The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 233

Chapter 233

Ethan's POV

Devian stood there at the foot of my hospital bed, his arms crossed, his expression a mixture of confusion and frustration, staring at Bryan like he was trying to solve an impossible puzzle.

"Wait, wait, wait," Devian said, holding up a hand. "Why is Bryan leaving? What the hell is happening between you two?"

I didn't answer.

Not with Amber still clinging to me, his small body pressed against my side, his face buried in my hospital gown.

I looked down at my son, gently brushing his hair back.

"Amber," I said softly. "Go say goodbye to your mom, okay? Then come right back."

Amber pulled back slightly, his eyes still red and puffy.

"But I don't want to leave you," he said, his voice trembling.

"I know, buddy," I said. "But I'm not going anywhere. I promise. Just go say goodbye to Mommy, and then you can come back and stay with me as long as you want."

Amber hesitated, clearly torn.

Then he nodded slowly and slid off the bed.

"Okay," he whispered.

He walked toward the door, glancing back at me once before disappearing into the hallway.

The moment the door closed behind him, I turned my full attention to Bryan.

And the words came out cold. Final.

"I don't want to see you again," I said flatly. "Our friendship is over. I think it is time we say our goodbyes."

Bryan's expression didn't change, but I saw the remorse of something in his eyes.

Devian's head snapped toward me, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"What?" he said. "Ethan, what the hell are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the fact that our friendship is done," I repeated, my voice harder now. "I don't need him anymore. And I don't want him around."

"Are you serious right now?" Devian demanded. "This is Bryan. Your best friend. The guy who's had your back through everything…"

"Not everything," I cut him off sharply.

Devian frowned. "What does that mean?"

I stared at Bryan, my jaw clenched so tightly it hurt.

"Tell him," I said coldly. "Tell him why I'm done with you."

Bryan said nothing.

His expression remained carefully neutral, but his hands were clenched into fists at his sides.

Devian looked between us, clearly lost.

"Someone better start talking," Devian said, his voice rising. "Because I'm not leaving until I know what the hell is going on."

I let out a bitter laugh.

"Fine," I said. "You want to know what's going on? Bryan has decided to chase my wife."

The words hung in the air like a grenade.

Devian froze.

"What?" he said slowly.

"You heard me," I said, my voice trembling with barely suppressed rage. "Bryan — my so-called best friend has been pursuing Cynthia. He told me he's in love with her and said he is going to chase her with or without my permission. And now he's standing here, acting like he has any right to be in this room."

Devian turned to Bryan, shock written all over his face.

"You like Cynthia?" he with disgust on his face, surely he didn’t get why the two men in his life are suddenly fawning over a woman we both clearly made fun of three years ago.

Bryan didn't deny it.

He just stood there, silent, his jaw tight.

"It's true," I said bitterly. "And what baffles me is that he would stoop so low. Knowing that Cynthia already has Kevin. Knowing that she's still married to me. And yet he's still going after her like some desperate…"

"Kevin isn't…" Bryan started, his voice sharp.

I wasn't okay.

Everything was just going on wrong with me.

Cynthia was slipping further and further away.

And I'd just pushed away the two people who might have actually cared.

The weight of it all crashed down on me at once — every lie, every betrayal, every loss, every moment of pain I'd been holding back for weeks.

And I couldn't hold it anymore.

The tears came before I could stop them.

Hot. Uncontrollable. Unstoppable.

I turned my face away from Amber, pressing my hand over my mouth, trying desperately to keep the sobs quiet.

But they broke through anyway.

"Daddy?" Amber's voice was small, scared. "Daddy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," I choked out. "I'm fine."

Amber shifted closer, wrapping his small arms around me as best he could, pressing his face against my shoulder.

"It's okay, Daddy," he whispered. "It's okay to be sad."

And that broke me completely.

I pulled Amber close, burying my face in his hair, and let myself fall apart.

It was my heart.

Shattered.

Broken.

Beyond repair.

And I didn't know how to fix it.