No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 193

LAUREN’S POV

I rushed over to my room, which was only a few feet away, my heart hammering so loudly that I could almost hear the pulse in my ears. As soon as I got inside, I quietly closed the door, pressing my back against it for a moment. My palms were slightly damp with sweat, but I didn’t care. I needed to move fast.

My hands reached down, unbuttoning the skirt I wore earlier. It wasn’t exactly ideal for what I was about to do. If I was going to sneak my way to wherever Roman was heading, I couldn’t let a skirt limit me. I pulled it off quickly and grabbed the trousers I had worn yesterday. They were a bit wrinkled, but right now that didn’t matter. I shoved one leg in, then the other, tugging them up in a rush.

Just as I was zipping them, the door creaked open behind me. My breath hitched, and I froze. For a second, I thought it was Roman, and a cold wave of panic washed through me. I turned around, my mind scrambling for an excuse if he caught me halfway dressed like this.

But it wasn’t Roman.

It was Tessa.

Her expression was a mix of worry and disappointment.

“I heard everything Roman said to you,” she began, her tone calm but serious. “And you know he’s right, Lauren. You’re not supposed to go.”

I sighed, tugging my trousers up properly and fastening the button. “Well,” I said without looking at her, “I’m glad you know, because I’m already getting ready to go. And nothing, absolutely nothing is going to stop me. Not even you.”

She didn’t move. I half–expected her to argue or block the doorway, but instead, her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.

“I already know nothing can stop you,” she said softly. “And I’m not here to do so.”

That made me pause mid–motion. I was halfway through pulling my hair into a ponytail when I stopped and turned to look at her, eyes narrowing a little. “Then what are you here for?” I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.

She stepped farther into the room, her gaze steady on me. “I’m here to wish you luck,” she said simply.

For a brief second, I blinked, unsure I’d heard her right.

She continued, her tone growing softer, more vulnerable. “I might look like a bad friend for allowing you to walk straight into danger, straight to Ethan,” she said. “But I saw the pain you felt when you lost Elena, Lauren. I saw how that broke you. I don’t ever want you to go through that kind of pain again. So… I’m not stopping you this time.”

Her words hit me deep, right in the chest. A lump formed in my throat, and for a second, I didn’t know what to say.

“Thanks,” I finally managed, my voice quieter now. “I appreciate it, Tess.”

She gave me a small nod. “I’ll distract them so you can do your thing,” she said, her lips curving faintly. “The back of Roman’s car is open too, by the way.”

My eyes flicked up at her in surprise. “It is?”

“Yeah,” she replied, turning to leave. “So if you’re going to go, you better do it fast. Before they finish preparing.”

“Alright,” I said, grabbing my phone and sliding it into my pocket. “I should go now. Just… keep them distracted while I sneak

out.”

She nodded once, firm and certain. “I’ve got it handled.”

When she left, I stood there for a second, breathing in and out. My pulse was racing, but my mind was focused now. There was

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no backing out. I had to do this.

After waiting a few seconds to give her time to start her distraction, I slowly opened the door and slipped out. The hallway was quiet, but I could faintly hear voices coming from downstairs, Tessa’s voice among them. She was laughing. It sounded forced, but loud enough to keep attention on her.

I descended the stairs carefully, trying to make each step as silent as possible. My heart pounded against my ribs, the sound so loud I was scared someone would hear it.

As I reached the last step, I peeked toward the living room. Tessa was there, speaking animatedly to one of the men, probably telling, some ridiculous story. A few of them were laughing. Good. That gave me my window.

I turned toward the front door, my steps slow, deliberate. My fingers gripped the handle, and with one quiet push, I slipped outside into the fresh morning air.

The soft chill in the air brushed against my skin. My eyes scanned the line of Roman’s cars, and I was searching for one in particular. Roman’s favorite.

And then I spotted it, the Mercedes. The one Tessa mentioned.

All four doors were open, even the trunk. It looked like it had just been washed; water still clung to the rims, and a faint scent of car polish lingered in the air.

I walked quickly toward it, glancing around to make sure no one saw me. The sound of laughter from inside the house was still going strong, but I knew it wouldn’t last long.

My first thought was to hide in the back seat, wait there until Roman came out. But as I stared at the car, doubt crept in.

What if he didn’t drive today? What if someone else took the car? Worse, what if he opened the back seat door and saw me sitting there before we even left the compound? That would ruin everything.

My mind raced, searching for an alternative.

There wasn’t much time.

Then it hit me, the trunk.

It wasn’t ideal, but it was the only place he wouldn’t think to check.

I hesitated for just a second, but then I heard it, the faint sound of footsteps from the front door. Roman was coming.

I didn’t have another second to waste.

Without thinking twice, I darted toward the back of the car, opened the trunk wider, and climbed inside. The metal was cold beneath me. I pulled the trunk lid down quickly until it clicked shut, trapping me in complete darkness.

The silence was deafening. My breathing sounded too loud in the confined space, and I pressed a hand to my mouth, trying to steady it.

What if someone saw me getting in? What if Roman decided to take another car?

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