The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 148

Chapter 148

Cynthia's POV

Nathaniel didn't waste time with pleasantries when I met him downstairs after he'd sent me a message barely ten minutes into what was supposed to be my attempt at rest.

His expression was grim, focused — the kind of look that meant he'd been piecing together a puzzle in his head and had finally found the missing corner piece.

"I've figured out our guy who is responsible for the restaurant sabotage," he said the moment I stepped into the foyer. "The Walker Industries implosion—and by extension, the person who tried to kill you."

The words hit me so hard I actually stopped breathing.

"What? For real? Who?"

My voice came out strangled, barely audible, like my throat had forgotten how to form sound.

Nathaniel opened his mouth to continue, but movement at the top of the staircase caught both our attention.

Our mother, Victoria.

She stood there, one hand resting delicately on the banister, her eyes sharp and curious as they flicked between us. She didn't say anything, but her posture — poised, attentive, told me she'd heard enough to be interested.

Too interested.

Nathaniel noticed immediately.

“Hi mother, we were just discussing about possible developments of Maison Cynclair” Nathaniel was just a very good liar, the way he was able to come up with that lie was very shocking.

And as soon as mother looked away, he continued.

"Not here," he said quietly, his tone shifting into something more controlled.

He placed a hand on my elbow and guided me away from the foyer, steering us toward the study with practiced ease. His movements were calm, deliberate, designed not to raise suspicion.

But I could feel the urgency radiating off him.

The study door clicked shut behind us, and only then did Nathaniel exhale.

I turned on him immediately, my pulse hammering. "What do you mean you know who tried to kill me?"

He crossed to the desk, leaning against it with his arms folded. "It's complicated," he said carefully. "Because he has been operating in the shadows for a long time. Quietly. Strategically."

"Nathaniel," I said, my voice rising despite my effort to stay calm. "Stop being cryptic and just tell me."

He studied me for a moment, like he was deciding how much I could handle.

"It's someone that baffles me, I doubt Ethan knows of his existence but he is definitely close to Ethan," he said finally. "Close enough that he never saw them coming."

My stomach twisted. "Who?"

Before he could answer, there was a knock at the door.

"Are you serious right now?" I snapped, frustration bleeding through.

The door opened slightly, and Helen's face appeared in the gap.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt," she said quickly, eyes flicking to Nathaniel. "But Lily's asking for you. She says it's urgent."

The minutes dragged on like hours.

I paced the length of the study, my hands clenched into fists, trying to force my breathing to slow down.

But patience had never been my strong suit, and right now it felt impossible.

Finally, the door opened again.

Nathaniel walked in, his expression darker than before.

"Lily?" I asked automatically.

"She's fine," he said dismissively. "Just needed reassurance about something trivial."

He closed the door behind him and turned to face me fully.

"Now," he said, his voice low and deadly serious. "Where were we?"

"You were about to tell me who tried to kill me," I said, my voice trembling despite my effort to sound steady.

Nathaniel nodded slowly.

"The culprit," he began, "is the son of Grace Walker."

My heart stopped. “Ethan doesn’t have a brother, Grace...”

"Shhhh….” Nathaniel stopped me like I was doing more of talking than listening which I was though, “His name is Pascal Walker."