The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 141

Chapter 141

Cynthia’s POV

After the call with Amber, which followed almost immediately after the call with Nikolai, something inside me finally loosened.

Hearing his excitement, his innocent joy, the way he spoke about Christmas like the world wasn’t on fire — it grounded me in a way I hadn’t realized I desperately needed.

For a brief moment, I wasn’t a woman at the center of scandals, threats, and attempted murder. I was just… Amber’s mom.

By the time I returned to the Laurent mansion from the meeting with Matilda, the sky had already darkened. I walked in and noticed Nathaniel in the study, he gestured for me to come in.

He stood by the large desk, sleeves rolled up, tablet in hand, his posture rigid in a way that told me immediately this wasn’t casual conversation.

That alone made my stomach tighten.

“You’re back earlier than I expected,” he said, eyes lifting to mine.

I shrugged out of my coat, suddenly exhausted down to my bones. “I needed air.”

He studied me closely, the way he always did when something didn’t sit right. Nathaniel Laurent didn’t miss details. It was both comforting and terrifying.

“The men I sent to trail the suspect that we think is working with Anna,” he said, getting straight to the point, “reported back.”

I nodded faintly. “And?”

“They lost him.”

That made me look up.

“He left the location minutes before they arrived,” Nathaniel continued, his jaw tightening. “Cleanly. Like he knew he was being watched.”

A chill crept up my spine.

“So he’s careful,” I said quietly.

“Or experienced,” Nathaniel corrected.

I absorbed that in silence. Strangely, I didn’t feel the jolt of fear I expected. Everything inside me felt dulled—like my emotions had reached a breaking point and simply shut down to survive.

Nathaniel noticed.

“You don’t seem surprised,” he observed.

“I’m tired,” I admitted. “And… something else happened.”

That got his full attention.

He set the tablet down and leaned against the desk, folding his arms. “Talk to me.”

I hesitated because once I said it out loud, it would become real in a way I couldn’t undo.

“Matilda threatened me.”

The silence that followed was sharp.

“What kind of threat?” Nathaniel asked carefully.

“She wants me to stay away from Nikolai,” I said flatly. “And if I don’t… she plans to make my life difficult. Publicly.”

Nathaniel’s eyes darkened. “Define difficult.”

“She mentioned teaming up with Anna. And then…” I swallowed. “She said she’d tell the world who I really am.”

Nathaniel’s composure cracked.

He straightened slowly. “She knows you’re a Laurent?”

I nodded.

“I told her,” I admitted. “I shouldn’t have. I know that now. But I didn’t think...”

Nathaniel exhaled sharply through his nose. “People rarely change for the better when obsession is involved.”

The door to the study opened abruptly.

Kevin and Julian stood there, having clearly overheard enough to catch the tension.

“Tell me I misheard,” Kevin said.

“Yes,” Nathaniel agreed. “Which is why you need to step back.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been through trauma layered on top of trauma,” he said evenly

He paused, then said gently, “You can go back to Paris.”

The words landed heavier than I expected.

“Just for a while,” he added. “Somewhere you can breathe.”

I considered it.

Paris had been my sanctuary once. The place where I learned who I was without Ethan, without expectations, without pain dictating every move.

But leaving now felt… wrong.

Before I could answer, Nathaniel asked softly, “The bullet last night — it was meant for you, wasn’t it?”

My heart stopped.

“How did you know?” I whispered.

He didn’t answer immediately. Just watched my face, already knowing.

I looked down at my hands, fingers trembling despite my effort to stay composed.

I hadn’t planned to tell them. I didn’t want them imagining the alternative. Didn’t want them picturing blood, funerals, empty rooms.

But the truth pressed against my chest until it hurt to breathe.

“If Ethan hadn’t pulled me closer to him that second,” I said quietly, voice breaking despite myself, “I would be dead.”

The room went very still.

Nathaniel’s face flushed red “They tried to kill my sister.”