Beautiful When You Don't Try

Chapter 71

Lauren took a step back and turned, only to pause as she battled her temper. Camila could see her shaking in rage as she turned back around and entered the office, shutting the door behind her.

"Lauren, I-" Brad tried to speak but she cut him off with fear as she approached him.

"Shut up. Don't say a fucking word right now because just hearing the sound of your voice is going to be enough to send me over the edge and so help me God, not even Harry will be able to pull me off of you if that happens." She threatened as she stepped within a foot of him, pointing her index finger into his chest.

Brad tensed and cowered at the same time, wisely shutting his mouth as not to push her any further.

"You have had your chance with her. You have had several chances with her and the last seven years to try for another, but you gave her up."

He made the mistake of opening his mouth to respond and Lauren pushed him forcefully with both hands slapping to his chest. Her strength caught him off guard and he stumbled backwards a few steps, raising his hand to his chest where she had pushed him. It was stinging from the harsh contact.

"Shut up. You gave her up over and over and over. And now it's my turn. Who are you to come walking into our home like you own her and can just try and take her away as if no one else's emotions are involved but your own? Who are you to come in and try and fuck up everything that we have? Who the hell are you to think you could possibly have anything to offer her that I can't?"

Camila hadn't moved from the moment Lauren shut the door, frozen in shock and fear as the brunette spoke in a low, cold tone that dripped with revulsion. This wasn't even the old version of Lauren. This was a new version of the head bitch in charge and even Brad noticed. The man was smart enough to divert his eyes to the ground as Lauren approached again, closing the gap she had created from her push. He took a step back in response, fearing she would hit him again if she got close enough.

"I give her everything she needs and everything she wants. I give her love. I give her attention, romance, conversation, support, admiration, understanding, happiness... What could you possibly give her that I couldn't?"

"A child."

Camila's heart leaped into her throat at his words while Lauren became paralyzed in hatred. Brad mistakenly took her hesitation as defeat.

"A real family." He continued, straightening his posture. "One that is made from both of us. Any kid you have isn't going to be hers, and hers aren't going to be yours. No matter what you do or how hard to try, you can never give her what I can."

What happened next was a blur to Camila. Brad hit the wall behind him hard with a loud thud that shook the hanging pictures, knocking one to the floor. But it was the slapping noise that broke Camila from her trance. Brad struggled to grab the brunette's wrist and twist her around in his arms to keep her from hitting his face again, lifting her off the ground as she tried to kick him. She caught his knee cap and they stumbled forward into the windowsill behind her desk as they continued to fight against each other.

"Ally!"

The Latina and everyone still at the table fell silent when they heard Camila's scream and after a joint heartbeat of hesitation, they all ran to the office, Ally leading the way. When she opened the door, Camila was frozen in front of her while Brad had Lauren locked between him and her desk as she elbowed his ribs from her position and fought to escape his hold while he desperately struggled to keep the rage strengthened woman in it.

"What the fuck? Get off of her!" Ally yelled moving towards the pair but was cut off by Harry who ran over and shoved Brad against the wall, holding him there by the throat.