The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 110

Chapter 110

Cynthia’s POV

Amber and I dropped by a restaurant to buy ice cream–a small, family–owned place he insisted made the best chocolate chip in all of Missford.

As we sat in a corner booth with our cones, Amber suddenly reached into his backpack and pulled out an envelope.

“I have something for you, Mom,” he said, his voice taking on that shy quality he had when he was nervous about something.

“What is it, sweetheart?”

“It’s a present. I wanted to give it to you the first time we were supposed to meet, but…” He trailed off, and I felt that familiar stab of guilt. “But you weren’t able to make it. So I kept it and I’ve been waiting for this day to give it to you.”

He held out the envelope, which had been wrapped carefully with tape, decorated with crayon drawings of what looked like flowers and hearts.

My throat tightened with emotion. “Amber, you didn’t have to…”

“Please don’t open it until you get home,” he interrupted, pressing it into my hands. “Promise?”

I looked at the envelope, dying with curiosity about what was inside, but I respected his wishes.

“I promise. I won’t open it until I’m home.”

His smile was radiant. “Thank you, Mom.”

“Actually, I have something for you too,” I said, remembering the gifts from Nikolai still in my trunk. “A friend of mine got you some presents. There’s a toy car in there that I think you’ll really love.”

Amber’s eyes went wide. “Really? Can I see it now? Please?”

I laughed at his excitement. “Of course. Come on, let’s go check the trunk.”

We finished our ice cream quickly and exited the restaurant, heading toward where I’d parked.

I was just unlocking the trunk when I heard someone call my name.

“Cynthia?”

I turned around and saw Matilda approaching, a shopping bag in her hand, a bright smile on her face.

Somehow, I suddenly didn’t feel good about seeing Matilda.

Why? Was it because she’d used Kevin? Because she was throwing herself at Nikolai now? Or was it something else–some instinct telling me she wasn’t quite what she seemed?

I forced myself to act happy to see her, plastering on a smile that felt stiff on my face.

“Matilda! Hi.”

“Oh my goodness, Amber!” Matilda’s attention immediately shifted to my son, her expression genuinely warm. “Hello, sweetheart. Your mom has told me so much about you.”

“Hi,” Amber said politely, though he stayed close to my side.

I opened the trunk and pulled out Nikolai’s packages.

1/3

+25 Bonus

“Wow…” Matilda said, peering at the wrapped boxes. “Your mom got you all this?”

“Not really,” Amber corrected, his honesty showing through. “Mom said her friend got me these.”

Matilda’s curiosity was immediately piqued. “Which friend?”

I hesitated for a fraction of a second, wondering if I should deflect or make up some vague answer.

But whatever. Did it matter? It was just a simple question.

“Nikolai,” I said. “Nikolai Cross.”

I watched Matilda’s expression shift immediately.

The warmth drained from her face, replaced by something harder, more complicated. Her smile became fixed, plastic.

“Oh,” she said, her voice suddenly clipped. “How… thoughtful of him.”

There was an awkward pause.

“Well, I should get going,” Matilda said abruptly, already backing away. “I have an appointment I nearly forgot about. It was lovely seeing you, Cynthia. And nice meeting you, Amber.”

She turned and walked away quickly, almost hurrying, her shopping bag swinging at her side.

I stood there watching her retreat, confused by the sudden shift in her demeanor.

What was that about? Did she and Nikolai have some kind of history I didn’t know about? Or was there something else going on?

“Mom, can I open it now?” Amber’s voice pulled me back to the present.

“Of course, baby.”

I helped him unwrap the package, and his face lit up when he saw the collection of model cars inside–expensive, detailed replicas of classic racing vehicles.

“These are so cool!” he exclaimed, handling them with the careful reverence of a child who recognized something valuable. ” Thank you, Mom! And thank your friend too!”

“I will.”

After we’d looked at all the gifts and Amber had picked out his favorite to bring home with him, I loaded everything back into

the trunk.

Then I drove him back to the Walker mansion, my mood souring with each mile as we got closer.

Just as soon as I blew the horn at the gates–not wanting to actually drive into the mansion–Anna came out to pick up Amber.

She appeared like she’d been waiting by the entrance, like she’d suddenly become the gatekeeper, ready to intercept any

interaction between Amber and me.

I glared at Anna as she made a show of being all over Amber, hugging him, asking about his day, making sure everyone could see how maternal and caring she was.

Her daughter was with her, clinging to her leg. The little girl was just cute, with Anna’s features clearly stamped on her face. She looked so much like Anna that there was no denying the resemblance.

But did she look like Ethan?

I studied Hayden’s face quickly, trying to see any trace of Ethan in her features. But from this distance, with Hayden half–hiding behind Anna’s legs, I couldn’t tell.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify