The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 276

Chapter 276

Cynthia's POV

How could I possibly explain to my eleven-year-old son that I had no idea where his father was?

That the last time I'd seen Ethan, he'd been beaten, barely able to stand?

That I'd left him in a warehouse with people who wanted him dead?

I couldn't.

So I did what any mother would do when faced with an impossible situation.

I lied.

I pulled Amber close, holding him against my chest, feeling his small body trembling with fear and confusion.

"Daddy's going to be home soon," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite the lies. "He just... he had to take care of some things. But he'll be back. I promise."

Amber pulled back slightly, his tear-stained face looking up at me with those intelligent, skeptical eyes that were so much like mine.

"Where is he now?" he asked.

"At the Walker mansion," I said quickly. "Taking care of some business things. You know how your daddy gets with work."

"Can we go see him?" Amber asked.

"Soon," I said, smoothing his hair back. "But right now, it's still Christmas season. We should celebrate with the family. With Uncle Kevin, Uncle Julian and Uncle Nathaniel and Grandma. Doesn't that sound nice?"

Amber's expression remained suspicious, his eyes searching my face for the truth I was desperately trying to hide.

But he was also exhausted.

Emotionally drained from days of worry and confusion.

"Okay," he said finally, his voice small. "But you have to promise I’ll go see daddy soon"

"I promise," I whispered, hating myself for the lie.

Because I couldn't promise that.

I couldn't promise anything.

…

The rest of the evening passed in a blur.

Family members trying to engage me in conversation.

Victoria insisting I eat something.

Kevin hovering protectively nearby.

Julian offering quiet support.

Everyone trying so hard to act normal.

To celebrate.

To pretend everything was okay.

But it wasn't okay.

Nothing was okay.

Amber eventually fell asleep on the couch, exhausted, his small hand still clutching mine.

Helen gently lifted him and carried him upstairs to bed.

And I was left sitting in the living room, surrounded by my family, feeling more alone than I'd ever felt in my life.

"You should try to sleep," Victoria said gently, sitting down beside me.

"I can't," I said, my voice hollow.

"Cynthia…"

"I can't," I repeated, more firmly this time. "Not until I know. Not until they find him."

Kevin knelt in front of me, taking my hands in his.

"The police are doing everything they can," he said. "They have search teams combing the area. They've issued an APB for Grace and Pascal. They're checking hospitals, clinics…"

"I know," I interrupted. "But what if it's not enough? What if we're already too late?"

"Don't think like that," Kevin said firmly. "Ethan is strong. He's a fighter. He'll survive this."

But his words felt empty.

Because I'd seen Ethan.

I'd seen how badly Pascal had beaten him.

I'd seen how weak he was from days of not eating.

And now, with all that blood...

I shook my head, pulling my hands free from Kevin's grip.

"I need to be alone," I said quietly.

"Cici…" Nathaniel started.

"Please," I said, my voice breaking. "I just... I need some space."

They reluctantly agreed, though I could see the worry in all their faces as they left the room one by one.

Except Victoria.

She stayed, sitting beside me in silence, her hand resting gently on mine.

And somehow, that was exactly what I needed.

Of course it was Ethan's blood.

But hearing it confirmed made it real.

"Based on the volume of blood," the officer continued, his voice gentle but clinical, "and the patterns we observed, Mr. Walker was severely injured. He's lost a significant amount of blood."

"How much?" Nathaniel asked sharply.

The officer hesitated.

"Enough that, without immediate medical attention..." He trailed off.

"Say it," I said, my voice flat. "Just say it."

The officer met my eyes.

"If Ethan Walker doesn't receive medical treatment very soon," he said quietly, "he will likely die from blood loss and his injuries."

The words hung in the air.

Die.

Ethan was dying.

Somewhere out there, alone, with Grace and Pascal, he was dying.

"We have every available unit searching," the officer added quickly. "We're checking all hospitals and urgent care facilities within a hundred-mile radius. We've alerted neighboring jurisdictions. We're doing everything we can."

"But you haven't found him," I said.

"Not yet," the officer admitted. "But we will. We will find him, Ms. Laurent."

They stayed a few more minutes, giving updates, reassuring us that the search was ongoing.

But all I heard was white noise.

After the officers left, I sat on the couch, staring at nothing.

Nathaniel sat beside me, his hand on my shoulder.

"We'll find him," he said quietly.

"Mommy?" Amber said approaching from the stairs. "Who were those people?"

I forced a smile.

"Just some friends of Uncle Nathaniel's," I said. "Nothing to worry about."

Amber walked down the stairs slowly, studying my face.

"Come here, sweetheart," I said, patting the couch beside me.

Amber climbed up, settling against my side.

I wrapped my arm around him, holding him close.