Chapter 173 Meeting Again
Lauren found it tough to approach Quentin, but she needed to see him to resolve Matthew's ID issue.
After a lot of hesitation, she finally dialed the number she hadn't used in ages.
After a long ring, Quentin's smooth voice came through.
"Hello, who is this?" Quentin asked, seeing an unfamiliar number on his private line.
Lauren's throat felt tight. She croaked, "It's me."
Quentin was clearly surprised. He tried to keep his excitement in check and said softly, "Lauren?"
Lauren had brought him both joy and pain. He never thought he'd hear from her again.
She had even changed her number to avoid him, but he always knew he could find her if he wanted to.
Lauren replied quietly, memories of their good times flooding her mind. She quickly got to the point, not wanting to dwell on the past.
"Quentin, we need to talk about Matthew. When are you free? Let's pick a place," she said coolly.
"Right now works. Where are you? I'll come to you," Quentin said urgently.
"No need, let's meet at the coffee shop near your office. It's more convenient for you." Lauren shot back.
Quentin agreed. He hung up and told Cecilia to cancel all his appointments so he could see Lauren.
Half an hour later, Lauren walked into the coffee shop. She spotted Quentin right away; he always stood out in a crowd.
She sat down across from him.
"It's cold out. I got you a cappuccino," Quentin said, his eyes scanning her face.
Lauren was bundled up in a thick, oversized down jacket, her face the only part showing. She had lost a lot of weight recently because of Matthew's illness and looked pretty rough.
Quentin's heart ached. He knew she had left Ethan's place and had checked on her a few times without arousing her attention. He didn't want to disrupt her peace.
Lauren looked unwell. He wanted to hug her and warm her up, but he held back.
"Thanks," Lauren said politely.
She avoided his intense gaze, cleared her throat, and got to the point.
"Sorry to bother you, but Matthew's ID still isn't sorted. He's your kid. Can you handle it quickly?" Lauren asked.
Quentin smiled. "I'm sorry, that's on me. I'll take care of it right away."
Lauren nodded, fidgeting with her fingers. Quentin knew this habit of hers well.
"What else? Just tell me," Quentin said, smiling at her.
"I need you to transfer my residence proof back to the Walker family," Lauren said. Since their divorce, her residence proof was with the Robinson family, and it needed to go back.
Quentin's heart skipped a beat. "Why? What's the difference if it's with me or you? They're both in City A."
Lauren's face tightened. Even though there wasn't a practical difference, they were divorced. She needed to sever ties with the Robinson family.
"We're divorced. These things need to be sorted out, or it could cause problems later," Lauren explained.
Quentin squinted at her, eyes full of suspicion. Was she really that eager to cut ties with him?
"I'm pretty busy right now. I'll handle Matthew's ID first, then deal with your issue when I can," Quentin said coldly. Did she think she could just walk away? No chance.
Lauren smiled bitterly. Quentin was stalling, and she knew it.
"It's fine. If you're too busy, I can handle it myself. Just cooperate with me on the paperwork," Lauren said coolly. She needed a clean break. Lingering would only hurt more.
Quentin looked at her seriously, feeling both angry and helpless. In the end, he gave in to her stubbornness. He agreed, knowing a residence proof alone wouldn't keep her.
Lauren got the answer she wanted. She gathered her things and said, "Let me know when you have time. I'm leaving."
She stood up, but Quentin called out, "How's Matthew?"
Lauren felt a chill. 'Matthew was fine after leaving the hospital. Did Quentin even care about his own kid?'
"He's fine. Don't worry," Lauren said defiantly. She walked away without looking back.
Quentin had no reason to stop her. He could only watch angrily as she disappeared into the crowd.
Lauren walked a long way before slowing down after turning a corner. She hadn't expected seeing Quentin again would still make her heart race.
She was sure she didn't love him anymore, so why did it still hurt?
Quentin was cold-blooded. She had to be just as cold. Hopefully, this was their last shared moment.
Lauren looked at her reflection in a shop window, her face thin and pale. She smiled helplessly.
Wasn't she miserable enough? Did she still want to torture herself? Forget it, she needed a stable life for a couple of years. Keeping in touch with Quentin was like a moth to a flame.
Lauren forced herself to perk up and headed home. Kimberly had been waiting for her.
"How did it go, Lauren? Did he agree?" Kimberly asked eagerly.
Lauren gave a faint smile and nodded. "Don't worry, it's all sorted out."
Kimberly sighed in relief. She had feared Quentin would take Matthew away. She didn't dare ask more and could only let her imagination run wild.
