No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 137

“Wait,” I said, blinking a few times, unsure if I’d heard her correctly. “Did I hear you right, or have 1 just been standing in the sun for too long?”

Sofia chuckled softly, crossing one leg over the other. “You heard me right. I just got off the phone with him, as you know, and he wants to speak with you. It’s important.”

Her tone was calm, confident as if this was a perfectly normal thing. But my body froze for a moment, my mind immediately racing. I stared at her face, trying to read something, anything in her expression that would tell me if she was joking or if this was some kind of trap.

Important? What could be so important that her husband wanted to talk to me?

I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or worried. Sofia and I had become close enough to call ourselves friends, maybe even allies, but even allies had limits. We shared information, planned things together, gossiped over coffee but we’d never crossed certain lines. I hadn’t been to her house before, and she’d never come to mine. We met only in cafés, public spaces, safe places where neither of us could be caught off guard.

And her husband? I’d never even spoken to him before. He reminded me too much of Mr. Hale, men who didn’t even need to raise their voice to make you feel like you were standing on shaky ground. They had that same air of authority, that same intimidating confidence that made you second–guess every word that came out of your mouth.

So why would he want to see me now?

Had Sofia been telling him about our conversations? About our shared… goals?

My chest tightened a little. Because if she had, then this could go either way. He could be impressed or he could be angry. And considering who he was – Lauren’s ex–husband, it could mean trouble if I said the wrong thing.

Was this about Lauren? It had to be. It always was.

I folded my arms and looked down at the table, my thoughts tangled. Maybe I’m just overthinking this. Maybe he just wants information.

“Are you ready to go?” Sofia’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.

I looked up at her and managed a small, uncertain smile. “Yeah, sure.”

Even though every part of me screamed that I wasn’t ready, I stood up anyway.

She grabbed her bag gracefully and adjusted her sunglasses before turning toward the exit. I followed behind, still processing

everything.

“Wait…aren’t you going to pay for these?” I asked, pointing at the half–empty glasses on the table.

A small grin tugged at her lips. “Don’t worry, the bill’s covered.”

I exhaled in relief, though part of me had half–jokingly hoped she’d say no. Before I started working at Hale Industries, before I moved to this city, my brother and I used to sneak into a small café near our old neighborhood. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a corner shop with wobbly chairs and faded paint but we had a trick. We’d order food, make a scene about something ridiculous, and slip out without paying. It was reckless, stupid even but it gave us a sense of thrill, a feeling that we were smarter than the world that kept pushing us down.

Those were simpler times.

I could never pull that off here not in a place like this, with chandeliers, and security cameras watching every corner.

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CHAPTER 0137

+25 BONUS

Sofia led the way toward the exit, the sound of her heels echoing on the files. The moment I stepped outside, a navy blue car was already waiting by the curb, its surface gleaming under the sun.

Her driver, dressed in a crisp suit, opened the door for us immediately.

“Nice ride,” I said, genuinely impressed as I admired the car’s polished body.

“Thanks,” Sofia said casually, like it was nothing. But I noticed the smirk hiding at the corner of her lips.

It didn’t matter how many times we niet, she always showed up in something new, something better than the last. A new car, new jewelry, new perfume. Sometimes I wondered if she did it on purpose, just to remind me of the gap between us.

I slid into the backseat, the scent of luxury instantly filling my nose. The interior was immaculate, the seats soft as clouds, the faint perfume in the air perfectly balanced. Even the roof of the car shimmered with tiny crystals embedded in it, catching the sunlight like stars.

It was the kind of detail–rich people had the privilege of not noticing.

I felt my mouth part slightly in awe. “Wow,” I muttered under my breath.

I had to take a photo of this.

Pulling out my phone, I opened the camera app and turned slightly, finding the perfect angle where the light from the window hit my face just right.

“You don’t mind, do you?” I asked Sofia, raising my phone.

“Knock yourself out,” she replied, chuckling.

That was all I needed to hear.

I started taking photos, selfies, some of the car’s ceiling, even the leather seats. I made sure to capture the little glint of the brand logo on the dashboard. My followers would lose their minds if they saw this. Let them think I’d made it big. Let them think I was finally living the life I deserved.

The truth could wait.

Throughout the ride, I barely paid attention to where we were going. My fingers were busy flipping through filters, trying to decide which one made the picture look more “effortlessly rich.”

By the time I looked up, the car was already slowing down.

“Oh,” I said, surprised. “That was fast.”

Sofia gave me a knowing look. “You were too busy with your phone to notice.”

I laughed a little, sliding it into my bag, but inside, a knot of nerves tightened again. We were here, wherever here was.

The car pulled to a smooth stop in front of a gate that opened. My mouth fell open slightly as I watched the property come into view, a sprawling mansion surrounded by manicured gardens and marble fountains. The kind of place you saw in magazines, not real life.

As the car rolled into the driveway, I couldn’t stop staring. “So this is where you live,” I whispered, mostly to myself.

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