The Secret Pregnancy of the Billionaire's Ex-Wife novel Chapter 280

Ex–Wife

Chapter 280: A Christmas Proposal

Angela Pov

This Christmas dinner feels different–warmer, fuller, like everyone’s trying to make up for the mess of the past few days.

The table’s crowded with food, and every dish has a story.

Dad made his usual roast chicken, crispy and golden, the way he’s done since I was a kid.

Victoria brought a creamy potato casserole, her specialty. Even Alexander and Sean,who barely step foot in a kitchen, pitched in- Alexander with a lumpy but tasty vegetable stew, and Sean with a pata dish that’s a little too salty but no one complains about.

Ethan and Aria helped with dessert, a tray of chocolate cookies they shaped themselves, some lopsided, some perfect, all sprinkled with red and green sugar.

We eat and talk, the kids chattering over each other, the adults laughing at old stories.

My head still aches a little, but being home, surrounded by this, makes it bearable. After the plates are cleared, we move to the living room. The Christmas tree glows in the corner, lights bouncing off the ornaments.

Aria and Ethan dive into their pile of gifts–books, toys, a new sketchpad for Ethan, a doll with a sparkly dress for Aria. They rip through the wrapping paper, squealing with every new thing, and I can’t help but smile.

Sean stands by the tree, reaching up to the top where Ethan hung their special gift for me.

“Here it is,” he says, handing me a small box wrapped in red paper with a lopsided bow.

1. 1.

I peel the paper off and open the lid. Inside are two little clay figures, about the size of my palm. They’re rough around the edges, the faces smudged, but I can tell who they are. One has black hair and amber eyes–me. The other has black hair too, with green

eyes–Sean.

My breath catches. They’re us, made by tiny hands that see us together.

“Mommy, there’s more!” Aria says, bouncing on her knees. I look under the figures and find a folded card. I pull it out, opening it carefully. The handwriting is wobbly but clear:

To our dear Mommy and Daddy,

Merry Christmas! We wish you happy forever.

Love, Aria and Ethan

Below the words is a drawing–four stick figures on a grassy field, holding hands. Me, Sean, Aria, Ethan. A family.

My throat tightens, and I blink hard to keep the tears back. I glance at Sean, and he’s not even trying to hide it–his eyes are wet, shining under the tree lights.

He slides an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close, and buries his face in my neck. His breath is warm against my skin, shaky, like he’s trying to keep it together. I don’t pull away. I just let him hold me, feeling the weight of the moment.

Victoria clears her throat, breaking the silence, with a playful huff. “What about me? Don’t I get a gift from my grandkids?” she says, pretending to pout.

Aria giggles and jumps up, running over to plant a big kiss on Victoria’s cheek. “Next time, Grandma, we’ll make you a bigger one!

1/3

Chapter 280. A Christmas Proposal

Me and Ethan worked really hard on these.

Ethan nods, serious. It took us two days.”

Giulia grins, tapping her own cheek. “I want a kiss too, Arla.” Aria ofiges, hopping over to peck Giulia’s face, and the room fills with soft laughter.

It’s simple, sweet, and for a second, I forget the mess of the past week–the hospital, Christina, the memories that hit me like a

storm.

Then Sean shifts beside me, letting go of my shoulders. “I’ve got something for you too,” he says, his voice quieter now, almost nervous. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box

My heart stumbles, a quick thud against my ribs. He drops to one knee in front of me, right there by the tree, and the room goes still. Even the kids stop giggling, staring wide–eyed.

He opens the box, and inside is a diamond ring. It’s not huge, but it catches the light, sparkling against the dark velvet. I lean closer and see it–the inside of the band has my name etched into it, Angela, in tiny, careful letters.

My chest tightens again, but this time it’s different–fear, hope, love all mixed up.

“Marry me,” Sean says, looking up at me. His eyes are steady, but his hands shake a little holding the box. “I know I screwed up before, But I’m here now, Angie. I want us–me, you, Aria, Ethan. A family. For real this time.”

I can’t breathe right. My mind’s a mess–five years of hurt crashing against the past few days of him being here, trying. The hot

spring, the hospital, last night in my bed–it’s all spinning.