Game Over No Second Chances novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

LAUREN’S POV

As I stood in front of him-arms crossed, chest heaving, my words still echoing in the air – I expected defiance. Maybe even silence. I braced myself for Ethan to shake his head, tell me no, maybe walk away like he always did when things got uncomfortable.

But instead… he laughed.

Laughed.

A deep, shameless laugh that cut deeper than any insult could have. His shoulders moved slightly with each chuckle, and he stared at me like I’d just told the funniest joke in the world.

I raised a brow, confused and disgusted. “What’s so funny?” I asked.

He wiped an invisible tear from the corner of his eye. “And why exactly would I do that?”

My stomach twisted. “Because you’re a married man, Ethan,” I said through gritted teeth. “You already have a family. You have a daughter. You have me. And even if you don’t have the decency to do it for me, at least do it for Elena.”

I paused, hoping – begging – for something in him to soften. For a trace of the man lonce loved to show through. Maybe he would realize the mess he was creating and finally step back.

But all I got was a smug smirk.

“You must be joking, right?” he asked, cocking his head.

“Dol look like I’m joking?” My voice cracked from the weight of everything. “Elena was telling me tonight. Her friends found a drawing she made one of us arguing. She drew it to cope, Ethan. She’s five! What happens when this starts affecting her grades, her confidence, her mental health? Do you want to raise a daughter with trauma just because you couldn’t keep it in your pants?”

He didn’t answer. He just stood there, arms folded like he was above it all.

I could feel the pressure mounting in my head, the heat rushing to my face, the nausea twisting my stomach. My balance shifted slightly, and I had to hold onto the arm of the couch to steady myself. The dizziness came back, subtle at first, then stronger.

I closed my eyes and tried to take slow breaths, telling myself not to faint. Not again. Not now.

But even through my blurred focus, I heard his voice-cold, sarcastic.

“That’s really good acting,” he said. “I’ll give you that.”

I snapped my eyes open. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said. “I’ve seen enough of your theatrics, Lauren. I know when you’re trying to manipulate a situation.”

My heart dropped.

He had just watched me stumble, clearly lightheaded, and instead of helping me discharged from the hospital because of stress-his stress.

–

he mocked me. Like I was putting on a show. Like I hadn’t just gotten

“This isn’t an act,” I said, my voice quivering with pain. “This is the direct result of what you have done to my life. I’ve had to lie to our daughter, pretend I’m okay, pretend we’re okay – just so she can go to school with a smile. I fainted today because I couldn’t carry the weight anymore. And when I tried to call you when I needed you

—

–

you didn’t pick up.”

I watched him closely, hoping – maybe foolishly that my words would finally get through. That something would register.

–

1/3

He raised an eyebrow again and tilted his head. “So that’s why you were blowing up my phone earlier? You knew I was with Sofia, and still…”

My lips parted in disbelief. “So you were with your phone,” I said, stunned. “You saw all the calls and chose not to pick up… because you were still with

her?”

I had spent hours convincing myself that maybe he had left his phone somewhere or maybe the battery had died.

But no.

He was with her.

And I wasn’t even worth a two-second response.

“Yes, and she made me enjoy every bit of the moment I spent with her,” Ethan said without hesitation, his tone smug, his pride disgusting. Was it because I had finally caught him and now he decided there was no need to pretend anymore? It was as though the years we spent together meant nothing to him – as if I hadn’t loved him, supported him, and built a life by his side.

The words echoed in my ears like a cruel chant, and for a second, I just stared. My heart burned, not just from the betrayal, but from the way he said it- so proudly, like it was a victory. Like he had conquered something.

I stood up straight again, trying to hold myself together as I looked him dead in the eye. “It’s hopeless,” I said quietly, my voice trembling. “You really don’t have any shame, do you?”

He rolled his eyes and turned like he’d had enough. “That’s enough. I’m done hearing all this.”

Then, like a coward, he tried to walk past me again. Just like he always did. Avoid the conversation. Pretend the damage isn’t there. Leave me to pick up the pieces.

I moved quickly, jumping in front of him once more and blocking his path for the second time.

You can’t blame me. I spent three years dating him and five years married to him- that’s eight years of my youth. You don’t just walk away from something like that, especially not after having a child who’s already five. I couldn’t just give up, not when I knew I’d never get those years back. I had to at least fight for it, even if it made me look desperate.

“Lauren, get out of my way,” he said, his voice lower, colder.

“No,” I snapped, standing my ground even as my knees trembled beneath me. “You haven’t done what I asked you to do.”

His jaw clenched. “I’m not going to repeat myself again.”

*Really? So now you want to hit me?” I said, eyes narrowing. “Is it because of another woman that you’re ready to beat your wife?”

I thought maybe the question would wake him up. That it would make him realize just how far he had fallen. thought he’d be appalled at the idea,

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