The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 280

Chapter 280

Cynthia's POV

Kevin's shoulders shook as he cried, his hands gripping mine tightly, like he was afraid I might disappear if he let go.

"This is my fault," he said, his voice breaking. "All of it. If I'd just followed you into the hospital that day—if I hadn't stayed in the car like an idiot—maybe none of this would have happened."

I blinked slowly, his words filtering through the fog that had wrapped around my mind for weeks.

"Kevin…" I started, my voice hoarse from disuse.

"I know…" Kevin interrupted, wiping roughly at his eyes. "I let you go in alone. I knew something felt wrong. I knew you were taking too long. But I didn't trust my gut. I didn't go check on you when I should have."

He looked at me, and the guilt in his eyes was so raw it hurt to see.

"And now Ethan's gone," Kevin said. "And you're... you're disappearing too, Cici. Right in front of me. And I don't know how to stop it."

Tears burned at the corners of my own eyes.

"Every morning," Kevin continued, his voice thick, "I wake up and remember that my sister—my strong, brilliant, alive sister—is locked in this room. Not eating. Not sleeping. Not talking to anyone. Just... existing."

He squeezed my hands tighter.

"And I feel guilty," Kevin said. "Every single day. Because I should have protected you. I should have been there. And I wasn't."

"It's not your fault," I whispered.

Kevin let out a choked laugh.

"Then why does it feel like it is?" he asked.

I didn't have an answer.

Kevin took a shaky breath, trying to compose himself.

"Cici," he said gently. "I need you to be strong."

I shook my head. "I… "

"Not for me," Kevin interrupted. "For Amber."

The mention of my son's name cut through the numbness like a knife.

"Amber needs you," Kevin said firmly. "He's lost both of his parents. His father is missing. And his mother is... here. But not really here."

I closed my eyes, fresh tears spilling down my cheeks.

"He asks about you every day," Kevin continued. "Asks Helen when you're coming to see him. When you're going to be okay again. And we don't know what to tell him."

Guilt crashed through me.

Amber.

My sweet, brave, scared little boy.

Who'd already been through so much.

Who needed his mother.

And I'd abandoned him.

Not physically.

But emotionally.

I'd checked out completely, leaving him alone to process his terror and confusion without me.

"If you knew Ethan well enough," Kevin said quietly, "and I know you do — you'd know he wouldn't want this."

I looked up at him.

"He wouldn't want you destroying yourself," Kevin said. "He wouldn't want you locked in this room, wasting away, leaving Amber to drown in sorrow because he's lost both parents."

Kevin's voice cracked again.

"Ethan would want you to take care of Amber. He'd want you to be okay."

The tears were falling freely now, and I couldn't stop them.

"Yes," Kevin said without hesitation. "I do."

I wanted to believe him.

Desperately wanted to believe him.

And maybe... maybe I could.

Maybe I could pull myself together.

Maybe I could be strong.

For my son, who needed his mother.

And for Ethan.

Because Kevin was right.

Ethan wouldn't want this.

Wouldn't want me locked in a room, giving up, letting the world move on without us.

He'd want me to fight.

Just like he'd fought for me in that warehouse.

Just like he'd fought for us our entire lives, even when he didn't know how.

"Okay," I whispered.

Kevin's eyes widened slightly. "Okay?"

"Okay," I repeated, my voice stronger now. "I'll... I'll try. I'll get myself together. For Amber. And for Ethan."

Relief flooded Kevin's face, and he pulled me into another tight hug.

"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you, Cici."

I'm not giving up, Ethan.