The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Ethan's POV

There was already another vehicle parked outside—a white van with "Child Protective Services" emblazoned on the side.

My stomach twisted.

They'd actually come.

Part of me had hoped they wouldn't respond so quickly, that maybe I'd have time to figure out another solution, some way to help Hayden without involving the system.

But another part of me, the part that had seen that little girl sitting in her own filth, hungry and neglected, kicked across the room by her own mother knew this was necessary.

Morrison and I entered the building just as two CPS workers were coming down the stairs, one of them carrying Hayden.

The little girl looked so small in the woman's arms, her face pressed against the worker's shoulder, her tiny body limp with exhaustion. She wasn't even crying anymore—just silent, like she'd used up all her tears.

"Wait," I said, stepping forward.

The CPS worker—a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and graying hair—turned to face me. "Are you the one who made the call?"

"Yes," I said. "I found her alone. Her mother was... unfit."

"We've documented the scene," the woman said quietly. "The condition of the apartment, the child's state. This was the right call, sir."

Hayden lifted her head slightly at the sound of my voice, her eyes finding mine.

“Daddy”

The CPS worker and Morrison looked at me with that knowing look, like ‘You’re the father?’ kind of look.

Hayden was now stretching forth her arms to me, wanting me to carry her and damn, I was tempted to, she was an adorable little girl and the thought of keeping her in a foster home because of her mother’s sins doesn’t sit right.

I swallowed hard. "Where will you take her?"

"Emergency foster placement," she replied. "Until we can determine if there are any suitable family members who can take custody."

My chest tightened painfully.

"Hey, sweetheart," I said softly, moving closer and taking her hands "These people are going to take care of you, okay? They're going to make sure you're safe."

Her lower lip trembled. "No… no… Daddy, mommy?"

I didn't know how to answer that.

"Your mama needs some help right now," the CPS worker said gently, saving me from having to respond. "But we're going to make sure you're okay. That's the most important thing."

Hayden looked between us, confusion and fear written all over her small face.

Then she reached one hand toward me. "Don't go."

The words broke something inside me.

"I won't," I promised, even though I had no idea if I could keep it. "I'll come and check on you. I'll make sure you're okay."

The CPS worker nodded sympathetically. "We'll be in touch, Mr...?"

"Walker," I said. "Ethan Walker."

She made a note of it, then carried Hayden toward the exit.

I watched them go, that tiny hand still reaching back toward me, until they disappeared through the doors.

Morrison placed a hand briefly on my shoulder. "You did the right thing."

I wasn't sure I believed her.

We continued up the stairs to Anna's apartment.

What the hell?

Anna's head lifted slowly. She looked at all of us and something like bitter amusement crossed her face.

"Wow," she said, her voice raspy and sardonic. "I must be a very huge criminal to have this amount of police coming to look for me."

No one answered.

She pushed herself up slightly, still leaning against the wall, and her eyes moved between the man and me.

"Ethan, I know" she said, her gaze settling on me, then drifted to the man "Who is this?"

I glanced at the man, also waiting to hear who he was.

“I am Nathaniel Laurent."

Anna's smile was cold. "The Laurents. One of the most powerful families in the country. Old money. Real power. The kind of people who make problems disappear with a phone call."

My pulse quickened.

I looked at Nathaniel again, seeing him differently now.

The expensive suit. The commanding presence. The way even the police seemed to defer to him slightly.

"And you," Anna continued, turning her attention to Nathaniel, "why are you here? What business does a Laurent have with me?"

Nathaniel's expression remained impassive. "You're connected to a criminal conspiracy involving embezzlement, fraud, and attempted murder. That makes you my business."

Attempted murder.

The words hung in the air like a bomb.

Anna's face went white. “What?”