Chapter 182

Lauren's POV

We had gotten everything we needed for the decorations. The trunk of my car was filled with colorful balloons, ribbons, confetti, and banners that read Happy Birthday Aria. The whole idea of creating something special for my daughter filled me with excitement, yet, beneath that excitement, there was an uneasiness I couldn’t shake off.

As I drove back home, my right hand stayed on the steering wheel while my left kept drifting toward my phone beside me. I’d been checking it every few minutes, waiting for Tessa’s message. She was supposed to text me once she and Aria arrived at the mall. But there was still nothing. No new notifications, no message, just the last read text from earlier this morning.

“Relax,” Roman said from the passenger seat, his voice calm but firm, the kind that carried reassurance.

I glanced at him for a moment before returning my gaze to the road.

“Am sure they’re just held up in traffic or something,” h