The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Cynthia’s POV

One week later

The roar of engines at Missford Grand Prix was deafening, even from inside the VIP lounge. The grandstands were packed with thousands of fans, their excitement crackling through the air like electricity. Flags waved, airhorns blared, and the energy was almost overwhelming.

For Kevin, racing on home soil carried its own kind of pressure. The reigning champion returning to Missford wasn’t just another race, it was a statement and with every camera in the motorsport world trained on him, failure wasn’t an option.

I sat in the Laurent family box with Julian, who looked mildly uncomfortable in the chaos. He wasn’t a racing enthusiast, but he’d come anyway to support Kevin. The pre–race festivities were in full swing below, drivers doing their warm–up laps, crews making final adjustments, commentators hyping up the crowd.

“You okay?” Julian asked, noticing my fidgeting.

“Yeah,” I lied, twisting my hands in my lap. “Just… a lot of people.”

He gave me a knowing look. “You mean a lot of people who might recognize you.”

I didn’t answer because he was right. Being here, so publicly visible, felt like stepping into a spotlight I wasn’t ready for. The Laurent name carried weight, and people would be more convinced that I was betrothed and in a romantic relationship with Kevin, knowing that the Laurent has no sister record.

My phone buzzed in my purse, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced at the screen, it was one of my students from the

university.

“I need to take this,” I told Julian, already standing.

He nodded. “I’ll be here.”

I slipped out of the VIP box and into the corridor, where the noise dulled to a manageable hum. Pressing the phone to my ear, I answered. “Hello?”

“Professor Cyncliar!” came the eager voice of Emma, one of my more enthusiastic culinary students. “I’m so sorry to bother you on the weekend, but I’m trying to replicate that béchamel technique you showed us, and it keeps breaking. I’ve tried everything…

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I smiled despite myself. “Did you add the milk too quickly?”

“Maybe? I don’t know, it just turned into this lumpy mess and…”

“Slow down,” I said gently, stepping toward the exit for some fresh air. “Walk me through what you did, step by step.”

As I pushed through the door and into the outdoor corridor overlooking the paddock area, I began troubleshooting with her,

“…so you’re saying I should temper it first?” Emma asked.

“Exactly. Add the hot milk gradually while whisking constantly. The key is…”

“Well, well, well.”

I froze mid–sentence.

I turned slowly, my stomach sinking as I spotted two familiar figures approaching from the other end of the corridor.

Devian and Bryan.

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“Emma, I’ll call you back,” I said quickly, ending the call before she could respond.

Devian reached me first, that trademark smirk already plastered on his face. He looked exactly the same with that air of arrogance that seemed to follow him everywhere.

Bryan followed a step behind, quieter, his expression unreadable. But his eyes were fixed on me with an intensity that made my skin crawl.

“Cynthia Walker,” Devian said, drawing out my name like it was a punchline. “Or should I say… Cynthia Cynclair now? Hard to keep track.”

I straightened my spine, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “Devian.”

He let out a low whistle, looking me up and down in a way that made me feel exposed. “Wow. Paris really did a number on you, huh? You look… different. Confident. Like you finally crawled out of that sad little shell you used to live in.”

I didn’t respond. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

Bryan still hadn’t said anything. He just stood there, staring at me like I was some kind of puzzle he couldn’t solve. It was unsettling, three years ago, he’d barely acknowledged my existence unless it was to make some cutting remark about how I wasn’t “good enough” for Ethan’s social circle.

Devian stepped closer, his smirk widening. “I almost forgot you’d be here today. Makes sense though, doesn’t it? Your boyfriend’s racing.” He said the word like it was dirty. “Kevin Laurent. The reigning champion. Must be nice, trading up like

that.”

I stayed silent, debating whether to go back inside or return to my student’s call.

He tilted his head, studying me with that infuriating smirk. “You’ve got some nerve, I’ll give you that. Disappearing for three years, making everyone think you were dead, and then just waltzing back into Missford like nothing happened. Do you have any idea what that did to Ethan?”

Something hot flared in my chest. “I’m not doing this,” I said quietly, taking a step back.

“Running away again?” Devian called after me. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”

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