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Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return: Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

320 Kabanata

#61

Chapter 61 Cynthia's POV Nikolai walked into the restaurant just as the call connected. "Hello?" "Hello, Bryan. This is Cynthia..." I hesitated for a fraction of a second. I hated introducing myself as Cynthia Walker — it felt like wearing a skin that no longer fit. But he needed to recognize me, and like it or not, I was still legally married to Ethan. "Cynthia Walker." There was a brief pause from Bryan's end. So long that I thought he might have hung up. My gaze drifted to Nikolai, who had stopped a few feet away, his expression shifting as he heard the name I'd used. There was disappointment and curiosity in his eyes over the fact that I'd called myself Cynthia Walker. "Hey," Bryan finally said. It was awkward. I'd been bracing myself for mockery, for the kind of sarcastic remarks he and Devian usually traded at my expense. I expected him to ask why I was calling, to make me grovel before he'd even consider listening. But none of that came. "Are you calling concerning Am

#62

Chapter 62 Cynthia's POV I grabbed my suitcase with trembling hands, still unpacked from the flight over, still stuffed with hastily thrown-together clothes I hadn't even touched. Had I slept at all in the past forty-eight hours? Maybe a few restless hours on the plane, plagued by nightmares about the restaurant and the crushing guilt of abandoning Amber. But real rest? No. Nothing close. It didn't matter. None of it mattered now. Amber wasn't safe. Amber was in a hospital bed. I fumbled with my phone, nearly dropping it twice before I managed to initiate a group call with my brothers. Kevin answered first. "Hey, Cici. I'm actually about to board a flight to Paris…" "No!" I cut him off just as Nathaniel and Julian joined the call. "No, don't come. I'm coming back to Missford." "Cynthia?" Julian's voice was laced with concern. "What happened? You sound…" "It's Amber." My voice cracked. "He's in the hospital. I don't know what happened. I called Bryan – Ethan’s friend… he just

#63

Chapter 63Cynthia's POVNikolai's car was exactly what I should have expected from Herman Cross's son — a sleek, midnight-black Bentley Continental. The leather interior smelled new, expensive, the kind of luxury that came naturally to old money.Any other time, I might have been impressed. Today, I barely noticed.As we pulled away from Maison Cynclair, my mind was consumed with thoughts of Amber. Was he scared now? Was he in pain? Was he…I forced the thought away. I couldn't spiral. Not yet.Instead, I focused on Nikolai. On the way his hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly. On the rigid set of his shoulders.He'd come to the restaurant as he promised after he ensures his father is alright. I'd been so consumed with my own crisis that I hadn't even asked about his."Nikolai," I said softly, "how is your father? Did you get to see him?"The question hung in the air between us.Nikolai didn't respond.I looked at him more closely and felt my heart clench. His eyes we

#64

Chapter 64Kevin's POVI am doing this for my sister and my nephew.That's what I kept telling myself as I pulled into the hospital parking lot. The address Cynthia had forwarded me led to Missford General, a sprawling medical complex that I'd driven past a hundred times but never had reason to enter.Until now.I killed the engine and sat there for a moment, steeling myself. This wasn't going to be pleasant. Walking into Ethan Walker's territory, asking about a child they probably thought I had no right to care about, it was going to be a shitshow.But Cici needed me and Amber was my nephew, even if the world didn't know it yet.I got out of the car and walked into the lobby.The first people I noticed were Bryan and Devian, I had experienced them during the time I and Cynthia went to the Foie Gras Hot Dogs and overheard them talking. I knew these guys were assholes and I need to beware of them.Our eyes met across the sterile white space, and I watched recognition dawn on their face

#65

Chapter 65Cynthia's POVThe moment the plane touched down in Missford, I was already unbuckling my seatbelt.I hadn't slept. Despite Nikolai's words, despite Julian's medical advice, despite my own body screaming for rest — I couldn't. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Amber's face. Heard the words "hospital" echoing in my head.Nathaniel was waiting for me at the private terminal, leaning against his black Mercedes with his arms crossed. He looked as polished as ever but his eyes were soft with concern when he saw me."You look terrible," he said by way of greeting."Thanks," I muttered, climbing into the passenger seat. "Just what every woman wants to hear."He slid behind the wheel and pulled out of the airport. "I'm serious, Cici. When's the last time you slept? Or ate?""I'll sleep when I know Amber's okay."Nathaniel sighed but didn't push. He knew better.We drove in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again.“Was Kevin able to check on Amber?”Nathaniel gave a scoff, “

