Lahat ng Kabanata ng No Second Chances, Ex-husband: Kabanata 231 - Kabanata 240

LAUREN'S POV I didn’t think the hug was really that necessary. I mean, she had already thanked me with a hug, so why thank Roman with a hug too, especially when he was the one clearly against her staying? It didn’t make sense. And the way she leaned in, holding onto him a little longer than needed, made the whole thing feel even more unnecessary. Roman cleared his throat again, that awkward low sound he made whenever he felt uncomfortable. “I get your thankful,” he said, trying to keep his tone composed even though his body was clearly stiff, “you’re welcome.” His voice came out in this uncomfortable way, like he was warning her to step back or he was about to gently push her off if she didn’t end it soon. But Liz didn’t stop immediately. “I just really appreciate you,” she said again. Still holding onto him. Still clinging in that way that didn’t look like appreciation anymore. The sound of her voice… it almost sounded seductive if I didn’t know better. Soft, warm, and draggin

ELIZABETH'S POV I slammed my hotel door so hard I was certain the staffs downstairs must have heard it echo through every floor. The loud crack of the wood hitting the frame wasn’t even enough to calm the heat burning inside me. My entire body felt tight, like every muscle wanted to explode at the same time. But I wasn’t done there. Not even close. I still had so much steam boiling under my skin that if I didn’t release it, I would combust. My eyes landed on the nearest object, one of those decorative vases hotels keep around to make a room look expensive. I didn’t even think twice. I grabbed it with both hands and slammed it against the floor with every ounce of rage in me. It shattered instantly, pieces scattering across the room like tiny sharp reminders of the moment everything went wrong. I ran my fingers aggressively through my hair, pacing from one end of the room to the other. My breath was coming out in harsh, uneven bursts. My chest felt heavy, like it couldn’t keep up w

ROMAN'S POV "Babe,” the faint voice said. At first, I pretended not to hear it. My dream was too nice, too peaceful, the kind that makes you want to glue your eyes shut so you don’t lose a single second of it. I forced my mind to drift back toward whatever fantasy it was creating, but the voice returned, a little louder. “Babe.” And then the final call came, sharper, firmer, cutting clean through the last pieces of sleep lingering in my head. “Roman.” That tone alone told me exactly who it was. I let out a long, tired breath and slowly cracked my eyes open. The morning light hit my face in a way that annoyed me instantly, but as my vision cleared, Lauren came into focus standing right beside the bed with a look that made me wonder if I was staring at an AI or a real person, she looked perfect. I knew I was going to be seeing her every day, but I don’t think I can get used to seeing her this beautiful She tapped my arm lightly, then bent down and placed a small kiss on my fore

ROMAN'S POV I slowly turned back around, my brows raised as I didn’t expect to hear what I thought I just heard. There was a pause, a fraction of a second where the words seemed to echo in my mind, forcing me to refocus. “What did you just call me?” I asked, my voice firm, yet holding just enough incredulity to let her know that what she had said was entirely out of line. “Daddy, is it wrong to call you daddy?” she asked, her tone laced with an almost deliberate innocence, like she had rehearsed the question in her mind to gauge my reaction. “Why would you even call me daddy, when I’m not your father?” I asked, my tone sharpening slightly. It was a simple question, but it carried a weight, an edge I didn’t bother hiding. “Well, I just wanted to see what Aria feels when she calls you that,” Elizabeth said, her words falling carefully into the space between us, precise and calculated. “What? Aria is a child, my child, which last I checked you’re a grown adult,” I said, my voice ri

LAUREN'S POV “I honestly don’t get why you guys don’t like her,” I said to Tessa through the phone, my voice soft but confused as I sat in the back of my car. The cool leather seat felt too comfortable for how uneasy I was beginning to feel. My driver kept his pace smooth, quiet, almost invisible, but somehow the silence in the car felt heavy. “It’s not like she did something wrong to you guys,” I added, my thumb rubbing the side of my phone slowly. “It’s not about her doing anything wrong,” Tessa replied, her tone sharp but controlled. “It’s about the fact that I don’t trust her. The way she behaved when she came over… I could clearly see what she was trying to do.” I let out a long breath through my nose. “Tessa, you can’t just judge someone from their appearance, and secondly, what do you think she was trying to do?” There was a pause on the phone. I knew that sigh she gave, the type she released only when she didn’t want to say something because she knew it would cause proble