Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 143: My Car?

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains as Emma stirred awake, feeling Alex's arm draped over her waist that Monday morning.

She blinked against the sunlight, her mind still heavy with thoughts of Ivy. As much as she tried to push them aside, her friend's pain weighed on her heart like a stone.

Alex shifted beside her, letting out a low groan before his voice, still thick with sleep, broke the silence. "Good morning, beautiful."

Emma smiled faintly and turned to face him. "Good morning. You're awake earlier than usual."

"Someone's got to keep JB Enterprise running," he teased, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But I'm already dreading leaving you. I've gotten used to being around you all the time."

Emma's heart softened at his words. She reached out to cup his cheek, her thumb brushing against his stubble.

"I'll miss you too, Alex. But I'll keep myself busy. I'm going to check on Ivy today. She insisted on going to the office even though I tried to dissuade her last night," she said, a sigh escaping her lips.

Alex's expression shifted to concern as he thought about Ivy. "That's fine, but I need you to promise me you'll be careful," he said looking at her.

Emma raised an eyebrow, slightly amused by his sudden seriousness. "Careful? I'm going to see Ivy, not hiking through a jungle," she teased.

"I'm serious, Em," Alex said, sitting up. "Also, you should know I'll have people keeping an eye on you. And that I also installed a tracker on your car," he said and Emma blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion.

What was he talking about? She could understand his need to have people watching over her but what car was he talking about?

"What are you talking about? My car or yours that you let me use?" she asked, hoping to correct him.

"Not my car but yours, wifey," Alex said with a small smile. "I got you a car and it's parked outside."

"How is that even possible? It's still so early in the morning and we both went to bed together so how and when did you get the car?" she asked in surprise and he smiled.

"It arrived last night after you've gone to bed," he said and Emma looked at him, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

Though she wanted to believe he was just joking but the look on his face was making it hard for her.

Wanting to see fir real, Emma threw the covers off and padded to the window, her curiosity piqued. When she saw the sleek white Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan gleaming in the driveway, her jaw dropped. She turned to Alex, her mouth still slightly agape.

"Alex!" she exclaimed, half in shock, half in excitement. "That's... that's mine? You bought it for me?"

He nodded, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Of course. You've been using mine long enough. You deserve to be driven in yours, baby."

Emma couldn't help but smile as she wrapped her arms around him. "Thank you, Alex. It's beautiful and I love it. But you really shouldn't spoil me like this. I might just get used to it, you know?"

Alex chuckled, pulling her closer. "I'd love that. I've got more than enough money to keep you spoiled for the rest of your life."

Emma playfully swatted his chest, but her heart swelled at the thoughtfulness behind his gesture. She leaned her head against his shoulder, feeling a sense of warmth and security that she had somehow become accustomed to around him.

After Alex got ready to leave for work, he lingered near the door, his keys in hand. He looked at Emma with a mix of hesitation and softness in his eyes. "Are you really okay with me releasing Jake today?" he asked knowing that was where he was headed before going to the company.

Emma paused, meeting his gaze. She knew how much it mattered to him to hear her say it again. "Yes," she said gently. "I told you before. I've already forgiven him. The hurt's still there, but I don't hold it against him anymore. And honestly, it's because of you that I could move past it."

Alex stepped closer, his expression tender as he placed a hand on her cheek. "You're so strong, Em. Stronger than you think," he said but she shook her head slightly.

"I'm not. I wouldn't have gotten past it so soon if it weren't for you. I have you, and that makes all the difference. Thank you, Alex. For everything."

His lips curved into a soft smile before he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You don't have to thank me. You deserve all of it and more."

With that, he turned to leave, but not without a lingering glance over his shoulder. Emma stood in the doorway, watching as he climbed into his car and drove off, her heart full yet slightly bittersweet at his absence.

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As she turned back to the house, Claire stepped outside, her eyes immediately spotting the car in the driveway. A grin spread across her face as she looked at Emma.

"I'm guessing that's your car?" she asked and Emma nodded excitedly.

Though she already knew about the car, she pretended it was a surprise for her too.

"Wow! Someone's living the dream," she said, her smile still in place.

Emma laughed lightly, feeling a slight blush rise to her cheeks. "Alex spoils me too much."

Claire crossed her arms, her smile softening. "He's just showing you how much you mean to him. It's nice to see you happy, Emma. You deserve it."

Emma's smile faltered slightly as thoughts of Ivy crept back into her mind. "Thanks, Claire. Speaking of happiness, I'm going to see Ivy today. I need to see how she's doing."

