Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 174: I Need To Hear From Him

"I'm guessing she believes the rumour and blames me for our father's death," Hunter said bitterly. "She was the apple of his eye. No matter what she did, he adored her. And now that he's gone, she's just going to believe I did it without giving me benefit of the doubt."

Matthew leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "If that's true, then why isn't she here, screaming and cussing you? I mean, that's what losing someone as dear as her father to her by murder. It's always so painful," Matthew said and Hunter shook his head.

"She's the only one that can answer that question," Hunter said and Matthew nodded.

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"True. What about your inheritance? Why wouldn't more than half of Mr. Stone's estate go to her, especially if you two weren't close and she's the apple of his eyes? He's supposed to have given her a larger portion so what's going on?"

Hunter clenched his fists. "That's what I don't know. I'm not even sure what's in the will. But my father and I were always arguing. If anyone deserved his favor, it was Chloe so this is all so confusing. He never loved me."

The lawyer's eyes narrowed. "Are you close with Chloe or you're just lying to me?"

"No! Why would I lie?" Hunter said flatly.

"Why not?" Matthew asked, sensing there was more to the story.

"Why not what?" Hunter asked with a frown.

"Why aren't you close? You're older by just seven years so what happened?" Matthew asked, taking note of all he was asking.

Hunter's lips pressed into a thin line before he finally spoke. "Because her mother ruined everything for me. Her mother ruined my life."

Matthew's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Hunter's eyes darkened as memories resurfaced. "Chloe's mother seduced my father when I was just a kid. She didn't stop until she forced her way into our lives, becoming his mistress while still living in the same house as my mother."

Matthew felt a knot forming in his stomach. "In the same house?"

"Yes." Hunter's voice was low, filled with bitterness. "My mom tried to hold it together for me. But Chloe's mother wasn't just content being there—she wanted more. She had ambitions. So, one day, when I was almost seven years old, I saw her push my mother down the stairs while they were arguing and my dad wasn't home."

Matthew's breath hitched. "You saw it happen?"

"Yes, I did. You can imagine what it must he like for a barely seven years old boy," Hunter said, his voice breaking slightly. "I ran to help, but it was too late. My mother died before we could even get her to the hospital. I was rendered motherless at that young age."

Matthew's mind raced as he tried to process what Hunter was saying. "What did your father do when you told him?"

Hunter's expression hardened and even though he really didn't want to say it, he forced himself to.

"I told him but he didn't do anything. I had first thought that maybe he's was grieving but when that evil witch kept living with us even after the funeral, I tried to tell him what I saw again, hoping he'd act on it this time, but instead of listening or taking actions, he sent me off to boarding school. And Chloe's mother stayed behind, living in the house, taking care of Chloe after putting to birth, as if nothing happened."

Matthew felt a surge of anger on Hunter's behalf. "So he just... sent you away instead of arresting her?"

Hunter nodded. "He didn't want to deal with me or my accusations. And after that, I couldn't see Chloe without remembering what her mother did. Her very existence became a reminder of everything that went wrong. My dad too, I stopped being so close to him after that. It became even worse over the years, when he'd threaten to give my mother's restaurant to Chloe just to get me to do his bidding."

Matthew leaned back in his chair, processing everything. Hunter's resentment toward his father, Chloe and her mother was understandable. But it didn't explain everything—especially not the will.

"And your father never talked to you about any of this?" Matthew asked with a confused frown.

"No," Hunter said. "We fought about everything else, but never that. It was the one thing we never discussed. It was almost like he never wanted me to ever talk about it."

Matthew sighed. "This changes things. If your father was so protective of Chloe and her mother, it makes no sense that you're the sole inheritor. There has to be more to this story. More your father didn't say."

Hunter nodded, his expression grim. "I just want to know the truth about who is doing this."

"I'll do what I can," Matthew promised. He stood up, grabbing his briefcase. "I need to visit your father's lawyer. He's the only one who can confirm what your father's true intentions were."

Hunter's eyes softened slightly. "Thank you, Matthew."

As Matthew walked out of the station, his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The pieces of the puzzle didn't fit, but he was determined to get to the bottom of it. And the key, he suspected, lay with Mr. Stone's lawyer since he knew only a lawyer aside close relations could know other people's position in their client's life.

Whatever secrets were buried, he was going to uncover them—no matter what it took. Even if it turned out Hunter was responsible, he didn't care. All he wanted was justice.

Away from there, Emma noticed Ivy pacing back and forth in her office long after the lawyer had left there, a troubled expression on her face.

Since the lawyer, Matthew Lewis, had left, Ivy had grown unusually quiet and withdrawn, lost in her own thoughts. Emma, sitting on the chair across from Ivy with a book she wasn't actually reading, finally spoke up when she got tired of following Ivy with her eyes.

"Ivy, what are you thinking? You've been really quiet since Matthew left." Emma's tone was gentle, filled with concern.

Ivy stopped pacing and ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know," she admitted. "I just need to go see Hunter. I need to hear from him. I need answers. It's frustrating everybody."

Emma's brow furrowed. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean, after everything..."

"I understand your worry, sis but then, I need answers, Emma," Ivy said firmly. "I can't sit here and wonder. I need to hear what he has to say."

Emma sighed but didn't push further. "Okay. Will you be okay?"

"Yes," Ivy said, though her tone was uncertain. "I just want to understand. Maybe I've been wrong all along. Maybe there's one piece of information that can fit into this puzzle perfectly."

Emma nodded, standing up. "If you want, I'll come with you."

Ivy's eyes softened, and she gave Emma a grateful smile. "Thank you. I'd appreciate that."

They both grabbed their coats, and as they stepped outside, Emma's driver was already waiting by the car. They slipped into the backseat, and the car pulled out onto the street.

The drive to the police station was quiet, too quiet, even. The silence hung between them, but neither woman seemed ready to break it.

Ivy stared out the window, watching the world blur past. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of memories and doubts. She thought about Hunter—the boy who had once been her protector and the man now accused of killing his own father.

How had they gotten here? She remembered his desperate plea for her to believe in him, but she had shut him out. Maybe she had made a mistake. If this was his only chance, what was the possibility that she could do anything to him without them knowing.

"What if I was wrong?" Ivy thought. "What if he's innocent and I didn't even give him a chance?"

Her mind circled back to the lawyer's visit. Matthew believed there was more to the case than what met the eye. The mention of Chloe had stirred something in Ivy, a gnawing suspicion that refused to go away.

Meanwhile, Emma sat beside her, also lost in her own world. Her thoughts drifted to Jake. His betrayal had left scars that hadn't fully healed, and every time she thought she was moving on, the past came rushing back. Why that? What was she going to do?

She thought and then sighed. She was busy thinking about what she could do about Jake but then, there was Vanessa—or the figure she had thought was Vanessa. That shadowy figure still haunted her, a constant reminder of danger lurking just out of sight.

"Was it really Vanessa?" Emma wondered. "Or am I just imagining things?"

Her fingers tightened on the edge of the seat as she tried to shake off the uneasy feeling. She needed to focus on Ivy now.

The police station loomed ahead, its gray walls stark under the afternoon sun. Ivy felt her heart thudding in her chest as they stepped inside.

The smell of disinfectant and stale coffee filled the air, and the sound of ringing phones and murmured conversations created a constant hum.

Emma, sensing Ivy's nervousness, gave her arm a light squeeze. "I'll be right here. Take your time."

Ivy nodded, grateful for Emma's steady presence. A uniformed officer appeared, motioning for Ivy to follow. She gave Emma one last glance before trailing behind the officer down a narrow hallway.