Semua Bab Her Resolve: Bab 91 - Bab 100

Lauren’s POV Finding out that the child wasn’t Andre’s gave me more relief than I expected. It was strange, really. Because if I was being completely honest with myself, Andre had still hurt me. He had still cheated on me once before. That fact hadn’t magically disappeared just because the baby wasn’t his. And yet… The moment I saw the negative result on that test, something inside me loosened. Like a tight knot in my chest had finally been untangled. I sat on my couch that night after the call with his mother, my phone still clutched in my hand, tears rolling down my cheeks as relief washed through my entire body. My baby wouldn’t grow up in chaos. My baby wouldn’t grow up watching her parents fight over another woman’s child. My baby wouldn’t grow up with the confusion of step-sibling drama tied to betrayal and lies. Most importantly… My baby would know her father. That thought alone made my chest swell with emotion. Because my childhood had been… perfect. Truly per

Lauren POV “All of this was because of Julia… right?” My mother’s question hung in the air between us like something fragile. Something heavy. For a moment, I just stared at her. Not because I didn’t know how to answer. But because I was surprised. Truly surprised. Somehow, in the strange little world I had built for myself these past months—hiding in another country, avoiding everyone who had once been part of my life—I had convinced myself that no one really knew what had happened. That may be the truth that had stayed inside those walls. Inside that house. Between me, Andre… and Julia. But of course that was foolish. How could my parents not have known? I blinked slowly, wiping the dampness from my cheeks. “How did you know it was because of her?” I asked qu

Lauren’s POV (First Person) For the first time in what felt like forever… I woke up feeling peaceful. Not the kind of peace that comes from exhaustion. Not the kind that comes from temporarily forgetting your problems. But real peace. The kind that settles deep inside your chest and stays there. When I opened my eyes that morning, sunlight was pouring softly through the curtains of my old bedroom. The golden light stretched across the floor, warming the familiar furniture that had surrounded me for most of my life. For a moment, I just lay there quietly. Breathing. Listening. The house was alive again. I could hear faint movement downstairs. The distant clatter of dishes in the kitchen. Someone walking down the hallway. Normal sounds. Home sounds. A small smile spread across my face. I placed both hands over my belly. “Good morning,” I whispered to the little life inside me. The baby shifted slightly, almost as if responding. I let out a soft laugh. Life felt… dif

Lauren POV Today felt… different. Exciting. Alive. For the first time since I got back, my mind wasn’t consumed by plans, confrontation, or fear. Today, I was going to my store. My baby. Lauren Luxe. Just thinking about it made my heart swell. I had missed it so much. The space. The energy. My team. Kate. God, I missed Kate. I knew I had told myself I would focus on settling everything at home first—handle the drama, confront Andre, expose Julia… But honestly? I couldn’t wait anymore. I needed this. I needed something that reminded me of who I was outside of all the chaos. So after breakfast, I found my mom in the living room and cleared my throat. “I’m heading out today,” I said. She looked up immediately. “Where to?” “My store.” Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh.” There was a pause. Then— “I’ll come with you.” I blinked. “Mom…” “I’ll come with you,” she repeated, already standing up. I sighed softly. Ever since I got back, she had been… Attached. Ev

Lauren POV I didn’t even think. I just… reacted. One second, I was standing there, frozen, watching him walk away from me like I meant nothing— And the next— “Dre!” My voice cut through the air, louder than I expected. Desperate. Raw. But he didn’t stop. He didn’t even slow down. My heart dropped. No… no, I can’t just watch him leave, not like this. Before I could even process what I was doing, my hand loosened and the ice cream slipped from my fingers, hitting the ground with a soft splat. I didn’t care. Didn’t even look at it. I just ran. Or at least… I tried to. “Lauren!” I heard my mom shout behind me. “Lauren stop! Please!” Nan’s voice followed, filled with panic. But I couldn’t stop. Not now. Not when he was right there. Not when everything I’ve been holding in for months was about to slip through my fingers again. My body protested immediately. Each step was heavier than the last. My breathing turned uneven within seconds, my