No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 113

CHAPTER 0113

LAUREN’S POV

“Alright then, is there something wrong? Because if there is, then you should have told one of the staff to come call me instead of coming all the way here yourself,” I said, my tone polite but edged with curiosity.

He shook his head slightly, his eyes fixed on me with a steady, unreadable intensity, “Oh no, everything is fine. I didn’t come here on official business. I came to see you.” His lips curved into a smile, calm yet deliberate, like he already knew the effect his words might have on the.

He came

te to see me, huh? Well, I didn’t want to see him. The last thing I needed right now was my boss standing at my gate, crossing boundaries that shouldn’t even be crossed. This was my home, my safe space. I had already decided I would carry out my plan, let him know I was busy, maybe even not feeling well, so that he could leave quickly without pressing further. But I’d have to phrase it carefully. Too blunt and it would create tension. Too soft and he’d linger.

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, movement in the distance caught my attention. A vehicle was approaching. My stomach twisted as instant recognition hit me. That was Aria’s school vehicle.

No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. He wasn’t supposed to see Aria. He didn’t even know I had a child. If he saw her now, if he pieced it together, this could open up a door I never wanted opened. He might start sniffing around, asking questions, prying into parts of my life that were none of his business.

“You came at the wrong time, sir,” I blurted quickly, forcing the words out in a rush before the car got too close. “Because I’m having a serious headache and can’t talk much. That’s part of the reason I couldn’t come to work today.” My words tumbled over each other, desperate to get him back into his car before Aria’s vehicle pulled up.

“Headache?” His brows furrowed as he stepped closer, closing the space between us until I could almost feel the weight of his presence. His eyes searched mine with genuine concern, and his voice softened. “Are you okay? Have you seen a doctor?”

I forced a small, dismissive smile even as my pulse raced. “It’s not really something to see a doctor for. A little rest and I should be back up and running.” My eyes flickered between him and the approaching vehicle, silently pleading for the car to delay just a few seconds longer.

But fate wasn’t on my side.

The car pulled past us and rolled to a stop at the gate, the sound of its engine rumbling louder than my racing thoughts. Roman’s attention shifted almost immediately, his gaze following the vehicle as the back door slowly opened.

I didn’t need anyone to tell me who it was. Aria’s small figure emerged, her schoolbag slung over her shoulder, her shoes touching the ground. My heart sank. The very thing I had been trying to prevent was unfolding right

before my eyes.

I

I should have listened to my instinct and stayed inside. I should have ignored Tessa’s pushing. If I had just waited, if I had just stayed behind the gate, none of this would be happening.

“Mommy!” Aria’s cheerful voice rang out as she spotted me, her little legs carrying her in quick strides toward

where I stood.

1/3

I closed my eyes for a brief moment and let out a sigh of resignation. There was no undoing this now.

“Mommy?” Roman’s voice echoed the word, surprise lacing every syllable. “I didn’t know you had a kid.” His eyes shifted between me and Aria, disbelief flickering across his face,

“Yeah,” I said, my voice sharper than I intended but steady enough to carry my point. “There are a lot of things you don’t know about me, sir. And there was nowhere in the company where I had to tell everyone I had a daughter. That’s my personal life.” I prayed my words didn’t come across as too rude, though honestly, I wouldn’t have cared if they did.

To his credit, he nodded slowly, his hands raised slightly in surrender, his expression softening as if to reassure me. “Of course,” his eyes seemed to say. He wasn’t going to push it further for now.

Aria reached me then, her small arms wrapping tightly around my waist. My heart eased at her touch, and I turned around, bending down to scoop her into my arms. Her tiny hands clung to me as if I were her whole world, which, in a way, I was.

“How was school today, my love?” I asked, brushing the tip of her little nose with my finger.

“It was good,” she replied brightly, her eyes sparkling. “I’ve made new friends.”

“Of course you would,” I teased, smiling despite the tension building behind me. “You’re a lively soul.”

She giggled softly, but her attention soon shifted. She noticed Roman, who had been watching us in silence, his expression unreadable yet softened by the sight of her.

“Hello,” Arla said shyly, giving him a small wave.

Roman’s face lit up with an easy smile. “Hi there. And what’s your name?” His voice was gentle, almost careful.

“Aria,” I replied before she could, not wanting her to offer up too much to him.

“Nice to meet you, Aria. I’m Roman, your mom’s friend.” He extended his hand as though to shake hers, the smile on his face widening.

Friend? Since when did we become friends? The thought shot through my mind, sharp and bitter. But for Aria’s sake, I stayed silent, my lips pressed in a thin line. This was not the place to start a debate. I just wanted this exchange to end, for him to hand her a polite word and be on his way.

“And you know what,” he continued, his eyes brightening with an almost boyish energy, “I have something for you.”

I blinked. Something for her?

He turned toward his car and opened the back seat, bending slightly as he reached inside. He returned a moment later, holding something that made my jaw slacken in disbelief. A chocolate bar. No, not just a chocolate bar, the largest chocolate bar I had ever seen in my life. It was comically oversized, the kind of thing you’d expect to find in some exaggerated advertisement rather than in someone’s hands.

“Here you go,” he said warmly, presenting it like a treasure.

I felt a mix of disbelief and exasperation. Was he serious? Of all things? It was kind that he wanted to offer her

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