Chapter 46

Lauren's POV

The picture of Elena was squeezed tightly in my trembling hand, the edges worn from how often I’d held it, stared at it and cried over it. Her innocent smile frozen in time, so full of life, of laughter, of everything that used to make my world make sense.

Now, it all felt like a lie.

I thought I had endured the worst pain imaginable. I thought losing her, my baby, my light, was the most I would ever have to bear. But I was wrong.

What I just heard from Ethan… no, not just heard, what everyone just heard was far worse than anything I could’ve imagined. It was more than betrayal. It was monstrous.

The place had fallen into stunned silence, whispers buzzing like flies in the corners. Eyes flicked from me to him, judgment heavy in the air. People exchanged glances, disbelief etched into their faces, as if unsure whether they had truly heard what they thought they had.

And Ethan? He stood there with that same look on his