Deceit Behind Her Marriage [English]

CHAPTER 7

While riding the taxi home, Lauren finally remembered to check her phone. She realized she had left it on silent mode the night before and hadn't bothered to look at it since her conversation with her brother, Kael.

As she glanced at the screen, a wave of missed calls and text messages flooded in, most of them from her best friend, Brett.

"Lauren, where are you? They said you didn't return home last night."

"Lauren, where are you? I'll come pick you up."

"Lauren? Please answer my call."

Reading Brett's messages, she winced. She knew he was worried about her.

It was best to keep her overnight stay at Burnham's villa a secret. Aware of Brett's animosity towards Finn and considering Brett's relationship with Kori, they could cross paths. Regardless, she concealed her actions from the previous night, concerned that they could exacerbate the situation.

Summoning her courage, she dialed Brett's number. It rang only once before he answered.

"Hello!"

"I fell asleep in the hotel where I stayed, so I just called now. What's wrong? Why do you seem so frantic searching for me?" Lauren had no choice but to fabricate a story.

"You stayed at the hotel?"

"Yes, there's one right by the venue. Wasn't it logical for me to stay there?"

"I'm sorry. I was just concerned that perhaps..." Brett trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.

Lauren felt a pang of guilt. Nonetheless, she understood what Brett was implying and could complete his unspoken words, 'Maybe I went to Finn's.'

What unfolded last night wasn't part of her plans. It simply happened, finding herself unexpectedly with the Burnhams. She hadn't planned to wake up in Finn's bed, greeted by his squinted eyes. All the events of last night unfolded spontaneously.

"Jessica informed me that you went to pick up Kori. I stayed at the event because I missed our other friends. I had a few drinks. It didn't occur to me to go home because I was already tired."

"Lauren, I ended things with Kori. Last night, it marked the end. It's official," he calmly announced, referring to Finn’s best friend.

Lauren felt a bit sad for Brett and Kori. She had hoped they would make it work. Even though Kori could be cold and brutal, Lauren knew she truly cared about Brett.

Back in college, she witnessed Kori passionately cheering for Brett on the basketball court. Lauren knew Kori stood up against other students who liked Brett. Kori was always ready to defend him.

With a sigh, Lauren realized that some relationships aren't suitable for certain people. Whatever happens between Brett and Kori is up to them to decide.

"Should you need someone to talk to, feel free to come over to my place," she offered.

"Yes, I need to discuss some proposals with you."

"Alright then. See you later!" She glanced out onto the street after concluding the call.

Attending the class reunion the previous night yielded nothing for her. She resisted approaching anyone or seeking financial assistance, determined not to validate her classmates' perceptions. Instead, she exercised restraint, upholding a sense of dignity amidst it all.

***

Lauren sat hunched over her laptop, the afternoon light casting long shadows in her room. As she tried to troubleshoot her problem, her temples throbbed with the stress of her situation. Her heart raced with urgency to the dire need for substantial money. The savings she had painstakingly amassed over years of working at ShopAmerica had already been exhausted.

Her thoughts churned as she considered her options for borrowing money. The idea of suggesting selling their family home to her mother loomed, though she had been avoiding it until now. Despite parting with valuable possessions and jewelry, her financial shortfall persisted.

Opening her jewelry box, she found one item remaining: inside lay her pink engagement ring, a delicate reminder of the promises she and Finn had once made to each other. Despite their separation, she couldn't bring herself to part with it. She had never investigated its value, considering it priceless sentimentally.

Sell the ring to Finn? The idea struck her as absurd yet somehow fitting. It could be better than selling it to a stranger. The ring would be readily available if Finn intended to marry someone else. As she rubbed her temples, she felt the weight of her dilemma pressing down on her.

But approaching him was out of the question. The mere thought left her feeling unhinged. Still, the guilt of the ring ending up in someone else's possession gnawed at her. Would it be shameless if she did that? Did he even care about this ring?

In the midst of her turmoil, Lauren grappled with conflicting emotions, unsure of the right path forward.

The emotional significance of that ring to Lauren cannot be quantified; it holds immeasurable value to her. It represents a timeless treasure that she holds dear.

"Sis?" Kael, her sibling, called out, interrupting her reverie.

She swiftly shut her jewelry box, not wanting Kael to misunderstand her actions as lingering hope for a particular man.

"Yes?" She replied, her mind elsewhere.

Kael scratched his head, producing cash cards and an envelope bursting with contents. Even before she opened it, she sensed its substantial worth.

"This is all I have. It may not be much, but I hope it can assist the family."

Lauren paused, her gaze flickering the envelope before returning to Kael's earnest expression.

"Kael, put this towards your education. I won't allow your studies to suffer," she said, a hint of frustration in her tone.

Her eyes welled with tears; she felt a surge of pride for her brother. The fees at his university were formidable, and while being a scholar alleviated some of the burden, there were still financial obligations to meet. The money Kael was offering would undoubtedly be crucial for covering expenses or securing tuition for the upcoming term.

"Listen, Sister Lauren—"

"No! It's you who needs to listen to me. Your future is on the line here. Do you understand?"

"It's just that… I hate to see you like this. You're supposed to be here to take a break and grieve after Dad's passing, but instead, you're prioritizing our financial issues," he said as he approached and embraced her.

"I can manage, Kael. I'd be foolish to ask you to drop out of school. You've been working nights and studying during the day to support yourself. Do you see why I'm upset? I won't let even your education slip away from us. Your upcoming classes will be tougher, so you'll likely have to quit your part-time job."

"I've come up with a solution. We'll find a way to make money and pay off our debts," Lauren explained.

Kael's silence led Lauren to suspect his skepticism toward her plan. It appeared she had no alternative but to part with the ring Finn had given her, convinced that this small piece of jewelry held the solution to their troubles.