No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 191

LAUREN’S POINT OF VIEW

“Before I left, everything seemed perfectly normal. Nothing was out of place, nothing missing,” I murmured, my voice barely steady as the private investigator jotted down notes on his pad. His pen moved with deliberate precision, and the calm, analytical expression on his face made me feel small, vulnerable, almost desperate in comparison. “When I returned, I made sure to check every corner of the house because I thought maybe someone had broken in,” I added, my voice faltering slightly, “but everything was exactly where it should be.”

A heavy silence settled over the room, broken only by the faint hum of computers and the soft clatter of keyboards from the investigators working quietly behind us. I could feel the weight of their expectant gazes on me, as if they were waiting for me to recall something—anything—that might help.

Then, suddenly, like a tiny spark lighting up a dark room, a faint memory flickered in my mind. “But…” I interrupted abruptly, lifting my head.

At that single word, everyone turned toward me. Roman’s eyes met mine, filled with cautious hope. The investigator paused mid-sentence, pen hovering over the paper.

“But?” he prompted, leaning forward slightly, his curiosity piqued.

“I just remembered something,” I said slowly, trying to gather the scattered pieces of that day. “Before we left, on my way to Tessa’s room, there’s a shelf in the hallway where Aria usually drops her gaming console when she’s done with it.” The memory was hazy at first but became clearer as I spoke. “It’s kind of her routine. Every morning, I remind her to keep her things tidy, and she always leaves her Switch there before breakfast.”

I hesitated, brow furrowed as I searched my mind for more details. “But when I came home, it wasn’t there. At the time, I didn’t think much of it—maybe she’d moved it somewhere else—but now it feels important.”

Roman’s expression sharpened, his attention suddenly more focused. I turned to Tessa. “Tessa, was Aria playing with the console before you all left?” I asked, my voice tinged with hope, almost pleading.

Tessa blinked, trying to recall. “She had it in her hands,” she replied softly. “But she wasn’t really playing much—she was mostly watching the TV.”

The private investigator looked up from his notes, interest lighting up his eyes. “And what kind of gaming console did she have?” he asked, his tone suddenly eager, energized.

“Nintendo Switch,” I answered, curious about his sudden enthusiasm.

He exchanged a quick glance with one of his assistants, then turned back to me with a spark of excitement. “A Nintendo Switch? That’s actually very promising news—especially if she took it with her.”

My heart skipped a beat. I frowned, uncertain what he meant. “Why? What does that imply?” I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of surprise and desperate hope.

The investigator straightened, a triumphant look crossing his face. “Because we can use the console’s IP address to trace her location.”

For a moment, I just stared at him, letting the meaning sink in. Then the realization hit me all at once. My eyes widened, and I instinctively stepped closer. “Really? Are you sure about that?” I whispered, voice shaky but filled with cautious optimism.

“Absolutely,” he replied confidently, turning toward the main computer station set up in the living room. “There are several ways to track its signal or at least pinpoint its last known location.”

“Yes,” Roman added, stepping forward, his voice calm and measured. “He’s right.”

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