Chapter 174

Ethan's POV 

“Lauren? She’s behind this?” Sophia’s voice cut through the silence, her expression twisted with disbelief. Her brows drew together, and I could see the flicker of realization forming in her mind, the way it always did when she was about to explode.

“Yes,” I said tightly, running my good hand through my hair. “She’s probably trying to get back at me for what we did to her back then and she also doesn’t want me to bring our daughter back here.”

The moment the word daughter slipped from my lips, I froze. My chest constricted as though someone had poured ice water straight into my veins.

Crap.

That wasn’t supposed to come out. I hadn’t meant to say that, not to her. Especially not now.

Sophia’s eyes widened, confusion flashing into anger. “Daughter? What do you mean our daughter?”

Her tone rose sharply, slicing through my already frayed nerves. I exhaled slowly, trying to hold back the irritation bubbling in m