No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 150

“I haven’t gotten to know her much, but from the little time I’ve been seeing her, I would like to know her more,” Roman said, his tone low and sincere, his gaze fixed on the table between us. “I know it’s going to take a while before she accepts me, it’s normal. I’m sure every girl her age would feel the same. That’s why I’m going to take things slow, and I’m not going to tell her yet. I can’t just come out of nowhere telling her I’m her father. It might affect her emotionally in a lot of ways, even though she’s still a child.”

For a moment, I just stared at him, His words hung in the air, heavy yet careful.

“So that’s why you insisted on taking her to school today,” I finally said, my mind slowly piecing things together.

He didn’t deny it. He just gave a small nod, and that told me everything I needed to know.

“Hold on,” I said, narrowing my eyes as a sudden thought struck me. “I hope by what you just said you’re not planning on doing what I think you’re going to do?”

His brows furrowed in confusion. “And what’s that?”

“Taking me to court and splitting the ownership of Aria between you and I,” I said flatly, the words coming out sharper than I intended. 1

For a second, his face was blank then his eyebrows shot up so fast it almost made me doubt myself. “Why would you think I’d do that?”

“That’s basically my biggest fear,” I said quietly, looking down. “It’s part of the reason why I didn’t tell you when I got back to America.”

— a full, For a long moment, there was silence. Then, out of nowhere, Roman let out a laugh. Not a soft chuckle deep laugh that made some of the waiters‘ heads turn from across the restaurant. He laughed so hard that I felt my cheeks warm with embarrassment.

“What’s so funny?” I muttered, crossing my arms.

He tried to calm himself down, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “Sorry…sorry,” he said between small bursts of laughter. “That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all week. I mean, why would I even do that?”

He reached for his glass of water, taking a sip, still smiling.

“You’re saying this like a lot of men don’t do it,” I countered, a bit defensive now.

“Yes, they do,” he said easily, setting the glass back down. “But most of those men want nothing to do with their child’s mother in any way. That’s not the case for me. Even before I found out you had a child, I was still trying to get close to you, to know you better.”

I blinked at him, caught off guard by how effortlessly honest he sounded.

“Well… I guess you do have a point,” I murmured to myself, looking away so he wouldn’t see the faint surprise in my eyes.

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CHAPTER 0150

+25 BONUS

“Doing something like that,” he continued, his tone softening, “would destroy all the efforts and time I’ve put into knowing you and you know that.”

His words hit deeper than I expected. I let out a small sigh, my shoulders relaxing without realizing it. For the first time, I saw him differently not as my boss, not as the man who unexpectedly fathered my child but as someone who genuinely cared.

All this time, I had compared him to Ethan. From the very first night I saw him at that club, I’d thought he was no different, just another confident, charming man who liked the thrill of control. That assumption had built a wall around me, one I made sure no one could climb. I told myself it was protection. Maybe it was. But now… I wasn’t so sure anymore.

Maybe Tessa had been right all along. She had seen something in Roman that my wounded heart refused to acknowledge. She had seen the real Roman Hale, the side that wasn’t buried under arrogance or power. And sitting across from him now, I was finally beginning to see it too.

“I have something else I want to say,” he said suddenly, his tone turning more serious.

I lifted my gaze back to him, curious.

“I have never had a better night with another woman since the night we shared,” he said quietly, his eyes holding mine. “That was where I connected with you, Lauren.”

The air around us shifted instantly. My chest tightened, and before I could help it, a small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. It wasn’t a forced smile, wasn’t the kind I wore out of politeness or discomfort. It was genuine.

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