Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Someone Hit Us

Emma trailed after Claire through the mall, her steps hesitant as she eyed the glamorous displays of designer clothes. Claire, however, moved with purpose, scanning racks and shelves with a discerning eye.

“Try this,” Claire said, holding up a sleek, crimson dress with a low back.

Emma’s eyes widened. “That’s… too much. I’ll never wear it.”

“Nonsense,” Claire said with a playful grin. “You’ll look stunning in it.”

Before Emma could protest further, Claire thrust the dress into her arms and continued down the aisle, grabbing more outfits that made Emma’s cheeks flush just looking at them.

“Claire, I’m fine with my clothes,” Emma said weakly, glancing down at the growing pile of clothes in her hands.

Claire stopped, turned to her, and placed a hand on her hip. “Emma, you’re gorgeous, but you’re hiding it under all those plain, baggy outfits. Trust me on this—you deserve clothes that make you feel amazing.”

Emma hesitated, but Claire’s determined expression left little room for argument.

An hour later, Emma found herself in a fitting room, reluctantly trying on the dresses Claire had picked out. She emerged in the crimson one, fidgeting with the hem.

Claire clapped her hands together, her smile bright. “See? I told you! That dress was made for you.”

Emma caught her reflection in the mirror and had to admit, it did look good. She felt a pang of unease, though, wondering if Alex would even notice if she wore something like this.

Or maybe he would notice and like before compliment her and make her feel like she was the most beautiful woman on earth when he doesn’t feel anything for her.

How does he do it? How was he always able to say those words to look and look at her the way he does when he in fact doesn’t love her?

Emma shut her eyes when she realized she was hurting herself thinking so much about him. I have to focus. She told herself when she heard Claire call out her name.

“You should try the other ones…..”

“Did we come here for me or for you because I don’t see you with as many clothes?” Emma said and Claire giggled.

“Don’t worry. They’ll have my things delivered to me. They know my preferences,” Claire said with a smile.

“Besides, what’s so wrong with taking my brother’s wife out for shopping?” she asked with a wink and Emma rolled her eyes.

Though she had been married to Jake for over a year before Alex, she and Claire had never had to share a time like this. Not even with Margaret.

Jake didn’t let her get close to his family and she hadn’t even thought much of it since he never gave her a reason to doubt his intentions.

She sighed as thought about it. It was good to see that Claire was this free with her and they could converse like this.

“Emma? C’mon,” Claire said, cutting through her thoughts a d Emma sighed, her shoulder slumping in exhaustion causing Claire to laugh.

After much cajoling, Emma left the store with a shopping bag filled with dresses, skirts, and blouses—most of which she wasn’t sure she’d ever have the courage to wear.

“You’ll have to throw out every other clothes you used to wear especially when you were still married to Jake,” Claire said and Emma smiled but said nothing.

After Jake saw her at Alex’s place, he had sent his driver to deliver her clothes to her and because all the clothes Alex got her were too nice to stay at home, she had been wearing them.

It was even from there she picked out something to wear to the mall with Claire.

“I guess my taste was that bad,” she said and Claire nodded.

“It was,” Claire said and Emma’s eyes widened in mortification.

“Don’t tell me I said that out loud,” she said and Claire laughed.

“You did,” she said and laughed again when Emma’s face flushed in embarrassment.

“You don’t have to be scared around me. I really don’t judge and honestly, I want you to be free around me. I said you should throw the clothes out not because you had a bad taste or anything. It’s just that I thought you should forget all about the past. You know the clothes could bring a memory you don’t want and stuff,” Claire explained and Emma nodded.

“I understand what you mean. Thank you Claire, for looking out for me and taking me as a younger sister…..”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m looking out for you but I’m definitely not taking you as a younger sister. You’re my brother’s wife. You’re my own,” she said and Emma smiled.

“Thank you regardless,” she said and Claire waved it off.

“It’s fine. C’mon, let’s go grab lunch. I’m very hungry right now, aren’t you?” she asked and Emma nodded.

“I am very famished. I mean, who wouldn’t be after trying all all that clothes?” she asked playfully and Claire laughed.

“I’m sorry but I’m not sorry about that. I needed to be sure I was getting my money’s worth” she said and they both laughed.

The pair decided to have lunch at a cozy bistro inside the mall. The aroma of freshly baked bread and coffee filled the air as they sat by a window overlooking the bustling shoppers below.

As they waited for their food, Claire studied Emma with a curious smile. “So… is everything okay between you and Alex?”

Emma froze, her fork halfway to her mouth. “What? Oh… yeah, everything’s fine,” she said totally caught off guard by the question.

Claire raised a brow. “Are you sure? Because I overheard your phone conversation this morning.”

Emma’s face flushed a deep red. “You… overheard?” she asked.

Although the thought had crossed her mind, she had brushed it off when she saw how casually Claire had talked with her.

Why had she kept quiet about it all this while? What did she think of her now? How much did she even hear? Emma found herself asking.

She opened her mouth to ask Claire the questions swirling in her mind but before she could, Claire held up a hand to stop her.

“Don’t worry. I’m not judging you or anything. I just want you to know that I support you,” she said with a smile of approval and reassurance.

Emma blinked in surprise. “You… support me?”

Claire nodded, a smile playing on her lips. “Of course.”

Emma set down her fork, staring at Claire in disbelief. “But why? Shouldn’t you be upset or angry that I’m trying to…..” she let her words trail off and then shrugged. “Offering to help me is the last thing I expected after hearing you overheard me.”

Claire smiled warmly. “Because I’ve seen the two of you together, Emma. Even if Alex doesn’t realize it—or refuses to admit it—I think he loves you. And sometimes, people need a little push to see what’s right in front of them.”

Emma looked down at her plate, conflicted. “Is that why you came to stay with us?” she asked since she had also not bought the excuse.

Claire laughed softly. “What do you think?”

Emma frowned. “You don’t have to do that. I mean, really, you don’t. Nothing is going to work between Alex and I….”

Claire reached across the table and gave Emma’s hand a gentle squeeze stopping her from saying further. “I don’t believe you, Emma. I’m helping not because I think anything could happen between you and Alex but because I know. Alex likes you and seeing as he’s still unable to do anything, it’s my duty to help me. You’re part of this family now. And honestly, I like you. Alex needs someone like you in his life. You both deserve each other.”

Emma opened her mouth to argue, but Claire cut her off. “Unless… you want to tell me now that don’t like Alex?”

Emma’s eyes widened. “Of course I like him, but—”

“No buts,” Claire interrupted. “I’m not forcing anything. I just want to help. And you deserve to be happy, Emma.”

Emma sat back, unsure how to respond. She couldn’t deny the flicker of hope Claire’s words ignited in her, but she still felt uneasy.

Having nothing else to say, Emma nodded and Claire smiled. “Good. Now, finish up so we can go,” she said and Emma nodded.

On the drive back, the mood was lighter. Claire hummed along to the radio, while Emma stared out the window, her thoughts racing.

As they approached an intersection, a sudden jolt shook the car, and the sound of metal crunching against metal filled the air. Emma gasped as the car lurched forward.

“Are you okay?” Claire asked, her voice tight with concern as she turned to Emma.

Emma nodded, her hands trembling as she clutched the seatbelt. “I… I think so. What just happened?”

Claire’s eyes narrowed as she looked in the rearview mirror. “Someone hit us.”