No Second Chances Ex-husband novel Chapter 3

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 — Ethan hadn’t slept in it for weeks now. He said he needed space. Said work was too stressful, and he didn’t want to keep me up when he came in late.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor. My chest felt tight, and the remaining tears I’d held back because of Elena's presence came rushing in like a storm.

I curled up, pulled the blanket around me, and let it out. Silent, broken sobs that hurt deep in my ribs. The kind that no one hears. The kind that makes you feel completely alone.

I cried until the pillow was wet. I must’ve fallen asleep sometime after three or four. The sky was already starting to brighten when I finally closed my eyes.

When I opened them again, the room was filled with soft daylight. My head felt heavy. My eyes were swollen. I reached for my phone to check the time. It was past 10.

I sat up slowly, brushed my hair back, and went downstairs.

The house was quiet.

“Mrs. Lauren,” Rosa said gently from the kitchen. “I took Elena to school. You were sleeping so deeply, I didn’t want to wake you.”

I nodded. “Thank you, Rosa.”

She gave me a small smile and kept wiping down the counter. I walked into the living room and saw her tidying up. That’s when she noticed something on the coffee table.

“Oh,” she said, picking it up. “This looks like Mr. Ethan’s.”

I looked closer. It was his silver USB drive — the one he always kept on his keychain. He used it for work. Always said it had important files on it.

Rosa frowned. “He must’ve dropped it.”

Right then, her phone buzzed. She answered quickly, nodding as she spoke in Spanish. Then she turned to me. “That was Mr. Ethan. He asked if we had seen the USB. I told him yes.”

“And?”

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