could just be lying to get you to believe him. Instead of trying to overthink it, let’s just wait for the results, hmm? You’ll get all your answers when the results are out. I hope he still holds on to this story then.”

Emma exhaled sharply, shaking her head. Jake might be playing it cool, but she’d seen that flicker of doubt in his eyes. And that meant something.

Seeing that she’d dropped the subject, Jake’s gaze turned to Emma, the usual amusement in his eyes giving way to something more solemn. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“You know, Emma, despite everything and all you said to me yesterday, I still love you. Infact, my love fur you seems to be growing with each passing second.”

Emma rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Love?” she scoffed. “Jake, you don’t know the meaning of the word.”

Jake shook his head. “I’m serious. I never stopped loving you. Even after you left me for Alex—”

“I didn’t leave you for Alex,” Emma cut in coldly. “I left you because you’re a pig. A lying, cheating, manipulative pig. You asked for a divorce after killing our…. Why am I even bothering with you?” Emma hissed.

His jaw clenched slightly, but he kept his composure. “I made mistakes, Emma. But I still care about you. I never even stopped for a second.”

Emma laughed bitterly. “You don’t care about anyone but yourself.”

Before Jake could argue, something caught his attention. A figure near the entrance—dressed in dark clothes, head slightly lowered as if trying not to be noticed.

His instincts prickled. Something felt off. Was it Vanessa? Was that the person she had asked to follow them?

“Jake?” Emma frowned, noticing his sudden distraction. Though she should’ve been happy he was keeping shut, something in the way he was distracted sent shivers down her spine.

Jake barely heard her. He was still watching the figure. His pulse quickened as he saw the man reach inside his jacket, pulling something out.

On a closer look, Jake realized it was a gun and at that moment, Jake’s heart stopped.

Before he could fully process it, the man raised the weapon and aimed at Emma.

Everything happened in a blur and without thinking, Jake lunged.

A gunshot rang through the hospital hallway.

And immediately, time slowed.

Emma’s breath hitched, her body frozen as the sound of the gunshot echoed through the hospital hallway. It was loud—too loud—yet somehow, it took her brain a moment to register what had happened.

She hadn’t felt anything. No pain. No impact.

But Jake—

Jake had stumbled back after he jumped in front of her, his body jerking slightly before he collapsed.

Her heart stopped and for a fraction of a second, she refused to believe it.

No. It can’t be true.

He had been standing, talking, breathing just a moment ago. He had been arguing with her, professing some twisted version of love. He had been fine.

And now—

“Jake!” Her own voice sounded distant, like it didn’t belong to her.

Her hands reached for him before she even realized what she was doing. He was lying on the cold tile floor, his eyes wide in shock, his mouth slightly open as if trying to form words. Blood bloomed against his shirt, spreading outward, dark and thick.

It took another second for the reality to hit her.

He had taken the bullet for her. The thought sent a violent shudder through her body.

Why?

Why would Jake of all people do something like that? Why would he throw himself in front of a bullet for her? Was he serious about loving her?

Her breath came in short, uneven gasps, her mind a chaotic mess of questions and panic.

At that exact moment, Alex stepped into the waiting area since he had rushed down there after hearing the gunshot.

His breath caught and his eyes widened in horror as he saw Emma crouching beside a fallen body.

“Emma!” His voice was raw with panic as he ran toward her, his mind screaming that she’d been shot.