Claire's expression turned somber. "Poor girl. I hope she's holding up okay. Let her know I'm thinking about her, will you?"

"Of course," Emma said, touched by Claire's concern.

The two women walked back inside, the warmth of the morning contrasting the heaviness in Emma's chest. As she prepared to head out, she couldn't help but think of Ivy's resilience and how much she wished she could take her friend's pain away.

Away from there, the cold morning air greeted Alex as he stepped out of his car and approached the police station. His jaw tightened, and his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

He wasn't happy about this, not one bit, but he had promised to give himself this chance to heal and for Jake to change—even if it went against every instinct he had.

As he walked into the station, his polished shoes clicking against the tiled floor, Alex felt a mixture of frustration and resolve. He'd told himself repeatedly that this wasn't for Jake—it was for Emma and for himself.

"Good morning, Mr. Sterling," a police officer greeted, nodding politely.

"Good morning," Alex replied curtly, not in the mood for pleasantries.

He approached the desk where the paperwork for withdrawing his and Claire's statements had been prepared. He signed each document with precise strokes, his jaw tightening as he scrawled his signature.

As he handed the papers back to the officer, he leaned back slightly, his arms crossed. "So, he's free now?"

The officer nodded. "Yes, Mr. Sterling. Jake Thompson will be released immediately."

Alex let out a breath, his gaze hardening. "Good. Let's get this over with."

Minutes later, Jake was brought out. His appearance was disheveled—unshaven, his clothes wrinkled—but there was a noticeable change in his demeanor. His shoulders were hunched, his gaze wary, as though he wasn't sure how to approach Alex.

"Alex," Jake began, his voice subdued. "Thank you. I—I can't tell you how grateful I am for this."

Alex stared at him for a moment, his face unreadable. He could see the guilt etched on Jake's face, but he wasn't ready to believe it was genuine. Not yet.

"I'm not doing this for you," Alex said, his tone cold and firm. "I'm doing this because Emma and Claire asked me to. Everyone believes you deserve another chance. Hence I'm trying to give you one. Don't think for a second that I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart."

Jake flinched at the sharpness in Alex's voice, but he nodded, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I understand. And you're right—I don't deserve your forgiveness. I don't deserve Emma's either. But I've changed. I swear I have. I'd never hurt her again. I just... I want to make things right."

Alex's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Jake's expression. He wanted to believe him, but the anger and protectiveness he felt for Emma were too strong to let him trust so easily.

"Words are cheap, Jake. Promises mean nothing unless you back them up with actions. If you truly mean what you're saying, then prove it. But know this—I won't forgive you again. If you ever hurt Emma, if you so much as look at her the wrong way, I'll make sure you regret it."

Jake swallowed hard, his throat bobbing as he nodded fervently. "I understand and I'll never hurt her again, I promise," Jake said, his expression solemn.

Alex's chest tightened slightly at Jake's words. He could see the sincerity, or at least what appeared to be sincerity, in the man's eyes. But he wasn't about to let his guard down.

"I hope I'm not making a mistake," Alex muttered, more to himself than to Jake.

"You're not," Jake said quickly, his voice steady. "I've had a lot of time to think in here. About everything I've done, about who I've been. I'm done being that person. I want to be better—for myself and for the people I've hurt."

Alex didn't respond right away. He simply stood there, staring at Jake, weighing his words. After a long moment, he spoke. "For your sake, I hope you mean that. Because I won't give you another chance."

Jake nodded, a small flicker of hope in his eyes. "Thank you, sir. For this chance, I'm grateful."

Without another word, Alex turned on his heel and walked out of the station. As he stepped into the crisp morning air, he felt a mix of relief and frustration. He had kept his promise to free Jake, but a part of him still felt uneasy.

Sliding into his car, Alex sat there for a moment, his hands gripping the steering wheel. He replayed the conversation in his mind, his gut twisting with doubt. Jake had sounded genuine, but was it enough? Could a man like that truly change?

With a heavy sigh, Alex started the engine. He had done what Claire wanted, and now it was out of his hands. As much as he wanted to protect Emma from every hurt, he knew he couldn't control everything.

But one thing was certain—if Jake ever stepped out of line, Alex would be there to make sure he paid the price.

As he drove back toward JB Enterprise, Alex's thoughts drifted to Emma. He hoped she would be proud of him for doing this, even if it had been one of the hardest things he'd done in a long time. At the end of the day, all that mattered to him was her happiness.