The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 256

Chapter 256

Third Person POV

The news spread like wildfire.

By noon on Christmas Day, every major news outlet in Missford was running the story.

"MICHELIN CHEF KIDNAPPED ON CHRISTMAS DAY"

"CYNTHIA LAURENT AND EX-HUSBAND ETHAN WALKER MISSING"

"POLICE SEARCH FOR MISSING RESTAURANT OWNER AND BUSINESS TYCOON"

The headlines screamed across television screens, social media feeds, and news websites.

And the city responded with shock, horror, and an outpouring of concern that neither Cynthia nor Ethan could have anticipated.

Maison Cynclair, Paris

The restaurant was closed, indefinitely.

The staff had gathered in the dining room—chefs, sous chefs, servers, sommeliers—all of them staring at the news playing on the small television mounted in the corner.

Felicia, one of Cynthia's longest-serving sous chefs, had tears streaming down her face.

"I can't believe this is happening," she whispered. "Not to Ms. Cynclair. Not to her."

Manager Pierre sat with his head in his hands.

"She was supposed to come back after the holidays," he said, his voice breaking. "She promised she'd teach me her sauce technique. She promised."

Another worker tried comforting them "Ms. Cynclair is strong. Stronger than any of us realize."

But even as she said the words, doubt flickered in her eyes.

Because kidnappings like this—especially ones that made international news—didn't usually end well.

…

The Laurent Mansion, Missford

The mansion was in chaos.

The kind where everyone moved through the halls like ghosts, their faces pale, their eyes red-rimmed, their voices hushed.

In the sitting room, Victoria Laurent sat on the sofa, her entire body trembling, tears streaming unchecked down her face.

"I lost her once," Victoria said, her voice breaking. "I lost my daughter once, and it nearly destroyed me. I spent twenty years believing she was dead. Twenty years mourning her. And now… now that I finally have her back—"

She couldn't finish.

Helen sat beside her, holding her hand tightly, her own eyes glassy with unshed tears.

"We're going to find her," Helen said, though her voice lacked conviction. "Nathaniel and the police — they're doing everything they can."

~ Julian ~

Julian sat on the floor of his bedroom, his back against the wall, his knees pulled up to his chest, sobbing.

He'd been crying for hours.

Ever since Kevin had called him from the hospital.

Ever since he'd learned that Cynthia was gone.

Tony who was introduced as a colleague sat beside him, his arm wrapped around Julian's shoulders, holding him as he fell apart.

"She's my sister," Julian choked out between sobs. "She's my sister, Tony. And I didn't—I didn't even get to tell her how much she means to me. I didn't get to thank her for protecting my secret, for standing by me when she found out about you."

"She knows," Tony said quietly. "Julian, she knows."

"But what if—" Julian's voice broke completely. "What if I never get to tell her again?"

Tony tightened his hold, pressing a kiss to the top of Julian's head.

"Don't think like that," Tony said firmly. "Your family is doing everything they can. And Cynthia—she's a fighter. She's survived worse than this."

But Julian just cried harder

~ Nathaniel ~

Nathaniel stood at his desk, his phone pressed to his ear, his expression hard and focused.

"I don't care what it costs," he said sharply into the phone. "I want every private investigator in the city working on this. I want surveillance footage from every camera within a five-mile radius of that hospital. I want—"

He stopped, listening to whoever was on the other end of the line.

"Then make them cooperate," Nathaniel snapped. "Tell them this is a kidnapping case involving one of the city's most prominent families. Tell them if they don't help, I'll make sure their funding gets cut. I don't care. Just do it."

He ended the call and immediately dialed another number.

Across the room, Nikolai sat at the secondary desk, his laptop open in front of him, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

He was pulling up maps, traffic camera footage, hospital security logs—anything that might give them a lead.

"Anything?" Nathaniel asked without looking up.

"Maybe," Nikolai said, his voice tight with concentration. "The van they used to transport Cynthia and Ethan—it doesn't have visible plates, but I'm running the make and model against recent vehicle registrations in the area."

"How long will that take?" Nathaniel demanded.

"Hours," Nikolai admitted. "Maybe longer."

Nathaniel's jaw clenched.

"We don't have hours," he said.

"I know," Nikolai replied, his voice strained. "But it's the best lead we have right now."

…

~ Kevin ~

"If you are not going to help, please leave," he said simply.

"Hmm, now I see why you have issues with Ethan. You have been wooing his wife" Devian pressed.

Bryan looked away.

Devian laughed sinisterly, tapped him on his shoulders and walked away.

…

Walker Industries Headquarters

Grace Walker walked through the front doors of Walker Industries like she owned the place.

Which, in her mind, she soon would.

She wore an elegant black coat, her hair perfectly styled, her expression composed and serene.

To anyone who didn't know better, she looked like a grieving mother coming to handle her son's affairs while he is kidnapped.

Margaret looked up as Grace approached.

"Mrs. Walker," the young woman said, standing quickly. "I'm so sorry about what happened to Mr. Walker. Is there any news?"

Grace's expression shifted into something appropriately concerned.

"Not yet," she said softly. "But I'm hopeful. In the meantime, I need to access some documents from Ethan's office. Company matters that can't wait, I'm afraid."

Margaret hesitated.

"I'm not sure I have authorization to…"

"I'm his mother," Grace interrupted smoothly. "And given the circumstances, I think an exception can be made. Don't you?"

Margaret wavered.

Then she nodded.

"Of course, Mrs. Walker," she said. "I'll escort you up."

Grace smiled.

"Thank you, dear," she said. "You're very kind."

And as Grace led her toward the elevators, Grace's smile widened.

Because no one at Walker Industries knew the truth.

They didn't know she wasn't really Ethan's mother.

They didn't know she'd orchestrated his kidnapping.

They didn't know she was about to steal everything he'd built.

And by the time they figured it out, it would be too late.