Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 172: Matthew Lewis

Emma walked through the doors of Ivy's office with a determined stride.

Even as she stride in, her mind was still buzzing from what she thought she saw on her way over. Was that really Vanessa? She wondered again.

But as the elevator doors opened onto Ivy's floor, her focus shifted back to her best friend. She would think about Vanessa or Jake when she left here, right now, she needed all her attention to be on her friend.

Since Selena already knew Emma, she didn't bother to call Ivy or announce Emma's presence so Emma just walked into the office straight.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Ivy was seated at her desk, pretending to go over some documents, but Emma could tell by the tension in her shoulders and the vacant look in her eyes that she wasn't really paying attention.

The fact that she didn't even notice her office door being opened or that someone had walked in, told her all she needed to know.

"Ivy," Emma called softly as she stepped into the room.

Ivy looked up, surprised to see Emma or at least trying to appear that way.

"Em? What are you doing here?" Ivy asked, setting her papers down. "Do you need something? Are you okay?" she asked in concern, even though she knew Emma was probably there because of her.

Instead of answering, Emma walked over and pulled Ivy into a tight hug. The embrace was immediate and firm, and though Ivy's arms wrapped around her, Emma felt the slight tremble in her friend's shoulders.

Ivy squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears to stay put. She wouldn't cry—not here, not now. But the weight pressing down on her chest was almost too much to bear.

Even though she'd like very much to let her tears flow, Ivy held back.

After a few moments, they pulled apart. Emma looked into Ivy's eyes, searching for answers.

"Are you okay?" Emma asked gently. "And don't say you are unless you really mean it."

Ivy swallowed hard. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice wavered.

Emma gave her a pointed look. "Fine, let's say you truly are fine, what do you really think? About all of this?"

Ivy bit her bottom lip. "What do I think about what?" she asked pretending not to know what Emma was saying.

"You know what," Emma said simply.

There was a long pause before Ivy sighed, shoulders sagging under the weight of everything, knowing there was no longer any way she could hide it from Emma. She was her best friend after all.

"I don't know, Em. I just don't know. On my way back from Claire's place yesterday, I stopped by his house to check if he was okay. I guess I was hoping the news I didn't let Selena tell me about wasn't terrible or something life threatening. I still cared for him despite my hurt."

Emma's brows furrowed. "What then happened?"

Ivy hesitated and then shook her head. "I saw some girl driving out. I didn't recognize her. She isn't even someone I know."

Emma's hands clenched into fists. "Are you serious? That bastard! He's begging you one minute and seeing someone else the next?" She let out a string of frustrated curses.

"That's what I thought too," Ivy admitted. "But then... I went inside after I saw the news. I needed to confirm he wasn't home."

Emma's eyes widened. "You went inside? What did you find?"

Ivy unlocked her phone and pulled up the screenshot of the journal she had seen. "I saw this on the last page of his journal." She handed the phone to Emma.

Emma read the words: It is time. Her hand flew to her mouth before she could stop herself.

"Oh my God. Ivy, does this mean... does it mean he really killed his father? It can't be true, right?"

Ivy shook her head slowly. "I don't know. But I can't stop thinking about it."

Emma felt a chill run down her spine. The weight of the situation was pressing down on them both. And after realizing Ivy was as conflicted as she was, Emma realized just how deep the trouble ran.

Ivy rubbed her temples, the weight of everything pressing down on her. She stared at the screenshot of Hunter's journal again.

"I did think about it, Emma. I thought about the possibility of him killing his father. I thought about the possibility of this write up meaning it was time to kill his father," she said, her voice quiet. "But the handwriting—there's a little difference, and then, he could've written it a long time ago, maybe weeks before now. And another thing, it doesn't make sense for him to write something like 'It is time' in that journal. That's where he scrambles his recipe ideas and sketches out business concepts. If he was going to plan something... dangerous, he'd write it somewhere else. Not there. Do you get my point?" she asked thoughtfully.

