No Second Chances Ex-husband novel Chapter 4

LAUREN’S POV

Ethan looked up, his smile dropping fast. He frowned, like he was annoyed. Like I was the one doing something wrong.

“What are you doing here, Lauren?” he asked, standing up slowly. He didn’t even look surprised to see me. No smile, no warmth, just those cold, annoyed brown eyes.

I held up the USB, my hands trembling. “You left this,” I said, forcing the words out of my mouth.

“I told Rosa to bring it,” he said sharply. “Not you. You shouldn't have bothered coming."

That was the first thing he said. Not thank you. Not are you okay? Not even a quick lie to pretend he cared about my feelings. No, he was mad that I came instead of the maid.

I blinked, staring at him. “That’s what you’re upset about?”

He said nothing. Just stood there, his jaw tight.

Before I could say another word, the lady sitting beside him spoke.

“Ethan… who is she?”

Her voice was smooth, soft, almost mocking. I turned to look at her. She crossed her legs slowly, like she was in no rush. Her nails were painted a pale pink, and the way she looked at me made my skin crawl.

Ethan didn’t answer right away. I turned to him, heart pounding in my chest, waiting for him to speak. But he just opened his mouth, then closed it again.

So I answered for him.

“I’m his wife,” I said quietly. I held up my left hand and showed her the ring.

But then I looked down at Ethan’s hand. It was bare. No ring. No sign he’d ever worn one to work.

My chest felt like it cracked open. That moment hit me so hard, I almost forgot to breathe.

“Oh,” the woman said, blinking at me. “You didn’t mention a wife last night when I asked you.”

Last night.

Those two words echoed in my head. Then it clicked, she was the same woman from the photo. The lipstick. The lie. The intern at the company he said not to worry about. It was her. He was with her.

My throat burned.

Ethan must’ve seen it in my face, the way I finally put it all together. That’s when he quickly stepped in.

“Yes, I’m married,” he said, like it was suddenly important now. “This is Lauren. My wife. Lauren, this is Sofia...an old friend from college.”

Sofia.

I already knew. But hearing the name out loud still made my stomach twist.

Sofia turned back to me, and for a few seconds, she just looked. Up and down. Her eyes sharp. Her mouth curled into the smallest smirk as her eyes dragged over my outfit, my hair, my body. She wasn't even subtle about it.

Then she laughed. Just a little.

“Wow! I honestly can’t believe it,” she said, almost like she was talking to herself. “Ethan… really? This is who you ended up with?”

I felt the burn in my face. "Excuse me?” I said, my voice tight.

She kept smiling like I wasn’t even worth being mad at.

“I mean, no offense,” she said with a shrug, even though offense was clearly the point. " She's not what I expected. Did you stop caring about appearances completely? She's... so plain. And you’ve gained a lot of weight, haven’t you? You could’ve at least dressed up properly before coming here.”

I froze.

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