The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 295

Chapter 295

Bryan's POV

I looked Grace directly in the eyes, keeping my voice cold and controlled.

"I don't actually give a fuck about whatever drama is going on between you, Anna, and Pascal," I said bluntly. "That's your mess to sort out. What I do care about is making sure you never get found."

Grace's eyebrows rose slightly.

"Because if the police catch you," I continued, "they'll make you talk. They'll get information about where you took Ethan, where you dumped him, every detail of what happened that night. And that trail will lead them to finding him."

I stepped closer, my voice dropping lower.

"And I can't let that happen," I said. "Right now, I don't know if Ethan is dead or alive. And honestly? It's better not to know. Better for everyone if he just stays... gone."

Grace stared at me for a moment.

Then she burst out laughing.

The sound was sharp and mocking, echoing off the walls of the alley we were standing in.

"This is hilarious," Grace said, wiping at her eyes. "I thought you and Ethan were best friends. College roommates. Brothers in all but blood. Isn't that what everyone says?"

"We were," I said flatly. "We are. I love Ethan like a brother."

"And yet here you are," Grace said, still grinning, "working to make sure he's never found. That doesn't sound very brotherly to me, Bryan."

"There are times," I said carefully, "when people need to be selfish. When their own happiness has to come first."

Grace's laughter faded into something more calculated.

She studied me with sharp, assessing eyes — the same look I imagined she'd used when manipulating Ethan his entire life.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked quietly. "Really. What's motivating all this... selfishness?"

I didn't answer.

"It must be jealousy," Grace continued, circling me slowly like a predator sizing up prey. "But what could you possibly be jealous of? You're both ridiculously successful. Both billionaires. Both graduated from top universities."

She tapped her chin thoughtfully, clearly enjoying this.

"Let's see," Grace said. "You both have degrees from Missford's finest institutions. Check. You both have massive fortunes. Check. You both have... oh."

She paused, her eyes lighting up with sudden understanding.

"You both have wives," Grace said slowly. "Well, almost. Ethan has a wife. You don't actually have one, do you?"

I felt my jaw tighten involuntarily.

Grace saw it immediately.

Her smile widened into something predatory and delighted.

"Is that it?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. "You don't have a wife and Ethan does? After all these years, after everything you've accomplished, you're jealous over that?"

"Grace…" I started, warning in my tone.

But she was on a roll now, enjoying my discomfort far too much to stop.

"Oh my God," Grace said, her eyes widening. "I see it now. It's not just that he has a wife and you don't. It's who his wife is."

She stepped closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

"You love her," Grace said. "You love Cynthia."

The words hung in the air between us.

I didn't confirm or deny it.

Just stood there, my hands clenched into fists, fighting to keep my expression neutral.

But Grace saw everything anyway.

"You do," she breathed, delight written all over her face. "You're in love with your best friend's wife. Oh, this is perfect. This is absolutely perfect."

"Shut up," I said, my voice low and dangerous.

"How long?" Grace pressed, ignoring my warning. "How long have you been in love with her? Since college? Since the wedding? Or is this newer — something that developed while Ethan was pulling away from her, neglecting her, making her miserable?"

Each question was designed to cut. Yes, somewhere along the way after partaking in bullying her like Devian and Anna, I'd fallen in love with her. Especially when I found out she was a Laurent. A merger would be amazing.

But merger aside, she deserved better than Ethan.

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