The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 86

Cynthia’s POV

Kevin and Julian had been complaining all morning.

“We miss your cooking, Cici.”

“The chef is good, but it’s not the same.”

“Remember that pasta you made last two week? I’ve been dreaming about it.”

So here I was, pushing a cart through an upscale grocery store in downtown Missford, picking out ingredients for a proper home -cooked meal. It felt oddly normal after everything that had happened.

I was reaching for a jar of imported olive oil on the top shelf when it slipped from my fingers.

Before I could react, someone caught it.

I looked up.

Bryan Ferdinand, one of Ethan’s best friends.

He held the jar in his hand, not offering it back, just looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.

We stared at each other for a long moment. The silence stretched between us, heavy with history of all those years of his dismissive comments, his cruel jokes at my expense, his loyalty to Ethan that had made him complicit in my misery.

I looked away first.

“Uhm, what a coincidence,” I said, reaching for the jar.

Bryan didn’t let go.

“Yeah, I came to get some things and I saw you.” His voice was softer than I remembered. “Came to say hi.”

I frowned slightly, confused by his demeanor. This wasn’t the Bryan I knew from three years ago. That Bryan had looked at me like I was an inconvenience, an obstacle, a lesser being not worthy of his friend’s attention.

This Bryan seemed almost… nervous.

“I didn’t get the chance to thank you,” I said carefully, “for helping me with the hospital. Finding out where Amber was.”

“It’s fine.” He shrugged. “I heard you weren’t able to come because you traveled.”

I stiffened. How did he know I’d traveled?

He must have sensed my suspicion because he added quickly, “Kevin Laurent came by the hospital. After you called me. He mentioned you were abroad.”

Oh. Right. Kevin must have said something when Ethan threw him out.

“Oh, right,” I said flatly.

Another pause.

Then Bryan said something that caught me completely off guard.

“I… I miss your cooking.”

I blinked.

#85

+30 Bonus

What?

He offered a small, almost sheepish smile. “You used to make this lemon chicken thing. I still think about it sometimes.”

The audacity.

“Yeah,” I said, my voice sharpening. “And bullying me too, right?”

I snatched the olive oil from his hand and turned back to my cart, pushing it forward.

Bryan exhaled and followed me. “I’ve lived with that guilt for a while now, Cynthia. I’m sorry.”

I stopped, turning to face him.

He was still the same handsome, well–dressed businessman he’d always been. But there was genuine remorse in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.

I’d noticed his change in demeanor since I came back to Missford. The way he’d told Devian to stop at the Grand Prix. The way he’d helped me find Amber’s hospital without asking for anything in return.

Maybe people could change.

But I wasn’t going to make it easy for him.

“I don’t accept apologies by words,” I said, keeping my face stern.

Bryan’s lips twitched with almost a smile. He understood the game.

“Uhm, would you like me to treat you to dinner when you’re free? Or something?”

I nearly choked.

Oops. That wasn’t what I’d meant at all. I’d been implying he needed to prove himself through actions, not…

His expression was serious though. Earnest.

How was I supposed to respond to that?

“Something,” I said quickly. “What’s the ‘something‘? Because I am not having dinner with you.”

Bryan laughed this time. A real laugh, warm and surprised.

“Well, what do you want from me then?” he asked.

My body tensed. Why did that sound like a flirt?

Bryan must have realized how it came across because he quickly added, “Name your price for the apology and consider it done.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify