Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 118: At The Right Time

Ivy sat in the driver's seat of her car, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary.

The familiar sight of her restaurant, loomed just ahead, its modern glass windows reflecting the soft glow of the morning sky.

She should have been inside already, checking on the staff, ensuring the everything would run smoothly. But instead, she remained here, heart pounding, eyes fixed on the entrance like she was gathering the courage to face a storm.

The storm wasn't inside the restaurant, though. It was Hunter.

For the past week, things between them had been...off. And it was all her fault. She couldn't blame him especially since she had started all this, thinking he wanted to take revenge on her.

After everything and the way she had spoken to him in the part, she still couldn't believe he could actually have helped her the other day.

She replayed that night over and over in her mind. The more she thought about it, the more ungrateful she felt.

The thought that he had helped, without hesitation, no smug comments, and no teasing remarks but just genuine kindness as he'd helped her get into his car and made sure she got home safely all made her feel worse.

She had tried to apologize to him the next day but he'd been cold, and dismissive to her, not giving her the chance to apologize or make things right.

She had tried since then but he had been avoiding her. Professional, polite, and distant, just as she had asked him to be. And it was eating her alive.

She needed to fix this. She needed to, whatever the case may be.

Ivy's gaze sharpened when she saw a figure approaching the restaurant from across the parking lot. Hunter.

He moved with that same calm, unhurried stride he always had, hands in his jacket pockets, his dark hair slightly damp from the misty weather. He hadn't noticed her yet.

Taking a deep breath, Ivy opened her car door, the crisp morning air biting against her skin as she stepped out and closed it behind her. Her heart hammered in her chest, but she squared her shoulders. She needed to do this.

"Hunter," she called before he get into the restaurant.

He stopped mid-step and slowly turned, his gaze meeting hers. There was no anger in his expression, but no warmth either. Just a carefully guarded neutrality.

"Ivy," he said, voice low. "What do you need?"

His words stung more than she expected. Not boss. Not even a polite ma'am. Just Ivy. Like she was just someone he had to deal with.

If it was boss it ma'am, at least she'd know he was being formal.

"I..." She swallowed hard. "I need to talk to you."

He exhaled quietly, giving a slight shake of his head. "Look, if this is about work, I'm here. I'll get the prep started as usual. If it's about anything else... I'm really not interested."

Her chest tightened, but she pressed on. "It's not about work. It's about...last week."

His expression didn't change, but something in his eyes hardened.

"I already told you to—"

"I misjudged you," she blurted out, the words tasting unfamiliar but necessary. "I shouldn't have treated you the way I did. I was wrong."

There. She finally said it. She thought, inhaling deeply.

Hunter blinked, as if surprised she'd actually admitted it. He crossed his arms, his jaw tightening as he nodded once. "Good to know you've realized that. But there's nothing I can do about it now."

His words cut deeper than she expected, making her feel even worse. Had he been that hurt by the way she spoke to him that day?

"Hunter, I—"

"If you don't mind," he interrupted, voice firm but calm, "I'd like to get to work now."

He turned, clearly intent on leaving the conversation there, and something inside her cracked wide open.

"I'm sorry!" she blurted out, determined to resolve the issue.

The words rushed out louder than she intended, echoing slightly in the quiet parking lot.

Hunter froze on his tracks. Did she really just say she was sorry?

Ivy felt her chest rising and falling, the vulnerability almost unbearable—but she wasn't running this time. She meant it.

"I'm sorry," she said again, softer now but just as genuine. "I was wrong. You were kind to me. And I acted like you were a bad person with some bad intentions. I just—" She exhaled shakily, dropping her gaze to the ground. "Forgive me for all the harsh words I've spoken to you, please. I've never been good at this. At saying sorry. But I am. I'm really sorry, Hunter."

The silence stretched between them, heavy and uncomfortable.

Ivy peeked up through her lashes, heart pounding in her throat.

Hunter was still standing there, his back to her, unmoving. She was apologizing for being right. She was right, he had come with bad intentions, her intuition was right but she was, apologizing thinking she was in the wrong. What was he supposed to do now?

"Did you hear me?" she asked hesitantly, oblivious to the tremor going on inside of him.

Hunter's shoulders lifted slightly, but when he turned, there was the faintest smirk curving his lips. "Hmm? Sorry, I didn't catch that last part. Mind saying it again?" he said, unable to resist the urge to tease her when he saw her face.

She narrowed her eyes at him but couldn't help the smile threatening to break free. "Oh, come on."

"Hey, I'm just making sure." He shrugged, though the teasing was obvious now. The tension had shifted, softened. He had wanted to keep pretending like he was mad just to keep her away but seeing her face, he just couldn't help it.

"I mean it, Hunter. I don't want things to be weird between us anymore."

"Ivy, i—"

"Look," she interrupted, voice gentler now, "how about I make it up to you? A drink? Just the two of us. No work talk. No awkward tension. I'll even let you pick the place."

Hunter's teasing smile faltered slightly, and Ivy noticed how his gaze flicked away for a moment as if considering something she couldn't quite grasp.

He was hesitant.

Of course he was. She thought, thinking he was being cautious with her.

What she didn't know was the war going on inside him.

When he approached her, he had wanted to get his revenge by humiliating her and spying on her restaurant for his father so he could get back his mother's restaurant.

At the club and the mall, she had gotten under his skin, making him unapologetic about making her pay but now, after getting a glimpse into her life and hearing her apologize—really apologize— for what he was guilty of was undoing everything.

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He knew he should walk away. Keep his distance. But he couldn't. Not now.

He nodded, voice quieter now. "Alright. One drink. And yes, I'll hold you to that promise—no awkward tension."

Ivy exhaled, relief washing over her as she smiled. "Deal."

As they walked together toward the restaurant, Ivy felt like a weight had finally lifted. Maybe tonight would be the start of something better between them.

While she was thinking that, Hunter was telling himself that he'd tell her the truth. About his dad.

But not now. He would tell her every when the time was right.

Right now... he just wanted to enjoy her company.