No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 218

**CHAPTER 0218**

**ELIZABETH’S POV**

Letting out a delicate sigh, I hoped it would sound just remorseful enough to mask the truth swirling within me. Pretending was never my strong suit, yet I wished my facade would be convincing enough to deflect their scrutiny. I lifted my gaze, just a fraction, and murmured, “Okay, perhaps I overreacted a bit. I’m truly sorry.” My voice was steady, devoid of any quivering or emotional turmoil, maintaining that calmness typical of a sincere apology meant to quell judgment.

As I spoke, my focus was primarily on Roman. I made a conscious effort to avoid staring, but I couldn’t resist glancing at him from the corner of my eye, curious if my words had made an impact. He offered a slight nod in response—nothing grand, no dramatic display of emotion, just a simple acknowledgment that felt both reassuring and distant. Lauren mirrored his gesture, nodding in agreement, which led me to believe they were both willing to accept my apology, or at least feigning acceptance.

Lauren, sensing the need to diffuse the tension, interjected, “So, if you’re only here for business, are you staying at a hotel?”

“Yes,” I replied, crossing my legs in a manner that ensured my dress didn’t cling awkwardly after the earlier chaos. “I searched for more upscale hotels, but it seems this place lacks the development for such luxuries,” I added with a light shrug. It wasn’t meant as an insult, merely my honest observation. I had done my research, and the results were less than promising.

Lauren nodded slowly, her elbows resting on the table as if she were meticulously organizing her thoughts. “Now that we’ve discovered we’re sisters… what happens next?” I raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. Finding out you have an identical twin isn’t something one encounters every day.

“Honestly, I’m not sure,” Lauren admitted. “I mean, I don’t think there’s anything we can do to reclaim the years lost, but we can observe how this unfolds.” Her voice lowered slightly, not out of sadness but rather a sense of realism. It was clear she had pondered this situation deeply.

“That’s not a bad approach,” I responded with a small nod. “I suppose we could spend more time together.” The idea didn’t sound terrible. Growing up without siblings, the notion of having someone who not only looked like me but shared a genetic bond was both strange and intriguing.

“Sure,” she replied, a hint of enthusiasm in her voice. “Are you busy tomorrow night?”

I paused, mentally sifting through my schedule. Truth be told, I didn’t have much on my plate. “Um, I don’t think so,” I said. “My business meeting isn’t until next week, so I’m fairly free until then.”

“Well, in that case, would you mind coming over for dinner?” Lauren asked, her tone genuinely hopeful.

However, before I could formulate a response, Roman turned his head toward her, his voice low but filled with skepticism. “Is that really necessary?”

“Of course it is,” Lauren replied, rolling her eyes slightly at him. “We’ve established she’s my sister; she’s family. Tessa comes over all the time, so I don’t see why she shouldn’t join us.”

Roman’s jaw tightened imperceptibly. He wasn’t raising his voice or displaying overt anger, but it was evident he wasn’t entirely on board with the idea. “Well, I had planned for it to just be the two of us,” he said, his tone dropping as if he were trying to keep his words between them, though I could still hear him.

“We can accommodate one more; we’re cooking at home, so it’s not like you made reservations at a restaurant,” Lauren countered.

“It’s not just about adding one more,” he replied, his voice even lower, almost conspiratorial. “I wanted it to be just the two of us, so we could spend some quality time together.” He suddenly trailed off, cutting himself short as if he had caught an unintentional slip of the tongue.

Lauren stared at him, her eyes wide with curiosity. “You’re going to what?” she pressed, waiting for him to finish his thought.

He blinked, glancing between the two of us as if trying to gather his scattered thoughts. “Never mind,” Roman finally said, dismissing the moment.

I wore this dress today under the assumption that I wouldn’t encounter anyone significant. She, on the other hand, likely considered this dress her best option. She had no grasp of true fashion. Sure, her curves may have been more pronounced than mine, but that hardly made her superior—not even close.

Though she shared my features, she was merely a photocopy, while I was the original.

As they continued their back-and-forth about whether I should join them for dinner, a small, insidious idea crept into my mind. It wasn’t loud or dangerous; it was simply… tempting.

Because just gazing at Roman was enough to ignite a spark within me. His broad shoulders, the defined structure of his jaw, the way he carried himself—it was clear he was no ordinary wealthy man. He possessed an allure that was both natural and magnetic.

And God knew I had always desired him.

Now, he was right in front of me, entangled in a relationship with the very sister I had just discovered.

A sister who wanted us to grow closer.

And as wrong as it felt, I couldn’t help but entertain the thought.

Oh, how I wished I could trade places with Lauren, even if it were just for a single night.