The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 104

#104

Chapter 104

Ethan’s POV

She looked so beautiful this morning, and then I realized how much more I’d fucked up big time.

That was why so many men wanted her in their lives now.

Bryan, who’d just declared his intention to pursue her last night. Nikolai Cross, the boy i underestimated was the heir to Cross Energy, who just lost his father and is about to become chairman.

Then, there is Kevin Laurent, the annoying F1 racer that had dared show up in the hospital like he was practicing how to be a step dad. And that mystery man with the kid I’d seen her with at the restaurant – someone I still hadn’t identified.

Those were just the people I knew about.

Who else would be after her that I didn’t know? How many other men had recognized what I’d been too blind to see?

And these men weren’t just ordinary men. They were men I couldn’t easily compete with. Men of the same caliber as me, or even wealthier, like Nikolai. Successful. Established. Men who hadn’t spent eight years making Cynthia feel worthless.

Cynthia didn’t look interested in talking to me. She stood by her car with her arms crossed, her posture closed off, her expression impatient.

Is that how much she hated me now?

“About what?” she asked, looking at her wristwatch like I was wasting her time.

The gesture hit me like a physical blow.

She used to beg to talk to me three years ago. Used to ask – practically plead spend time together. To connect in some meaningful way.

—

for us to have conversations as a couple. To

And I’d been the one looking at my watch occasionally, sighing with impatience, making it clear I had better things to do than

talk to my wife.

Karma does really work.

This was my fucking karma, wasn’t it? Being on the receiving end of that dismissal, that impatience, that clear signal that I

wasn’t worth her time.

But I am fucking repentant! I want my wife back!

“Did you get home safely last night?” I asked, the words coming out more awkwardly than I’d intended.

I’d been recalling what last night had done to me. I’d planned to call her as soon as my meeting with Bryan ended–just to spark up something with late–night calls, maybe start building some connection between us again.

But then Bryan had thrown his bomb, and I’d been too shaken, too angry, too devastated to do anything but drink more whiskey and stare at photos of Nikolaj Cross until Margaret’s report blurred before my eyes.

“As you can see,” Cynthia said flatly, gesturing to herself. “I’m here. Alive. Safe.”

The sarcasm in her tone stung.

I honestly didn’t know what to say next. My mind was racing with everything I wanted to tell her but couldn’t.

How was I going to tell her not to give in to Bryan when he came to confess his feelings? I couldn’t reveal that Bryan had talked to me without explaining why it bothered me so much.

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How was I supposed to tell her that in a short while, Walker Industries would be far bigger with higher revenue than Cross Energy, so she shouldn’t think of considering that bastard Nikolai? That would sound desperate and pathetic.

How could I tell her that I could start training for Formula One racing and beat Kevin’s ass down? That was just ridiculous.

I just wanted to prove to her that I was the best man for her and no one else. That despite all my failures, despite everything I’d done wrong, I could be what she needed now.

But none of those words would come.

Instead, I ended up saying something completely different.

“Have a great day, Cynthia. Take care of Amber.” I paused, my heart pounding. “I love you.”

She flinched when she heard the “I love you.”

Actually flinched, like the words had physically struck her.

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