No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 134

CHAPTER 0134

ROMAN’S POV

+25 BONUS

“Okay, so what do you want to talk about?” Lauren asked, her tone light but her expression laced with curiosity. Her arms were loosely crossed in front of her chest, head tilted slightly as she studied me. There was something about the way her eyes narrowed not suspiciously, but with a sharp, analytical look

I inhaled deeply, feeling the weight of what I was about to say sit heavily on my chest. “I know that…” I began, but the words. died in my throat as my pocket started vibrating.

Seriously?

I frowned slightly, already annoyed before I even looked at the caller ID. Fishing my phone out, I saw the name flashing across the screen: Mom.

Of course.

Ever since she decided to come stay at my house a few days after the company anniversary, my phone hadn’t known peace. Three hours. That’s probably the longest it stayed silent in a single day.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved my mom, and having her around again after so long had brought a strange comfort I didn’t know I’d missed. But sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder why she called me for every small thing. There were at least five maids in that house, not to mention the head maid who practically ran everything like a military base. And yet, somehow, every minor inconvenience still found its way to my phone.

Part of me suspected she just wanted to hear my voice maybe she missed me more than she’d admit. Still, another part of me couldn’t ignore the fact that she usually called at the worst possible times. Like now.

I stared down at the screen, already guessing this call wasn’t going to be about anything serious. Probably something about groceries, or a missing towel, or maybe she couldn’t find the TV remote again.

“Just a moment,” I murmured to Lauren, raising a finger as I stepped deeper into the kitchen.

She gave me a questioning look but didn’t say anything. I turned my back slightly before answering. “Is something wrong?” I asked, trying to sound patient.

“No, dear, I’m just calling to inform you that there’s no more chicken wings,” came my mom’s cheerful voice through the line. “I’d appreciate it if you could pick up some on your way back.”

I sighed softly, pressing my thumb against the bridge of my nose. I’d guessed right.

“Mom, if you need some wings, just let the head maid know. She’ll go get them for you immediately as many as you want. You don’t need to wait for me to come back. The kitchen’s her responsibility, not mine.”

There was a brief pause on the line before she responded in that teasing tone of hers. “Fine, fine. You’re so busy these days. I’ll tell her. Oh, and before I forget, I’ll be taking a walk around the estate. Please tell the security team not to glue themselves to me the entire time. I can still walk on my own, you know.”

I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh despite my exasperation. “Sure, I’ll do that.”

I hung up and pocketed my phone, taking a steady breath before turning around. Hopefully, Lauren hadn’t heard the whole conversation especially the part about chicken wings.

Her lips curved slightly as she looked at me. “Your mom,” she said, more as a statement than a question.

“Yeah,” I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. “She’s… something.”

Lauren’s smile deepened for a moment, but then her expression shifted back to curiosity. “Alright, so what was it you wanted to

1/3

CHAPTER 0134

+25 BONUS

say earlier?”

Just when I thought the universe was finally done interrupting me, the kitchen door swung open.

Both of us turned as Arla walked in, holding her plate and spoon.

She was done eating already?

“Hey, babes, you’re done already?” Lauren asked, smiling warmly at her daughter.

Aria gave a small nod, her tiny curls bouncing slightly with the movement. Then, in that quiet, determined way of hers, she tiptoed toward the sink. I watched, almost in amusement, as she stretched on her toes, reaching up to place her plate inside. She barely managed, but she did it.

There was something oddly heartwarming about the sight–her determination, her seriousness, the way she didn’t even ask for help.

“And what about your Aunt Tessa?” Lauren asked again, wiping her hands on a napkin.

“She’s on a call with a boy,” Aria said without hesitation, her voice innocent but blunt, like she didn’t realize the small bomb she’d just dropped.

Lauren’s eyebrows lifted slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop a laugh. That girl didn’t hold back.

After dropping her plate, I expected Aria to leave, maybe go back to her toys or sit in the living room but instead, she lingered, quietly stepping closer to her mother. She looked comfortable there, leaning slightly into Lauren’s side, her curious eyes glancing between us as if she could sense that she had just walked in on something important.

She didn’t say another word, just stood there silently, her small hands fiddling with the hem of her dress.

Tessa being on a call probably meant Aria didn’t want to be left alone, and the kitchen felt like the safest place for her with her mom and, unknowingly, her father.

I looked at her for a long moment, then shifted my gaze to Lauren. The two of them together, it was still surreal. Even after reading that email, a part of me still struggled to fully process it.

Lauren’s eyes met mine again. “Maybe you can tell me when I get to the office,” she said gently. “Or better still, we can pick a better place to talk about it since it’s important.”

Her tone was calm, but there was something deliberate in her words, a quiet awareness that told me she didn’t want to continue this conversation here, not with Aria standing between us.

Then, without another word, she extended her hand toward me, palm open.

For a second, I just blinked at her, confused. “Uh…”

She gave me that look, the kind that said, ‘You should know what I’m asking for without me saying it.‘

Then it clicked. She wanted my phone.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify