The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100

Cynthia’s POV

When I got home, exhaustion hit me like a wave.

The Laurent Family Mansion seemed very quiet tonight. Almost eerily so.

Nathaniel was in his matrimonial home with Helen and Lily since they were around — he had no business being here when his own family needed him. Kevin was nowhere to be seen, probably out training for his next competition.

And Julian… I knew he was off work today, so where was he?

I kicked off my heels in the foyer, my feet practically singing with relief, and made my way through the house.

The silence pressed against my ears as I climbed the stairs. I remembered the laptop incident, the way Julian had thrown it into the aquarium when I’d nearly caught him on a video call. The panic in his eyes and desperation.

It was time to find out what my brother was hiding.

I walked down the hall to his room and knocked softly. “Julian?”

No response.

I knocked again, louder this time. “Julian, are you in there?”

Still nothing.

Where could he be? I was about to give up and retire to my own room when I heard a distinct voice, muffled but clear enough to

follow.

I traced the sound toward the back of the house, past the sitting room, until I reached the balcony doors.

Through the glass, I could see Julian’s silhouette against the night sky. He was pacing, phone held up in front of him. A video

call.

I shouldn’t eavesdrop, like how Bryan had sillily eavesdropped on his mother’s conversation with my mother.

It was absolutely funny that I was about to do exactly that same thing and find out someone else’s secret.

But I just couldn’t help it. My curiosity was stronger than my conscience, and my feet carried me closer to the glass doors before I could talk myself out of it.

Now I could hear what Julian and his caller were saying clearly.

“Yeah, I know, but I love it here in Missford,” Julian was saying, his voice softer than I’d ever heard it. Almost… vulnerable. “It gives me memories of home. For over twenty years before my sister got missing, I left. But being back here feels so good. Like coming home, you know?”

The voice on the other end was male, warm and affectionate. “Julian, I really miss you. Can’t you just come over to Paris for a few days? Please?”

My breath caught.

“Tony…” Julian said, and there was so much longing in that single word that my chest tightened.

“You know what?” Tony continued. “I’m going to come over to Missford myself then, I can’t keep doing this long distance thing. I need to see you.”

“Really?” Julian’s voice lifted with excitement, his whole posture changing. He stopped pacing and gripped the balcony railing. ”

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You mean it?”

“Yes, really. Get me an apartment. Something decent. I’ll move in for Christmas.”

“Oh baby…” Julian’s voice cracked slightly. “I love you so much. Thank you. Thank you for understanding.”

My heart leaped in my chest.

It was now crystal clear to me why Julian had never been seen around any woman. Why he’d never shown interest in the beautiful women who frequented our social circles, who flirted with him at events. Why he’d always deflected Mother’s attempts to set him up with suitable matches.

Julian was gay.

That was who he’d been talking to when he threw the laptop into the aquarium. He hadn’t wanted me to see Tony’s face on the screen. Hadn’t wanted me to know his secret.

I felt my stomach twist with guilt and sadness.

I saw no problem with same–sex relationships. Love was love, as far as I was concerned. But my family, especially my mother, was a different story entirely.

Within the three years I’d stayed in Paris with them, Victoria had not ceased to speak against same–sex relationships whenever the topic came up. At dinner parties. During news broadcasts. Even in casual conversation.

“It’s unnatural,” she’d say, her voice dripping with disgust. “Against God’s design.”

“Those people need help,” she’d insist. “Therapy. Prayer. Something to fix them.”

The Laurents were rooted Catholics, and Victoria took her faith seriously. Too seriously, in my opinion, when it became a weapon to judge others.

And Julian knew that.

He’d grown up hearing those comments. Internalizing that hatred. Learning to hide who he really was.

My heart broke for him.

On the balcony, Julian was laughing now, talking about apartments and Christmas plans and how excited he was to finally have Tony here with him.

“I’ll have to be careful,” Julian said, his voice dropping. “You know how my family is. Especially Mother.”

“I know,” Tony said gently. “We’ll figure it out. We always do.”

“I’m just tired of hiding,” Julian admitted, and the exhaustion in his voice was palpable. “Tired of pretending.”

I stepped back from the glass doors, my heart hammering.

I shouldn’t have heard that. That was private and intimate.

I sneaked away as quietly as I could, my bare feet silent against the marble floors as I retreated down the hallway.

Back in my own room, I closed the door and leaned against it, my mind racing.

He couldn’t even love openly. Couldn’t bring Tony to family dinners or hold hands with the person he cared about without fear of judgment and rejection.

That’s the saddest thing ever.