The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Ethan’s POV

The moment I stepped into Euphoria club, I wanted to turn around and leave.

Strippers everywhere. Women in barely–there outfits gyrating on poles, in cages, on the laps of men who looked far too comfortable with the whole scene. The bass from the music vibrated through my chest, and the air was thick with perfume and alcohol.

This wasn’t my scene, it had never been my scene. I didn’t enjoy this kind of scenario.

I was about to walk out when my phone buzzed.

A message from Cynthia.

My heart lurched despite myself. I opened it with trembling fingers.

[I’m so sorry. There was an emergency. Could we reschedule?]

That was it.

No explanation on what the emergency is, how is it so important, more important than her son. No acknowledgment that she’d left our son waiting for three and a half hours.

Just “an emergency” and “could we reschedule.”

The height of disregard.

I shoved my phone back into my pocket and walked deeper into the club. I needed a drink. Several drinks. I needed noise and chaos and anything that would drown out the thought and hurt I felt. The disappointed looks on Amber’s face when he finally accepted that his mother wasn’t coming.

It’s sad that I didn’t know what to do to comfort him. I bet he cried himself to sleep. Fucking Cynthia!

The VIP section was in the back, elevated above the main floor. I spotted Devian immediately, he was sprawled across a leather couch, a stripper giving him a lap dance while he grinned like an idiot and threw bills in the air also smacking the stripper’s ass.

“Ethan!” he shouted when he saw me, waving enthusiastically without disturbing the woman on his lap. “You made it! Get over

here!”

I made my way over, nodding at a few familiar faces money and excess.

– business associates, socialites, the usual crowd that orbited around

“Sit, sit!” Devian gestured to the couch beside him. “Sienna! Your guest of honor is here!”

Sienna, Devian’s cousin, the birthday girl. I’d met her briefly at the restaurant, but I hadn’t really been paying attention then.

I was paying attention now.

She was beautiful in that calculated way some women had…her features were enhanced, curve displayed to maximum effect. Her dress was more suggestion than fabric, plunging low enough to leave nothing to the imagination. When she smiled, it was slow and deliberate, like a predator assessing prey.

“Ethan Walker,” she purred, sliding onto the couch beside me. “I was hoping you’d come.”

“Happy birthday,” I said flatly. I didn’t even remember it was her birthday, so I didn’t bring anything.

Her eyes swept over me appreciatively. “You didn’t come with Bryan?”

The question seemed oddly specific. “I thought Bryan would be here already.”

+25 Bonus

“He’s late.” Something flickered across her face before she smoothed it away with another sultry smile. “His loss. More of you

for me.”

She signaled a server, who appeared instantly with a tray of drinks. Sienna selected two glasses, pressing one into my hand while leaning close enough that I could see straight down her dress.

“Drink,” she said. “You look like you need it.”

She wasn’t wrong.

I downed the whiskey in one go, welcoming the burn. Sienna immediately signaled for another.

Around us, the party continued. Music pulsed. People danced. Devian was thoroughly enjoying his lap dance, his hands wandering in ways that would probably get him slapped anywhere else. Other guests milled about, but Sienna seemed singularly focused on me and Devian’s circle.

“So,” she said, trailing a finger along my arm. “How are you dealing with your estranged wife troubles?”

I stiffened. “I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Of course.” She didn’t move away. If anything, she pressed closer. “We don’t have to talk at all.”

I should have left then. Should have recognized what she was doing and extracted myself. But I was tired and hurt and the alcohol was starting to blur the edges of everything.

Another drink appeared. Then another.

Time became fuzzy.

At some point, Bryan arrived. I saw him enter the VIP section, still in his business suit, looking tired but put–together. His eyes scanned the room and landed on us… on Sienna, specifically, who was now practically draped over me.

Something changed in Sienna’s demeanor the moment she noticed Bryan.

She sat up straighter. Her smile became sharper. And suddenly, her attention on me intensified tenfold.

“Bryan!” she called out, her voice carrying over the music. “You’re late!”

“Meeting ran over,” he said shortly, his eyes flickering between her and me.

“Well, you almost missed all the fun.” Sienna ran her hand down my chest in a gesture that was clearly meant to be seen. Ethan’s been keeping me company.”

11

I frowned, trying to process what was happening through the haze of alcohol. There was some undercurrent between Sienna and Bryan that I was too drunk to fully understand.

Bryan’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he said nothing. Just ordered a drink and sat down across from us.

Sienna’s efforts redoubled.

She touched my arm, my shoulder, my thigh. She laughed too loudly at things I said. She leaned in to whisper in my ear, her lips brushing my skin.

She was using me. I realized it dimly through the whiskey fog. Using me to make Bryan jealous.

Why? Were they together? Had they been together? Was this some kind of game between them?

I didn’t care. I didn’t want to be part of it.

“Sienna,” I said, trying to shift away from her. “I..”

+25 Bonus

“Shh.” She pressed a finger to my lips. “Just relax.”

Before I could respond, she’d somehow maneuvered herself onto my lap, her arms looping around my neck.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my words slightly slurred.

“Having fun,” she said. “It’s my birthday. I’m allowed to have fun.”

I glanced at Bryan. He was watching us, but I couldn’t quite decipher what he was thinking

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify