Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 135: Morning Afters

Sunlight crept into Chris's bedroom, casting a golden glow across the room. Claire stirred against the silk sheets, her body still warm from the intimacy of the night before.

She stretched slightly, only to feel Chris's arm tighten around her waist, holding her close.

"Good morning," Chris murmured, his voice still husky with sleep as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

Claire sighed, a mixture of contentment and lingering doubt swirling inside her. She turned to face him, her gaze meeting his sleepy, yet alert, brown eyes. "Good morning," she replied softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Chris gave her a lazy smile, leaning in to press a kiss to her forehead. "You're even more beautiful in the morning," he said, his voice warm and teasing. "I could get used to waking up like this."

Claire rolled her eyes, though a smile tugged at her lips. "You're too smooth for your own good, Jacobs."

He chuckled, propping himself up on one elbow. "And you're too hard on yourself, Sterling."

Claire's smile faltered, and she looked away, her thoughts swirling. "Chris... are you sure about this, though?" she asked quietly, her fingers absently tracing patterns on the sheet.

Chris frowned slightly, reaching out to tilt her chin so she'd look at him. "Claire, what's that supposed to mean? What are you talking about?" he asked, clearly confused.

She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation. Though she enjoyed last night and enjoyed the feel of belonging to him, she didn't want to continue thinking all this was going to end.

"You're young, Chris. Younger than me by almost a decade. You could have anyone—someone closer to your age, someone who fits into your world without all the whispers and judgment," she said, pouring out her worry to him.

Chris's gaze softened as he took her hand in his, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "Claire, I don't care about whispers or judgment from the society. I care about you and I love you. I've never been more certain of anything in my life like I am about you so I'm not going to lose you because of some societal judgement or whispers."

"But—" she began, but he cut her off with a firm, yet tender kiss.

"No buts," he said, his voice steady after he pulled away. "You're the woman I want, Claire. The only one. Age doesn't matter to me and neither should it to you. What matters is how I feel when I'm with you. And how I feel... is that I'm exactly where I'm meant to be. With you as my own person."

Claire's chest tightened, emotions swirling inside her. "You're so sure," she whispered, her voice tinged with awe and a hint of disbelief.

"I am," Chris said, his gaze unwavering. "And I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you if I have to."

She let out a shaky laugh, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes as she looked at him, her heart swelling with a feeling she hadn't felt in a long while.

"You're impossible, you know that?" she said with a small smile.

"And you're irresistible," he replied, pulling her into his arms. "So stop doubting and just let me love you. Okay?" he asked looking into her eyes.

Claire rested her head on his chest, her doubts slowly melting away as she listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. "Okay," she said finally, her voice soft but certain. "And I'll stop doubting."

Chris smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Good. Now, how about breakfast?" he asked and she opened her mouth to speak.

But before she could, a knock on the door interrupted them, and Claire quickly pulled the sheets up to cover herself as Chris called out to the maid, "Come in."

A maid entered, carrying a tray laden with coffee, fresh fruit, and croissants. She placed it on the bedside table, her gaze politely averted.

"Breakfast is served, sir," she said before leaving.

Chris turned to Claire with a grin. "See? I told you I'd take care of you."

Claire shook her head, though her lips twitched into a smile. "With someone's hard work? You're insufferable."

"And you're stuck with me," he said, handing her a cup of coffee before taking his own.

As they sat together, sharing the quiet intimacy of the morning, Claire couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this was exactly where she was meant to be, too even though it was with someone younger than her.

Away from there, Emma stirred, her body cocooned in the warmth of her and Alex's bed. She blinked awake, her gaze settling on Alex's peaceful face as he lay next to her.

His dark lashes fanned against his cheeks, his lips slightly parted as he breathed steadily. Emma smiled to herself, brushing a stray curl from her face as memories of the night before washed over her.

The passion, the intimacy, the laughter and how he made her feel, it had all felt like a fairytale. But now, in the stillness of the morning, reality set in, and it was somehow even better.

This is my life, she thought, her chest tightening with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. This man is my life. Alex, someone she thought was just there to use her to solve his own problem at some point.

She reached out, her fingers lightly tracing the line of his jaw. He stirred at her touch, his eyes fluttering open.

"Hey," Alex murmured, his voice raspy with sleep as he stretched lazily. His hand reached out, covering hers and pulling it to his lips.

"Hey," Emma replied softly, her cheeks warming under his tender gaze.

"You're the one staring today," he teased, a crooked grin spreading across his face.

Emma rolled her eyes, though her smile didn't falter. "It shouldn't surprise you."

"I'm not surprised. Just happy," Alex said, his voice serious now. He propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes scanning her face. "Every time I wake up and see you, it feels like the first time. Like I can't believe you're mine."

Emma's heart swelled at his words. She let out a soft laugh, trying to mask the tears threatening to spill. "You always know how to make me cry in the mornings."

Alex leaned closer, his thumb brushing away the tear that escaped. "Not cry. Smile. I know how to make you smile, love." He kissed her forehead gently, then her nose, then her lips, each touch filled with so much love and tenderness.

Emma giggled against his lips, her arms wrapping around his neck. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"And you're perfect," he countered, his voice dropping to a whisper as he pulled her closer.

As their breaths mingled, a soft knock at the door broke the moment.

"Breakfast is ready, ma'am," came the muffled voice of their cook.

Alex groaned, flopping back against the pillows. "Why does the universe hate me?"

Emma laughed, sitting up and pulling the sheet around her. "Because the universe knows you'd never leave this bed otherwise."

He grinned, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back down beside him. "Exactly. So why fight it?"

She playfully swatted his chest, but the laughter faded as his fingers trailed down her arm. "Emma," he said quietly, his tone serious again. "Can we just... stay here a little longer? No going out, no calls, no interruptions. Just us."

Emma looked at him, her heart catching at the vulnerability in his eyes. She reached up, brushing her fingers through his messy hair. "Okay," she said softly. "Just us."

Alex smiled, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her close. They lay there, tangled together, the outside world forgotten.

They stayed there together until eventually, their rumbling stomachs won out, and they decided to make their way to the dining room.

The smell of fresh coffee and warm pastries greeted them as they sat down. The chef brought out a platter of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast, and Alex wasted no time piling his plate high.

"You act like you haven't eaten in days," Emma teased, sipping her coffee.

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"I burned a lot of calories last night," he said with a wink, making her blush.

"You're incorrigible," she muttered, though her smile betrayed her.

As they ate, their conversation was light and playful, filled with laughter and stolen glances. But underneath it all, there was a quiet sense of contentment, a feeling that being together, and sharing these moments was all they needed.