Laura’s Victory Second Chance

Chapter 36

As Laura stepped out of the hotel, she expected to feel a wave of relief. Instead, an unexpected heaviness hung over her. For over a decade, she had called David and Emma “Mom” and “Dad,” and it hurt to leave that life behind.

In her previous life, she had never truly left the Sharpe family; she remained until the very end. Now that she was finally breaking free, she felt lost, unsure of where to go next.

Just then, a sleek black luxury car pulled up to the curb, the door swinging open to reveal a man dressed in black inside. Easton’s figure nearly blended into the shadows; his skin was strikingly pale, and a black veil covered his eyes.

Though she couldn’t see his gaze, she felt it on her. He reached out a hand to her, thin lips parting slightly as he said, “Come.” A sense of belonging washed over her.

Suddenly, Robert’s anxious voice called out from behind her, “Lau!”

Her long dress obscured the view of Easton from Robert, who could only see the man’s pale hand reaching toward her.

Robert was normally confident that Laura would never leave him, but his heart raced at the sight of her with another man. Despite thinking she was just throwing a fit, doubt crept in.

The man had gone to great lengths to celebrate her birthday, and Robert feared Laura’s kind heart might be swayed by his charm.

“Lau, come back with me,” Robert said, rushing forward. “We can make the Brown family your home.”

Laura rolled her eyes, not bothering to respond. Instead, she confidently placed her hand in Easton’s large palm. His grip was surprisingly warm and much stronger than she’d imagined, despite his legs being disabled.

With one firm pull, she found herself in Easton’s embrace as the car door closed, shutting Robert out completely.

Robert, unable to see Easton’s face, caught only a glimpse of Laura throwing herself into the man’s arms. “Lau!” he shouted, pounding on the car door. “I’m sorry! Don’t leave me!”

At that moment, Laura viewed Robert as unpredictable, his emotions swinging wildly. One minute he seemed to want Olivia, the next he was begging her to stay.

Such inconsistency made her feel a bit embarrassed. ‘It seems I have ever told Easton I would only marry Robert. He must have thought I was naive back then,‘ she thought to herself.

The car didn’t move, and Easton’s grip around her waist remained strong. Despite being in a wheelchair for years, he was anything but frail. Though they had agreed to marry, this was the most intimate they had ever been, and she was thankful he couldn’t see how crimson her cheeks had turned.

‘Is a man’s heartbeat always this fast?‘ she thought, feeling dazed in his arms, unsure whether to stay or pull away.

In a low voice, Easton whispered in her ear, “He’s right outside. It’s up to you whether you stay or go.”

Easton wasn’t typically generous, but he was giving her a chance. He didn’t want her to marry him just to spite Robert.

He hated to explain himself, but Laura caught on to his unspoken thoughts. The man who seemed cold and aloof had a softer side, a gentleness that surprised her.

Even if his kindness stemmed from their parents‘ arrangement, she felt she could never fully repay him for this.

What she didn’t realize was that Easton’s heart was racing, too. She was the first woman to be so close to him, and her presence was a treasure he had waited for years to find. The scent of her hair intoxicated him, filling him with excitement and nerves all at once.

Easton struggled to keep his cool. He didn’t want to scare Laura away.

But when she didn’t say anything, the excitement in his heart felt like it had been doused in ice water. ‘Is she hesitating? Everybody knows Laura has a soft spot for Robert. If he comes back to her, she will choose him, right?‘ he thought.

“In this life, I will only marry Robby. I’m sorry, Mr. Ryan.” Easton recalled what she had said firmly to him back then. Even though Easton couldn’t see her face, he could hear how sure she was. It was clear she had deep feelings for Robert.

‘Well,‘ he thought, ‘she has long left her childhood promise behind. The past is just that–the past. Forgotten is forgotten! As he mulled this over, Easton’s expression chilled, and he pulled his hand away from Laura’s waist.

Before Laura could respond, she sensed the shift in him and felt his grip loosen.

“If you want to leave, I’m not going to stop you,” Easton said coldly, ready to tell the driver to open the door when suddenly, Laura’s small hand gripped his palm tightly.

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Chapter 36

She didn’t pull away; instead, she leaned closer to him, her sweet scent filling the air. “Does Mr. Ryan not want me anymore?” she asked, her voice soft and a little hurt, like a puppy that had been left behind.

Laura felt genuinely upset. She didn’t know what had happened to make Easton act this way. Her tone caught him off guard, making him stiffen slightly.

“I…” Easton was at a loss. Laura was moving even closer, making his mind race. ‘Is she really not going to leave? Doesn’t she like Robert?‘

Laura wrapped her arms around his neck. “I don’t care whether you want me or not. I’m sticking with you for life.”

His fingers trembled at her words. He was unsure whether he heard her wrong.

With her eyes closed, Laura recalled when she jumped into the ocean with Easton diving in after her. She didn’t know if his concern for her was real or just because of their engagement, but whether in this life or the previous one, he had always treated her kindly.

She nestled her head into his shoulder, whispering, “Unless Mr. Ryan doesn’t want me, I’m not going anywhere for this life.”

At that moment, Easton’s heart melted. The icy walls he had built around his feelings began to crack, allowing a small flower to bloom within—a tiny sign of hope. Unbeknownst to Laura, his lips curled up in a slight smile.

Meanwhile, Robert was still pounding on the car, convinced he had a chance to win her back. He imagined an old, ugly man keeping Laura trapped inside.

“Lau! Don’t worry; I’m coming to save you! Open the door or I’ll break it down!” he shouted.

Just then, Easton calmly instructed, “Drive.”

Before Robert could react, the car engine roared to life, leaving him struggling to keep his balance. He stumbled backward, gasping in the exhaust. “Lau! I will definitely save you!” he yelled after them.

Inside the car, Laura leaned her head against Easton, her soft hair brushing against his jaw. It tickled. Easton swallowed hard. “If you want to regret it, it might be too late,” he said.

He took her declaration seriously. She had said she wanted to stay with him for a lifetime.

With a playful smile, Laura replied, “You have already given me your heirloom; I guess I’m stuck marrying you in return.”