Chapter 292 Love or Friendship
Lauren made up her mind and didn't waste any time. In just three hours, she had all her and Matthew's stuff packed up.
Since Kimberly had already moved to the beauty salon, she didn't have much left behind, so Lauren didn't need to worry about her for now.
It was already 10 PM when Lauren called a taxi to haul all the luggage with Matthew.
Matthew looked up at the dark sky, a bit puzzled. "Mommy, where are we going?"
Lauren smiled gently. "We're heading to a big hotel, sweetie. The beds there are huge, soft, and super comfy."
"Cool! Is Grandma coming too?" Matthew asked.
Lauren paused, thinking if she should spill the beans now. Ethan and Kimberly would find out they moved out of the villa soon enough. Even if she wanted to keep it under wraps, it wouldn't stay a secret by tomorrow.
She sighed deeply, deciding to give herself a break for one more night. No matter how messy tomorrow might get, she was too exhausted today. She'd explain everything to Ethan tomorrow.
The past few days had been rough, leaving her super frustrated. Thinking about Ethan finding out tomorrow, she wondered what other drama might unfold.
The next day, with dark circles under her eyes, Lauren dropped Matthew off at school and then dragged herself to the office.
She sighed inwardly, unsure how much longer she could stick around. Honestly, she really liked this job, which she had earned through her own hard work. But she worried that others thought she only got it because of Ethan's connections.
Even though she didn't care much about others' opinions, she had to consider Esme's views. After all, Esme was Ethan's mom, and if Esme continued to disapprove of her, staying at the company wasn't a long-term solution.
Lauren mulled it over in her office and finally decided to talk to Ethan during lunch break.
When Ethan saw Lauren, he beamed and said, "Lauren, I was just about to find you. Let's grab lunch together. I heard there's a new spot downstairs with awesome food. Let's check it out."
Ever since Lauren helped Ethan out of that jam, he felt more and more reliant on her. He liked this feeling because it made them seem like a newlywed couple.
Feeling a bit tense, Lauren nodded. "Sure, I have something to tell you too."
"What is it?" Ethan asked casually, grabbing his coat from the rack.
Lauren walked ahead. "You'll find out soon."
At the restaurant downstairs, Ethan thoughtfully ordered for Lauren. While waiting, he asked with a smile, "Alright, spill it. What's up?"
Lauren placed her hands neatly on the table and looked at Ethan seriously. "Matthew and I moved out of your villa."
Ethan's smile vanished. "What? When did you and Matthew move out? Where did you go? Why so suddenly? Why didn't you tell me?"
Lauren tried to stay relaxed. "You've been super busy lately, so I didn't want to bug you with this stuff. Didn't I mention it before? I had some free time recently, so I just took care of it."
Ethan looked at Lauren, clearly confused. Sure, they had talked about this before he planned to bring her back to The White Mansion. But then, a bunch of stuff happened, and it got pushed back. Now, thinking about it, Ethan felt he had really dropped the ball by not being there when his fiancée moved.
"Lauren, I'm sorry. I've been neglecting you lately, but you should've told me about this. You are the most important to me. No matter how busy I am, I would've helped you move," Ethan said, feeling guilty.
Lauren gave a faint smile. Ethan, such a considerate boyfriend and responsible fiancé, was the kind of guy many girls dreamed of marrying.
Esme was right; she was divorced and had a kid, making her the least desirable among many candidates.
Someone once asked Lauren who she would choose between the person she loved and the person who loved her.
Eight years ago, she chose the person she loved, but reality taught her a harsh lesson: the person she loved didn't love her back, making her life very difficult.
Now, she mustered the courage to choose the person who loved her, but reality once again showed her a harsh truth: the family of the person who loved her didn't accept her.
For the first time, Lauren felt her fate might really be bad. She never believed in fate, but after a series of setbacks, she started having such foolish thoughts.
Lauren smiled bitterly. "Thank you, Ethan. We're actually doing fine like this. People should be independent and not rely on others for their livelihood. If I chose to rely on others, I would despise myself."
Ethan was puzzled by Lauren's words. He replied, "Lauren, you have never relied on others. Look at you now; you're not only a renowned designer but also a successful mother and a proud daughter. Matthew and Kimberly feel happiness because of you. And I feel my heart beating because of you."
Ethan's confession left Lauren at a loss. She had intended to use this opportunity to end things with Ethan. But seeing his deep affection, she felt a bit reluctant, considering how much she owed him over the years.
After Esme's words yesterday, Lauren had thought it over many times and re-evaluated her feelings for Ethan. She realized that despite knowing Ethan for so many years, her feelings for him were merely gratitude and appreciation.
She had loved someone deeply before. She once loved Quentin, knowing what love felt like and how it made her heart race. So she was sure she had no romantic feelings for Ethan, not even a little.
The so-called love that grows over time didn't happen between her and Ethan. Although she felt sorry for Ethan, love couldn't be faked.
So when Kevin and Esme showed their dissatisfaction and disdain for her at The White Mansion, she didn't feel disappointed or sad; she didn't care at all.
Lauren wasn't someone who deceived herself. Things had come to this point, and if she pretended to be ignorant and stayed with Ethan, it would hurt not only her but also Ethan and his family.
After recognizing her true feelings, Lauren decided to end everything completely. When it's time to decide, act decisively. With this thought, her gaze became more determined. "Ethan, let's end this."
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