The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 230

Chapter 230

Cynthia's POV

I didn't remember the drive.

Not a single second of it.

One moment I was tearing out of the Laurent estate, my vision blurred with tears, my hands white-knuckled on the steering wheel.

The next, I was standing in the sterile, fluorescent-lit hallway of Missford General Hospital, my chest heaving, my legs trembling, staring at the emergency room entrance like it might swallow me whole.

How did I get here?

Did I run red lights?

Did I speed?

Did I even stop at intersections?

I couldn't remember.

All I knew was that I was here.

And somewhere beyond those double doors, Ethan was unconscious.

"Mommy!"

Amber's voice cut through the fog.

I turned sharply, and there he was.

My son.

Running toward me, his face streaked with tears, his eyes red and swollen, his small body trembling as he crashed into me.

I dropped to my knees instantly, pulling him into my arms so tightly I was afraid I might hurt him.

But I couldn't let go.

"Mommy," Amber sobbed into my shoulder. "Mommy, Daddy won't wake up. He fell down and he won't wake up and I don't want anything to happen to him…"

"Shh," I whispered, my own tears spilling freely now. "It's okay, baby. It's okay. Nothing's going to happen to Daddy."

"But he won't wake up…"

"He will," I said firmly, pulling back just enough to cup his face in my hands. "Daddy's just tired, okay? He's been working really hard, and his body needs rest. That's all. The doctors are going to help him."

Amber's lower lip trembled.

"Promise?" he whispered.

"I promise," I said, even though I had no idea if I could keep that promise.

Mrs. Daniels stood a few feet away, wringing her hands, her face pale and drawn. Beside her was Mr. Lan, one of the Walker estate security gate men, looking equally shaken.

"Mrs. Walker," Mrs. Daniels said, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry. He came home and he seemed fine at first, but then he just… collapsed. Right there in the foyer. I called the ambulance immediately…"

"You did the right thing," I said quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. "Thank you for being there. Thank you for taking care of Amber."

She nodded, tears welling in her eyes.

I stood slowly, still holding Amber's hand, and turned toward the emergency room doors.

That's when I noticed Kevin and Bryan.

Standing just inside the entrance, both of them breathing hard like they'd run the entire way.

Kevin's expression was tight with concern. Bryan's eyes were locked on me, his jaw clenched.

"You followed me," I said, my voice flat with shock.

"Of course we did," Kevin said immediately. "You ran out of there like the house was on fire. What did you expect?"

Bryan stepped forward slightly.

"How is he?" he asked quietly.

"I don't know," I admitted, my voice breaking. "I just got here."

Before anyone could say anything else, the emergency room doors swung open.

A doctor stepped out, clipboard in hand, his expression calm but serious.

I hadn't been around Ethan enough to know.

We'd been separated. Estranged. Living in different worlds.

"I… I don't know," I admitted quietly.

The doctor's expression remained neutral, but I could see the judgment there.

"Based on his blood work," the doctor continued, "Mr. Walker has been skipping meals for an extended period — likely several weeks, possibly longer. His vitamin levels are dangerously low. He's dehydrated. His body essentially shut down from lack of nutrition."

"But… we have food" Amber said suddenly, his voice small and confused. "Daddy doesn’t eat?"

The doctor's expression softened as he looked down at Amber.

"I guess," he said gently. "Sometimes people get so busy or so stressed that they forget to take care of themselves."

Amber's face crumpled.

"Is it my fault?" he whispered. "Because I made him worry?"

"No," I said immediately, kneeling down again. "Baby, no. This is not your fault. Do you hear me? None of this is your fault."

But even as I said the words, guilt clawed at my chest.

Because I knew why Ethan hadn't been eating.

Grace's betrayal. Anna's schemes. Pascal's threats. The DNA test. The company falling apart. Me leaving him. Me filing for divorce.

Everything had been piling on top of him for weeks.

And he'd been drowning.

Alone.

"We're admitting him for observation," the doctor continued. "We'll get fluids and nutrients into him intravenously. He'll need to stay here for at least a few days while we monitor his recovery."

“Thank you, doctor”

The doctor nodded once more and walked away.

I turned to Kevin and Bryan.