The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 81

I couldn’t stop smiling.

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The night with Matilda had been everything I hadn’t known I was looking for. Not just the physical part–though that had been incredible–but the connection. The conversation. The way she’d fallen asleep in my arms like she belonged there.

I was falling for her. Actually falling. Me, Kevin Laurent, the man who’d sworn off serious relationships in favor of casual flings and racing glory.

Funny how life worked sometimes.

I hadn’t gone home since last night. Nathaniel had texted me that he was with Cynthia, so I knew she was safe. I’d spent the morning wandering around Missford with a stupid grin on my face, replaying every moment with Matilda.

Now I was heading to meet Cynthia and Nathaniel at some restaurant downtown. I couldn’t wait to tell my sister about Matilda. She’d probably tease me mercilessly, but I didn’t care.

As I approached the restaurant entrance, I spotted a car pulling up to the curb and my instincts made me curious.

I slowed my steps, watching as the passenger door opened.

Matilda stepped out.

My smile froze.

She was laughing at something, her hair slightly disheveled, wearing the same clothes I’d seen her in last night at the club. The same clothes she’d been wearing when we had sex.

Nikolai emerged from the driver’s side, looking uncomfortable as Matilda rounded the car toward him.

What the hell?

I approached them, my chest tightening with something I didn’t want to name.

“Hey, Matilda…” My voice came out rougher than intended. “What are you…”

Before I could finish, Matilda grabbed Nikolai’s arm.

The gesture was deliberate. Possessive. She pressed herself against his side, looking up at him with an expression that sent a very clear message.

[I’m with him. Last night meant nothing.]

The unspoken words hit me like a punch to the gut.

She’d used me. Used me to scratch an itch, to cure her sexual cravings for one night, and now she was moving on to someone she actually wanted.

“Kevin, it’s good to see you,” Nikolai said, his voice strained with discomfort. He was trying to extract his arm from Matilda’s grip without being rude, his body language screaming that he wanted to be anywhere else.

I noticed it all.

Nikolai wasn’t interested in Matilda. Not even a little bit.

But Matilda was very interested in Nikolai. And she’d made it clear that whatever had happened between us was just… nothing.

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Something cold settled in my chest.

I wasn’t going to do this. I wasn’t going to stand here and let my heart get broken by a woman who’d looked at me last night like

I was something special and was now clinging to another man.

I’d felt something for Matilda Something real.

But it ended here.

I gave Nikolai a warm smile, because none of this was his fault word

The moment I stepped inside, I heard raised voices.

“You’re still my wife! We’re not divorced yet!”

I recognized that voice, Ethan Walker.

Hell no.

and walked past them into the restaurant without another

I scanned the café and found them–Ethan red–faced with fury, Nathaniel standing protectively in front of Cynthia, little Lily whimpering in Cynthia’s arms.

Is this the only restaurant in the whole of Missford? Why did everyone keep running into each other?

I strode toward them, my own heartache momentarily forgotten in the face of my sister being harassed.

Ethan saw me coming and his expression shifted from rage to confusion. His eyes darted between me, Nathaniel, Cynthia, and then back to me.

“What…” he started, clearly trying to process. “What is going on here?”

None of us answered.

Cynthia moved first, adjusting Lily in her body and heading for the exit. Her face was pale, her jaw tight with suppressed

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