The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153

Cynthia's POV

"Mom!"

The moment Amber heard my voice outside his door, it flew open.

His face was a mess — red, swollen, tear-streaked — but the pure joy that lit up his eyes when he saw me standing there made my heart clench.

He threw himself into my arms so hard I stumbled back a step, but I caught him, holding him tight as fresh sobs wracked his small body.

"I'm here, baby," I whispered into his hair, stroking his back in slow, soothing circles. "I'm here."

"I thought…" he choked out between sobs, "I thought maybe you wouldn't come because, because it's here and I know you don't like being here anymore and…"

"Shh," I said firmly, pulling back just enough to cup his face in my hands, forcing him to look at me. "Amber. Listen to me. When you need me, I will always come. Always. Do you understand?"

He nodded, his lower lip trembling.

"I don't care where you are," I continued softly. "If you need me, I'm there. That's what moms do."

Fresh tears spilled down his cheeks, but this time they seemed different. Less desperate. More relieved.

He hugged me again, tighter this time, like he was trying to convince himself I was real.

I guided him back into his room and sat on the edge of his bed, pulling him down beside me. His room looked exactly as I remembered just different posters of soccer players on the walls, books scattered across his desk, the blue comforter I'd helped him pick out years ago.

It was one of the few spaces in this house that felt alive.

"Tell me what happened," I said gently.

Amber's face crumpled again. "I went to check on Rex like I always do in the afternoon, and he was just… lying there. He wouldn't move. He wouldn't even look at me."

His voice broke. "I tried to wake him up, Mom. I shook him and I called his name and I even… I even got his favorite treats but he wouldn't… he just…"

"I know," I murmured, pulling him close again. "I know, sweetheart."

"Why did he have to die?" Amber whispered against my shoulder. "Why couldn't he just… stay?"

The question was so heartbreakingly simple, so achingly universal, that I had to swallow hard against the emotion rising in my throat.

"Because everything that lives eventually has to rest," I said quietly. "Rex was very old. He was tired. And sometimes, when we love something enough, we have to let it go, even when it hurts."

Amber was silent for a long moment, processing.

Then he pulled back slightly and looked at me with those big, earnest eyes that looked so much like Ethan's.

"Can we bury him together?" he asked. "Like… properly? In the garden where he used to sleep?"

My chest tightened. "Of course we can."

"With flowers?" he added hopefully. "And maybe we could say something nice to him?"

"Absolutely," I promised. "We'll do it right. We'll make sure Rex knows how much he was loved."

That seemed to settle something in him.

He wiped at his face with the back of his hand, then looked down at his lap. "Christmas is in a few days," he said quietly.

The change in subject surprised me. "I know."

"I haven't really felt like it's Christmas," he admitted. "Not for a while now. Not since…"

He trailed off, but I knew what he meant.

Not since I left.

Amber took a deep breath. "Rex, you were the best dog ever. You were always happy to see me, even when I was sad. You never got mad at me for anything. And you always made me feel better."

His voice wavered. "I'm going to miss you so much. But I hope you're somewhere nice now. Somewhere warm where you can run around and chase things and not hurt anymore."

He looked at me.

I crouched down beside him. "Rest well, Rex," I said softly. "Thank you for taking such good care of my boy. For being his friend when he needed one most. You were loved. So deeply loved."

We filled in the grave together, working in silence.

By the time we finished, both our hands were dirty and cold, but Amber seemed calmer. More at peace.

"You can plant flowers here in the spring," I promised. "Whatever kind you want."

"Sunflowers," Amber said immediately. "Rex always tried to eat them."

I laughed despite myself. "Sunflowers it is."

We walked back toward the house slowly, Amber's hand in mine.

We were almost at the back entrance when I heard Grace's voice.

Coming from the half-open window of the sitting room that faced the garden.

I froze mid-step.

Amber tugged on my hand. "Mom?"

I held up one finger, signaling him to be quiet.

Grace continued, oblivious to our presence.

She laughed…. cold and cruel.