The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 206

Chapter 206

Cynthia's POV

Bryan leaned closer.

The movement was subtle at first—just a slight shift in his position, his body angling toward mine, the space between us shrinking incrementally.

But the intention was unmistakable.

My breath caught in my throat.

Time seemed to slow, every second stretching into something thick and surreal. I could see it in his eyes—the way they darkened slightly, the way his gaze dropped to my lips again and lingered there with an intensity that made my pulse spike violently.

He was going to kiss me.

Bryan Ferdinand was going to kiss me.

Shock flooded through me first, cold and paralyzing.

Then disbelief.

What is he doing?

Part of me wondered what had given him the audacity—the sheer guts—to lean in like this. We were in a car. On a beach. My son was missing. I was married. I was falling apart.

And he thought this was the moment?

But another part of me — a smaller, quieter part that I hated acknowledging understood exactly why he'd chosen now.

Because I was vulnerable.

Because I was broken.

Because grief and fear had stripped away my defenses, leaving me raw and exposed and desperate for anything that felt like comfort.

And Bryan knew that. What an opportunist!

Before I could push him away,...My phone rang.

The sound cut through the charged silence like a knife, sharp and jarring and impossibly loud in the small space of the car.

Bryan jerked back instantly.

As if the ringtone had physically shoved him away.

He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through his hair, his jaw tight, his eyes squeezed shut for a brief moment as if he was trying to regain control of himself.

I fumbled for it blindly as I glared at Bryan, my fingers clumsy as I pulled it from my bag without looking away from Bryan.

The screen lit up.

Kevin. Relief washed over me. At least someone to talk to concerning my missing son.

I pressed the phone to my ear, my voice coming out breathless and unsteady. "Kevin?"

"Cici," Kevin's voice came through immediately, warm and concerned. "Where are you? Are you okay?"

"I'm…" I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. "I'm fine. I'm with Bryan. Kevin, a lot has happened tonight. I don't even know where to start. Amber is missing and…"

Kevin laughed.

I froze, confusion flooding through me instantly.

"What… why are you laughing?" I demanded, my voice rising. "Kevin, this isn't funny. Amber is…"

"You have a smart kid, Cici," Kevin said, his voice warm with genuine amusement and relief. "A really smart kid."

My breath hitched. "What do you mean?"

"Amber's here," he said simply.

The world tilted.

"What?" I whispered.

"I told the taxi man to bring me here, to the Laurent mansion."

Tears streamed down my face freely now, unstoppable.

"You did so good," I whispered. "You did everything right. I'm coming home right now, okay? I'm coming to see you."

"Okay, Mommy."

The phone rustled again, and Kevin's voice returned.

"Come home, Cici," he said gently. "He's safe. We're all here."

"I'm coming," I said, my voice still thick with tears. "I'm coming right now."

I ended the call and lowered the phone slowly, my hands trembling violently.

For a long moment, I just sat there, staring at the screen, trying to process what had just happened.

Amber was safe.

He was home.

Relief so profound it felt almost painful washed over me again, and I let myself cry.

Bryan didn't say anything.

He just sat there beside me, giving me space, letting me fall apart without trying to fix it or stop it or make it about him.

When I finally managed to pull myself together enough to speak, I turned to him, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.

"Bryan," I said, my voice still shaky but firmer now. "Please drive me back to the Laurent mansion."

He nodded immediately, already reaching for the keys. "Of course."

He started the engine without another word, pulling the car back onto the road.