All Chapters of Her Resolve: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Lauren POVI didn’t sleep well again.It’s becoming a pattern now.And it's not because of the tossing and turning, that’s normal at seven months pregnant.It’s the feeling.That quiet, creeping awareness that something is shifting.Like the air changes before a storm, even when the sky still looks clear.I wake up with my hand on my stomach.The baby moves gently beneath my palm.A slow roll.A reminder.“How are you, mama?,” I whisper.She rolls again.“You okay? I know you are my love,” I cooed, smiling. “As for mama, mama’s tired. I haven't been sleeping that much,” I yawn as if to prove myself, “ And it is making me gourgy.”I tell her as I stand up to start my day. At this point, I don’t know if I’m talking to the baby or to myself.Probably both. ⸻The morning light spills softly into my apartment. Ann was here yesterday, so the house is still clean and I don't have to do any more cleaning. Which is such a relief because at this point, even taking a shower is hard for me.

Lauren POV The next morning, I woke up with one thought sitting heavily on my chest.You need to call her. Before I even open my eyes, it’s there. Persistent. Unavoidable. Call Andre’s mom. For a few seconds, I lie still, staring at the ceiling, hoping the courage I went to sleep with will still be there. It isn’t. Instead, there’s fear. And pride. And shame. I roll onto my side slowly, one hand resting over my stomach. “My life is about to change again,” I whisper to myself.“Or not.” But I’m not running away this time around. I’m not assuming. Not breaking. It’s time to find out the truth.I slowly got out of bed, thinking of all the things I need to do today aside from calling my mother-in-law. I decide not to

Lauren Keisha doesn’t interrupt me. She just shifts slightly on the couch, tucking one leg under herself, fully facing me. “Okay,” she says softly. “Tell me everything.” So I do. I inhale slowly, bracing myself. “It wasn’t just some random woman,” I begin. “It was my cousin.” Her forehead wrinkles. “Your what?” “My cousin. Julia.” Her jaw drops. “Oh, hell no.” I almost smile through the heaviness. “Yes. Hell no.” I stare at the wall, but I’m not seeing it. I’m seeing the day Julia showed up at my door. Small smile. Hand on her barely-there bump. “She said she was pregnant,” I continue. “And that the baby was Andre’s. My husband’s. On the day we were finally going for our honeymoon, months afte

Third Person POV For the first time in months, Andre’s mother felt like she could breathe. The phone call had ended only seconds ago, but she still sat frozen on the edge of the bed, staring at the dark screen in her hand as if it might light up again. Lauren was alive. Safe. Not broken beyond repair. Not lost forever. A shaky laugh escaped her lips, quickly chased by tears. She pressed her palm against her chest as if to steady her racing heart. “She’s okay,” she whispered to herself. Relief washed over her in waves — thick, overwhelming, almost dizzying. For months she had lived in devastation. Lauren's leaving hurt her more than anyone could imagine. She didn’t tell her she was even planning on leaving despite how close she thought they were. Maybe she thought I would have tried to stop her from leaving. Which she w

Lauren’s POV Two days.It had been two long, restless days since I spoke with Andre’s mom and asked her to help me get the DNA samples.Two days of waiting.Two days of waking up with a heavy feeling in my chest and falling asleep with the same thoughts chasing each other around my mind.Keisha said if I stayed inside my apartment any longer I would start talking to the furniture, so she practically forced me out of the house tonight.Which was how I ended up sitting across from her in a small Italian restaurant downtown.The place was warm and lively, filled with the comforting scent of garlic, roasted tomatoes, and fresh bread. Soft music played in the background while waiters moved between tables balancing plates of pasta and glasses of wine.It was the kind of place couples came to for quiet dinners.Friends came to laugh loudly.And pregnant women came to eat everything on the menu.Keisha and I had arrived at the same time, but Ethan was running late.Of course.“He better