Emma considered Ivy's words carefully. "That's true. He's smart. Too smart to leave something like that in plain sight and yes, he might've written that a long time ago so it might not really be tied to his father's death."

"Yes. There's another thing," Ivy continued. "I don't think there's no way Hunter could've killed his father just to inherit everything. He was already the sole inheritor."

Emma leaned back, arms crossed and shook her head. "But that's not what the blogs are saying."

Ivy's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Emma pulled out her phone and scrolled through one of the trending news blogs. "According to this," she said, holding the phone up for Ivy to see, "they're claiming he killed his father because his father was going to change his mind. They're saying he planned to transfer the company and all his assets to Hunter's half-sister, Chloe instead."

Ivy blinked. "Half-sister? Since when does Hunter have a half-sister?"

Why didn't he ever mention her to him? What was their relationship?

"Apparently, the household staff testified. They said they heard Hunter and his father arguing, and the old man mentioned cutting Hunter off if he didn't go along with whatever plan he had in mind."

Ivy shook her head. Her mind was spinning. "It just... it doesn't fit, Emma. Hunter loved his father, if he didn't, he wouldn't have approached me under his father's orders. They fought sometimes, sure, but he wouldn't kill him. Not for money. Not for anything."

Emma reached over and squeezed Ivy's hand. "There's no way we could've known but I think I trust your logic. But now we have to figure out what's really going on. I think someone's setting him up, and we have to find out who."

Just as they were both lost in thought, Ivy's intercom buzzed. She jumped slightly at the sound.

"Hello?" Ivy said, pressing the button to answer the call.

"Miss Logan," Selena's voice came through. "A lawyer, Matthew Lewis, is here to see you."

Emma and Ivy exchanged glances. Ivy felt her stomach twist.

"A lawyer?" Ivy repeated, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Yes. He says it's urgent," Selena replied.

"Give me a moment," Ivy replied.

Ivy sat back in her chair, eyes locked on the phone after hanging up with Selena. A lawyer? She couldn't recall having any legal issues that required attention.

Was this about Hunter? The thought made her stomach twist. Emma, sitting across from her, noticed the sudden tension in her expression during and after the call.

"Who was it?" Emma asked, watching Ivy's hand tighten around the phone.

"Selena said there's a lawyer here—Matthew Lewis," Ivy replied, her brow furrowed in confusion. "No idea why he's here."

Emma's eyes widened. "A lawyer? That can't be good."

Ivy nodded slowly. "Especially since the timing is...odd." She glanced at the screenshot on her phone again—the journal page she had found in Hunter's house.

Those two words—It is time—had been playing in her mind like a broken record.

"It has to be about Hunter, right?" Emma asked, leaning forward. "Maybe it's related to the arrest?"

"Maybe," Ivy whispered. "But why come to me?" She felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. Was she about to be dragged into Hunter's mess more than she already was?

Emma could see the doubt and worry in Ivy's eyes. "Look, whatever it is, we'll handle it together," she said firmly. "You're not alone in this."

That reassurance helped, but only slightly. Ivy took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Let's find out what he wants."

She picked up the phone and dialed Selena. "Send him in."

Within minutes, there was a knock on the office door. Ivy felt her nerves tighten as she moved to open it. A tall man with sharp features, neatly combed hair, and a serious expression stood on the other side. He carried a briefcase in one hand and wore a tailored suit that screamed authority.

"Ms. Anderson?" he asked.

"Yes. And this is Mrs. Emma Sterling," Ivy said, stepping aside to let him in.

The man gave a curt nod. "I'm Matthew Lewis. I'm Hunter Stone's attorney."

Ivy's breath hitched at the mention of Hunter's name. "Why are you here?"

"I'm here because Hunter mentioned you may have information that could help his case," Matthew said without preamble. His tone was professional but firm, leaving little room for pleasantries.

Ivy exchanged a nervous glance with Emma. "What information?"