The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 211

Chapter 211

Nikolai's POV

I stood in the security room long after everyone else had left, my arms crossed, my jaw tight, watching the monitor replay the footage of Amber running from that woman.

I was told the police had arrived. Taken statements. Promised updates. Assured everyone they'd track down the taxi and locate the child as quickly as possible.

But none of it felt fast enough.

Not when Cynthia was out there somewhere, terrified, falling apart, blaming herself for something that wasn't even remotely her fault.

Despite Ethan's obnoxious demand that I stay behind, I'd continued my own investigation.

I wasn't about to sit idle while Cynthia suffered.

I'd pulled the head of security aside and instructed him to coordinate directly with the police. I'd personally called the officer in charge and requested priority status on the case. I'd made it clear that Cross Energy would cover any costs associated with the search — overtime, additional personnel, whatever was needed.

Money talked.

And I had plenty of it.

If there was one thing I could do to help Cynthia tonight, it was ensure that every available resource was being used to find her son.

Because anything that worried Cynthia worried me.

The security coordinator appeared in the doorway, tablet in hand.

"Mr. Cross," he said. "The police just called. They've located the taxi. The driver confirmed he dropped a child matching Amber's description at an address on Azure Lane."

Relief crashed through me so violently I had to steady myself against the desk. Azure lane? Isn’t that the Laurent’s mansion?

"Is he safe?" I asked immediately.

"Yes, sir," the man confirmed. "The child arrived safely. No injuries reported."

I exhaled slowly, closing my eyes briefly.

Thank God.

"Keep me updated on any further developments," I said. "And make sure the police have everything they need."

"Of course, sir."

He left, and I was alone again.

I pulled out my phone and stared at Cynthia's contact for a long moment.

I needed to call her.

I needed to hear her voice, to know she was okay, to make sure she'd gotten the news.

But I hesitated.

Because I also knew what tonight had done to her.

The fear. The panic. The guilt.

And I knew who she'd blame for all of it.

Ethan.

That arrogant, reckless bastard who'd had the audacity to show up at my event uninvited, dragging an eleven-year-old child along like some kind of prop in his pathetic attempt to spy on his estranged wife.

The memory of seeing him in that hallway made my blood boil all over again.

Ethan Walker and his equally insufferable friend Bryan Ferdinand.

Two grown men stalking Cynthia like jealous teenagers instead of handling their insecurities like adults.

And now Amber had nearly been kidnapped because of it.

I pressed Cynthia's contact and lifted the phone to my ear.

It rang twice before she answered.

"Nikolai."

Her voice.

God, even now… exhausted, strained, thick with emotion—it did something to me.

She sounded exhausted.

Overwhelmed.

But also… relieved.

And I knew that tonight had driven another wedge between her and Ethan.

A massive one.

Because no amount of history, no amount of shared pain, no amount of desperate apologies could undo what had happened tonight.

Ethan had endangered their son.

He'd let his jealousy and possessiveness cloud his judgment so completely that he'd put Amber in harm's way.

And Cynthia would never forget that.

I was certain of it.

A slow, calculated calm settled over me.

I didn't take pleasure in Ethan's failures—not exactly.

But I wasn't naive enough to pretend they didn't work in my favor.

Every mistake Ethan made pushed Cynthia further away from him.

And closer to me.

Tonight had been a disaster.

But it had also been an opportunity.

An opportunity to show Cynthia that I was the one who stayed calm under pressure. The one who used resources and influence to help rather than spiraling into irrational jealousy. The one who respected her enough not to follow her like some obsessive stalker.

I wasn't Ethan.

And that mattered.