No Second Chances, Ex-husband

LAUREN'S POV I knew today would fall apart but hearing it from my daughter made it worse. “Mommy, do you think Daddy forgot again?” That question hit me harder than I thought it would. I looked up from the sink, where I’d been rinsing off Elena’s cereal bowl. Her voice was soft, like she already knew the answer but wanted to hear something else. Anything else. I dried my hands on the dish towel and walked into the living room. There she was, sitting on the edge of the couch in her pink dress, the same one she’d picked out two weeks ago just for today. Her legs dangled above the floor, her shiny black shoes tapping gently against the couch. “No, baby,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Daddy’s just… running a little late, that’s all. He said he’d be here before five, remember?” She looked up at the wall clock. It was already quarter past six. “He said that last year too,” she mumbled, eyes drifting toward the window. “And he never came.” I swallowed the lump forming in m

LAUREN’S POV I wiped my cheeks fast and tried to smile. I didn’t want Elena to worry. “Just something in Mommy’s eye,” I said softly. She didn’t look convinced, but she nodded and came down slowly, hugging her teddy bear tight. She climbed onto the couch beside me and leaned her little head on my shoulder. I held her close, breathing in her soft baby shampoo scent, trying to hold myself together. “Did Daddy come home already?” she whispered. I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Yeah… he’s upstairs. He didn't want to wake you when he came in." I lied. Ethan didn't even attempt to go into her room and at least check on her. She didn’t say anything after that. Just sat there quietly until her eyes started to droop again. I carried her to her room and tucked her in gently. I kissed her forehead and whispered, “I love you more than anything, baby.” When she was finally asleep, I went into the master bedroom. Ours. Well, used to be ours. The bed still looked neat, untouched — Eth

LAUREN’S POV Pregnant. That word rang in my ears over and over again like a siren. My brain heard it, but my heart… my heart refused to believe it. I turned slowly, like my whole body had forgotten how to move. My eyes landed on Ethan. He wasn’t looking at me. He was staring at the floor like a boy caught stealing. My lips parted, and my voice came out so weak, I barely recognized it. “Ethan… is it true?” I prayed – God, I actually prayed in that second that he would look up and say no. That Sofia was just playing a sick joke. That it was a lie. That he didn’t do this to me. To us. To our daughter. But he didn’t even lift his head. He didn’t say a single word. His jaw clenched, his eyes flicked to the side like a coward, and in that second… I knew. He didn’t have to say anything. His silence hit harder than a slap. It was true. She wasn’t lying. Sofia was actually pregnant with his child. And I...his wife was standing there like a fool. Like a leftover. Something ins

ETHAN'S POVHer lips — God, they were still as soft as I remembered. Like velvet soaked in honey. It was almost as if she had kept them just for me, like she’d been saving every touch, every kiss, for this very moment. That was the only thing running through my head as I continued kissing Sofia. The scent of her perfume filled my lungs — sweet, alluring, addictive. Her hair tickled against my cheek as our bodies molded into each other. Her skin was smooth like warm silk, and the way she moved beneath me sent sparks through every nerve in my body. This wasn’t the first time I was cuddled up with her here, but each time I felt her skin against mine, it came with a feeling that I could not explain. It was something I couldn’t get used to even up till now I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way. Not regret. Not guilt. Not Lauren. Sofia's hands moved slowly, deliberately, as she began to unbuckle my belt, her fingers brushing against my waistline with teasing confidence. I suck

LAUREN'S POV “How did you get here?” Tessa asked, her voice sharp with concern as her eyes darted across my body, scanning me from head to toe like she was afraid I’d vanish if she blinked. I shifted slightly on the hospital bed, trying to sit up despite the dull ache that pulsed behind my eyes. The IV line tugged gently at my arm, reminding me I wasn’t going anywhere soon. “I… I passed out,” I said softly, the words barely making it past the dryness in my throat. “On the road. It was because of stress.” “What?!” she gasped, the pitch of her voice rising with alarm. “Lauren, when did this happen?” “Just… a few moments ago,” I murmured, blinking rapidly as I felt the sting of unshed tears. My throat tightened. I sniffled, trying to hold myself together, trying to sound stronger than I felt. Tessa’s face paled. “Oh my God,” she whispered. She leaned in immediately, her fingers moving over my arms, checking for bruises or signs of injury. Gently, she pushed a strand of hair behind m