Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Impulsive

As Claire’s figure disappeared through the restaurant doors, Emma turned back to Chris, who was staring after her, his expression unreadable.

She let out a slow breath, trying to make sense of what just happened. No matter how hard she tried to understand what was happening, it still couldn’t.

“Chris,” she said cautiously, leaning forward. “You’re joking, right? About liking her? You can’t be serious, are you?” she asked again even though Chris had already answered that.

Chris’s eyes flicked back to hers, calm and steady. “Emma, have you ever known me to joke about something like this?”

Emma blinked, stunned by the sincerity in his voice. “But you just met her yesterday! How can you possibly know you… like her? You can’t be saying something like that out loud if you’re not sure,” she said worriedly.

Chris leaned back in his chair, a small, confident smile playing on his lips. “We might have only met each other yesterday; a few minutes with her is enough to know what I want. I want Claire and I’ll get her.”

Emma’s brow furrowed as she processed his words. “Chris, this isn’t a game. Claire’s… she’s older, and…..”

Chris tilted his head, as if considering her words. “And? She’s sharp, elegant, confident, and, let’s be honest, absolutely gorgeous. Age doesn’t matter to me. I’d be a fool not to pursue her. I’m disappointed you’d even think I’ll back off because she’s older,” Chris said, shaking his head.

After seeing her the day before, he had tried to discard the thought of liking her personality but after seeing and talking to her again today, he knew it hadn’t been his mere infatuation.

He had liked the way she teased and made fun of him. More than that, he had liked the way she scolded him. She was confident and free spirited, a compatible partner for him.

He wasn’t confused or making jokes. He liked that woman and their age difference wouldn’t be an obstacle to him.

Emma sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Look, Chris, I’m sorry I doubted your intentions, Okay? But it’s just that this is the first time I’m seeing you after a whole year and Claire has become someone I care about and after what I went through, I’d be a fool to believe you like her without proper proof. I mean, do you even know anything about her? Do you know why she’s not married or what she’s looking for in life? Do you even know why she’s still single at that age? Those are the things you should first consider finding out before telling her about your enotions.”

Chris’s expression softened slightly, but the determination in his eyes remained unshaken. “I understand your fears, I do and though I don’t know everything about her, I don’t intend to not find out. I mean, that’s the point, isn’t it? To learn, and to grow closer to her. To win her heart.” He paused, then added with a wry smile, “And for the record, I’m not afraid of rejection. I’ll try to get her no matter what she says or whatever her reason of staying single is. I won’t back down.”

Emma stared at him, torn between disbelief and reluctant admiration for his confidence.

“I don’t know what to say…..”

“You can start by telling me why she’s single and if it has anything to do with the way she reacted,” Chris said and Emma shook her head.

“I really know, Chris. Claire’s been single for as long as I’ve known her,” she admitted. “She’s never really talked about relationships. I don’t know what that means, but…”

Chris nodded as though filing the information away. “That’s helpful. Thanks.”

He leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “Now, about your little plan to make your husband jealous,” he said lightly, his tone casual but his gaze sharp. “I’ll help you. But let’s be clear: my main goal is to get to know Claire. I want to court her, properly.”

Emma frowned, her concern deepening. “I don’t know how Claire’s going to take this. She’s… very independent, Chris. And the age gap might bother her a lot more than it bothers you.”

Chris chuckled softly, his confidence unwavering. “I don’t care. Even if it’s the last thing I do, I’ll win her over.”

When Emma finally stepped out of the restaurant, she spotted Claire sitting in the car, her posture rigid as she stared out the window. The usual warmth and ease Claire exuded were replaced by an unfamiliar tension.

Emma slid into the passenger seat carefully, glancing at Claire. “Claire—”

“Don’t,” Claire interrupted sharply, her gaze fixed on the scenery outside. Her tone was clipped, leaving no room for argument.

Emma hesitated, her fingers gripping the strap of her purse. “Claire, I think we should—”

“I said I don’t want to talk about Chris or anything he said,” Claire cut in, her voice low but firm.

Emma closed her mouth, feeling a pang of guilt for even bringing it up. She sat back in her seat, her thoughts racing, trying to figure out what Claire was probably thinking.

As the car pulled away from the restaurant, Emma stole a glance at Claire. Her friend’s face was stoic, her lips pressed into a tight line. But beneath the surface, Emma knew Claire must be processing everything that had happened.

What is she thinking right now? Emma wondered, her curiosity gnawing at her.

Claire, on the other hand, was battling a storm of thoughts. What does he mean he likes me? He barely knows me. She replayed Chris’s words in her mind, his confident tone, the way he’d looked at her as though he saw something she herself didn’t. Is he serious?

Her cheeks flushed again at the memory of his compliment, and she hated how it made her feel—vulnerable, unsure, and… seen. He’s too young, she thought firmly. Too impulsive. There’s no way this could be real.

It couldn’t be. She told herself. He was a man after all. Perhaps he was just using one of his guytricks to try and make her a victim once again. She wasn’t going to let that happen.

Emma seeing her stiff her composure was wanted to say something, anything to ease the tension in the car, but Claire’s closed-off demeanor stopped her.

Finally, Emma sighed quietly and turned her gaze out the window, her own thoughts shifting back to Chris’s unexpected declaration.

She couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next—and how Claire, who had always seemed so unshakable, would handle this sudden turn of events.