LAUREN'S POV

As I stood in front of him — arms crossed, chest heaving, my words still echoing in the air — I expected defiance. Maybe even silence. I braced myself for Ethan to shake his head, tell me no, maybe walk away like he always did when things got uncomfortable.

But instead… he laughed.

Laughed.

A deep, shameless laugh that cut deeper than any insult could have. His shoulders moved slightly with each chuckle, and he stared at me like I’d just told the funniest joke in ...