Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return: Kabanata 121 - Kabanata 130

Chapter 121 Ethan's POV Bryan and I sat in silence after Cynthia left, the weight of everything unsaid pressing down on us like a physical force. The restaurant hummed with quiet conversation from other tables, the clink of silverware against plates, the soft murmur of the lunch crowd. But at our table, there was only heavy, uncomfortable silence. I could feel Bryan's eyes on me, studying me, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. Finally, Bryan broke the silence. "What the hell was that, Ethan?" His voice was quiet but edged with steel. "And don't give me some bullshit about being in the neighborhood or wanting to grab lunch." I was tired of pretending. Tired of the lies and the games and the careful manipulation of words to hide what I really felt. It hadn't gotten me anywhere. Cynthia still wanted a divorce. Bryan was still pursuing her. "I wasn't here by chance," I said, meeting his gaze directly. "I came deliberately. To interrupt whatever discussio

Chapter 123 Ethan's POV After the intense moment with Bryan, I got home with my mind still racing, unable to shake the image of that strange man from the university who'd been stalking Cynthia. The more I thought about it, the more alarmed I became. That man had been watching her with too much focus, too much intent. And the fact that I'd seen him before—exiting Anna's apartment building weeks ago—made the whole thing feel coordinated. Could it be one of the men who'd been following Cynthia? Her security detail had been professional, visible, clearly hired protection. But this man had been lurking in the shadows, hiding behind trees, watching from a distance like he didn't want to be seen. Could be anybody, I reasoned, my mind cycling through possibilities. Perhaps Kevin Laurent was obsessed with her and had hired additional men to follow her around without her knowledge. That would explain the seemingly unnecessary security details. I needed to know who that man was anyway. F

Chapter 125 Cynthia's POVIt was noon when I arrived at the restaurant Nikolai had chosen — a small French bistro tucked away on a quiet street downtown, the kind of place that catered to people who valued privacy and discretion over being seen.The maître d' recognized my name immediately and led me to a corner table where Nikolai was already waiting."Cynthia," he said warmly, taking my hand and kissing it briefly. "You look beautiful.""Thank you," I said, settling into the chair he'd pulled out for me. "This place is lovely. Very intimate.""I thought you might appreciate somewhere we could talk without interruption," he said, resuming his seat. "The food here is excellent, the chef trained in Lyon but more importantly, they understand the value of privacy."A waiter appeared immediately, pouring water and presenting menus with the efficient grace of expensive service. We ordered and then we were alone again, the lunch crowd around us providing a comfortable murmur of background

Chapter 127 Cynthia's POV I was convinced that bullet was meant for me. I knew it to my bones, with absolute certainty. Someone was trying to killme and that young waiter had died because he'd been standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. Why would anyone want me dead? Yes, there was Anna and her schemes, but attempted murder? That seemed too extreme, too far beyond even her desperate obsession. I was lost in these thoughts, my mind spinning in circles of logic and fear, barely aware of my surroundings as Ethan dragged me through the chaos of the event. People were screaming, running in all directions. Someone was shouting about calling 911. A woman was sobbing hysterically. Security guards appeared from nowhere, trying to establish control, trying to find the shooter. But Ethan wasn't waiting. He was moving with singular focus, his hand gripping mine so tightly it hurt, his body positioned between me and the rest of the room like a human shield. He was so alert, his he

Chapter 129 Anna's POVI was restless, pacing back and forth in my apartment like a caged animal, my phone clutched in my trembling hand, waiting for an update.The plan had been simple. Clean. A single shot at a public event where chaos would provide the perfect cover for escape. By the time security figured out what had happened, Cynthia would be dead and the shooter would be long gone, lost in the panicked crowd.Simple.Except my phone had been silent for over an hour now, and the silence was eating me alive.I'd turned on the news — every channel, flipping between them obsessively — but there was nothing yet. No breaking news alerts about a shooting at the holiday party. No emergency broadcasts. Nothing.What the hell was taking so long?Finally… finally — my phone rang.I answered before the first ring finished. "Tell me it's done.""I missed." His voice was flat, emotionless, delivering the news like he was reporting the weather.My blood ran cold. "What?""I missed the hit. E