Page 144 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EMILY’S POV.

I paced up and down in my room after returning from work. John was still ignoring me, and it made me feel he had something up his sleeve.

Going to court made me feel worried? Wouldn’t it have to be made public? Was Lucas sure he was making the best decision? Wouldn’t negotiating with John be better? What if we lost the case? John was a man with lots of connections. He knew thousands of people everywhere.

Lucas wouldn’t bribe anyone, but I couldn’t trust John not to. What if everything became even worse?

Eventually, I fell back on my bed, not wanting to give way to my worries, but fresh ones came, decorating my mind in their blue and grey patterns.

What if we managed to get divorced, and I finished the years I owed him, and I left only to discover something about the Alpha Marriage that didn’t allow the couple to split up?

What if living apart would be impossible?

“Emily… just stop.” I said to myself, placing both hands on my eyes, but I couldn’t just stop thinking.

I also wanted to be free from John, but everything about it just had me doubting. Would it be that easy? Would I be able to escape from it?

Then, I realized I didn’t have to keep my worries to myself. To be honest, underneath all the worries, there was a little bit of excitement, a little bit of worry, and the cruelest thing of all—hope.

It made me feel like I was going crazy. The thought of being able to break free from John.

Getting up from my bed, I snatched my phone off my desk, and called Dahlia immediately. When everything was too much, the next thing was to tell someone—anyone. Before it ate me up from the inside.

“Hello, Emily.”

“Dahlia. Good day. Are you busy?”

“Never too busy to talk to you. So, has John finally broken his silence?” She asked, and with a sigh, I began to narrate it all to her.

“Oh my. Going to court is going to be quite risky. What if you lose the case, and you’re to stay away from Lucas? What if John reveals the video before you even have chances of winning? And is the trial going to be public?”

“I’m going to ask Lucas if it will be public, but the best thing will be a private one. Hiring a private judge.” I said, biting my thumb.

“Just calm down, okay? And uh, try to eliminate the worries from your mind. Don’t think too much, or it will all feel overwhelming.

Don’t hope too much too. If your hopes are dashed, it will hurt.

Just know that even if this doesn’t work, someday, you’ll be free from John.

And, I think you should try trusting Lucas too.

He loves you, and wants the best for you.

I’m sure he’ll try his best to make everything turn out well.

So, if you actually win the case, will you finally leave John? ”

“I will still owe him about two years of my life. If only I hadn’t broken that silly sculpted Alpha. None of this would have happened.” I said.

“Don’t blame yourself for the past. Just keep moving on with the present, and sorting out the future. Everything will fall in place in due time.”

“Just imagine all the things I’ll do once I’m free.” I said, and I heard her laugh.

“Okay, my mind is running.”

Dahlia and I talked for a while more, and I found her assuring. She was positive all through, and managed to rub some of her positivity onto me.

In the evening, the kids had dinner with me. Lucas wasn’t back yet, and as for John, I didn’t want to bother about whatever he was up to.

“Good luck with the court stuff.” Sadie suddenly said.

“Court?” Derel asked.

“How did you know?” I asked her.

“Oh, I happened to overhear Lucas speaking to someone on the phone. My guess is it’s Tray. They were talking intensely, so I listened.” Sadie replied, plunging her fork into a fat twist of macaroni.

“Sadie, you shouldn’t eavesdrop. Especially not on an adult’s conversation.” Jude snapped. “But then, since you heard what’s it about?” She added, guiltily, and I gave a little chuckle, before looking around carefully.

“I’m guessing it’s to break your marriage with John.” Derella whispered before I could.

“How did you…?” My eyes widened at her smartness, and she smiled.

“Of course, you were watching out, so I thought John had to be involved, and with John, my puzzle is complete. Are you worried?” She asked.

“Very. I don’t want to be happy because I don’t know the outcome, yet I dread the whole idea. It’s a very complicated feeling.” I explained.

“I won’t bother trying to understand then.” Sadie said, pouring water into her glass.

“Don’t worry. Lucas is quite influential too. You both will sort it out.” Derella assured me.

“John might seem scary, but Lucas can be scarier.” Derel added.

“You’re right. Have you seen him mad before?” Jude asked, and I recalled the fight between he and John in the garden.

“Yeah, but he was holding back.” I replied.

“Try seeing him when he’s not holding back. You’ll feel sorry for his opponent.” Sadie giggled.

“But the thing is, it takes a lot to get him mad to the extent of not holding back.” Jude said, and Derella nodded continuously.

“He’s a teeny slow to anger.” She said, and just then, a maid called for me.

“Ma’am.”

“Yes?”

“Alpha Raymond calls for you urgently.” She said, and my heart gave a scary beat.

“Why?”

“I have no idea.” She replied, and I looked at the children.

“Just go.” Derel said softly, and I got up, and walked with the maid.

What if John had told him about me and Lucas? What was he going to say?

Was I in trouble? Was I to be more scared than I was?

I was escorted into Alpha Raymond’s mansion, and through the halls, with fear pounding in my heart.

Finally, she knocked at a large set of double doors, and pushed them open.

There on the sofas was not just Alpha Raymond, but Lady Genevieve, Lady Mira, and Alpha Will.

And not one of them… not one of them had a smile on their faces.