No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 108

LAUREN’S POV

“Bye, honey, mommy loves you.” My voice softened as I leaned slightly forward, waving at Aria through the tinted glass of the car window. Her tiny hand pressed against the glass in response, and my chest warmed with both love and a sharp pang of longing. No matter how many times I said those words, it never felt enough. I wanted her to feel them deep in her bones, to know that no matter what happened in this chaotic life of mine, she was always the center of my world.

The vehicle drove off and I stood there for a few seconds longer, watching as the car disappeared down the street. My lips curled into a smile that quickly slipped into a sigh. That familiar weight settled on me again the weight of secrets, of choices, of paths that could never be retraced.

I turned back toward the house, Tessa was already perched comfortably on the couch, her eyes following met with that look the one that meant she was about to start digging.

We had been mid–conversation before I stepped out to send Aria off, and she was clearly waiting for me to pick it back up.

“So,” Tessa said, leaning forward with a spark of disbelief in her voice, “let me get this straight. You turned down a date with the CEO of your company Roman Hale?”

She dragged out his name like it was supposed to be sacred, like she was saying the name of a celebrity she’d idolized her whole life.

“Yes,” I answered plainly, letting the door click shut behind me. I didn’t even flinch at her tone. I’d expected this. “But is that what’s really important to you right now?” I said, arching a brow at her. “I told you everything else that happened at yesterday’s event things that actually matter. But all you seem to be stuck on is Roman Hale ”

my

Tessa’s lips curled into a knowing smile, and she lifted a hand like she was swatting my words away. “Look, do you think I’m obsessed with this guy for no reason? No, Lauren. After you told me you think he might be Aria’s father, I did some digging. And what I found?” She leaned back, savoring the moment. “His last marriage ended almost six years ago.”

She waited for her words to linger in the air for a while, waiting for me to catch up on what she was saying and I knew where she was headed.

Her words landed heavy between us, like a hammer striking stone.

“Yes, you heard me right,” she continued, her eyes narrowing as if she were piecing a puzzle together in real time. “You and him had sex a few months after he’d just divorced his wife, and you had just divorced Ethan. Then, like clockwork, you end up pregnant, Come on, Lauren. The universe is practically handing this man to you on a silver platter, and you’re just too stubborn to see it.” Her voice rose, almost exasperated. “And the painful fact is he’s filthy rich.‘

I let out a short laugh, more of a scoff, folding my arms across my chest, “Well, if this is all the universe’s doing, then I’m not interested. The universe can keep him. I’d rather stay single and focus on my work.”

Her eyes widened in mock shock, her mouth dropping open. “Oh, come on! You’ve been saying the same thing

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for five years. Five years, Lauren! I honestly thought you’d grow out of this little vow of yours. I thought one day you’d finally change your mind.” She stood, walking closer, her tone growing more serious. “You’re in your prime, babe. Men drool over you online, they stop and stare in person. You’re looking even better than when were with Ethan. Honestly, it’s like he was sucking the life out of you in that marriage, dragging you down. Now you’re glowing. And instead of taking advantage of that, of this moment, you’re shutting every door that opens for you.”

Her hands gestured animatedly, trying to drive her point home.

“Lauren,” she added, her tone softening into something almost poetic, “we’re women. We’re like flowers. Right now, you’re blooming, vibrant, and beautiful. But in ten years?” She tilted her head knowingly. “Things won’t look the same. Don’t you get my point?”

1 sighed, pressing my fingertips lightly against my temples. She wasn’t wrong, not entirely. But she didn’t know the whole truth either. “I understand what you’re saying, Tess. I really do. But I’m serious. Now just isn’t the right time for me. I have things to handle, things I need to put in place before I can even think about a relationship.”

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Her brows pulled together, eyes narrowing with curiosity. “Things? Like what?”

My heart clenched, the truth burning at the tip of my tongue. Making Ethan Black suffer. Tearing down the empire he thought he could build on my broken pieces.

But I swallowed the words back down, forcing a casual shrug. “It’s… something I’m working on. Not that important, but I need to deal with it before I even think about getting into a relationship.” My tone was light, but inside, I knew it was a lie. It wasn’t “not that important.” It was everything.

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