Chapter 10

Lauren's POV

I turned my gaze toward the window. The sun had shifted slightly, casting golden shadows across the floor. I didn’t answer right away. My mind felt heavy, like it had too many thoughts packed into too small a space.

“Well, first of all…” I began softly, “I need to go back and check on my daughter. Elena’s the only thing that matters to me right now.”

Tessa nodded in understanding but didn’t let it go just yet.

“And what about Ethan?” she asked, her tone careful, like she was walking on glass.

I let out a slow breath and shook my head. “I don’t know, Tess. I really don’t. He’s hurt me so badly… deeper than I ever thought he could.”

My eyes stung again as I thought back over the years — how much we had built together, brick by brick, sacrifice after sacrifice. I remembered the nights we stayed up dreaming, the days we struggled, and still held hands through it all.

“I was there when he had nothing,” I continued, m