The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 36

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Chapter 36

Cynthia’s POV

I smelled coffee before I even opened my eyes. For a second, I thought I was dreaming, it was that warm, cozy smell mixing with the sound of something frying. Then I heard Kevin humming off–key in the kitchen, followed by Julian’s voice snapping at him for almost burning the food again.

I stretched beneath the sheets, feeling the dull ache of exhaustion from last night’s emotional chaos, then finally dragged myself out of bed.

By the time I made it to the kitchen, the smell of pancakes was everywhere. Kevin stood at the stove, his hair a mess, wearing an apron. Julian was leaning against the counter with his coffee, arms crossed, looking unimpressed.

Kevin looked up when he saw me. “Well, look who decided to join the living,” he said with a grin, flipping a pancake with unnecessary flair. “Sleep well, Cici?”

“About as well as someone who got emotionally punched in the gut,” I muttered, sliding onto a stool. “What’s all this?”

“Peace offering,” he said simply. “Breakfast therapy. You looked like you needed it.”

Julian sipped his coffee and nodded. “It’s his way of saying he feels guilty for abandoning you mid–gala for a woman in a green dress.”

Kevin shot him a glare. “It was emerald dress, she wasn’t even worth it”

I smiled faintly despite myself.

Kevin turned with the plate of pancakes in hand, and placed it in front of me like it was some sort of sacred offering. “Eat, before Julian lectures us on the nutritional value of sugar.”

Julian lifted an eyebrow. “It’s a miracle she’s still alive with the way you feed her.”

“She’s alive because my cooking is just right.” He took a sip from his coffee like he’d just made the winning point.

The banter was the usual morning rhythm I’d learned to appreciate since coming back into their lives, but beneath the teasing, I could feel their eyes watching me with concern they tried to bury under humor.

I focused on my plate, cutting into the pancakes slowly. “You both can stop pretending you’re not dying to ask.”

Kevin leaned on the counter. “Ask what?”

“How I’m doing.” I looked up at them. “After seeing him.”

Julian exchanged a glance with Kevin. “You want the gentle version or the medical one?”

“Neither,” I said, forcing a small smile. “Let’s just say I’m fine.”

Kevin’s expression softened. “You’ll be fine baby sis.”

My phone buzzed against the counter. I glanced at the screen, it was Matilda.

I groaned softly. “Oh God.”

We had exchanged numbers after the meeting with her outside the university yesterday.

Kevin frowned. “Who is that?”

“My friend,” I said quickly, answering the call. “Matilda?”

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“Oooo”

I could hear the eagerness in Kevin’s voice. I let out a wry laugh and took the call.

Her voice came through bright and exasperated. “Cynthia! Finally! I’ve been trying to reach you since last night. Are you still alive or did you move to Mars already?”

I laughed despite the heaviness that had been sitting in my chest. “I’m fine, Matilda. Just… busy.”

“Busy? You sound like someone who’s been hiding. I’m coming over.”

“Wait, what? No, you don’t have to…”

“I insist! I’m in Missford to stay, and if I don’t see you, I’ll assume you don’t want to be friends with me anymore. Send me your address.”

“Matilda…”

Click.

I sighed, dropping my phone. “She’s coming.”

Kevin smirked. “Oh God, I should go put on my Christmas tuxedo.”

We burst into laughter, easing the tension.

When Matilda arrived an hour later, she stormed into the house like a summer breeze full of energy.

“Cici!” she squealed, throwing her arms around me before I could even speak. “I’ve missed you! Do you know how boring life was without you to gossip with?”

I laughed, hugging her back. “I’ve missed you too.”

She pulled back, inspecting me from head to toe. “You look incredible, by the way. Paris did you good. You have that rich- woman glow. What’s your secret? Croissants?”

“Stress and coffee,” I said dryly.

She gasped. “Still modest. Ugh, I can’t stand you.

We moved to the sunroom, where the light poured in through wide windows overlooking the garden. The staff brought out a tray of tea while she immediately started talking about everything… her new work schedule, the course she is taking at Missford, the gossip at Missford and random things about her time in India.

“I’m sorry if I am intruding, but I am curious, Ethan’s Wikipedia doesn’t say anything about the divorce but have you concluded the divorce?”

That made my heart skip a beat, yeah… that’s right. I’m supposed to file a divorce as soon as possible, after all, he now knows I’m still alive. 1

“We haven’t processed a divorce yet, but I’ll be filing soon”

She was shocked but didn’t want to dwell too much on it, “What are you going to do with Amber?”

My heart skipped again, why does my heart keeps fluttering even though I have thought about this over a million times, I guess it’s just weird that it is expected to happen.

The world would expect me to want to keep Amber, but I wouldn’t be able to do that. Amber wouldn’t want me, he would want Ethan and Anna. What’s the point of fighting for the custody of a child that doesn’t want to be kept?

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“I and Ethan would talk about it” I finally said, trying to avoid her eyes.

She let out a deep sigh then continued with her tea.

“So,” she said, her eyes narrowing playfully, “you and Kevin Laurent are a thing, huh?”

I raised an eyebrow, I should probably tell her, she seems to be the same Matilda. “He’s my brother, Matilda.”

She froze mid–sip. “Wait… what?”

I sighed. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated as in… you’re telling me the same Kevin Laurent, global F1 icon, heartbreaker extraordinaire, is your brother?”

‘Yes.”

She stared at me for a full five seconds before setting her teacup down carefully. “Cici… please tell me you’re joking.”

“I wish I was.”

explained everything, how I’d discovered the truth about my biological family, how I’d built Maison Cynclair in Paris, how I’d ebuilt myself from the ground up.

Matilda listened quietly, her mouth falling open with every revelation. When I finished, she blinked like she was trying to process everything.

‘So you’re… Laurent,” she said finally.

‘Yes.”

She exhaled dramatically. “Oh my God. You went from housewife to billionaires‘ sister overnight. That’s so unfair. I can barely pay rent.”

Just then, Kevin appeared in the doorway carrying a fresh batch of pancakes, Julian trailing behind him with a tray of freshly extracted juice.

I almost laughed at the sight of them because Julian didn’t look like he wanted to be here, but Kevin must have talked him into it, just so he doesn’t seem desperate in Matilda’s eyes.

Since when did they start intimate and personal hospitality towards guests? They probably took the tray from the staff right at

the entrance.

“Ladies,” Kevin greeted smoothly, flashing that infuriating grin.

Matilda turned and for the first time since she arrived, she went quiet.

“Hi Matilda, I’m Julian, Cynthia told me about you. You’re welcome” Julian said, offering her a handshake and she took it.

“Thank you, Julian”

Kevin gave Julian a stern look like he was about to steal his treasure, then he placed the tray down a little too quickly. “We meet again”

She blinked, then smiled politely. “Yes Kevin Laurent,”

“Are you a fan?”

Matilda paused for a while, shocked at the question, “No, I am not interested in racing”

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