No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 132

CHAPTER 0132

ROMAN’S POV

The sound of another set of footsteps approaching snapped me out of my thoughts about Aria. My mind had drifted somewhere else too deep, too dangerous. For a second, I thought it was Lauren returning with the juice she promised me, but when I looked up, it wasn’t her. It was her friend, Tessa.

“Lauren told me you stopped by, so I decided to come say hello,” she said with an easy smile, stretching her hand toward me.

I stood up politely, meeting her halfway with a handshake. Her grip was firm, confident the kind of handshake you’d expect from someone who didn’t need to pretend to be nice but chose to anyway.

“I don’t think we properly introduced ourselves the last time I was here,” I said, shaking her hand. “I’m sure you already know who I am, but I’d like to know your name, Lauren’s non–biological sister.”

The corner of her lips curled into a smirk, clearly amused by my tone. “You can call me Tessa,” she replied.

Before I could respond, movement caught my attention. Lauren appeared from the kitchen, carrying a glass of juice carefully in her hand. She was focused, her movements calm and natural. There was something oddly comforting about the way she moved

around her home grounded, yet with a quiet elegance that she probably didn’t even notice.

“Here,” she said, placing the glass down gently on the table in front of me.

“Thanks,” I said, offering her a small smile.

“The food’s ready, by the way,” Lauren added, glancing over at Tessa.

“Okay,” Tessa replied, already half–turned toward the kitchen before pausing mid–step. “Am I also dishing for him too?” she asked bluntly, pointing a finger toward me as if to make sure there were no misunderstandings.

Lauren’s eyes darted between the two of us, from Tessa’s direct expression to my face before she finally spoke. “Would you like to eat? We made rice and chicken. That’s if you haven’t had much to eat today,” she said, her voice softer now, her gaze expectant but careful.

The way she asked made me smile a little. It wasn’t just politeness; it was the kind of question that hinted she actually wanted

me to say yes.

“Sure,” I replied easily, trying not to sound too eager.

Tessa immediately headed toward the kitchen to start dishing the food, her voice humming faintly to herself. The sound faded behind the door, leaving just Lauren, Aria, and me in the living room.

I took off my head warmer, brushing my fingers through my hair quickly. I could tell it was a little messy from the breeze outside, but it didn’t matter much. Still, I smoothed it down, not wanting to look completely unkempt in front of Lauren.

I picked up the glass of juice she’d brought and took a sip. The taste hit instantly, fresh, cold, and sweet in the most natural way.

“Freshly made?” I asked, noticing the burst of fruit flavor that clearly wasn’t store–bought.

“Yeah,” she said with a light nod. “That’s what took me so long.”

She led me and Aria into the dining area, her hand lightly brushing Aria’s back to guide her forward. The dining space had warm, bright walls, a marble table that carried a bit of wear, and a faint scent of coconut and spice lingering in the air.

I took a seat as Tessa came back, carefully balancing two deep plates filled with chicken and rice soup. She placed them on the table, the steam curling up toward my face. The smell alone made my stomach rumble quietly, and I hadn’t realized until then just how hungry I was.

Everyone took their seats. Lauren to my right, Tessa across from me, and little Aria sitting proudly on a small booster chair, her

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CHAPTER 0132

+25 BONUS

legs swinging under the table. She was already holding her spoon, impatiently waiting for permission to start.

I glanced down at my plate, taking in the sight. The rice was fluffy, with small bits of vegetables mixed in, which made it look rich and aromatic. I scooped a small portion, blew on it slightly, and took a bite.

The taste was perfect, it was bold, spicy, but balanced. It lived up to the name without setting my mouth on fire. The flavor lingered just enough to make me want another bite.

“Wow,” I murmured, setting my spoon down for a second. “This is actually really good.”

Lauren’s lips curved into a small, proud smile.

MIW

“See, just because I haven’t cooked in a while doesn’t mean I’ve lost my talent” Tessa said, glancing between us both “she helped more than she’ll admit,” she added, looking at Aria.

“And you, young lady, did you help stir the pot?”

Aria grinned, nodding. “I helped taste it,” she said, her tone full of pride.

Tessa laughed softly. “Yeah, she ‘helped‘ by almost finishing the chicken in the pot,” she teased, and Aria giggled in return.

For a while, the room was filled with nothing but the quiet clinking of spoons and soft conversation. The kind of moment that felt almost too peaceful for what my mind had been dealing with lately.

Then, out of nowhere, a faint ding echoed from the living room.

Lauren paused mid–bite, lifting her head slightly. Her brows furrowed as if she instantly recognized the sound. “That’s my phone,” she said, placing her spoon down.

I watched as she walked toward the living room, the soft click of her footsteps fading as she reached for her phone on the couch. She unlocked it, her eyes scanning whatever message had come through.

But then she just… stood there.

She didn’t move. Didn’t say a word. Her expression froze for a second, something unreadable flickering behind her calm face.

Tessa was the first to notice. “Is everything okay?” she asked, pausing with her spoon halfway to her mouth.

Lauren blinked as if snapping out of a daze. “Yeah,” she said quietly. “I just got the email for the DNA ancestry test.”

She placed her phone back down on the couch and returned to the table like nothing had happened.

But those words, DNA ancestry test made something in me jolt. My head snapped up before I even realized it.

“A DNA test?” I repeated, my voice a little lower than before. “For who?”

Lauren opened her mouth, but Tessa was quicker to respond, waving her hand casually. “Oh, Aria’s school forced her to do a DNA test and submit the document tomorrow,” she explained. “It’s this new thing they’re doing for Family Heritage Week or something.”

My chest relaxed slightly, tension slipping off my shoulders. For a moment, I had thought… no, that would’ve been impossible. Or would it?

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