Chapter 168 The New Residence
Lauren sighed, feeling stuck. What was she supposed to do now?
Staying at a hotel was an option, but not a long-term one. She scrolled through her contacts and reluctantly called Kimberly.
Kimberly was the only one she could turn to, but the phone just kept ringing.
Lauren thought, 'Forget it. Maybe Kimberly was already asleep.' .
The next day, Lauren took care of Matthew without checking her phone, as she usually kept it on silent.
After breakfast, Lauren and Matthew went back to their room and found Kimberly and Ethan waiting at the door.
"Lauren, where have you been? I called you, but you didn't answer. I was worried sick," Kimberly said, rushing over to help with Matthew.
Lauren was shocked. "Mom, how did you find me here?"
Ethan chimed in, "Kimberly was really worried when you didn't answer. She found me, and now she knows what's going on."
Lauren felt a bit embarrassed. Kimberly's sudden appearance threw her off. She forced a smile and let them in.
"Mom, you don't need to worry. I'm fine," Lauren said.
Kimberly sighed. "You're not fine. Ulysses caused a scene at the Robinson Estate yesterday. I couldn't take it anymore, so we fought. I found Ethan and learned you were at a hotel when I got your call this morning."
"Mom, are you okay? About my Dad..." Lauren noticed Kimberly's swollen eyes, a sign she hadn't slept much.
"This time, your dad went too far. I was shocked by your divorce from Quentin, but I get it. Ulysses was cruel and blackmailed Quentin for money. I couldn't stand it," Kimberly said, tearing up. "Lauren, I've decided not to go back. The Walker family house can be his."
"Mom, don't be sad. I'll talk to Ulysses and try to change his mind," Lauren offered.
"No need. Ulysses is too self-centered. He won't change. I've seen through him. We can't persuade him," Kimberly sighed.
Seeing her mom so upset, Lauren felt terrible.
"Sorry, Mom. This is all my fault," Lauren said, feeling guilty as she noticed Kimberly's wrinkles and gray hair.
Lauren felt like a bad daughter. She had married Quentin against her parents' wishes and now felt responsible for dragging Kimberly down.
"Lauren, don't cry. The issues between Ulysses and me are our own. Even without your situation, Ulysses's greed and selfishness are facts. I would stand up to him sooner or later," said Kimberly, looking at Lauren with concern.
Kimberly couldn't stand seeing Lauren suffer.
"Mom." Lauren choked up. She had reached out for help, but things were worse than she thought.
Kimberly seemed to read her mind. "Lauren, I'm not going back to the Walker house. Your aunt gave me the keys to her place before she went abroad. I decided last night to move in there with you. Is that okay?"
Lauren was stunned. "Of course, but..."
"It's settled then. Staying at Ethan's isn't ideal. I'll take care of you," Kimberly said, smiling.
Lauren was touched, realizing Kimberly had already made plans for her. In her darkest hour, Kimberly's love shone through.
"Okay, thanks, Mom!" Lauren's tears flowed as she held Kimberly's hand, feeling her warmth.
Ethan nodded in relief. With Kimberly around, he felt more at ease.
Ethan stood by, unsure of what to say, so he kept quiet.
With Ethan's help, Lauren and Kimberly moved into her aunt's house. It was small but fully furnished, making the transition easier.
Kimberly cleaned up, and they settled in.
That evening, Lauren played with Matthew on the bed. Kimberly walked in with a smile. "Not asleep yet?"
"Matthew always plays around this time," Lauren said, looking lovingly at her son.
Kimberly sat next to them. "Lauren, what are your plans?"
Lauren replied seriously, "Ethan got me a job as a design assistant, and I can work from home. I'll start preparing in the next few days. Thanks for coming over, I couldn't have managed alone."
Kimberly hesitated. She saw Ethan's sincerity but knew now wasn't the time to think about that.
"Ethan's a good guy," Kimberly whispered.
"Yeah, I wouldn't have found such a perfect job without him," Lauren smiled.
Kimberly nodded. "We'll have plenty of chances. Next time, invite him over so we can express our appreciation properly."
Lauren didn't respond and just played with Matthew. She was content with this peaceful life, but how long could it last?
"Mom, if you change your mind, you can go back home. I'm to blame for Dad's struggles," Lauren said, trying to persuade Kimberly.
Kimberly's smile faded. "Let's not talk about that now. I just want to cherish our time together."
Lauren sighed deeply, saying nothing more. She needed to respect Kimberly and cherish their time together.
After getting married, Lauren had little time for Kimberly. Thinking about it, she felt incredibly guilty.
