05 – THE END OF EVERYTHING

POV: LAUREN

On the other end, he let out a dry laugh filled with contempt.

“What kind of question is that?” he exclaimed impatiently, his irritation evident. “I spent three years by your side, and you were never able to get pregnant. It's time to face the truth, Lauren. You’re empty, incapable of having children. Accept it and stop wasting my time. Just tell me—do you accept my terms or not?”

A sob escaped my throat, his words cutting into my heart cruelly, as he always knew how to do. My eyes dropped to my stomach, my hand lightly brushing against the fabric of the hospital gown. Silent tears streamed down my face, but my mind was racing.

I lifted my chin, forcing myself to think about the future and everything at stake. My family was depending on me.

“If you agree to my terms and sign the divorce papers, I’ll save your father’s company today,” Ethan added coldly, ignoring my sobs entirely. “So, do you accept or not?”

I took a deep breath, fighting the lump in my throat.

“I accept,” I replied in a barely audible voice, each word weighed down with pain. My decision was made. I would hide my pregnancy from the man I once loved, who now clearly didn’t care about me anymore. “Send me the address. I’ll sign the divorce papers.”

I hung up the phone, feeling my heart tightened as if it were being crushed. After being discharged from the hospital and saving the address Ethan had sent to my phone, I ordered a car through an app and prepared myself for what lay ahead.

The ride to the location was a silent torment. My mind was filled with memories, doubts, and the sting of humiliation. When I arrived, I stepped out of the car hesitantly and entered the building.

As soon as I stepped into the designated room, my eyes landed on Ethan, seated comfortably at the head of the table. His cold gaze settled on me without a trace of emotion. Beside him was Violet, his mistress, wearing a tight dress with a provocative neckline. She tossed her hair back and rolled her eyes as she looked me up and down, as if my presence was nothing more than an inconvenience.

At the other end of the table, an older man, probably a lawyer, sat with a neutral expression. In front of him was a stack of documents and several neatly arranged pens.

I clenched my fists, struggling to contain the anger and indignation boiling inside me. Every detail of that scene seemed designed to humiliate me further, but I wouldn’t show weakness. Not in front of them. Ethan hadn’t even had the decency to respect the moment, bringing his mistress to witness the collapse of our marriage. My blood boiled, but I kept my head held high. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me break down.

“Mrs. Lauren, please have a seat so we can review the terms,” the lawyer began, but I raised my hand, cutting him off.

“Where do I sign?” I asked directly, grabbing the pen before he could respond. Without hesitation, I signed where indicated, each stroke of my pen severing ties to everything I had built. “It’s done.”

My voice was cold and steady, even though a storm raged inside me. I placed the pen back on the table and turned to leave, but stopped near the door. I looked at Ethan, who still wore that indifferent, arrogant expression.

“I’ve fulfilled my part of the agreement,” I said loudly, drawing everyone’s attention in the room. “I expect you to honor yours as well.”

“What agreement is she talking about, my love?” Violet asked, her voice sharp and sugary as she looked at me with that smug smile on her face.

Ethan leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms, his face showing the typical air of superiority I had always despised.

“I’m a man of my word, Lauren,” he replied, a cynical smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

The rage burned inside me, but I refused to let him see it. I stepped forward, keeping my gaze locked on his, determined not to look away.

“I hope I never see you again, Ethan Walker,” I declared, my voice steady but filled with bitterness. “I hate you.”

Without waiting for a response, I quickly walked out, feeling the urgent need for air. My stomach churned, and the nausea became unbearable. As soon as I reached the hallway, I leaned against a pillar and couldn’t hold it back any longer. I vomited, the bitter liquid burning my throat. My hands trembled as I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

The sound of my phone ringing broke the silence. My mother’s name flashed on the screen. I took a deep breath and answered, trying to pull myself together.

“Hi, Mom. Ethan is going to.”

Before I could finish, her desperate sobs cut me off.

“Daughter, your father committed suicide!” she cried between sobs.

“What?” My voice was weak, almost inaudible, as my mind struggled to process what I had just heard. This couldn’t be true. My head spun from the impact of her words. “What are you saying? How is that possible?”

On the other end of the line, her crying grew louder, filled with pain and despair.

“Your father is dead, Lauren!” she screamed, her voice breaking with uncontrolled sobs. “He… he killed himself!”

The phone nearly slipped from my hand. The ground felt like it was disappearing beneath my feet, and my breathing became unsteady. My chest tightened, a deep pain slicing through me.