Chapter 28

Lauren's POV

His words hung in the air for a moment, sinking into my chest like cold water. 

“Three days? Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly despite my best effort to keep it calm. “How do you think that would work? I’m her mother — I’m supposed to spend more time with her. We share a closer bond, Ethan.”

“And that’s exactly why I’m going to take four days,” he shot back, his voice sharp and cold. “I want to bond with Elena. I know I haven’t been showing up for her these past few weeks, but I wanna make up for that. And besides,” he paused, and even though I couldn’t see his face, I could practically hear the smirk forming on his lips, “I’ll also be doing her a favor. Soon enough, she’ll be begging to never come visit you in that rabbit hole you’re living in.”

My heart dropped to my stomach. Every cruel word felt like it was peeling off another layer of hope I had clung to, revealing raw, vuln