The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 74

#74

Chapter 74

Cynthia’s POV

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The restaurant was quiet, intimate exactly what I’d wanted. Neutral ground. No home advantage for either of us.

When I walked in, Ethan was already there, seated at a corner table, his back straight, his expression unreadable. He was wearing a dark suit, no tie, the top button of his shirt undone. He looked tired with his lips twisted.

I made my way over and sat down across from him.

Silence.

Silence stretched between us and it was heavy and uncomfortable, for what felt like an eternity. I stared at the menu I had no intention of reading, hyperaware of his presence, of the weight of everything unsaid.

When I finally looked up, I found him staring at me.

His eyes fixed on my face with an intensity that made my skin prickle.

Why was he looking at me like that? Like he was trying to memorize my features. Like he was seeing me for the first time.

It made me uncomfortable.

“You asked to see me,” Ethan said finally, breaking the silence.

“Yes.” I straightened in my seat, steeling myself. “It’s about two things.”

First things first. I needed to correct his mindset about me. He still thought I was that foolish wife who would take whatever scraps he offered. That woman was gone.

“First,” I said, keeping my voice steady, “I can’t meet Amber at your house. Because you have another woman living there. With your child.”

Ethan’s expression shifted. Something flickered in his eyes…surprise? annoyance?

“Anna is not living with me.”

I paused.

What?

She wasn’t living with him? But I’d assumed… all this time, I’d pictured her installed in the Walker mansion, playing mistress of the house, sleeping in the bed that used to be mine.

That’s strange, I thought. Why wouldn’t she be living there?

Unless… perhaps she didn’t want to stay in the house where I’d lived. Anna could be that petty. Or maybe Ethan had gotten her another mansion somewhere, a separate love nest where he visited her.

Either way, it didn’t matter.

“Well,” I said coolly, “that’s none of my business. But I’m still not seeing Amber in that house.”

“Then where would you have him meet you?” Ethan’s voice took on an edge. “At your house? Where you live with Kevin Laurent? Your lover?”

The disdain in his voice was unmistakable.

I rolled my eyes. This again.

W74

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The whole situation was unfair to Amber. Caught between parents who couldn’t be in the same room without tension, shuttled back and forth like a package.

Maybe I could purchase another house. Somewhere neutral. Somewhere Amber could visit without either of us having territorial advantage.

I was about to suggest this-

again.

–

“Come back home, Cynthia.”

I froze.

about to explain that I had options, that I wasn’t dependent on Ethan’s hospitality, when he spoke

“I want you back.” His voice was quieter now, rougher. “I… I need you back. You are my wife.”

The words hung in the air between us.

I stared at him, waiting for the punchline. Waiting for the catch. Waiting for him to laugh and tell me he was joking

But he didn’t.

He just sat there, looking at me with those intense eyes, his jaw tight, his hands clasped on the table.

The silence stretched.

I reached for the coffee I’d ordered, taking a fast gulp to buy myself time. The liquid burned going down, but I barely noticed… Three years ago, those words would have meant everything to me. Three years ago, I would have wept with joy, would have fallen into his arms, would have thanked God for giving me another chance.

But I wasn’t that woman anymore.

I knew what this was. Ethan was trying to make a fool out of me. He loved Anna–he’d always loved Anna. This was probably just another game, another manipulation. He wanted the doormat back. The quiet, obedient wife who made his life comfortable without demanding anything in return.

Well, he was about to be very disappointed.

I set down my coffee cup and reached into my bag.

My fingers closed around the envelope.

I pulled it out and placed it on the table between us.

“I want a divorce, Ethan.”