The Billionaire Ex-Wife's Return (Cynthia and Ethan) novel Chapter 315

Chapter 315

Third Person POV

The Laurent mansion's grand living room was filled with people—family members, friends, the elderly couple who'd brought Ethan home—all talking over each other in a chaotic symphony of relief and joy.

Amber hadn't left his father's side, pressed against Ethan's leg like he was afraid his daddy would disappear if he moved too far away.

Ethan kept one hand on his son's shoulder, grounding himself in the physical reality of being home, while his other hand remained intertwined with Cynthia's.

He couldn't seem to let go of her.

Didn't want to let go.

After six months of desperately searching for her, having her here felt too precious to risk even a moment of separation.

Victoria Laurent swept into the room, her usual composure replaced with genuine emotion.

For a woman who'd made no secret of her disapproval of Ethan over the years — who'd blamed him for Cynthia's unhappiness, who'd urged her daughter to move on after just a few months, her reaction to seeing him alive was surprisingly warm.

"Ethan," she said, her voice thick with emotion.

She crossed the room and pulled him into an embrace that was both unexpected and slightly awkward given her history of coolness toward him.

"I'm so glad you're alive," Victoria said. "So glad. Cynthia has been… she's been…"

Her voice broke slightly.

"I know," Ethan said quietly. "I'm sorry she had to go through that."

Victoria pulled back, composing herself quickly.

"Well," she said, a small smile appearing on her face. "At least now that you're back, Cynthia can go back to normal. And you two can remarry. Properly this time."

She gestured around the room at the assembled family.

"I've only gotten to experience one of my children's weddings so far," she continued. "Nathaniel's. And I would very much like to see the rest of them get married as well."

The room fell silent.

Uncomfortably, heavily silent.

Cynthia's eyes immediately found Nathaniel's across the room.

Her brother's expression was tight, pained…clearly Victoria didn't know yet about Julian.

That conversation was inevitable and would probably shatter whatever joy this reunion had brought.

Nathaniel gave a small, almost imperceptible shake of his head.

Not now.

Cynthia understood.

This wasn't the time to deal with family drama about Julian's sexuality.

Today was about Ethan coming home.

Everything else could wait.

She squeezed Ethan's hand and changed the subject quickly.

"Carmen, Miguel," she said, turning to the elderly couple who'd been standing quietly near the entrance, clearly overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Laurent mansion. "You're not planning to drive all the way back to your farm tonight, are you?"

"Speaking of medical attention," he said, looking at Julian. "Maybe someone should actually check Ethan over? Make sure there's no serious damage from whatever fight he got into or his stay in a farm?"

Julian stepped forward immediately, his doctor instincts overriding whatever emotional turmoil he was dealing with regarding Nathaniel.

"I'd be happy to," Julian said. "Six months without proper medical supervision after a gunshot wound is... concerning. We should do a full examination."

"It can wait," Ethan started to protest.

"No, it can't," Cynthia said firmly, using the tone that meant she wasn't going to argue about this. "Julian's going to check you over. Make sure everything's healing properly. End of discussion."

Ethan looked at her, saw the determined expression on her face, and apparently decided this wasn't a battle worth fighting.

"Fine," he said. "But later. After I've had a chance to just... be here.."

Cynthia pulled out her phone, already scrolling through her contacts.

"I should call Mrs. Daniels and Mr. Lan at the Walker mansion," she said. "They've been keeping the house maintained all this time, waiting for you to come home. They'll be thrilled to hear you're back."

She looked up at Ethan.

"They never gave up hope," she added quietly. "Even when everyone else was telling them to accept that you were gone, they kept the house ready. Kept your things exactly as you left them."

Ethan's expression softened with emotion.

"I can't wait to go home," he said.

But the way he looked at Cynthia when he said it—the intensity in his eyes, the slight upturn of his lips—made it clear he wasn't just talking about the physical house.

Cynthia felt heat rise in her cheeks, a blush spreading across her face despite her best efforts to control it.

Because she knew exactly what he meant.