No Second Chances Ex-husband (Lauren and Ethan) novel Chapter 221

**TITLE: He Chased 221**
**CHAPTER 0221**

**ROMAN’S POV**

As our car finally rolled to a stop in the driveway, the familiar sight of our home greeted me like an old friend. The dark bricks of the house loomed in the twilight, and the tall trees swayed gently in the evening breeze, whispering secrets I was too exhausted to hear. The moment the driver turned off the engine, I wasted no time. I flung the door open, stepping out into the cool night air, allowing it to wash over me like a refreshing wave. I instinctively adjusted my suit jacket, smoothing it down as I made my way to the front door, my movements steady yet burdened by fatigue. I could hear Lauren’s softer footsteps trailing behind me, a comforting presence amidst my weariness.

Today had been an all-consuming whirlwind, draining every ounce of energy I thought I had left. The office had transformed into a mountain of tasks, each more daunting than the last. Ever since Hale Industries had eliminated its competition, the floodgates had opened. Investors were relentless, their calls pouring in like a torrential downpour, each one eager to secure a meeting, to negotiate terms, to strike deals before anyone else could gain the upper hand. The delicacy of the situation demanded my personal attention, and Lauren, ever the steadfast partner, insisted on remaining by my side throughout the chaos.

—

Lauren matched my exhaustion, perhaps even surpassing it, yet she bore it with a grace I couldn’t help but admire. Not once did she voice a complaint, her silence a testament to her resilience. I noticed the subtle signs of her fatigue: the way she would stretch her neck when she thought no one was watching, the slight heaviness in her breath, and how she barely found a moment to sit down today. She had taken on the monumental task of explaining our strategies to the board of directors and negotiating with our most significant investors, effectively shouldering the heavier load of today’s grueling schedule.

Yet, even amidst the chaos, my mind was a tempest of thoughts, each vying for attention, pulling me in every conceivable direction.

—

Yesterday had been… overwhelming, to say the least. That was the only way I could encapsulate the emotional upheaval of the day. It was confirmed: Lauren had a twin sister. A real twin. Not just two siblings who bore a passing resemblance to one another. No, Elizabeth was so strikingly similar to Lauren that my heart had skipped a beat the moment I laid eyes on her. It was unsettling how identical they looked—the same face, the same height, the same build—everything. If I hadn’t known Lauren as intimately as I did, I would have easily mistaken one for the other.

And now, Lauren had invited her to dinner tonight.

On any other occasion, I would have welcomed the idea. Truly, I would have. It would have been a perfect opportunity for them to reconnect, to bond, and for the three of us to get to know one another better. But the issue wasn’t Elizabeth as a person; it was the timing that gnawed at me.

Tonight was meant to be special. A night I had been meticulously planning in silence for over a week. A night that was supposed to belong solely to Lauren and me.

She was blissfully unaware of my intentions, of course. I wanted it to be a moment etched in her memory forever.

Today was the day I had finally resolved to tell Aria the truth—that I was her father. It felt only right to take another significant step forward simultaneously. A decisive step that would demonstrate to both Lauren and Aria that I wasn’t going anywhere.

Weeks ago, when I had purchased that ring at the auction, it hadn’t been the ring that drew me in. My focus had been on the other rare artifacts that my company desperately needed. The ring was merely an afterthought, a bonus that came with the package. Back then, it had held no real significance for me.

But everything shifted the moment Lauren agreed to be my girlfriend.

From that point on, the ring took on a new meaning. I wanted something that symbolized permanence, stability. Something that conveyed to her, without uttering a single word, that I cared for her deeply, that I loved her, and that I was committed—not just to her, but to Aria as well.

That’s why, last week, I had secretly taken the ring to my jeweler, one of the best in the business, and requested that he transform it into an engagement ring. And he delivered. He crafted something remarkable, something breathtaking. A ring that, at this moment, might genuinely be the most expensive engagement ring in the world—worth over a hundred million. Worth every single cent if it meant it would rest upon Lauren’s finger.

—

As we prepared to leave, the final moment only deepened my discomfort. The way she looked at me while hugging Lauren was unmistakable. It was a gaze I couldn’t misinterpret, no matter how hard I tried. There was a glimmer of lust in her eyes, a hint of want, an interest that felt entirely inappropriate. Something was wrong.

But then again… perhaps I was reading too much into it. It would be absurd to leap to such conclusions after just a few minutes of knowing her. Maybe she was simply overwhelmed. Maybe it was nothing at all. After all, Elizabeth was Lauren’s sister; they should share the same warmth and kindness that Lauren possessed.

But the way she had snapped at that waiter yesterday… it hadn’t felt like Lauren at all.

“Babe.”

Lauren’s voice sliced through my spiraling thoughts, instantly yanking me back to reality.

I turned slightly, meeting her concerned gaze.

“You’ve been like this all day,” she murmured, stepping closer to me. “What’s wrong?”