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Novel Catalog
Chapter_99
Meeting a Love Rival
I felt a knot of anxiety in my stomach as I asked Lauren to meet. I wasn’t sure what I expected from this conversation, but I certainly didn’t expect her to agree so easily. When I arrived at the agreed meeting place, she was already waiting for me. The moment I saw her, my perception of her shifted completely. She wasn’t the woman I had imagined—timid or guilty. Instead, she was astute, confident, and unafraid to face the situation head-on.
Lauren wasted no time in starting the conversation. “I didn’t expect you to want to meet me. But, regardless of your intentions, I feel I should apologize.” Her honesty hit me harder than I expected. I smiled lightly, trying to steady myself. “Saying it’s okay would feel insincere, and blaming you would be over the top. Your straightforwardness, though, caught me off guard.”
She nodded slightly, a mixture of helplessness and guilt in her expression. “Thank you for saying that.” Then she hesitated, her voice softening. “I won’t make excuses. I had a soft spot for Matthew, and… well, I won’t deny he’s handsome. So, ultimately, I couldn’t resist. Still, I never expected him to be such a jerk. He can’t take responsibility for anything.”
Her words were both a revelation and a shock. It was the first time I had heard another woman’s assessment of Matthew—and not just any woman, but the one who had been with him in the most painful way for me. Lauren’s frustration was palpable as she continued. “He treated me like a doormat, all while protecting his sister. That day, when Melanie attacked me, he just stood there. Then he left me at the hospital.”
I couldn’t quite grasp how to feel. Was I sympathizing with her? Or was I secretly relishing her misery? I couldn’t tell. I just knew that hearing her speak so openly about Matthew, about his failures, stung deeply but also somehow felt satisfying.
Lauren’s eyes lowered, her voice tinged with bitterness. “When Melanie barged into the hotel room that day, I thought it was you. They can’t blame me for not having any shame left. I feel like I’ve lost it all. What’s the point?”
After confessing her emotions, Lauren gave a small, awkward smile. “Alright, your turn. I’ll follow your lead, since I owe you a favor. If you want to criticize or hit me, it’s up to you. I’ll take whatever comes.”
Her openness caught me off guard. It was too raw, too much. Still, I smiled back. After all, I was the one who had pushed her into this situation with Matthew.
“I have a favor to ask,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady as I moved the conversation forward. I wasn’t sure how she would react, but I needed to be direct. “I want to mortgage everything under my name. The bigger the amount, the better.”
Lauren raised an eyebrow. “What do you have?” she asked, her tone sharp.
I listed the fixed assets under my name, and she nodded thoughtfully before asking, “How much are you looking to loan?”
I thought for a moment, then gave her a figure that would surely leave Matthew speechless. “This amount,” I said, making sure to look her in the eye as I spoke.
Lauren considered my request for a while, clearly weighing the situation. “I’ll need a few days to work on it,” she said finally.
That evening, I received a call from Ava’s teacher. Apparently, Ava’s grandmother had already picked her up. I was startled and rushed over to Grace and Henry’s place, already dreading what was happening. I had a feeling they were trying to use Ava against me again.
When I arrived, I was greeted by the somber expressions of Grace and Henry. But when Ava saw me, her face lit up with relief. She ran into my arms, tears streaming down her face. “Mommy, I want to go home!” she cried, her tiny voice breaking my heart.
I gently pulled her closer, noticing the tears in her eyes, the telltale sign that something had happened to upset her. “Why are you crying, baby?” I asked softly.
Ava glanced over at her grandmother before clinging to me again, too upset to speak.
I was about to pry further when the sound of a door opening interrupted me. Melanie emerged from her bedroom with a self-satisfied grin plastered on her face.
I held back my anger, glaring at her, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, clearly enjoying the moment. “You came at just the right time,” she said with a smug smile. “I have some good news to share with you.”
I could feel my blood boil. What did she want now?