No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 148

CHAPTER 0148

LAUREN’S POV

We both sat across from each other at the long dining table, the gleam of polished silverware catching the soft golden lights above us. The restaurant was quiet, honestly. My fingers traced the rim of the wine glass in front of me as I looked around the place, trying to take it all in. The walls were draped in warm tones, gold and cream, with delicate chandeliers that looked like they belonged in a royal ballroom rather than a restaurant.

It felt… surreal.

Over the years, I’d been so caught up with work, goals, and revenge that I had forgotten what it was like to simply exist in a beautiful place without thinking of my next move. Even when life had finally given me enough to afford fine restaurants like this, I never permitted myself to enjoy them. Maybe it was guilt or maybe I just didn’t see the point.

I sighed quietly, glancing around again. I think I need to start rewarding myself more. Maybe go out sometimes, eat something expensive just for the sake of it, buy a few designer bags or clothes without feeling like it’s a waste. What’s the point of earning a decent salary if there’s no visible sign of it?

But maybe… It’s because I’ve lived that kind of life before. When I was still with Ethan, all I did was attend events, dress perfectly, and smile for people who didn’t matter. Maybe a part of me feared becoming that version of myself again. The one who looked happy but wasn’t.

I didn’t know.

All I knew was that sitting here now, in this luxurious yet empty restaurant, I felt a strange mix of comfort and unease. It wasn’t normal, there should’ve been chatter, the sound of cutlery, laughter, people coming and going. Instead, there were just two waiters standing at a distance, and Roman and I sitting here like the only people left in the world.

“You like the place, right?” Roman’s voice pulled me back to reality, deep and calm as always.

I turned to him, blinking out of my thoughts. “You’re asking me that even after forcing me to come here?”

He gave me that boyish grin that always made him look annoyingly confident. “Well, the doors are right there,” he said, gesturing toward the glass entrance. “I might have brought you here, in your words ‘forcefully‘,” he added, making air quotes with his fingers, “but I’m not forcing you to stay.”

I frowned slightly but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips. “Well, I’m already here,” I said, shrugging. “So what’s the point of leaving?”

“Thought so too,” he said, his tone casual, but I caught the satisfaction in his eyes.

I leaned back in my chair, crossing one leg over the other as my gaze swept across the empty space again.” Where is everyone? I mean, I don’t see a single customer, and there are barely any workers. In a luxury place like this, that’s strange.”

He rested his elbow on the table, looking almost too proud. “Yeah, I rented out the whole place for the day. Remember in the car, I told you where we were going was private and quiet?”

CHAPTER 0148

+25 BONUS

My eyebrows shot up. He did what?

When he said ‘somewhere private,‘ I honestly thought he meant a small café or maybe a bar tucked in the corner of the city not an entire restaurant. Just so he could tell me something?

I stared at him for a second, unsure whether to call it arrogance or… something else. Was he trying to impress me, or was this his version of being romantic? I couldn’t tell, and that uncertainty made me more nervous than I wanted to admit.

Before I could ask anything else, one of the waiters approached, his posture straight and professional. “Good day, sir. Good day, ma’am,” he said politely, bowing slightly.

“Have you decided on what you want?” the waiter added.

Roman didn’t even glance at the menu. “Yes, we’ll have the lamb chops and Italian spaghetti,” he said smoothly, then turned to me. “Hope that’s okay with you?”

I gave a small grin, nodding. “Yes.”

“Alright then, your meal will be ready in a few minutes. Till then, we have a small package for both of you,” the waiter said.

I blinked, confused. “Package?”

The waiter gestured toward another staff member who began walking toward us, holding a red basket decorated with ribbons. My eyes followed it, my confusion deepening with each step. What in the world-

The woman set the basket gently on our table. It was full of tiny roses, chocolates, and a small plush bear in the middle. I stared at it, then at the waiter.

“This basket is from our manager to you two,” she said cheerfully. “He got this to add more romance to your beautiful relationship.”

My mouth parted slightly. For a moment, I couldn’t decide if I should laugh or correct her. Beautiful relationship? I glanced at Roman, half–expecting him to say something, but he just sat there, amused, a faint smile curving on his lips as he looked from the basket to me.

Imagine how awkward this was going to be when they realized he was my boss. My stubborn, overly confident boss who didn’t know how to take no for an answer.

The waiters gave us one more polite bow before walking off.

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes slightly. “Are you responsible for this?” I asked.

Roman chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. “Honestly, I’m just as shocked as you. I did not see this coming.” His eyes shifted back to the basket, still smiling like it was the most amusing thing he’d seen all week.

“But,” he added, “I mean, given the fact that I spent a lot to rent the place, this is probably their way of saying thank you.”

“I find that hard to believe,” I muttered, though part of me knew he could be right. Maybe the manager just assumed. Or maybe this was the universe’s way of teasing me.

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