The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 215

Chapter 215

Ethan's POV

I glanced at the rearview mirror one last time before pulling away from the Laurent mansion, and what I saw made my jaw clench so hard I thought my teeth might crack.

Bryan.

Standing there with his hand on Cynthia's shoulder.

Touching her.

Comforting her.

Like he had any right.

Like he belonged there.

My hands tightened around the steering wheel until my knuckles went white.

Did Bryan have a death wish?

Acting all affectionate with Cynthia right there in front of Kevin Laurent's house?

And where the hell was Kevin, anyway?

I hadn't seen him come out. Hadn't seen him hovering protectively around Cynthia the way I'd expected. In fact, I hadn't seen any sign of him at all.

Had he traveled?

Was that why Cynthia felt comfortable inviting Bryan over?

The thought twisted something ugly in my chest.

What the hell was Cynthia up to?

Why did it feel like I knew nothing about her anymore?

She was my wife. The mother of my child. The woman I'd spent eleven years married to and even lived with for up to 20 years.

And yet she felt like a stranger now.

A beautiful, untouchable stranger who moved through a world I no longer had access to.

I forced myself to look away from the mirror, focusing instead on the road ahead.

I shouldn't even care anymore, I told myself firmly.

I was done.

Done chasing her. Done trying to win her back. Done torturing myself over who she spent her time with.

If she wanted Bryan, Kevin, Nikolai, or all three of them at once, that was her business.

Not mine.

Not anymore.

"Daddy?"

Amber's small voice pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts.

I glanced at him in the rearview mirror, and the sight of his face—bright, animated, completely unbothered—grounded me instantly.

"Yeah, buddy?" I said, forcing my voice to stay calm.

"I was so brave tonight," Amber said proudly. "I fought the bad lady!"

Despite everything, I felt a faint smile tug at my lips.

"You were," I agreed. "You were incredibly brave."

"I bit her!" Amber continued, his eyes wide with excitement. "Right on the arm! And then I hit her with my gadget—really hard—and she let go and I ran away super fast!"

My chest tightened.

Pride and guilt collided violently inside me.

Pride because my son had been smart enough, strong enough, brave enough to escape a dangerous situation on his own.

Guilt because he'd been in that situation in the first place.

Because of me.

"I saw it all on the CCTV," I said quietly. "You did exactly the right thing, Amber. I'm so proud of you."

Amber beamed.

Then his expression shifted slightly, becoming more thoughtful.

"After I ran away," he said, "I found a taxi. And I told the driver to take me to the Laurent mansion."

I nodded slowly, my throat tight.

"Why?" I asked, keeping my voice gentle. "Why did you go there instead of coming home?"

Amber looked at me through the mirror, his eyes wide and earnest.

My heart did a violent flip in my chest.

Grace.

I answered immediately, pressing the phone to my ear while keeping my other hand steady on the wheel.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Walker?" A calm, professional voice came through. "This is Dr. Patel from Missford General."

"Yes," I said, my pulse quickening. "What's wrong? Is she…"

"Your mother has woken up," the doctor said.

Time stopped.

Everything around me—the road, the city, Amber's voice in the backseat—faded into background noise.

"She's awake?" I repeated, barely able to process the words.

"Yes," Dr. Patel confirmed. "She regained consciousness about twenty minutes ago. She's stable. Alert. We've run preliminary tests, and while she's still weak, her vitals are strong."

Relief crashed through me so violently it made my hands shake.

Grace was awake.

She was awake.

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes," I said.

"We'll be waiting."

The line went dead.

I lowered the phone slowly, my mind racing.

Grace was awake.

Which meant answers.

Finally, answers.

About Pascal. About my real mother. About the lies she'd been keeping my entire life.

I glanced at Amber in the rearview mirror.

He was staring out the window, humming softly to himself, completely oblivious to the storm brewing in my head.