The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 23

hia’s POV

Ethan sighed and lean back in his seat, his hand brushing over his face.

“Maybe she’ll come back,” he said quietly, almost to himself. “Maybe she lost her memory or something. I don’t know. I just… I feel guilty and angry. She left because of me, I know that. But how could she leave Amber?”

I turned my face slightly so Kevin wouldn’t see my eyes filling up.

Devian let out a short laugh. “Oh, come on, Ethan. You didn’t even love her. Be honest, man. You should be glad she didn’t take Amber with her. At least this way you don’t have to deal with her showing up every time for child support.”

Bryan nodded with a grin. “Exactly. Besides, Amber loves Anna. She’s been the one raising him anyway. She’s basically his mom now. And let’s not forget – Anna gave you Hayden. You’ve already got the perfect family. Why are you even stressing over Cynthia?”

Exactly. Ethan should just focus on Anna and the child they share. As much as I cared about what they were saying, I couldn’t help but fight back with memories of the times Ethan, Amber, and even his mother, Grace, spoke down on me. I can’t be gas lighted. I left Amber because he preferred Anna over him. It doesn’t change the fact that I still love him, I just gave him what he wanted.

Ethan looked up sharply. “Amber deserves to be with his mother,” he said firmly. “Anna is not his mother and he’s not stupid – he remembers Cynthia. Even before all this video nonsense, he kept asking questions about her. I think he really wants her back.”

But Devian rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right. Come on, Ethan. If Cynthia suddenly walks back into your life, what are you going to do? Please tell me you would file for a divorce asap. You’ve got a life now, man. Don’t mess it up.”

Ethan didn’t answer, he just sat there quietly, pondering over what they discussed.

Bryan leaned back and gave him a long look. “Damn, Ethan. Anna has literally sacrificed everything for you. She’s been by your side since Cynthia disappeared. She stood in for her, raised your son, gave you another kid, and what? You’re still not marrying her? Even when you thought Cynthia was dead? Man, that’s cold.”

Ethan didn’t look up. He just stared at his drink. His fingers tightened around the glass, and he took sip.

I knew that silence too well. It was the sound of him shutting down, closing every door to emotion until only duty was left.

Suddenly, Kevin stood up, the sharp scrape of his chair against the floor cutting through the sitting area’s hum and drawing every eye, including Ethan’s.

Without saying a word, he reached for my hand and pulled me to my feet.

“Let’s go.”

The chatter around us blurred as he marched me toward the car. I didn’t dare glance back at Ethan or his friends, I couldn’t stand the thought of them recognizing me.

“Kevin, it’s okay…”

“No, it’s not,” he snapped, voice tight with anger. “We shouldn’t have to sit there and listen to them tear you apart like that. That cowardice Ethan just sat there and let his friends drag your name through the mud like it meant nothing. He’s a darun coward, Cynthia.”

He yanked the car door open for me, ushered me inside, then stormed around to the driver’s side. The door slammed. The engine roared to life.

1/2

#23

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Kevin gripped the steering wheel so tightly, I half expected it to crack.

“Cynthia, you deserve better than that man. I mean it. Ethan’s a coward – a confused, spineless mess with awful friends. How did you even survive all that?”

I let out a weary sigh, the memories pressing down like weights. Years of pretending and trying to fit in, the thoughts of enduring.

“Oh, my baby sister,” Kevin murmured, shaking his head. “You went through hell. I’m so sorry.”

“No need,” I said quietly. “I’m fine now.” though even I wasn’t convinced.

He glanced at me, his tone softening. “I’m sorry. I’m just… angry. You’ve been through so much, and I’m so damn glad we found you. That bastard….” He slapped the steering wheel, not hard, just enough to vent. “He should be the one on his knees, begging.”

I turned to the window, watching the blur of city lights, buildings, a street performer’s distant melody.

“Do you think I did the wrong thing? Leaving Amber?” I asked, barely above a whisper.

Kevin looked at me, then back at the road. “You didn’t have a choice, Cynthia. You were breaking apart, and he made matters worse hating on you. He chose Anna. You chose to survive.”

I blinked back tears. “I feel… guilty. He was still my responsibility, even if he never saw me as his mother.”

Kevin tightened his lips and his grip on the steering wheel. “Cynthia, do you really think you could’ve found yourself… healed and become a Michelin chef if you’d stayed? Or taken him with you? You were breaking and while you were missing him, Ethan and Amber was out there with Anna, living like your absence didn’t matter.”

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