Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth!-Chapter 142: People Need Space

Mr. Stone exhaled deeply before shaking his head to answer Chloe's question. "He didn't exactly say it like that but then he stormed out of here after yelling at me," Mr. Stone said, his jaw tightening.

"I know he sees me as the villain because I'm trying to help him secure what is his but no matter what he thinks, he's still my son, and that restaurant is his birthright. Whether he likes it or not, I'll get the restaurant to a better place, which ever way possible. By the time, I'm done, I know he'll come crawling back, begging to take his place."

Chloe's lips twitched into a small, amused smile. "Maybe he will, or maybe he won't. Either way, it doesn't have to be so serious, Dad. I'm here. I'm your daughter, and I'm more than capable of running the business. Why not just... let him go like you said you would?" she asked, hoping that would make him do what he promised.

Her father's expression darkened, and for a moment, he said nothing. He stared into the flickering flames of the fireplace, his face unreadable.

"I've always been proud of you, Chloe," he finally said, his tone softer but no less firm. "You've been loyal, hardworking, and dependable—everything Hunter refuses to be. You're a good child. Unlike your rebellious brother, you've never questioned me, never turned your back on this family. I appreciate that more than you know."

Chloe's heart swelled slightly at his rare praise, but she kept her expression neutral. "Thank you, Dad. I've always just done what needed to be done."

Mr. Stone nodded, his hands finally unclenching as he seemed to relax slightly. "You understand what's at stake, Chloe. The restaurant isn't just a business—it's our legacy. As much as I want to hand it down to you, I can't. Hunter loves the restaurant abd it's the only thing connecting him to his mother. He has to keep it, Chloe whether he's dancing to my tunes or not—"

"But, Dad, you said—"

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"I know what I said, Chloe. But you should know I never really meant to entrust it to you. I only just say that to make him dance to my tunes seeing how he distant himself from me since his mother's death. I needed to keep him close."

Chloe shallowed hard, fighting hard not to lose her cool. So, after all these years, she had only just been a pawn to her father?

She was just his means to keep Hunter under control? After making her believe she could get the restaurant if he failed to do what he asked, now he was telling her to her face that it had just been a lie?

There was no way she'd let that happen. She wouldn't sit back and let her father play her that way. She was going to either make him give her the restaurant willingly or take it by force.

"That's... uhm.. shocking. I never thought you loved him that much," she said and he nodded.

"Why wouldn't I? He's my son, Chloe. Do you think there's a way you can get him to come around?" he asked and Chloe cleared her throat, trying so hard not to let her emotions show.

"Yes, of course. I'll see what I can do. But you know, he rarely listens to me," Chloe said and Mr. Stone looked at her.

"I know but I hope you'll at least try," he said and she nodded.

"I will. I hope this time, he listens so we could all go back to being a happy family," she said, faking a smile.

Mr. Stone looked at her with something close to pride before turning back to the fireplace, his thoughts clearly still swirling around his wayward son.

Chloe stayed silent, watching her father carefully, her fake smile still tugging at her lips. She didn't need to say anything more to him.

She was just going to use her wits to take the restaurant, the same way she had managed to create this great rift between father and son over the years.

Away from there, Emma looked at Ivy, her uncertainty evident in her eyes.

"Ivy, are you sure you don't want me to stay with you?" Emma asked gently, stepping closer to her friend as they prepared to leave after Ivy had insisted she needed to be alone. "I can stay as long as you need. I don't have to go back tonight."

Ivy shook her head, offering a faint, forced smile. "I'm fine, Em. I promise. You've already done so much by coming here."

"You're not fine," Emma countered softly, her voice almost breaking. She wanted to grab Ivy and hold her tight, to convince her that it was okay to not be okay. "I know you, Ivy. You don't have to go through this alone. Let me stay, just for tonight."

Ivy's throat tightened at Emma's words. A part of her wanted to say yes, to let Emma stay and comfort her.

But then the thought of dragging her best friend into her pain felt unbearable. She hated being vulnerable, especially over something—or someone—like Hunter.

