The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 103

#103

Chapter 103

Cynthia’s POV

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“Oh my gosh!”

I heard the voice from inside the car as soon as my eyes met with Grace’s through the window. She was in the back seat, and my worst fear had just materialized right in front of me.

I braced myself for the worse, for her hate speech and annoying ridicule, we have not talked in three years and I knew she hadn’t changed a bit. She is not one to become any better, she is just like Anna. Evil and serpentine.

Grace stepped out of the car, and I immediately noticed something was off about her movements.

“Cynthia! My dearest and latest renowned Michelin chef!”

With the way she spoke, her words slightly slurred, her tone overly enthusiastic, I was sure that Grace was drunk.

Then Grace started approaching me, staggering slightly with each step.

Who in God’s name drinks at 7:45 in the morning to stupor?

Grace approached with her arms spread wide open, a huge smile plastered across her face that looked almost manic.

“My daughter–in–law!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a hug before I could even think to step back.

—

I was just shocked. Completely frozen. This was Grace Walker – the woman who’d made my marriage miserable for eight years, my life miserable for the years I spent in the Walker mansion even before getting married to Ethan. The one who’d looked down on me at every opportunity, who’d made it clear I would never be good enough for her son. And now she was hugging me like we were long–lost friends.

“Are you back now? I had been waiting for you! Looking for ways to see you!” Grace was saying, her breath reeking of alcohol.” Do not mind my current state. I went for a women’s hangout and end–of–year party!”

I tried to breathe through my mouth to avoid the stench of liquor that surrounded her like a cloud. The smell was overwhelming – vodka, maybe, or gin. Something strong.

I slowly pulled away from Grace, who immediately staggered and almost fell backward until Mr. Lan–rushed forward to help

stabilize her.

“You know, it’s the last week of November! Christmas is around the corner! A lot of celebrations!” Grace was still talking, her words tumbling over each other. “I am so glad you are back! I have missed your Christmas sauce for three whole years! Where the hell had you been?”

She grabbed my shoulders suddenly, her fingers digging in with surprising strength for someone so drunk.

“I missed your cooking so badly! I want to have that Christmas sauce this Christmas. You are going to make it for me, that is what I want.”

She was looking directly into my eyes now, waiting for an answer, her face too close to mine, her expression desperate and somehow sad beneath the alcohol–induced cheerfulness.

I was just dumbfounded.

Even in Grace’s drunken state, she still considered me

–

Cynthia, who she now knew was a Michelin chef, someone who’d achieved international recognition as the same Cynthia whose only value was cooking them sauce for Christmas. Like I was still just the invisible wife whose purpose was to serve the Walker family.

The audacity of it made anger flare hot in my chest.

#103

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I felt like spanking her hands away, pushing her back, telling her exactly what I thought of her and her Christmas sauce request.

Just as I was about to ask Mr. Lan and Grace’s driver – who had now gotten out of the Mercedes and was trying to help stabilize her to please get Grace off me and inside the house, I heard a voice behind me.

“Mr. Reed, please get her inside.”

I turned and found Ethan standing by the gate of the Walker mansion, with Amber beside him.

Amber was curiously staring at his grandmother, his face a mixture of concern and what looked like… familiarity. He was obviously mortified, but not shocked. Not surprised.

I guessed Amber must have seen his grandmother in this state countless times.

Ethan didn’t look entirely shocked either. His expression was more resigned than anything else – tired, embarrassed, but not surprised. It seemed Grace had become a drunkard overnight, or perhaps over the past three years I’d been gone.

The thought made something twist uncomfortably in my chest. What had happened to turn Grace Walker into this?

Mr. Reed and Mr. Lan helped Grace toward the mansion entrance, one on each side supporting her weight as she stumbled between them.

“Let me go!” Grace was yelling, her voice echoing across the grounds. “I need to speak with Cynthia! I need to demand my Christmas sauce! Cynthia! Don’t leave again! The chef Ethan hired is wacky! I hate the food since you left!”

Her voice slowly dissolved as they got her deeper into the mansion, the distance muffling her protests until there was only

silence.

I took in a deep breath, a bit thankful that she had been drunk, it may had been another story if she was sober.

Ethan approached me with Amber, and the moment we were close enough, Amber immediately broke away and ran toward me.

I was already opening my arms to receive him into a hug, and he crashed into me with the full force of his excitement.

“I knew you would come, Mom!” he said, his voice muffled against my shoulder.

“Of course I did!” I pulled back to look at his face, smiling at his enthusiasm. “How could I not keep my word?”

“Thank you so much, Mom.” He looked back at Ethan, who wore a very expressionless face – carefully blank, revealing nothing

The memory of yesterday’s encounters with him made something twitch in my stomach, he had said so much in the course of that PTA meeting, so much actually did happen, especially when he lied about Anna’s daughter not being his.

What a terrible irritating liar.

The thought of that statement made me suddenly upset, he dared denied an innocent kid just because he wanted to turn back in good terms with me, which was even more annoying because he doesn’t want his friends to know that he wanted me back

He is such an annoying asshole,

“Dad, I’m going with Mommy. Please don’t come pick me up today or send a driver. Mom will pick me up herselt.” Amber said snapping me out of the anger already brewing inside of me.

He turned back to me, his eyes bright with hope and determination.

“Right?”

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