Chapter 142

Lauren's POV

I suddenly opened my eyes and found myself standing on a beach. For a moment, I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming or if this was real. The air was soft and humid, carrying that salty tang that always came from the ocean. I could hear the gentle roar of the waves rolling toward the shore, crashing and retreating like a heartbeat — steady, rhythmic, endless.

When I turned my head to the right, my breath caught for a second. I knew this place. The way the horizon stretched endlessly, the cluster of rocks near the shore, the palm trees tilted slightly as if bowing to the wind, it was all too familiar. This was our spot. Ethan and I used to come to this exact stretch of beach every weekend back when things were simple. Back when love hadn’t turned bitter and complicated.

A faint smile curved on my lips. It was strange how vivid everything felt, the sand was warm beneath my bare feet, the sunlight bright but not harsh. I almost believed I was