The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 226

Chapter 226

Cynthia's POV

When my mother mentioned "lunch with guests," I'd assumed she meant a casual gathering.

A few family friends. Light conversation. Maybe some business associates dropping by for holiday pleasantries.

I was not expecting the Ferdinands.

Yet here they were.

Bryan, his mother Eleanor, and his younger sister Isabella, all dressed impeccably, walking through the front doors of the Laurent mansion like they'd been invited to a state dinner.

My stomach dropped the moment I saw them.

"Cynthia!" Eleanor exclaimed warmly, crossing the foyer to embrace me before I could even process what was happening. "It's so wonderful to see you, dear. You look absolutely radiant."

"Thank you," I managed, my voice sounding strangled even to my own ears.

I shot a look at my mother over Eleanor's shoulder.

Victoria smiled serenely back at me.

What are you doing?

But before I could pull her aside and demand an explanation, everyone was being ushered into the formal dining room.

The table was set for nine.

Nine.

Which meant this wasn't just a casual drop-in.

This had been planned.

I took my seat slowly, my mind racing, trying to figure out what game my mother was playing.

To my left sat Nathaniel, his expression carefully neutral but his eyes sharp, clearly sensing the same undercurrent of tension I was feeling.

Kevin sat across from me, his arms crossed, his jaw tight. He looked like he'd rather be literally anywhere else.

Julian sat beside Kevin, his posture stiff, his gaze fixed on his plate. He was supposed to be with Tony right now. On his "vacation." But instead, he was here.

Helen sat next to Nathaniel, her expression polite but confused.

And then there were the Ferdinands.

Eleanor Ferdinand sat beside my mother, the two of them chatting like old friends—which, apparently, they were.

I barely heard any of it.

My mind was too busy trying to figure out why we were all here.

Why my mother had orchestrated this.

Why Eleanor Ferdinand—Bryan's mother—was sitting at our family table, reminiscing like she belonged here.

And then it happened.

Eleanor was mid-sentence, laughing about something, when she said it.

"Oh, I can still remember so vividly what happened in 1987," she said, her eyes bright with nostalgia. "When Victoria, Grace, and I went out on a day just like this—right before Christmas…"

She stopped.

Abruptly.

Her smile froze.

Her eyes widened slightly, like she'd just realized what she'd said.

The entire table went silent.