Chapter 27

Laura woke up the next morning with a smile on her face, feeling complete and fulfilled after the incredible weekend she had spent with Morgan. However, when she turned in bed, expecting to find him by her side, reality hit her hard. Her heart started racing, and a sense of apprehension took over. The room was empty, there was no sign of Morgan.

Concerned, she got up and went downstairs, walking into the living room, hoping to find him there. Her heart sank when she didn't see him. Her unease only grew when Laura headed to the kitchen and, once again, didn't find Morgan. His name echoed in her mind, and she couldn't help but shout, "Morgan!"

The silence that followed was deafening. His absence seemed to fill every corner of the house. Fear started to creep into Laura, desperation taking over. She had no idea where he could be or if something terrible had happened. With trembling hands, Laura grabbed her phone and called Morgan multiple times, but to no avail – his number went straight to voicemail. Fearing the worst, Laura dialed Morgan's brother Nick's number. She waited, holding the phone tightly as the call echoed.

"Hello?" Nick's voice answered from the other side.

"Hey, Nick. It's me, Laura. Have you heard from Morgan? He's gone missing, I've been trying to call him but his phone just goes to voicemail," her voice betrayed her nervousness.

There was a brief pause before Nick responded. "Laura, I was expecting this call. I don't know if I should get involved, but I think you have the right to know. Morgan went back to Loren."

The words hit Laura like a punch to the stomach. She could barely believe what she was hearing. Shock and disbelief mingled with the anguish she was already feeling.

"What? What do you mean?" Laura could hardly articulate the words, her hands gripping the phone.

"I know it's hard to understand. He chose to go back to his ex-wife. I'm sorry, Laura," Nick's voice sounded sincere.

Tears started streaming down Laura's face. She was torn between sadness and anger. The image of Morgan, the moments they had shared, everything seemed so confusing now.

"Thank you for telling me," her voice choked with tears.

"Are you okay, Laura? Where are you? Tell me, I'll come to find you," he said concerned.

"No need, Nick. I'm fine, I need to hang up."

Laura hung up the phone and let herself collapse onto the couch, hugging herself. She couldn't believe that Morgan had left her like this. The pain of loss mingled with a sense of abandonment.

In this moment of intense sadness, the door opens slowly, revealing the warm figure of Laura's Nana. Her perceptive eyes immediately catch the sadness in Laura's eyes, and she approaches with gentle steps. With an understanding look, she envelops Laura in a warm embrace, feeling the sorrow that surrounds her granddaughter.

"Sweetheart, what happened? Why are you crying?" Laura's Nana asks with genuine concern.

Laura looks into Nana's eyes, the pain evident in her expression. She takes a deep breath, feeling the need to vent. "Nana, Morgan... he went back to his ex-wife. He just left me."

Nana tightens the hug, offering silent comfort. "Oh, my love, I'm so sorry you're going through this. Sometimes things don't turn out the way we expect."

Allowing herself to cry on Nana's shoulder, Laura lets her emotions flow. Nana lets Laura's tears fall, murmuring gentle and encouraging words. "You're a strong and resilient young woman, dear. This pain will pass, and you'll find happiness again."

As Nana holds Laura, a sense of support begins to envelop her. Even amidst the pain, Laura feels a deep connection with the older woman who loves her unconditionally. Together, they share a moment of silence, finding solace in each other's presence.

Over time, Laura's tears begin to lessen, replaced by a feeling of acceptance. She pulls away from Nana's embrace, looking at her with gratitude. "Thank you, Nana. I don't know what I would do without you."

Laura's Nana smiles gently, caressing her granddaughter's face. "I'm always here for you, my dear. Now, come on, I'll make you a cup of your favorite tea. Let's talk some more."

Laura offers a small smile. "That would do me a lot of good."

Meanwhile, Morgan arrived at Loren's house, feeling tense about what he was about to do. Loren stood by the door, looking at him with a mix of anticipation and caution.

"I was waiting for you," Loren said, opening the door for him.

Morgan shrugged, trying to hide his anxiety. "I said I would come, didn't I?"

Loren watched him with a piercing gaze. "I knew you would come. You can be many things, but if there's one thing you follow through on, it's your promises."

He let out a heavy sigh. "For the first time in my life, it was the hardest promise I had to keep."

The tension in the air was palpable, and Loren pressed on with the conversation. "Did you tell Laura you were coming back?"

Morgan hesitated before responding. "I didn't. She shouldn't know for now. I don't want her to suffer."

Loren narrowed her eyes, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. "From the moment you reached out to me and said you would leave everything behind, including what you felt for her, you knew I don't want you halfway. You never stopped being my husband, Morgan, so act like one. Tell her we're together. She should suffer all at once and forget about you, rather than holding on to hope. And by the way, I've arranged a dinner tonight for close friends to announce our return."

"I don't want any dinner. Eventually, everyone will find out," Morgan said.

"I'm not asking you. The invitations have already been sent," Loren replied, her determination evident.

Morgan shook his head, a mixture of emotions swirling within him. The conversation was getting more heated than he had imagined. "I didn't want it to be like this."

She looked at him firmly. "Life isn't always fair, Morgan. We both knew what we were getting into when we started all of this. Now you need to deal with the consequences of your choices."

The atmosphere was tense between them, but Morgan realized Loren was right. He had decided to return to her, and that meant facing the consequences, even if they were difficult to bear. With a resigned sigh, he looked at Loren and finally said, "Alright, I'll do what you're asking."

Loren nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. "That's what I expect from you, Morgan."