Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 126: Ice Queen Boss

Hunter unlocked the front door to his apartment, the weight of the long workday pressing down on his shoulders.

His mind was still replaying the sound of Ivy's laughter from their call earlier. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her all day—the way her voice softened when she spoke to him, the way she'd blushed after receiving the flowers. She was special. Different.

But his good mood quickly shifted when he got into his house and noticed Derek lounging on his couch, legs kicked up on the coffee table as if he owned the place.

"Derek?" Hunter asked, eyebrows raised. "What are you doing here?" he asked regretting why he let Derek know his password.

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

Derek grinned, holding up a half-eaten bag of chips like it was an invitation. "What? A guy can't drop by and check on his friend? Thought you might be drowning in trying to make new recipes—or better yet, making moves on your Ice Queen boss."

Hunter's jaw tightened. "Don't call her that."

Derek raised a brow, the teasing glint in his eyes sharpening. "Since when do you care what I call her? You're the one who said she was..."

Hunter shook his head, tossing his keys on the counter as he cut in. "I know what I said. I'm just saying, she has a name. Show some respect."

Derek's gaze narrowed suspiciously as he set the chips down. "Huh. Okay, Mr. Defensive. Are you sure you're not...falling for her?"

Hunter froze for a heartbeat before scoffing. "What? No. Come on, Derek. I'm just saying you don't need to throw around names like that. I'm getting to know her a d she's...she's different than I thought, okay?"

Derek smirked, leaning forward. "Different how? Oh, wait—don't tell me. You've caught feelings. You've caught feelings, haven't you?"

Hunter rubbed the back of his neck, trying to brush it off, but the heat in his face betrayed him. "Drop it, man."

But Derek wasn't letting this go. His smirk widened. "Oh, this is rich. I hope you're not because things won't end well for you both when she learns of the bet and the real reason you entered the restaurant. How's it going? You know, clock's ticking, buddy. Less than two weeks left."

Hunter's stomach twisted at the mention of the bet and the reason he got into the restaurant. He hated being reminded of it.

Back when he'd agreed, it had seemed so easy—harmless, even. Flirt with his boss, make her see he was every woman's man then work in her kitchen, get some insider details, and win back his mother's restaurant from his father. But things were different now.

Thinking about how complicated things were becoming, he sighed.

"I don't want to talk about that," Hunter said, his voice quieter this time. He didn't even know what to say about it all. He wasn't ready to confess his feelings to his friend and have him tease him all his life.

Derek heard Hunter and his smirk faded. "Seriously? Since when did you become this soft? What happened to the guy who would always say 'business first, emotions last'?"

Before Hunter could answer, his phone buzzed loudly on the counter. His father's name flashed across the screen.

Hunter stared at it, his jaw tightening. The ringing felt louder with each passing second, but he didn't move to pick it up.

Derek watched him carefully. "Let me guess. The old man?"

Hunter exhaled through his nose, folding his arms. "Yeah. Probably calling to make sure I'm still dancing to his tune."

The call stopped and silence settled over the room, but it was the tense, uncomfortable kind.

Derek spoke first. "Look, man. I know you've got issues with your dad. But this is about your mom's restaurant. I thought you wanted that back more than anything. That place meant the world to her."

Hunter clenched his fists. "I do. You know I do. But I'm tired, man. I'm tired of him controlling everything I do. I can't keep being his puppet, Rek. He pulls the strings, I jump—just like always. And for what? There's even no guarantee he'll even give me the restaurant back if I do what he asks. He could just hand it over to my half-sister like he's done with everything else."

Derek nodded slowly. "Yeah, but you agreed to this plan. Spy on Ivy's restaurant, get the information, and take back what's yours. Why the sudden change of heart?"

Hunter hesitated. His chest felt tight, like there was a battle raging inside him. How could he explain it? How could he put into words the way Ivy made him feel—like he was more than just some pawn in his father's game?

Before he could respond, Hunter's phone buzzed again. His father.

This time, frustration surged through him. And without thinking, he snatched the phone and answered it.

"What do you want?" Hunter snapped.

His father's voice came through cold and measured, as always. "I called earlier. Why didn't you pick up?"

Hunter's grip on the phone tightened. "I was busy."

"Busy? Or avoiding me?" His father's voice dripped with disappointment. "Tell me, how far along are you with gathering information on Ivy Anderson's restaurant? I expect results, Hunter."

Hunter's heart pounded. He could feel Derek watching him from the couch, but all he could think about was Ivy—her smile, the way she'd looked at him this morning, trusting him.

"There won't be any results because I'm not spying on her," Hunter said, voice calm but firm.

There was a beat of silence. Then his father's voice turned icy. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me," Hunter continued. "I'm done playing your games. I'm not going to betray Ivy just to win back the restaurant. I won't be part of this anymore."

His father's voice sharpened. "You ungrateful boy. Do you have any idea what you're risking? That restaurant is your mother's legacy. And you're just going to throw it away because of some integrity which you obviously lack?"

"I'm not throwing anything away!" Hunter shot back, voice rising. "I'm finally standing up for what's right. Mom would never have wanted me to hurt someone else just to get the restaurant back. And if you can't respect that, then maybe you don't know me at all."

His father's voice dropped, dangerously quiet. "You know? I'm going to pretend we didn't have this conversation. If you don't have results by the end of this month, Hunter, then consider yourself disowned. I'll cut you off from everything for real this time," Mr. Stone said and without waiting for Hunter to say anything, he disconnected the call.

Hunter stared at the screen for a long moment, his heart pounding painfully in his chest.

Derek finally broke the silence. "Dude... are you sure about this? Like, really sure? That was pretty final."

Hunter exhaled shakily, setting the phone down. His hands trembled slightly, but there was a strange sense of calm settling over him now.

"Yeah," he said softly. "I'm sure. I've thought it through, Derek. I'm done being my father's puppet. If losing the restaurant is the price I have to pay for doing the right thing, then...so be it."

Derek shook his head, but there was a hint of respect in his eyes. "Man, you're either the bravest guy I know—or the craziest."

Hunter managed a weak smile. "Maybe both," Hunter said but deep down, he knew he'd made the right choice.

For once, he was following his heart. And it was leading him straight to Ivy. All he needed to do now was find a way to tell Ivy the truth.