The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Ethan’s POV

“No.”

The word came out sharp and immediate, cutting through the air before I had time to soften it or think it through.

“No way you’re taking my son to your men’s house.”

The silence that followed was brief, but heavy. The kind that presses against your chest and makes you painfully aware of every breath you take.

Then Cynthia exploded.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Ethan?” she yelled, her voice cracking with anger and exhaustion. “Do you even hear yourself right now?”

She took a step toward me, eyes blazing. I had seen her angry before, but this was different. This was the fury of a woman who had been pushed past fear, past shock, past politeness.

“I can’t leave Amber here all by himself,” she continued, her words spilling out fast. “Tonight is going to be a busy night, Ethan. Police statements, doctors, questions, chaos. This house is not a place for a child right now.”

“Mrs. Daniels is here,” I shot back. “He’s not alone.”

“Mrs. Daniels? And for how long?” she snapped. “Be honest with yourself for once.I trust Nathaniel,” Cynthia said firmly, her voice lowering but gaining weight. “And you should trust him too. I would never put my son in the arms of someone I don’t trust. Never.

The possessive instinct in me flared instantly, hot and irrational. I didn’t like how easily she said it, how natural it sounded coming from her mouth, as if she and Nathaniel had already made a thousand decisions together behind my back.

I just don’t get it. What is her relationship with this Nathaniel? It seems closer than a future brother-in-law.

I know now that Nathaniel and Kevin are related, both Laurents, and Kevin and Cynthia have something that is still annoying to me, and now she wants Nathaniel to take Amber to their house?

Why would she trust them that much?

Nathaniel, for his part, said nothing. He stood there calmly, hands at his sides, expression neutral, like this entire argument was happening in another room altogether. Like whatever decision I made didn’t really concern him.

That annoyed me even more.

Mrs. Daniels chose that moment to hurry upstairs, clearly sensing the tension and wanting to move things along before it exploded further.

“I’ll go get Amber,” she said softly, already halfway up the stairs.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling hard. My head was pounding. Everything felt like too much, too loud, too fast, too out of control.

“Fine,” I said finally, the word tasting bitter on my tongue. “Fine.”

Cynthia’s shoulders sagged slightly, relief flickering across her face before she masked it.

Nathaniel only nodded once, as if this outcome had been inevitable all along.

Mrs. Daniels returned a few minutes later with Amber trailing behind her, his small hand clutching hers tightly. His eyes were red like he had just been awoken from a very sweet sleep, his face pale, the innocence in his expression painfully out of place in this mess of adult disasters.

Amber hesitated, chewing on his bottom lip.

Bryan cleared his throat awkwardly. “If he’s not comfortable going with Nathaniel,” he said carefully, “I can take him. He knows me.”

What?

Before Cynthia could even respond, the word was out of my mouth again.

“No.”

Both Bryan and Cynthia turned to look at me.

“I would rather Amber go with Nathaniel than with you,” I said flatly.

The words hung there, heavy and unmistakable.

Bryan stared at me, clearly stunned. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

Cynthia looked between the two of us, confusion etched across her face. “What is going on with the both of you?” she asked slowly.

And that was the moment everything became painfully awkward.