The Return of The Zillionaire Heir

Chapter 10: Sweet Like Cake

 

Quietly, Ethan slipped back outside. He hastened his steps and reached Marco’s bedroom on time. And then he planted the brown envelope with Bella’s hospital reports inside his dresser.

 

He didn’t want to think about the situation he had just witnessed. It gave him a hard headache. What a mess!

 

Just as he came, Ethan returned to the crowd downstairs, acting like he hadn’t just snuck his way into the couple’s bedroom without an invitation.

 

There was a slight problem. Nadia wouldn’t be able to accomplish her part of the task at hand. It made him restless because all of this would be pointless if Marco didn’t end up reading the report.

 

Someone blocked his path, causing him to scowl at the familiar face.

 

“Bored of your new life already, Bella?”

 

She glowered at him. “Are you out of your mind? How dare you bring a whore into my home?”

 

He was mad in a split second. No one had the right to speak about Nadia in that manner, especially a woman whose moral compass was definitely on the wrong side.

 

“You mean Aaron Walton’s ward?” His withering voice put her in check. “The old man will cut you in half if he hears what you just said about his precious.”

 

“And what about you? What will you do?” She tipped her chin, challenging him with that flare of darkness in her gaze.

 

“I might consider cutting you in half, but a bodyguard doesn’t have much power.” He chose his words carefully.

 

Bella scoffed. “She’s too young for you, idiot. Aaron Walton will uncover your mask before you deceive his ward into believing your lie.”

 

“What lie?” He arched a brow.

 

“That you love her.” She gave him a look that should have made him see himself as despicable. “Ethan, we all know you are just looking for the next rich woman to latch onto for support, like you did me.”

 

Hurt spread through his chest like poison. Rapid and lethal. His jaw set in anger. He couldn’t believe that she had just trashed what they had in one sentence.

 

"I am not sure I understand what you are saying, Bella. I loved you. I never asked for your fucking money."

 

She released a shaky breath at the sincerity in his voice. Her eyes fell to the floor when she couldn’t take it anymore.

 

He added, “You meant more to me than wealth."

 

“I’m sorry that the feeling wasn’t mutual.”

 

“Yeah, it’s a shame that it wasn’t.” His icy glare lacked traces of humanity.

 

Their eyes met again. For some reason, they had one thing in common. Hidden tears. Ethan looked away first, and then the stage lit up, and the host announced that the couple had prepared a special video for tonight.

 

It began playing, and Ethan’s heart sank at the first word he heard.

 

“Three years ago, I married a man who knew nothing about love and security. He never supported our family with a  dime."Bella’s voice in the video couldn’t be mistaken.

 

It was hers.

 

“What the fuck is this?” Ethan ran a hand over his face, momentarily embarrassed. He could swear that he hadn’t seen this crazy twist coming. “You really hate me this much, huh? I mean, cheating wasn’t enough for you. You’d rather lie, Bella?” He squinted, genuinely awed and in thought over the deflating moment.

 

Bella stuttered. “Ethan, I-I ca-can."

 

“Ethan!”

 

That was Nadia. She marched towards where they stood. Her face was hot with angry tears that she suppressed.

 

It shocked Ethan to see that she had shed tears for him. He was really that pathetic.

 

There was only one woman alive who could make him feel this terrible. His ex-wife.

 

“Can you believe these people?” She thrashed her hands angrily in the air until her eyes landed on Bella.

 

They turned feral. Ethan had to stand in between them.

 

“Nadia—“

 

“Bitch! You don’t deserve the air you breathe. You are so fucking evil!” Nadia screamed at Bella, but Ethan muffled the sounds with the hand he placed over her mouth. “Whore! Why don’t you tell them all that you cheated on the innocent man you claimed wasn’t good to you?"

 

“Nadia, I’m warning you." Ethan growled.

 

But her eyes still popped with that incensed fire in them. She fought against his hold and escaped, grabbing onto Bella’s hair.

 

Nadia pulled like a nutjob. Ethan didn’t know if it was because she was so small and crazy that she could easily slip out of his hands.

 

“Ahhh!” Bella screamed, tugging on Ethan’s arm to save her from the girl.

 

Eventually, all eyes turned on them as their fight moved into the main arena. It was messy, all happening in quick flashes.

 

One minute they were clawing at each other, and the next thing Ethan knew was that they had collided into something really soft.

And then the ten-step engagement cake cushioned their fall.