No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 143

+25 BONUS

CHAPTER 0143

LAUREN’S POV

The doorbell kept ringing and echoing through the house as I made my way down the hallway. Each chime sounded louder than the last. My feet dragged slightly against the wooden floor as I muttered under my breath, still half asleep.

For a brief moment, I wondered why Tessa hadn’t woken up yet. The sound was loud enough to wake the entire neighborhood, but she was probably in her room sleeping like a rock. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wore her headphones to bed again she had a habit of playing those calming ocean sounds that made her sleep through anything. Still, I found it strange that she could stay asleep through this racket.

The bell rang again, long and insistent this time, and I sighed heavily, rubbing my eyes.

By the time I got to the door and opened it, I was already preparing my irritated expression for him.

He stood there in front of me, completely unbothered, like it was the perfect time to pay someone a casual visit, his hair was neatly arranged as usual, unlike mine, and that familiar confident smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

“Good morning,” he said, his tone smooth as ever. Then, before I could even open my mouth to respond, he walked right past me into the house

I blinked.

Right. No invitation necessary apparently.

“Yes, good morning to you too,” I muttered under my breath as I closed the door behind him, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

When I turned back around, he was already facing me, standing in the middle of the living room, and his eyes God, his eyes scanned me slowly from head to toe. It wasn’t subtle either.

I felt the heat creep up the back of my neck as I realized what I was wearing my nightgown that ended just a little above my knees. It wasn’t indecent, but under his gaze, I suddenly felt like I was standing there in nothing but thin air. The way his eyes softened slightly, his lips curving into that knowing half–smile, it wasn’t hard to tell what was flashing through his mind.

Something that looked an awful lot like lust.

I quickly tugged down the hem of my nightgown, clearing my throat. “You know,” I said, forcing a tight smile, ” most people wait to be invited in before they start scanning the place or the host.”

He didn’t flinch. “And how was your night?” he asked, as if that was the most natural question in the world to ask someone you just startled awake.

I blinked again, thrown off. Of all the things he could have said, that was not what I expected. “I’ve had better nights,” I replied dryly. “I’m sorry, but why exactly are you here this early?”

He shrugged, almost casually, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Well, I tried calling you. Several times actually,” he said, tilting his head slightly toward me. “You weren’t answering.”

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CHAPTER 0143

+25 BONUS

“Yes,” I said, holding up my phone so he could see the screen lighting up with the time. “That’s because I was asleep. You know, like every other human being in this country at almost 6 am in the morning.”

The sarcasm slipped out sharper than I intended, but he didn’t seem fazed. If anything, there was a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

He nodded slowly. “Fair point,” he said, and then paused. “But I do have a reason for coming this early.”

“Okay,” I said, folding my arms. “And I’d really like to know what that reason is.

“1

He met my gaze squarely. “I came because I’d like to join you today… in taking Aria to school.”

My mouth parted in surprise. “Wait…what?”

“You heard me,” he said, his tone calm and deliberate, as if what he just said made perfect sense.

For a moment, I thought I must still be dreaming. “You do realize,” I began carefully, “that I’m supposed to resume work in about two hours and fifteen minutes? And you’re my boss so why would you want to tag along with me when I’m taking Aria to school?”

He didn’t even hesitate. “Which,” he said smoothly, “is another thing we’ll discuss after we drop her off. When you come over to the company.”

The confidence in his voice sent a ripple of unease down my spine. There was something about the way he said we, the calm certainty in his tone that made me straighten slightly.

We.

He was planning to come with me.

And now he also wanted to “discuss” something with me later at work? My mind started racing. He had said it with such deliberate emphasis that it made me think… Maybe this wasn’t just about work.

A sharp pang of nervousness shot through me. Did he find out?

Did he somehow discover that Aria was his daughter?

No. That wasn’t possible. The only person who knew the truth was Tessa, and she’d promised me she’d never breathe a word about it to anyone, especially not to him.

So how could he possibly know?

My pulse quickened as a hundred thoughts collided in my head, each one worse than the last. I tried to steady my breathing, tried to stay calm, but it was impossible with him standing there, looking so sure of himself.

“So what…” I started, my voice sounding a little too shaky for my liking, “You’re just going to wait here while we, what? Cook and… have our baths?” The last part slipped out before I could stop it.

It wasn’t exactly what I meant to say, but it was too late to take it back now.

He raised an eyebrow and stepped closer. The playful glint in his eyes returned as his gaze locked onto mine.” Well,” he said quietly, his tone laced with teasing confidence, “I was planning to wait here.”

C

CHAPTER 0143

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