No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 121

CHAPTER DE

CHAPTER 0121

ROMAN’S POV

“Every time we speak, I see more reason to find you even more interesting,” I said, my voice lower than usual, carrying that careful weight I only used when I meant every word. I leaned a little closer, resting on the edge of the desk that separated us, my gaze fixed on her. Her eyes were unreadable, calm like still water but I knew beneath that calmness there was always a storm. There was always something going on behind those eyes. something I couldn’t quite touch, no matter how much I wanted to

For a moment, she didn’t respond. I studied her face carefully the way her lashes lowered slightly when she was thinking, the way her lips pressed together like she was holding herself back from saying something she

shouldn’t.

I wanted to know everything about her. Every secret, every scar, every reason she kept her guard up the way she

did.

“I’ve come across a lot of women in this life,” I went on, my tone thoughtful, and most of them… they just want money. And yes, I understand how essential money is in this world, but they don’t even have the vision to work for their own. All they want is a rich befriend or husband who would take care of them forever.”

Her head lifted slightly, her eyes narrowing a little as the watched me “So why are you saying this?” she asked, her voice soft but cautious, like she was already expecting something deeper behind my words.

I smiled faintly, “I’m saying this because of how far you’ve come.”

Her lips parted a little, but I didn’t give her the chance to speak vet. “Most people wouldn’t even believe it if you told them that everything you have today, every single thing, including that fancy car of yours was earned through your own hard work here. You could’ve given up, but you didn’t. Even after the divorce, after losing everything, you still pushed forward with your daughter. Thaven’t seen any woman as determined as you.

Her eyes softened at that. “I just want my daughter to have the best in life, that’s all,” she said quietly.

“Yes, every mother wants that,” I replied, nodding “But the way you climbed back up. It’s like something was driving you. Like there was a fire in you that wouldn’t go out no matter how hard life tried to smother it.” I crossed my arms and leaned back slightly, tilting my head. “Or could it just be me thinking otherwise?”

She looked down for a second, her fingers tracing an invisible line on the surface of her desk. “Yes,” she said softly, “there was something driving me to get money.”

Her words caught my full attention, and I raised a brow, “And what was that something?”

She looked up at me again, her eyes glinting with emotion. “Just like I said before, Aria,” she said simply. “Sir, my life isn’t as complicated as you think it is. I’m just trying to stand on my own two feet and provide for my little girl.

I studied her face carefully. The way her jaw tightened when she mentioned her daughter. The way her eyes. softened with both pride and exhaustion. “If your life isn’t that complicated,” I said slowly, “then why haven’t you answered me? I know you’ve been evading every question I ask. I know it’s probably because you didn’t want me to find out you had something to do with Ethan.”

10

1 paused, giving her a second to process the name.

“But now that I already know,” I continued, lowering my tone, “there’s no need to keep pushing

g me out again.”

Her brows drew together slightly. “What do you mean by pushing you out?” she asked, her voice tense but

curious.

“Okay,” I said, folding my arms tighter across my chest, “are you in a relationship currently?”

The moment the question left my lips, I saw the shift. Her eyes darted away from mine immediately, her gaze drifting toward the window like the answer might be hiding somewhere in the skyline outside.

“That’s what I’m talking about,” I said, the corner of my mouth twitching in frustration. “Why don’t you want to tell me?”

She turned back to me sharply this time, her expression breaking for the first time. “Because it’s my life, Roman,” she said, her voice louder than I expected. The sound cut through the stillness of the office, startling

both of us.

The way she said my name – firm, defiant, emotional hung between us.

Her eyes widened a little right after, as if she immediately regretted it. I saw her shoulders drop, her lips part slightly as she exhaled a long, unsteady sigh.

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to raise my voice.” She hesitated for a moment, then looked at me again with a strange mix of resignation and weariness. “Since you already know about Ethan, then I might as well tell you this.”

I straightened a bit, sensing that she was finally letting me in, even if just a little.

“You’re right,” she said. “I have been evading your questions. That’s because I don’t want you to know more about me. I don’t want us to be friends or whatever you think this is.”

Her words stung a little, though I didn’t let it show. I just watched her, calm and patient. “Why?” I asked quietly. “If I may.”

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