#66

Chapter 66Cynthia's POVJust as I was about to walk through the hospital entrance, I spotted Devian and Bryan, walking out through the automatic doors.I ducked behind a pillar, pressing myself against the cold concrete, my heart pounding.Why was I hiding? It wasn't as if I was a criminal. I had every right to be here… Amber was my son.But I still waited behind the pillar, watching them pass."...should've seen his face when security showed up," Devian was saying, laughing. "That pretty boy racer thought he could just waltz in here like he owned the place.""Drop it, Devian," Bryan said, his tone flat."I'm just saying…"Their voices faded as they walked toward the parking lot.I waited until they were out of sight before I moved. Then I took a steadying breath and walked into the hospital.The corridors were quiet at this hour, visiting hours were almost over. I followed the signs toward the pediatric ward and closer to whatever awaited me inside that room.I turned a corner and s

#67

Chapter 67Cynthia's POVI'd come all this way… flown across an ocean, abandoned my restaurant in crisis and I couldn't even bring myself to walk into my son's room.Pathetic.I pulled out my phone and called the security detail Nathaniel had arranged. "I'm ready to be picked up. Front entrance.""On our way, ma'am. Two minutes."I stood on the sidewalk, the cool evening air doing nothing to soothe the turmoil inside me. The black SUV appeared around the corner, pulling up to the curb.I was reaching for the door handle when I heard my name."Cynthia?"I froze and turned around.Matilda stood there in blue scrubs, a hospital ID badge clipped to her chest, her hair pulled back in a practical ponytail. She looked exhausted but her eyes were bright with surprise."Matilda?" I blinked, genuinely shocked. "What are you doing here?""I work here," she said, gesturing to her scrubsYeah right, she is a doctor, I didn’t even know she worked here.She stepped closer, her expression shifting to

#68

Chapter 68 Ethan's POV I walked back toward Amber's bed after Dr. Reyes finished explaining the medication schedule. Amber was sitting up now, his eyes brighter than they'd been since the surgery. There was color in his cheeks, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Dad," he said, his voice still weak but filled with something that sounded almost like joy. "Mom just left. She told me she loved me." I stopped mid-step. "What?" "Mom was here," Amber repeated. "She came to see me. She held my hand and kissed my forehead and told me she loved me no matter what." I stared at him, my mind racing. Had they given him something? Some kind of post-operative medication that was causing him to hallucinate? The anesthesia, maybe — sometimes it could cause confusion, vivid dreams that felt real. "Buddy," I said carefully, sitting on the edge of his bed. "I've been here the whole time. No one came in except the doctor." "She did," Amber insisted. "She was right here" My chest

#69

Chapter 69 Cynthia's POV I walked through the front door of the Laurent mansion feeling lighter than I had in days. I'd seen Amber. Held his hand. Kissed his forehead. Told him I loved him and he was happy to see me. That small victory was enough to carry me through the exhaustion, the jet lag, the emotional whiplash of the past hours. My son knew I loved him. Everything else could be figured out. The house was warm and alive when I entered. I could hear familiar, comforting voices that made me happier. My family was here. I found them gathered in the main sitting room. Nathaniel sat on one of the leather sofas, his arm draped casually around Helen, his wife, and there was Lily who was cooing on her mom’s laps. Kevin was sprawled in an armchair, his long legs stretched out in front of him. Julian sat more formally in another chair, his posture impeccable as always. And on the massive television screen mounted above the fireplace was my mother, Victoria Laurent. "Cynthia!" Vic

#70

Chapter 70Cynthia's POVI sat on my bed, the envelope containing the divorce papers resting on my bedside table like a ticking time bomb.How was I supposed to give them to him?Should I mail them? Have a lawyer deliver them formally? Hand them over in person?And more importantly, how would he react?Would he be glad? Relieved that I was finally setting him free so he could marry Anna and make their little family official? Maybe he'd even thank me for making it easy on him.Or would he be nonchalant about it? Indifferent, the way he'd been about everything during our years of marriage. Just sign the papers without a second glance, the same way he used to sign off on household expenses without ever looking at me.I stared at the envelope, my thoughts spiraling.The divorce documents didn't mention custody. I'd made sure of that. I had no plans to fight for Amber, not because I didn't want him, but because I knew the reality. Amber was closer to his father. He'd spent three years buil

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