Chapter 98 The Die is Cast
Lauren returned to her seat, meticulously signing her name, each stroke deliberate. Quentin watched silently, waiting until she finished before signing his own name. They exchanged documents, signing each other’s copies before handing the paperwork to the clerk.
As Lauren glanced at the divorce certificate, she felt a bitter irony. 'If only I hadn’t been so stubborn, maybe none of this would’ve happened. Maybe I never would’ve even had a chance with Quentin.'
Feigning a light-hearted demeanor, Lauren turned to Ethan. "Ethan, can you take me home?"
Ethan took Lauren’s bag, gave Quentin a meaningful look, and walked out with her.
Once in Ethan’s car, the tears Lauren had been holding back all morning finally burst forth. Ethan knew better than to try and comfort her with words; they would be useless now.
Lauren cried hysterically. She had thought leaving would be easy, but the idea of never seeing Quentin again, of them becoming strangers, made her heart ache unbearably.
"I'm sorry, Ethan. Please, give me a few more minutes to let it all out. I promise I won’t think about him again," Lauren said, covering her face with her hands, not wanting Ethan to see her like this.
"That’s unlikely, Lauren," Ethan said, sharing her pain. Her tears only confirmed how much Quentin meant to her. He felt a pang of jealousy, his own heart aching just as much.
Despite his feelings, Ethan decided to tell her the truth. Whether or not she chose to reconcile with Quentin, he would still fight for her love.
Lauren was puzzled by his words. "Ethan, what do you mean?"
Ethan handed her the documents he’d been holding. "Lauren, I came today to explain about Wendy. She was never pregnant. These documents prove Quentin was innocent. He didn’t deceive you."
Lauren, shocked, let a few tears fall as she opened the documents. The ultrasound Wendy had shown her was a fake. Wendy wasn’t even a patient at that hospital. All the things Wendy had said about Quentin forcing her to have an abortion were lies designed to manipulate Lauren. She felt foolish for having been so easily deceived and losing Quentin because of it.
Seeing Lauren’s regret, Ethan, despite his own heartache, said, "Lauren, if you regret it, it’s not too late. I can take you to Quentin right now."
"No, Ethan. This is my fate, and I accept it. We’re divorced now, and there’s no going back," Lauren said.
"Don’t be foolish, Lauren. A piece of paper doesn’t change the fact that Quentin is the father of your child. You’re forever connected. Please, face your true feelings. If you want to see him, I’ll take you right now," Ethan said, pained by Lauren’s sorrow. More than anything, he wanted her to be happy.
"Thank you, Ethan, but I’ve made up my mind. This pain is temporary. With time, I’ll forget him. My baby is enough motivation for me to keep going. Our divorce was about more than just Wendy. So, please, don’t mention him again." Lauren smiled, but it was a sad, cold smile, stark in the winter air.
Ethan patted her shoulder. If this was her choice, he would support her and help her move on.
"Alright, I won’t mention it again. Let’s get you home."
Ethan drove Lauren home and made dinner for her, coaxing her to eat. To avoid worrying him, Lauren forced herself to eat, offering him a grateful smile.
Everything seemed normal, but the normalcy worried Ethan. Faced with Lauren’s apparent strength, he felt helpless, unsure of how to truly make her happy.
Meanwhile, Quentin returned to the office, immersing himself in work. He wanted to be so busy that he wouldn’t have time to think about Lauren or her sad, stubborn face.
Noah, having figured everything out, wanted to tell Quentin immediately. But Quentin’s phone was unreachable, and he wasn’t at the Robinson family villa. Desperate, Noah went to the office and found Quentin working late.
"Quentin, you’re really here. I’ve been looking all over the city for you," Noah said, panting as he walked in.
"What’s up?" Quentin asked, his demeanor calm.
Noah looked at him in confusion. "Didn’t you and Lauren get divorced today? It’s not too late to fix things."
"What are you talking about? I’m busy. And yes, we’re divorced. Don’t mention her again. We’re done," Quentin said, returning to his paperwork.
"Why so fast? Do you know why Lauren wanted the divorce? I’ve investigated it. It turns out..." Noah began.
Quentin cut him off. "Enough. I have a lot of work to do."
Noah stared at him. "You’re avoiding the issue. This isn’t like you. Is the divorce hitting you that hard? Face the problem. Don’t let others ruin your marriage."
"I know what Wendy did behind my back. This time, I won’t let her off," Quentin replied.
"If you know, then why did you agree to the divorce?" Noah asked, puzzled. He could see Quentin loved Lauren. If he knew Wendy was scheming, why go along with it?
Quentin gazed out at the distant lights. 'Why did I do it? Maybe to spare Lauren more fear and distress. Maybe leaving me would make her happier.'
Noah was frantic. He had more questions than answers. The truth of the matter was now making him the most anxious person of all.
