The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Cynthia’s POV

I looked at my wristwatch, and it was time for school pickup.

There was no way Ethan had sent Anna here knowing fully well that I was going to pick up Amber after school. We’d discussed it this morning. Amber had even told him directly not to send anyone.

Did Ethan do this to spite me?

Well yes, he always enjoyed seeing me miserable, so this wouldn’t be new. This was exactly the kind of thing he would do- undermine me, make me feel small, remind me that Anna still had access to his life and his son.

I hopped out of my car and approached the waiting area, my heart pounding with a mixture of anger and anxiety.

I could see them through the glass doors – Amber and Anna standing near the entrance.

Amber had seen Anna, and his expression had shifted immediately. He hadn’t sighted me yet, but he was so disappointed to see her. His shoulders had slumped, his earlier excitement completely drained from his posture.

This made my heart melt.

My boy was actually expecting me. Whatever he’d felt initially for Anna, that love and constant talking about her that I had been jealous of three years ago seemes to have been replaced with something else. Fear, maybe. Or just the weary resignation of a child who’d learned not to trust her.

Anna was being all lovey–dovey, leaning down to his level, her voice syrupy sweet.

“Did you have a great day at school, sweetheart?” she was asking as I approached.

Then Amber sighted me.

His entire face transformed. Genuine excitement flooded his features, his eyes lighting up, his whole body straightening.

“Mommy! You came!” he shouted, breaking away from Anna and running toward me.

I opened my arms and embraced him, holding him tight against me, feeling his small heart beating rapidly with joy.

“Of course I came,” I said, kissing the top of his head. “I promised you, didn’t I?”

“Thank you, Mommy. Thank you so much!”

We turned back to face Anna, who was now glaring at us with barely concealed fury.

Her perfectly made–up face had twisted into something ugly, her eyes hard and cold as she watched Amber cling to me.

“What are you doing here, Cynthia?” she asked, her voice sharp.

I didn’t want any trouble. I really didn’t. But seeing, Anna walking, freely after trying to sabotage my restaurant–after everything Nathaniel and the lawyers had uncovered about her involvement and being absolutely unable to do anything because they’d asked me not to act until we had enough evidence to make it stick…

It was very hurtful. Infuriating.

But I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.

I acted like Anna was invisible, like she was just part of the background scenery.

“Come on, boy. Let’s go,” I said, taking Amber by the hand and turning toward the parking lot.

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But Anna grabbed Amber’s other hand, yanking him back.

I stopped, shocked.

She had some nerve.

“I don’t know what you’re doing here, Cynthia,” Anna said, her voice rising, taking on a theatrical quality. “But I can’t let you leave with him without hearing from Ethan first. He didn’t tell me you were going to pick him up today.”

She paused, looking around at the other parents who were starting to gather their children, making sure she had an audience.

“How sure am I that you’re not trying to kidnap him?”

She said this loud enough that several parents turned to stare.

Loud enough that a teacher who’d been supervising dismissal looked over with concern.

Loud enough to plant seeds of doubt in anyone who might be listening.

My blood ran cold, then hot with rage.

“Kidnap him?” I repeated, my voice dangerously quiet. “He’s my son.”

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