My Reborn Apocalypse Begins with a Divorce novel Chapter 22

Lauren was seething.

All her parents seemed to care for was her brother, Max.

Had she been born just to serve Max her whole life? From childhood on, every good thing had gone to him. It was as if she’d been adopted.

“Right,” Daisy cut in, showing her no mercy. “What about that lover of yours? Go ask him for money! We raised his son all these years–shouldn’t he compensate us?”

Max’s eyes lit up. “Yeah! Make him pay us a few hundred thousand. That’ll cover my wedding.”

Josh nodded eagerly. “Doctors make good money, don’t they? Always taking bribes and such-”

“At least 250,000 dollars,” Max barked, voice rising with greed. “Tell him to give us 250,000 dollars, or he can forget about Michael!”

Josh snapped, “Go find him right now. Take Michael with you. Tell him if he doesn’t hand over 250,000 dollars, you’ll leave the boy with him. Why should I raise another man’s child?”

“Dad… you’re throwing me out again?” Lauren’s voice broke. It was the second time.

“If you can’t bring back 250,000 dollars, then you’re no daughter of mine,” he snapped. “From this moment on, we’re done.”

He shoved her toward the door, then ordered Daisy to set Michael outside too.

“Dad! Mom!” Lauren pounded the door, but no one answered.

Neighbors peeked out from behind half–open doors. Her face burned with shame. Hugging her son tight, she turned and left.

Outside the building, she sank onto a cold step, utterly spent. Michael whined beside her, tugging at her sleeve. Something in her snapped, and she shouted at him harshly.

She sat in silence afterward, hollow and shaking. Finally, she called Zac. He was her last flicker of light, her only place left to lean.

She told him everything–being thrown out, owing 205,000 dollars–and asked if he could lend he

money.

“Lauren,” Zac sighed, “you know my salary’s all handled by my wife. There’s nothing I can do. Besides, since your parents took the money, shouldn’t you be asking them to give it back? And listen… I promised my wife I wouldn’t contact you again. Don’t call or message me anymore.”

The line clicked dead.

Lauren stared at her phone, frozen in disbelief.

She didn’t move for half an hour. When she finally lifted her head, her eyes

had turned cold.

“You were heartless,” she whispered, “so don’t blame me for being cruel. If I go down, I’ll take you all with me.”

A day passed.

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Chapter 22

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At the gym, Ray was drenched in sweat. After ten days of steady workouts, his body was finally showing change- his abdomen beginning to tighten and separate into defined lines. It would take more time before it became a true eight–pack, but he was getting there.

Keisha stood nearby, pretending to supervise but simmering with frustration. Ten days, and he still hadn’t taken the bait. She’d nearly stripped herself bare trying to tempt him, yet he acted as though desire itself were foreign to him.

Then his phone rang.

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