Chapter 293 Moving Out of the Villa
When Ethan heard those words, his face fell instantly.
Lately, Ethan had been really hopeful about his relationship with Lauren. Even though his parents were against their marriage, he didn't care about anyone else's opinions.
To him, Lauren was the one. They had shared goals, common interests, and could support each other in their careers. Even with Matthew in the picture, he wasn't too worried.
More than anything, Lauren was kind and genuine. Compared to the fake, scheming women around him, Lauren was a breath of fresh air. Spending his life with her would be a dream.
"Lauren, what do you mean by 'let's end this'?" Ethan tried to keep his cool.
He forced a bitter smile and said, "Is it because my parents are against us and you're feeling too much pressure? Didn't I tell you to give me more time? I can convince them. And even if I can't, we can just ignore them and live our own lives."
Lauren sighed, "Ethan, I know you've waited for me for years and done so much for me. I remember it all. But marriage isn't just about two people; it's about two families. I get where your parents are coming from, and you should too. They're looking out for you. Honestly, you shouldn't waste your time on me. You have better options."
"What do you mean by wasting time? I love you, I want to marry you. This is our decision; who says we're wasting time?" Ethan shouted. He had never thought of giving up on Lauren.
Lauren looked pained; she didn't want to drag this out. "Ethan, believe me, you'll find someone better suited for you."
"Do you still have feelings for Quentin? From the start, I thought he was shady and cold. I saw you two exchanging looks at dinner that day. He finally got a chance to mess with me; how could he pass that up? Did you promise him something behind my back?" Ethan, in his anger, let all his dark thoughts spill out.
Lauren sneered, "Ethan, is that what you think of me? So, you judge me just like everyone else. Seems like you don't really want to marry me!"
With that, Lauren turned and left. She felt like a joke from the beginning. She didn't want to be a clown anymore, so she decided to walk away.
After she left, Ethan punched the table, making a dull thud, trying to vent his frustration.
He didn't know why his emotions had been so out of control lately. In his impulsiveness, he had said things he shouldn't have.
Lauren was done with this kind of life. It was good to have a clear conversation with Ethan this time. Things she couldn't see clearly before were now obvious.
She had always felt indebted to Ethan, especially because three years ago, in a moment of despair, she had promised him that if they were both single in three years, she would accept his proposal.
Unexpectedly, that promise had put her in a tough spot. She couldn't refuse Ethan, but accepting him didn't feel right either. After agreeing, she realized there were many issues in their relationship she hadn't noticed before.
Ethan didn't really care about Matthew. To him, the kid was just a way to keep Lauren happy.
But to Lauren, Matthew was her entire world, and everything she did revolved around him. How could she let Ethan treat him like that?
Plus, Lauren and Ethan had totally different values. Ethan kept doing things that went against her morals and conscience, ignoring her advice. He often said hurtful things and constantly brought up her past with Quentin, which really hurt her.
Lauren knew that even though Ethan said he didn't care about her past marriage, his actions said otherwise. If she chose to stay with Ethan, it would just add more stress to her life.
It was better to end things quickly. Even though Lauren felt she owed Ethan, she decided to repay him in other ways, not by marrying him.
Once she figured this out, Lauren felt a huge sense of relief. Ethan might be mad now, but she believed that one day he would understand. He didn't truly love her; his years of protecting her had turned into an obsession. Once he let go of that, he would feel as relieved as she did.
Lauren kept working at the company, avoiding Ethan whenever she saw his stern face. Fully embracing single life, she felt comfortable and happy.
Staying in a hotel wasn't a long-term solution, so Lauren soon rented an apartment in a low-end neighborhood. The rent was cheap, and it wasn't far from Matthew's school, though it made her commute a bit inconvenient.
After getting settled, Lauren told Kimberly her new address.
Kimberly had supported Lauren's decision to move out, so she didn't ask many questions. She was busy preparing for the opening of her beauty salon.
On the weekend, while Lauren was cleaning her new place, the doorbell rang. She thought it was Kimberly since she was the only one who had the address.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Noah standing there.
"Mr. Martin, what brings you here?" Lauren felt awkward and didn't know how to react.
Noah smiled. "What? Not happy to see me? I heard you moved, so I came to pay a visit. Putting Quentin aside, we were colleagues for a while, so we're at least half friends, right?"
Lauren smiled awkwardly. "Of course, you're welcome. I just moved in, and a lot of stuff is still unpacked. It's a bit chaotic. Please excuse the mess, Mr. Martin."
Noah smirked as he walked into Lauren's apartment.
Lauren's heart gradually calmed down. Noah's sudden visit seemed like trouble.
After serving Noah a cup of coffee, Lauren sat nervously to the side, feeling like she was the unexpected guest.
"This place is nice. Good sunlight, decent layout. You have a good eye, Lauren," Noah remarked with a grin.
Noah was also conflicted. He had promised Sophia to help her, but he didn't expect her to ask him to persuade Lauren to marry Ethan as soon as possible. He felt it was inappropriate for him to meddle in such matters.
But he reluctantly agreed because he couldn't bring himself to refuse Sophia, neither before nor now.
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