Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Ivy Anderson

“Right now, I don’t think it’s just out of pity for what Jake did. I care about you. More than I probably should so I don’t regret it.”

Emma’s breath caught, her heart beating faster. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words wouldn’t come.

“Don’t feel pressured to say anything,” Alex said gently, offering her an out. “I just… wanted you to know and you should know it doesn’t change our arrangement either. This is all on me.”

Emma nodded slowly, her emotions a swirl of confusion and warmth. “Thank you,” she managed, her voice trembling slightly.

Alex smiled faintly, leaning back. “We should probably call it a night.”

“Yeah,” Emma agreed, standing.

As Alex walked her to the door, their usual awkwardness returned, though it felt different now—less about discomfort and more about unspoken possibilities.

“Goodnight, Emma,” Alex said, his voice soft.

“Goodnight, Alex,” she replied, her smile lingering as she stepped outside.

Alex watched her go, his thoughts a mixture of hope and uncertainty. Whatever was happening between them, he knew it wasn’t something he could ignore or act on. Emma wouldn’t want that.

Inside her room, Emma leaned against the closed door, her hand pressed to her chest. She replayed Alex’s words in her mind, feeling a warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time.

Was he perhaps feeling attracted to her like she was to him? She had thought it was just her but now it seemed to be mutual.

Was it real or did it stem out of loneliness and the fact that they were living together? Too much attention they say breeds affection.

Maybe this was a sign that she needed to do things differently now. She thought with a determined look.

Away from there, Hunter leaned back in the plush leather chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass.

The bar was dimly lit, buzzing with low chatter and the clinking of glasses. But Hunter’s mind was far from the noise around him. He had a plan—one he intended to execute flawlessly.

Across the table, a slim, dark-haired man approached, his easy stride exuding confidence. Derek slid into the seat opposite Hunter, his brows furrowed as he noticed the intense look on his friend’s face.

“What’s with the brooding look?” Derek asked, signaling the bartender for his usual drink. “You look like you’re plotting something diabolical.”

Hunter leaned forward, his smirk deepening. “You could say that.”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “Care to share?”

Hunter took a slow sip of his drink, savoring the burn as it slid down his throat. “I’ve found a way to deal with that proud girl,” he said, his voice low but filled with intent.

Derek tilted his head, intrigued. “What girl?”

“Ivy Anderson” Hunter said, the name rolling off his tongue like a challenge. “The one from the club. She thinks she’s untouchable, but I’m going to show her otherwise.”

Derek chuckled, shaking his head. “Still hung up on that? I thought you wouldn’t pursue her again but seeing as you now know her name, I think that maybe it’s time to admit defeat, my friend. She’s clearly out of your league.”

“Defeat?” Hunter’s tone sharpened. “Never. Not after what she pulled at the mall today.”

Derek’s expression turned curious. “What happened at the mall?”

Hunter’s eyes darkened as he recalled the scene. “After talking to me that way, she walked off like I was nothing.”

After he was done, Derek whistled, impressed by Ivy. “Ouch. Sounds like she hit a nerve.”

“She’ll regret it,” Hunter said through gritted teeth. “No one makes a fool out of me.”

Derek leaned back, his drink arriving at the table. He took a sip, studying Hunter carefully. “You know, this sounds more like bruised pride than anything else. Maybe it’s better to let it go.”

Hunter slammed his glass onto the table, his smirk replaced by a cold determination. “Let it go? Never. I’m going to show her what happens when you mess with me. I have her number, her socials. I know where she works. It’s only a matter of time before I figure out exactly how to break her.”

Derek frowned. “Hunter, this is starting to sound less like a plan and more like obsession. What are you even trying to prove?”

“That no girl gets to look down on me,” Hunter said, his voice steely. “She thinks she’s better than me? I’ll make her fall for me. And when she does, I’ll make sure she knows what it feels like to be discarded.”

Derek shook his head, a mix of disbelief and disappointment on his face. “You’re playing a dangerous game, man. This kind of thing rarely ends well.”

Hunter leaned back in his chair, a devilish grin returning to his face. “That’s the difference between you and me, Derek. I never lose.”

Before Derek could respond, his attention was drawn to a tall, blonde woman walking into the bar. Her figure caught the light in a way that turned more than a few heads, including Derek’s.

“Well,” Derek said, standing up and adjusting his jacket, “as fascinating as this conversation is, I think someone else needs my attention.”

Hunter glanced at the blonde and shook his head. “Go ahead. Have your fun. I’ve got more important things to focus on.”

Derek smirked. “Suit yourself. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Hunter waved him off, his focus already shifting back to his plan.

As Derek made his way toward the blonde, Hunter remained in his seat, lost in thought. The bar’s noise faded into the background as he replayed his encounter with Ivy in his mind. Her words had stung more than he cared to admit, but they also fueled his determination.

“I’ll make you regret looking down on me,” he muttered to himself, his fingers drumming against the table. “By the time I’m done, you’ll wish you’d never crossed paths with me.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, scrolling through the details he’d gathered on Ivy. Her workplace, her schedule, her favorite café—it was all there.

Hunter’s smirk returned as he leaned back in his chair, his fingers tightening around the glass in his other hand. “This is going to be fun.”

He glanced down at his phone when the screen lit up. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the reason for the light.

It was a text from his dad asking him to come home.

What could his father want with him? He rarely called or even wanted to see him so what did he want?

Hunter mused as he texted Derek that he was leaving, not wanting to spoil his fun. He had to go see what the old nag wanted.