The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 190

Chapter 190

Ethan’s POV

“How are we going to go in without a pass?” I asked, my voice low as Bryan and I stepped out of the car and into the cold evening air.

The grand hotel loomed before us, lights blazing, glass walls reflecting camera flashes like bursts of lightning. The event hall was clearly somewhere inside — probably the ballroom on the west wing — but the entire entrance area was swarming with paparazzi, reporters, and event staff in matching black suits with earpieces.

We asked one of the reporters and was told it was the end of the year gala night for Cross Energy Group. My chest constricted painfully. So Cynthia accepted Nikolai’s invitation and dressed this beautifully.

This wasn’t some quiet charity dinner. This was big.

Cross Energy didn’t do anything small.

Bryan adjusted his jacket beside me, looking far too comfortable for someone who had just accused me of acting like a child. “You’re Ethan Walker,” he said casually. “They won’t question you if you walk in there like you own the place.”

I scoffed. “And you are Bryan Ferdinand of Renaissance Group. Don’t pretend you don’t belong here either. They’d probably roll out a red carpet for you.”

He smirked slightly. “Exactly.”

Amber tugged lightly at my hand, still deeply engrossed in whatever game had completely captured his attention. He hadn’t looked up once since we got out of the car, his fingers moving with the kind of focus I wished I could borrow for my own thoughts.

I tightened my grip on his small arm instinctively, grounding myself.

We started walking toward the entrance, blending in with the crowd of well-dressed guests. Flashbulbs went off every few seconds. Somewhere to our left, a woman laughed loudly as a reporter asked her questions. To our right, a man in a tuxedo complained about parking.

No one paid us much attention yet.

Bryan leaned closer to me as we walked. “Just act normal. Like this is exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

I almost laughed. Normal. Nothing about this night was normal.

My wife was inside that building, while I lurked outside like some insecure teenager.

“Daddy,” Amber murmured suddenly, tugging my hand again. “Can I get juice?”

“Later,” I said gently. “We’ll get some inside, okay?”

He nodded, already lost again in his screen.

As we drew closer to the main doors, I straightened unconsciously, slipping into the posture I’d perfected over the years — the confident stride, the relaxed shoulders, the subtle air of authority that came from being Ethan Walker. CEO. Public figure. Man who belonged in rooms like this, whether invited or not.

It worked.

A security personnel glanced at me, hesitated for half a second, then nodded and stepped aside. Bryan shot me a look that said told you so.

We were almost through when…

“Ethan Walker?”

The voice came from behind us, warm and familiar.

I stopped mid-step.

Amber glanced up briefly, offered a shy smile, then returned to his game.

Mr. Brown chuckled before his gaze shifted again — to Bryan.

“And are with company,” he added. “Bryan Ferdinand, if I’m not mistaken.”

Bryan inclined his head politely. “That’s right. Good evening.”

Mr. Brown’s smile widened. “Well, this is quite the gathering then.”

Then, far too casually, he asked the question that made my chest seize.

“What about your wife?”

For a split second, my mind went completely blank.

What about my wife?

She was inside, specially invited by the chairman of this company and here I was, standing outside with my son and my so-called friend, pretending we were supposed to be here.

How exactly was I supposed to explain that Cynthia was already inside the hall, that we weren’t invited, that we’d followed her here like idiots because I couldn’t stand the thought of not knowing what she was doing, who she was with, or why she was dressed like she was going to war with my sanity?

I stood there, confused, words tangled in my throat, staring at Mr. Brown as the truth pressed heavily against my chest.

I didn’t know how to explain that my wife was already inside the hall — and that we were here anyway, uninvited, because we were stalking her and now needed a way in to continue the stalking.