He was the least person she was supposed to be mourning or crying over.

"I appreciate it," Ivy said, her voice steadier than she felt. "But I need to handle this myself. I can't let this... mess consume me. I've already cried too much for someone like him."

She looked away briefly, her jaw tightening as she tried to hold back more tears. No matter how hard she tried to act, she just couldn't help it.

Emma's heart ached even more. She could see Ivy's resilience, but she also saw the cracks underneath. "You don't have to be strong all the time, Ivy," Emma whispered. "It's okay to lean on someone else."

Though Alex and Claire were there, they didn't try to persuade Ivy since they could both see the determination in her eyes. So they just let Emma try since if Ivy were to listen to anyone then it would be Emma.

Ivy met Emma's gaze, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But this is something I have to face alone. Please, Em. Don't worry about me."

Emma bit her lip, her mind racing with conflicting emotions. She didn't want to leave Ivy like this, but pushing her might only make things worse.

Reluctantly, she nodded. "Okay," she said softly. "But if you need anything, you call me or Claire. No matter the time, okay?"

"I will," Ivy promised, though she wasn't sure she believed herself.

As they stepped out of the house and headed back to the car some moments later, Emma's chest felt tight, as if leaving Ivy behind was physically painful.

She glanced back at the house one last time, hoping her friend wouldn't spiral deeper into her heartbreak.

Alex, noticing the worry etched on Emma's face, placed a hand on her shoulder as he started the car. "Don't beat yourself up, Em. She's the one who asked you to leave."

"I know," Emma replied, her voice small. "But I feel like I should've insisted. She's hurting, Alex. And it's not just heartbreak—it's betrayal. I should've stayed. I know how painful it can get," she said remembering how hard it had been for her too.

"You can't force her to accept help," Alex said gently, his own thoughts briefly drifting to Ivy's resilience. He admired how strong she was trying to be, but he also understood Emma's need to care for her. "Sometimes, people need space to process things on their own. It doesn't mean you care any less."

Emma sighed, her fingers fidgeting in her lap. "I just don't want her to feel like she's alone. It's bad enough that she's dealing with this, but to be by herself... I can't stand the thought of it."

Claire, sitting quietly in the back seat, finally spoke up. "Emma, I get it. I really do. But Ivy doesn't strike me as the kind of person who'd let herself fall apart over a man. She's hurting, yes, but she'll rise above it. She's stronger than you realize. She'll come out of this soon."

Emma glanced at Claire through the rearview mirror, her brow furrowed. "I hope you're right. I just... I hate seeing her like that."

Claire leaned back, her own thoughts swirling. A flicker of something she couldn't quite name passed through her—a sense of connection to Ivy's pain. She quickly brushed it off, focusing instead on the conversation at hand.

The car fell silent for a moment, the weight of Ivy's heartbreak hanging over them. Finally, Claire broke the silence again, shifting the topic.

"About Jake, when are you planning to release Jake?" she asked and Alex didn't need to ask before he knew she was referring to him.

Alex raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by the sudden shift. "Monday," he said. "Everything's already been handled. He'll be out first thing in the morning."

Emma let out a quiet sigh, her thoughts drifting to Jake. She wondered if he had really changed, or if this was just another chance he didn't deserve.

Alex, as if reading her mind, glanced at her and said firmly, "I just hope he has really changed and had learned his lesson. If he hasn't, he won't get another chance. We've already given him more than enough."

Emma nodded, her mind still lingering on Ivy. She couldn't shake the image of her friend's tear-streaked face. As much as she wanted to believe Ivy would be okay, she couldn't help but worry.

Claire, noticing Emma's quiet distress, spoke up again. "Ivy's tough. She'll get through this," she said, though a small voice in her head whispered doubts. Claire knew heartbreak all too well, and while she admired Ivy's strength, she also knew how deeply betrayal could cut.

Emma offered a weak smile, grateful for Claire's words but unable to shake her worry. As the car pulled into the driveway, she took a deep breath, silently vowing to check on Ivy first thing in the morning.