No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 127

CHAPTER 0137

+25 BONUS

ROMAN’S POV

I let out a slow, weary sigh, dragging both hands through my hair until my fingers clenched at the back of my head. My thoughts were spinning too fast to catch.

“No, I didn’t know about that,” I said finally, my voice sounding rougher than I intended. “But that isn’t what’s got me worried.”

Jeff’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Then what’s the problem?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? What exactly was the problem?

I stared at the floor for a few seconds, lost in the fog of my own thoughts. I couldn’t just jump to conclusions when I didn’t even have solid proof yet. Sure, finding out that Aria wasn’t Ethan’s daughter was shocking, more shocking than I could put into words but that alone didn’t mean anything definitive. There were still too many missing pieces.

It was possible that while Lauren was in Italy, she might’ve been with someone else. Maybe she got pregnant for that person and, for some reason, decided to blame it on Ethan Black. But… why would she do that?

Didn’t she know who the father was? Or was she too ashamed to admit it?

The questions just kept multiplying, growing heavier with every passing second. No clear answers. Just theories.

“Roman,” Jeff’s voice broke through my thoughts. “I haven’t seen you look this troubled in years. You’ve been zoning out for the past few minutes, completely gone. What’s going on? And what does all this have to do with Lauren? What’s disturbing you?”

I hesitated, staring at the surface of my desk like I could find the right words written there. “What I’m about to say might sound crazy,” I said finally, my tone low, “and really complicated.”

Jeff shrugged and crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. “Well, this isn’t the first time I’ve heard something like that before. So, hit me.”

“All right,” I began, “I’m not sure how I’ll explain this, but I’ll try. Five years ago, when I went to Daxon’s club, the night I asked you to come with me but you didn’t. Do you remember that day?”

Jeff’s brows furrowed. “Yeah, I remember. But what does that have to do with all this?”

“Well,” I said slowly, “that was the first time I met Lauren.”

He blinked. “In a club? Man, that must’ve been awkward for her when she later found out you were her boss.”

I shook my head slightly. “That’s not the main point.” My voice dropped a little lower, my chest tightening. “She looked so beautiful that evening. Elegant but not trying too hard. We talked, had a few drinks, and…”

“No,” Jeff cut in sharply, already catching on.

I could tell from the look on his face that he knew exactly what I was about to say.

“Don’t tell me…” he said, his tone a mixture of disbelief and warning.

I exhaled slowly. “Yes. We had unprotected sex. But I didn’t think she was going to show up a few days later at my company.”

Jeff blinked a few times, then rubbed the back of his neck. “Hold on.” His voice grew serious now. “So what’s bothering you about her kid is… you think there’s a chance you might be the father?”

He’d pulled the words straight out of my mouth. I nodded slowly.

1/2

CHAPTER 0127

+25 BONUS

“At first, she told me it was Ethan’s,” I said quietly. “And now we both know that’s a lie. She also told me she hasn’t been in any relationship since she left Ethan which means there’s a chance that I’m the last guy she was with.”

Jett raised an eyebrow, his lips twisting into something between a smirk and disbelief. “Really?” he said with mock seriousness, “So, you believe and expect me to also believe that she hasn’t had sex for almost six years? What is she, Virgin Mary?”

His sarcasm hit its mark. I frowned, but I couldn’t even bring myself to argue

“She might have lied about that too,” Jeff continued, uncrossing his arms. “And you said she hasn’t been in a relationship since Ethan. That doesn’t mean she hasn’t been with anyone. She doesn’t need to be in a relationship to sleep with someone. Look at what happened between you two. You weren’t in a relationship, yet you still ended up in bed together. What makes you think she didn’t do the same thing with other guys back in Italy?”

His words echoed in my head. He wasn’t wrong.

If she could lie about Aria being Ethan’s daughter, then maybe she could lie about being single too. Maybe I was just getting ahead of myself. Maybe I wanted to believe in some connection that didn’t really exist.

A small, tired sigh left me. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, letting the tension fade from my shoulders. “Yeah, you’re right,” I said finally. “I shouldn’t jump to conclusions.”

“Look, man,” Jeff said, his tone softening. “If what I said earlier about you needing to have kids is what’s making you act this way, then I’m sorry. But if you honestly feel there’s a chance you might be the father, then I can help you find out. I mean, we’ve already come this far. A little more digging won’t hurt.”

I looked at him for a long moment before nodding slowly. “I’d really appreciate that, brother.”

His offer settled in the back of my mind like a faint light in the dark. But it also opened a door I wasn’t sure I was ready to walk through.

What if Aria was actually my daughter?

The thought made my pulse quicken. How would I even begin to explain that to her? How would I tell a little girl that I’d been her father, completely unaware of her existence? out there somewhere all this time

–

And what about Lauren? What would she say? What would she do if I confronted her about it?

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