"Ugh, don''t even get me started on that," Jason grumbled, letting out a heavy sigh. "My dad is such a fraud, always pretending everything''s fine, and my mom just can''t bring herself to do what she should..."


    "You mean, your mom forgave Mr. Prescott?" Rosita''s surprise was clear in her voice. "But... do you really think he can change?"


    "No way! I''m a guy myself I know how it is. Rosita, I just don''t get my mom at all! All three of us brothers support her getting a divorce, so why is she hanging on to my dad? He''s not going to change. A man who cheats isn''t suddenly going to turn over a new leaf."


    "I''m sorry, Jason. It''s all because of my mom..." Rosita''s voice was tinged with guilt. "If my mom hadn''t gotten involved with Mr. Prescott in the first ce, maybe he never would have cheated..."


    "How is any of this your fault?" Jason sighed again. "It''s my mom''s own problem- she refuses to see Dad for who he really is, and she still wants to throw parties and pretend everything''s perfect. She''s too old to still be this lovestruck."


    "Jason, I''ve been thinking it over, and I feel like I should tell you."


    As soon as Jason heard those words, he got a bad feeling. "Don''t tell me my dad''s seeing Lauren again?"


    "I''ve been trying to talk her out of it, honestly. But when I visited her in the hospital just now, I found out she''d checked herself out again. I''m worried..."


    "You think Lauren''s meeting up with my dad?"


    "I''m not sure if she is or not..."


    "Rosita, I need to go."


    Jason hung up and immediately pulled up Gavin''s phone tracker. Ever since he''d learned about his father''s affair, he''d kept a close eye on him. When he saw the location ping at a hotel, his anger boiled over.


    Within seconds, he was dialing his older brothers.


    Meanwhile, in a hotel room across town, Lauren slipped her arms around Gavin''s neck. "Gavin, I don''t me you for leaving me. My body''s just failed me, that''s all. But do love you. I really do."


    Gavin frowned, gently prying her arms away. "Lauren, I know this has been hard on you. But you''re still recovering. Come sit down with me and let''s talk this through."


    "Are you disgusted with me now, Gavin?" Lauren pressed herself to his chest, her hands wandering over him, igniting that old familiar spark.


    "I''m not going to be around much longer anyway," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Let me have thesest moments with you. Just stay. with me tonight. I promise I won''t cling to you or make trouble just show me a little tenderness one


    more time, please?"


    Gavin''s brows drew together. He''d meant to refuse, but Lauren knew exactly how


    to awaken a man''s instincts. Soon, all his promises to Mrs. Prescott were forgotten.


    Half an hourter, Gavin climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom.


    Laureny back, listening to the running water, her eyes gleaming with a cold, poisonous satisfaction For all the times they''d been together, this was the first time she hadn''t insisted on protection Gavin thought he could y her well, this was his payback.


    When the water shut off, Gavin emerged in a bathrobe.


    Lauren immediately put on her most fragile expression and looked at him, voice soft. "Are you leaving already?"


    "Yeah," Gavin replied, slipping on his clothes. "My wife and the boys have been watching me like hawkstely. Don''t call me again—I''lle see you when I can."


    "Alright. I understand." Lauren feigned disappointment. "Don''t worry, I know I won''t be around much longer. I just hope, after I''m gone, you''ll finally have some peace."


    Gavin paused, his hands stilling on his shirt buttons as he looked back at her.


    Lauren''s eyes glistened with unshed tears—hurt, but also filled with adoration for the man in front of her.


    Truth was, things hadn''t exactly been easy for him at hometely, not in the Prescott family.