Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 138: Let Me Explain

Although Derek was feeling bad about the whole idea of Hunter's father knowing about the bet, he couldn't exactly understand why Hunter sounded so mad.

"Are you okay, man?" he asked instead and Hunter shook his head in frustration.

"How can I be okay when something that was supposed to stay between you and I is out there in the public and ruining my life?" Hunter asked hotly.

Derek took a deep breath to calm himself. "I don't know why you think I told him or something but you should know I found out he has someone keeping an eye on you. I guess whoever he placed to keep tabs on you overheard us talking about it at a bar—"

"What? He did that?" Hunter interrupted, his voice rising in both unbelief and irritation. "If that were the case why did you send that text? Now Ivy probably saw the message, and now—" He paused, swallowing hard. "Now she's gone."

"Ivy? Gone? What are you talking about?" Derek asked and when Hunter didn't respond, he sighed.

"Look, Hunter, I'm sorry about whatever is going on between you and Ivy but if you noticed, I called. You didn't pick, that's on you not me. You can't blame me for trying to look out for you," Derek said and without waiting for Hunter to explain why he was lashing out on him, Derek hung up.

Hunter sighed feeling his anger and frustration bubbling over. How did things get here. Though it was the text Ivy had probably seen, it was all his fault.

He should've told her when he had the chance the previous day or even this morning. But he didn't simply because he was scared and now, his fears were coming through.

He wouldn't just seat here and sulk. He needed to fix things.

He grabbed his keys, his mind made up. If Ivy wouldn't answer his calls, he'd go to her. He had to. She deserved to hear the truth, even if it meant losing her for good. Though he hoped that wouldn't be the case.

But before he could leave, a bitter thought took root in his mind. Maybe it was time to confront his father, too. To finally put an end to the control, the manipulation.

Hunter's hands tightened around the steering wheel as he started the car, his jaw set. First, Ivy. Then his father. One way or another, he was going to make things right.

Hunter parked in front of Ivy's small, cozy house, his heart thundering in his chest, and for a moment, he hesitated.

The weight of what he'd done—or hadn't done—settled heavily on his shoulders. Ivy didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve him. He had hurt her so much.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the car and walked to her door, every step feeling like a lifetime.

He raised his hand to knock but paused, his knuckles hovering inches from the wood. What would he even say? How could he explain himself when there was no justification for the pain he'd caused her?

He thought about going back and letting her be but then, he couldn't. He couldn't bare the thought of hurting her that way and not take responsibility and he couldn't let her go without fighting.

Now he was even more sure she didn't have any emergency since he had called the kitchen and Alex on his way here. Nothing was wrong so it was the text.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked. "Ivy," he called softly, leaning closer to the door. "It's me. Please, can we talk?" he asked but was met with silence.

Hunter's chest tightened. He knocked again, more insistent this time. "Ivy, I know you're in there. I saw your car. Please... let me explain." His voice cracked, the desperation seeping through.

Inside, Ivy stood frozen, her back pressed against the wall just a few feet from the door. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, as if holding her body together would stop the cracks in her heart from spreading.

His voice, deep and raw with emotion, and pleading pierced through the thin barrier of the door, making her knees threaten to buckle.

But she couldn't do it. She couldn't face him. Not now, not ever. Not when the betrayal was still so fresh, the wound gaping and raw.

How could he have made her feel so much loved and seen only for her to realise she was just a bet to him? A means they could use to trample on her restaurant. He could so casually bet on her honor and she had been so foolish enough to give it to him on a platter.

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

"Ivy, please." Hunter's voice broke, and he ran a hand through his hair, pacing the small porch. "I know you're hurt. I know you probably hate me right now, but... God, Ivy, just let me explain. You're not a bet. You were never a bet to me."

Her eyes welled up, her throat tightening as his words reached her.

You were never a bet. Then why? Why had he done it? Why had he lied? Why did he ever think betting on her dignity was something he should do?

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out his voice, but it was impossible. It was everywhere, wrapping around her, pulling at her resolve.

Hunter leaned his forehead against the door, his palm pressed flat against it as if he could will her to open it. "Ivy, you have to believe me. Please. That message... it doesn't mean what you think it does. Just let me explain."

Inside, Ivy bit her lip to keep the sob from escaping. She wanted to scream at him, to demand answers, but her pride held her back. He didn't get to make this about him. He didn't get to twist this into something she had to understand.

When no response came, Hunter's chest heaved, and he slammed his fist lightly against the door in frustration. "Damn it, Ivy. Say something. Anything. Just... don't shut me out like this."

Her fingers trembled as she clutched the fabric of her gown. She wanted to fling the door open, to tell him she wasn't shutting him out—he was the one who'd shut her out the moment he decided to play her. But she couldn't trust her voice not to break, couldn't trust herself not to fall apart in front of him.

Hunter exhaled shakily, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. Hell, I probably don't even deserve to stand here begging for it. But I need you to know that I care about you, Ivy. More than anything. More than I've ever cared about anyone."

Her heart cracked at his words, but the jagged edges of his betrayal kept her grounded. She turned her head toward the door, her tear-streaked face reflecting the war raging inside her.

Hunter stepped back, staring at the door as if willing it to open. "Ivy..." His voice was barely audible now. "I was going to tell you everything today. I swear. I was done lying, done pretending. I wanted to tell you everything and have you decide whether or not to forgive me. I never meant for you to find out this way. You mean too much to me. You're not just some—some game to me. You're everything."

The lump in her throat grew unbearable, and she bit down hard on her lip to keep from crying out. She slid down the wall, curling into herself as silent tears streamed down her face. How could she trust his words when everything about their relationship had been built on lies?

Hunter's fists clenched at his sides as a wave of helplessness washed over him. He hated himself in that moment—hated that he'd hurt her, that he'd given her every reason to doubt him. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt. "I'm so damn sorry, Ivy."

The sound of her muffled sobs reached him through the door, and it shattered him. She was there, just feet away, and yet he couldn't reach her. Couldn't comfort her. Couldn't take back the pain he'd caused.

He pressed his palms against his face, forcing back the tears threatening to spill. "I'll go," he said finally, his voice heavy with defeat. "But this isn't over, Ivy. I won't give up on us. Not now, not ever."

Hunter turned and walked back to his car, his footsteps heavy with regret. He glanced back once, hoping against hope that the door would open, that she'd come running after him. But it remained closed, the silence deafening.

Inside, Ivy leaned her head against her knees, her tears soaking the fabric of her gown. She heard the car engine start, the sound growing fainter as Hunter drove away. Relief and heartbreak warred within her, leaving her feeling hollow and numb.

As the quiet of her house settled around her, one thought echoed in her mind, a truth she couldn't escape.

She loved him and that terrified her more than anything. Because it was the reason she was hurting this much.