No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 216

**TITLE: He Chased 216**
**CHAPTER 0216**

**LAUREN’S POV**

“Wait a second, did you just say we grew up in an orphanage?” I asked, my voice trailing off as if my brain needed extra time to process the weight of her words. It felt surreal, almost like I was caught in a dream where the logic seemed to twist and turn unexpectedly.

“Yes,” Elizabeth confirmed, her head nodding slightly, her expression so composed that I could have sworn she had rehearsed this revelation countless times before.

“That means our biological parents, they’re…” I hesitated, the gravity of the statement hanging heavily in the air.

“They’re dead. The orphanage informed my parents that they perished in an accident. We were the only survivors,” Elizabeth interrupted, her tone firm, cutting through my unfinished thought like a knife.

I blinked, her words settling deep within me, cold and oppressive. I felt my shoulders slump as I sank deeper into the chair, the reality of her statement pressing down on me like an unwelcome weight. My gaze fell to the floor, not really registering any details, just trying to absorb the staggering information that had just shattered my world.

What had I been expecting? Somewhere in the back of my mind, perhaps I had clung to the hope that they might still be alive. I imagined them searching for me, yearning to explain why things had unfolded as they did. But hearing that they had died when we were just children—though I had never known them—hit me in a way I couldn’t fully articulate. It stung, a sharp ache that resonated in my chest, leaving me feeling hollow and lost.

“Are you okay?” Roman’s voice cut through my swirling thoughts, soft and concerned, as he placed a reassuring hand on my lap. His thumb brushed gently over my knee, grounding me in the moment.

“I’m fine,” I replied, nodding slowly, attempting to gather my scattered thoughts. I exhaled quietly, taking a moment to collect myself before straightening up, trying to regain my composure.

“So… is that everything you know for now?” I asked, lifting my gaze back to Elizabeth, searching for more answers.

“For now, yes,” she replied, her voice steady. “My parents might have more information, but honestly, I’m still really upset with them for keeping my adoption a secret all this time. I don’t feel like talking to them at the moment.”

“Well, I could reach out to them if you’d like,” I suggested, trying to offer a solution. “I mean, it could be worth a shot, right?”

“It’s not a bad idea,” she said, giving a small shrug, though her eyes reflected her hesitation. “But they’re not in this country. They’re in Russia, so for now, we can only communicate through phone calls.”

My brows knitted together in confusion. “Why are they in Russia while you’re here?” I asked, genuinely puzzled by the distance.

“I don’t stay in one place for long,” she replied, leaning back in her chair, her posture relaxed yet distant. “This isn’t really my scene. I came here to finalize a business deal in my parents’ absence. And then, I saw you.”

Before I could respond, the waiter arrived at our table, bustling with urgency as he balanced our drinks. He set Roman’s glass down carefully, followed by mine, and then turned to Elizabeth with hers.

But in an unfortunate twist of fate, as he placed the drink down, it tipped over unexpectedly, spilling its contents all over her dress in one swift motion.

I expected that would be enough to quell her fury. Surely, an apology would suffice, or at least help her regain her composure. But she was far from finished.

Before I could utter a word, she snatched my drink—my full glass—and hurled it at the waiter, the liquid splattering across his shirt and dripping down his arms as he stood frozen in shock.

“Do you see how that feels?” she yelled, her voice booming. “And you don’t like it, do you? Well, that’s exactly how I feel! Except you’re wearing a cheap outfit while mine could pay for your entire year’s salary, you jerk!”

Her voice echoed throughout the café, unapologetic and fierce.

I stared at her, utterly stunned. Why would she react this way in a public place? The waiter had made an innocent mistake. Accidents happen; drinks spill all the time. She hadn’t been robbed, her phone wasn’t broken, and no one had physically harmed her. It was just a drink on a dress, yet she responded as if it were a personal affront.

My gaze swept around the café, where whispers erupted like wildfire. People murmured to each other, glancing discreetly in our direction. This was spiraling out of control—not just for her, but for me as well. We shared a striking resemblance; anyone witnessing this scene could easily mistake me for the one causing the ruckus.

And after everything that had just transpired with my daughter, after Ethan’s arrest had thrust me into the public eye, I couldn’t afford another scandal. The last thing I needed was for people to think I was some two-faced fraud who assaulted restaurant staff.

Elizabeth needed to rein it in. Fast.