Chapter 113 Reconciliation in Vain
Upon discharging from the hospital, Lauren returned to her small house, resuming her quiet and tranquil life. However, this tranquility did not last long, and a mysterious figure soon disrupted it.
Lauren had no idea who this person was, but she had always felt as if her every move was being watched, as though a pair of eyes were always fixed on her.
She wanted to call the police but she had no evidence. She thought of telling Ethan but feared it was all just her imagination.
One day, Lauren went out to buy groceries. The supermarket was right at the entrance of her community. When she returned, that feeling of being watched reappeared.
At Laura's every step, she turned her head to look behind her, unwilling to believe that there could be a malicious person in broad daylight. She had been kidnapped in broad daylight before, so now she was very scared, even a passing stranger could frighten her.
Lauren tried to clear herself of those excessive thoughts, but her steps quickened.
Finally, she rushed to her door, but the sound of footsteps behind her grew louder and closer.
Lauren was too scared to look back. Her hands trembled as she tried to unlock the door, but she couldn't get it open.
Quentin saw Lauren's nervous demeanor and guessed he might have frightened her.
To him, Lauren was a peculiar woman; sometimes incredibly she was brave, yet at other times, she was as timid as a mouse. He really didn't know what to make of her.
"Lauren," Quentin's breath drew nearer, his deep voice finally reaching Lauren's ear.
The familiar voice made Lauren react immediately. "Quentin. What are you doing here?"
Lauren's eyes were filled with wariness; she was genuinely afraid a bad person might be following her. When she saw Quentin, her heart settled a bit as if she had found a pillar of support.
"I want to talk to you." Quentin stood straight in front of Lauren; his expression was serious. He had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
"I believe there's nothing left for us to talk about." Lauren feared that she might weaken and impulsively change her decision, so she opted to remain silent with Quentin, quelling any uncertainties before they could take root.
Quentin wasn't surprised by Lauren's response, but since he was already here, he had to express his thoughts.
His thin lips parted, asking, "Do you not want to fight for custody of the child?"
Quentin's words created a huge stir in Lauren's heart, 'What does he mean by bringing up custody of the child now? Does he also want the child? No way!'
Lauren's eyes became blood-red; she had nothing left now; she did not want to lose the child too.
But the baby in her belly was indeed the only bloodline of the Robinson family at the moment. Moreover, Grandma Robinson was so eager for Quentin to have a child that she probably wanted the custody of the baby, too.
"You want to take this child away?" Lauren was unwilling to accept this fact.
Seeing Lauren's lost look, Quentin regretted starting with the issue of the child.
“No, I want to talk about our issues,” Quentin replied.
Lauren let Quentin in. "Mr. Robinson, I beg you to let me go, and please, leave the child out of this."
As soon as they entered, Lauren broke down. She couldn't imagine what life would be like for a child without a mother.
Lacking either maternal or paternal love would be a huge regret for a child's life. In the current situation, the baby had to choose one side. Lauren didn't want this either, but she was powerless.
Quentin took Lauren's hand and said, "Come back with me! Let's start over."
Lauren was stunned by Quentin's words. She stared at him, unable to fathom what he truly meant.
"What do you mean by this? Are you threatening me with the child?" Lauren said harshly, not wanting to think this way, but she feared it might be the truth.
Seeing Lauren's wary look, Quentin felt a complex mix of emotions. 'Does she really think I'm that harsh and unreasonable?'
"Lauren, what do you take me for? We should start over fairly, leaving behind all the past unhappiness," Quentin said.
"We can't go back to the past anymore, Quentin. We can't just start over and end as you please. What do you take me for? Do you think I'm a puppet? I'm a person, I have thoughts, and I have my future. What right do you have to control me? I'm not your puppet!" Lauren shouted, cutting Quentin off.
She had long wanted to vent, to express her thoughts to Quentin loudly.
In the past, Lauren had grown accustomed to swallowing her pride, seemingly hiding her true nature. Being bold in love and hate is Lauren's most authentic trait, and it's a part of her character that she has never changed.
Quentin felt a deep pain in his heart when he heard Lauren's words. He had hurt her too deeply, and now he couldn't find a way to make amends.
Lauren wept with sadness, finally releasing the grievances she had held for the past two years.
Quentin, the hardships I've endured for you are beyond imagination. I loved you deeply, and it was that love that made me lower myself to the ground. But now I've had an awakening. I understand that life persists even in the absence of love. Though I may struggle to release you at this moment, I will gradually learn to do so, piece by piece. One day, you will fade from my memory entirely.' Lauren cried, but she didn't voice these thoughts.
Love was more painful than not loving at all, and she didn't want Quentin to trample on her dignity because of her passion.
"Quentin, leave. I don't want to see you anymore. If you're really that cruel, we'll see each other in court after the child is born." With that, Lauren turned and went back to her room, leaving Quentin feeling a deep sense of loss.
'I haven't even said what I wanted to say the most,' he thought.
"Lauren, I'm not trying to reconcile because of the child. It was because you've already taken a place in my heart unknowingly," Quentin said earnestly, walking toward Lauren's room.
Lauren cried even harder in her room. She didn't want this kind of love, born out of being moved or pitied!
Perhaps at this moment, Lauren couldn't untangle her feelings. She had considered every possibility except that Quentin might truly have fallen in love with her.
Quentin left Lauren's place in a daze, while Lauren assumed that the person who had been following her recently was Quentin, so she let down her guard.
But she didn't know that today was the first time Quentin has stalked Lauren, and even though it was stalking, no one was going to do it in the middle of the day.
The person who had been following Lauren was not Quentin, but Wendy, who had been driven out of City A and was still unwilling to give up. She had finally found a chance to sneak back to City A.
Wendy hated Lauren. 'Why is Lauren allowed to live so happily? Why do two outstanding men like Lauren? What am I missing compared to her?' she pondered.
Jealousy mixed with a desire for revenge burned fiercely in Wendy's heart. This time, she had come to drag Lauren to the abyss.
