The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 29

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I should’ve felt relieved, maybe even proud that I didn’t let Anna play her usual games again. But all I felt was tired… and that empty, painful feeling in my chest that always came when I thought too much about Ethan.

It hurt more than I expected.

Three years apart, and just one look from him still had the power to shake me. This was the same man who stood beside Anna while I fell apart. He believed every lie she told, defended her like she was his world.

The way he looked at me tonight said it all like I was the one who ruined everything. Like somehow, my survival was the betrayal, not his years of neglect and cruelty. It’s almost like he’s using reverse psychology, acting like the victim so I’ll forget everything he did to me.

Unfortunately, despite being aware of that, my heart still fluttered like a fool when our eyes met.

How pathetic.

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shake off the storm of emotions building beneath my skin.

“Get it together, Cynthia,” I muttered under my breath.

But getting it together felt impossible when every part of me was still vibrating from the confrontation. The adrenaline that had carried me through Anna’s performance was wearing off, leaving only exhaustion in its wake.

Inside, I could still hear the faint murmurs of people whispering. I knew her well enough to know this wasn’t over. Anna never lost quietly. She’d lick her wounds tonight, plot her revenge by morning, and come back swinging with something even more calculated and cruel.

But for now, at least, I’d won this round. The video evidence had been damning. Everyone had seen her rip her own dress, stage her own victimhood. Even Ethan couldn’t deny what the footage had shown.

Small victories.

Kevin stood a few feet away, speaking in low, clipped tones to the security detail. He was probably demanding tighter protection protocols, making sure neither Ethan nor Anna could get anywhere near me again through the course of this event.

My brothers had become fiercely protective since finding me three years ago, and while it sometimes felt suttocating, tonight I was grateful for it.

I felt someone staring from a distance. My eyes followed the heat of that gaze across the parking lot… and landed on Nikolai

Cross.

He was striding toward me with that easy confidence that seemed built into his DNA, tall and composed in a perfectly tailored

black tuxedo.

Nikolai seemed to have a knack for appearing exactly where I least expected him.

Before he could get close, my security detail reacted instantly.

“It’s okay,” I said quickly, raising my hand. “He’s a friend”

The guards exchanged glances, clearly skeptical that anyone approaching their charge at nine PM in a parking lot could be classified as “friendly“, but they obeyed, reluctantly stepping back.

Nikolai’s lips curved slightly as he stopped a few feet away, his eyes sweeping over the security detail with barely ron valed amusement. “Tough guys you’ve got around you,” he said

#29

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I exhaled, forcing a small smile despite the emotional exhaustion weighing me down. “Yeah… that’s what happens when you have overprotective…”

I caught myself mid–sentence. I couldn’t say brothers. My identity as a Laurent was still a closely guarded secret, one I wasn’t ready to reveal.

“Overprotective…?” Nikolai prompted, his tone curious, his eyes searching my face.

“Men,” I finished, my voice sounding far steadier than I felt.

He raised a brow, something flickering in his expression, doubt, maybe, or just curiosity. “Men,” he repeated slowly, like he didn’t quite believe me but had decided not to press the issue.

I forced a light laugh to cover the unease creeping up my spine. “Exactly. You know how men can be. Always thinking they need to protect women from every possible threat.”

“In fairness,” Nikolai said, glancing back toward the gala entrance, “it seems like you do attract a certain… intensity of drama.”

I couldn’t help the small, genuine laugh that escaped. “That’s one way to put it.”

He studied me for a moment, his expression softening. “I saw what happened in there. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I said automatically, the response so practiced it came out without thought.

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