Chapter 74 Closed Heart
The pain in Lauren's stomach was unbearable, causing her to sweat profusely even in this deep autumn. Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, she had to take a taxi back to the hotel.
Upon returning to her room, Lauren immediately lay down on the bed, curling up in hopes of easing the pain. Luckily, the child in her belly was well-behaved, seemingly understanding Lauren's suffering, hence not causing a fuss.
After some time, Lauren heard a knock on the door, but she had no strength to get up and answer. After a while, the door opened. It was Ethan's voice that Lauren heard. Ethan rushed over anxiously to check on Lauren's condition when he saw her curled up on the bed trembling uncontrollably, he was terrified and quickly carried her out of the hotel.
"Lauren, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Don't worry, I'll take you to the hospital right away!" Ethan carried Lauren out of the hotel at the fastest speed, rushing to the hospital.
The doctor conducted a thorough examination on Lauren and found her in a terrible condition. She had caught a cold due to the flu. Because of the fever, the baby in her belly was reacting strongly to it.
The doctor prescribed some medication for Lauren. Ethan accompanied her back to the hotel.
On the way, Lauren remained silent with a heavy heart. She felt guilty for always troubling Ethan, for making him deal with her problems each time.
"Ethan, I'm really sorry for troubling you again today!" Lauren apologized.
Ethan's face remained dark throughout the journey. Upon hearing that Lauren was fine, he relaxed slightly, but then he spoke sternly, "Lauren, how many times have I told you to take care of yourself? Why won't you listen? Did something happen today? Why did you suddenly fall ill?"
Lauren forced a bitter smile, "Nothing happened. What could possibly happen to me? I'm fine."
Seeing Lauren bear everything on her own, Ethan felt both heartache and sadness. Even in her most painful moments, she was reluctant to share her pain with him, to let him bear it together.
How he wished to be Lauren's support. Yet she always seemed to treat him like a brother, like an outsider, which made him feel frustrated.
"Lauren, why do you always carry everything on your own? You can tell me, I'll always be by your side. Why won't you tell me anything? Do you really consider me a good friend?" Ethan looked at Lauren with a sense of loss, his eyes filled with sadness and pain.
Apart from guilt and gratitude, Lauren felt nothing else towards Ethan.
"Ethan, I just feel so useless. After all this time, I still can't forget about him! Why can't I forget about him? I'm really sad." Unable to hold back any longer, Lauren burst into tears.
Ethan's heart shattered upon hearing Lauren's words. She still couldn't let go of that man. He had never truly entered her heart.
Watching Lauren in pain, Ethan felt terrible. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, as if he might bend it.
"Lauren, why do you have to do this to yourself? It's over between you two. You need to wake up!"
"I know, he'll be better off without me. Furthermore, Wendy is already pregnant with his child. He'll be happy. But I feel like I'm stuck in a swamp, unable to get out. Ethan, tell me, teach me how to forget about him?" Lauren looked at Ethan pitifully.
If only there was a potion to forget love in this world, she would gladly take it without hesitation, so she wouldn't have to suffer anymore.
Ethan was truly surprised by the news of Wendy's pregnancy. He had only heard rumors about Quentin being involved with the famous star Wendy. But he never expected it to be true, let alone that she was pregnant.
After some contemplation, he finally understood why Lauren deeply loved Quentin yet chose to divorce him.
How much pain had Lauren endured? Ethan couldn't fathom why she still loved Quentin so deeply.
"Lauren, if you trust me, can we start anew? If you truly can't forget about him, just keep him in your heart. With time, even this feeling will fade." Ethan held Lauren's hand tightly, looking at her with sincerity.
Lauren understood Ethan's intentions. She smiled, withdrew her hand from Ethan's, pretending to wipe away tears with it.
"I will start afresh. Tomorrow, I'll move into the rented house. I've prepared and focused on living my own life." Lauren wiped her tears, a sorrowful smile on her face.
Lauren's heart had been sealed shut, at least she believed she wouldn't fall in love with anyone else. If that was the case, how could she harm her childhood friend who had always been there for her?
Ethan sensed Lauren's rejection, losing his courage. He feared that if he confessed his feelings, they might not even remain friends.
This wasn't the right moment for a confession. After hesitating for a while, Ethan opened his mouth but couldn't utter a word. He simply drove Lauren back.
Ethan made up his mind that there was still time ahead. One day he would win Lauren over, and she would eventually fall in love with him.
The next day, Ethan helped Lauren move all her belongings to the rented house, the very first one she had seen.
The house was old and small. But after Lauren's careful arrangement, it felt cozy and warm.
"Not bad, it feels like home." Ethan praised with a smile.
Lauren brought two glasses of water, handing one to Ethan, saying, "Although the house is small, I feel a sense of belonging here."
"What are your next plans? If you have any ideas that need my support, I'll be there for you without hesitation." Ethan inquired.
Looking deep into Ethan's eyes, Lauren replied, "Ethan, you've helped me so much, I'm truly grateful. I know you'll get annoyed if I thank you again, so I won't. Once I recover, I plan to find a part-time job online to earn some money, better than sitting idle."
Ethan nodded, "I'll also keep an eye out for opportunities through my parents. If there's something suitable for you, don't refuse, okay?"
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lauren smiled, "Alright, I'll do my best."
"Oh, my parents said if you're free, they'd like you to visit our home. I agreed without asking you, hope you don't mind me taking the liberty?" Ethan asked.
"No, since you're back, I should take the opportunity to visit uncle and aunt as well. It's been two years since I last saw them." Lauren replied.
Ethan had other thoughts in mind. His parents were well aware of his love for Lauren. Initially, when Lauren got married, his parents had sent him abroad to spare him the pain. Now that Lauren was divorced, he saw this as a chance.
"Alright, let me arrange the time." Ethan was delighted, determined to convince his parents to accept Lauren once again.
Recalling how she used to sneak over to the White family for meals as a child because she found Mrs. White's cooking was particularly delicious. Lauren remembered how Mrs. White once joked about wishing she had a daughter. This had brought the two families closer. However, after the Walker family moved away, they found it difficult to meet frequently due to various reasons.
