No Second Chances Ex-husband novel Chapter 47

47 /50

LAUREN'S POV

“I suggest you pick it up and sign it today,” Ethan’s voice cut through the air, each word sharp and deliberate, “because from now henceforth, I am done with you. There’s no reason whatsoever that I need to be in contact with you anymore. When you left, I still had your contact saved because of Elena, but since she’s no longer here, I don’t ever want to see your face again.”

The words slammed into me like a heavy stone striking my chest. For a moment, I forgot how to breathe. My fingers tightened slightly against my side as I stared at the ground, not trusting myself to look him in the eye. The sound of his voice cold, resolute made it clear this wasn’t just anger speaking. He meant every syllable.

A heavy silence hung between us, thick enough to choke on. I could feel the weight of every glance. People weren’t even pretending not to listen, they were watching, quietly drinking in the scene unfolding before them.

Then, Tessa moved. She stepped to my side, her heels clicking against the floor, and without hesitation, she bent to pick up the envelope that lay between us like an accusation. Straightening, she turned toward Ethan, her chin lifted in defiance.

“Trust me,” she said, her voice firm and clear enough for everyone to hear, “you’re going to be getting this back sooner than you think. And if for a moment you think she needs you for any reason, then you’re just deceiving yourself to feel better. She’s the most hardworking person I know and I’m sure you know that too, because she was once working her ass off to pay your bills and feed your lazy ass.”

The words hit like a slap, and I saw the change in Ethan’s face instantly. His jaw tightened, but there was a flicker in his eyes — shame. As much as he might want to keep his expression unreadable, it was there. That small crack in his façade.

For someone who now stood as a wealthy billionaire in the public eye, being reminded of the days when he had nothing was like dragging his pride through the dirt. And here it was, said aloud, in front of all these people.

I caught the subtle shift in the crowd’s posture — how they looked at him now, curiosity mixing with judgment. The air seemed to grow heavier. Even if no one spoke, I could feel their silent questions, their unspoken whispers pressing in from all sides.

Ethan’s gaze swept over the room briefly, catching the stares, and then Sofia stepped in. Her hand brushed his arm, her voice low but steady.

“Come on, let’s leave this place,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain. “These people don’t deserve your time or your money. You loved Elena with your heart, and I’m sure Elena knew that. There’s no need to be in the same space with Lauren.”

Her words were meant to comfort him, to pull him away from this confrontation, but they were also meant for me — sharp, deliberate little knives disguised as sympathy.

“Yes, you’re right,” Ethan replied after a beat, his voice calm again, but there was something else there now. A shift. A calculation. He glanced at me briefly, and a slow, almost deliberate pause followed before he spoke again. “And another idea just entered my head.”

My head lifted at that. I couldn’t stop myself. Whatever it was, the sudden change in his tone made the hair on the back of my neck prickle.

“What idea?” I asked, my voice coming out quieter than I intended.

He smiled then not a warm smile, but the kind that carried an edge, the kind that made you wonder if you should brace yourself.

“Lauren,” he said, drawing out my name just slightly, “since your friend said you’re the most hardworking person she knows… you’re going to pay the rest of the money for this burial ceremony.”

The words hung in the air like a punch I hadn’t seen coming.