All Chapters of The billionaire ex-wife: we have a child: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Ethan Carter POVCole arrived within the hour, a tablet in hand, the address Theo had sent already pulled up on a map.“It’s a private property,” he said, spreading the image across the table. “Set back from the road, surrounded by trees. Hard to approach without being seen which works against us, but it also means whoever’s there feels safe. Comfortable.”“Sienna,” I said.“Most likely. But Ethan” Cole looked up. “We don’t move on this carelessly. If she has people working with her Vanessa, Dylan, whoever else going in loud could spook them. We need to know exactly who’s there and what we’re dealing with before anyone sets foot near that property.”“How long?”“Surveillance first. Twenty-four hours, minimum. I’ll have someone watching the property by tonight.” He looked between Aria and me. “I know that’s not what either of you wants to hear.”“It’s not,” Aria said quietly. “But I understand it.”“In the meantime,” Cole continued, “Mason stays here. Fully secured. No school, no o

Ethan Carter POVThe call came at 3 a.m.I was already awake. Since the photo, sleep only came in small pieces. So I answered before the second ring.“Cole.”“They’re moving.” His voice was tight. Urgent. In a way I had never heard before. “All three vehicles just left the property. Different directions.”I was already sitting up and reaching for my clothes.“Splitting up?”“Looks like it. One is heading toward the city center. One is going toward the highway. One ” he paused. “ One is heading toward Richard’s house.”My blood turned cold.“How far out?”“Fifteen minutes. Maybe less.”“I’m calling Aria now.”I was already moving. I pulled on my shirt with the phone pressed against my ear.“Get your people ready.”“Already moving. Ethan ”“What?”“Don’t wake the whole house in a panic. If this is what it looks like, we need to move fast and quiet. No chaos.”“Understood.”I hung up and called Aria right away.I took the stairs two at a time even though my ribs screamed in pain.She a

Ethan Carter POVThe blinking dot on the screen had not moved for six minutes.“They’ve stopped,” I said.I watched the screen over Aria’s shoulder.Cole was driving.His hands were tight on the wheel.His knuckles were white.He was taking turns at speeds that should have scared me.But I did not even notice.“Those coordinates match a property about ten minutes away,” Cole said. “It’s a house. Quiet street. Theo is pulling records now.”My phone buzzed.Theo.He was calling instead of texting.That told me everything before he even spoke.“Talk to me,” I said, putting him on speaker.“The house belongs to Sienna’s aunt,” Theo said.His voice was fast.Like he was running his own race against time.“The property has been in the family for years. It’s mostly empty. They use it as a vacation house. Nobody would think to look there.”“Except us,” I said.“Except you,” Theo agreed.“I’m sending the layout now. Floor plan from county records. Two stories. A basement. Detached garage.”“

Aria Bennett POVOne week passed before life started to feel normal again.Mason went back to school on Monday, almost shaking with excitement. His dinosaur napkin now laminated because of Harper, who said it was “a historical treasure” was carefully put inside his backpack.“Are the bug spies still watching?” he asked at breakfast, like it was nothing important.I almost choked on my coffee. “What?”“Theo said there were bug spies. Are they gone now?”“Yes, baby. All gone.”“Good,” he said happily, then went back to his cereal like he didn’t just scare me a little.Harper, sitting across the table, was trying hard not to laugh.“Don’t,” I said.“I didn’t say anything.”“You were thinking it loudly.”She laughed and went back to her phone, which had been ringing and buzzing all morning more than usual.“Who keeps texting you?” I asked.She suddenly became still. “No one.”“Harper.”“It’s nothing.”“Harper Lane.”She sighed and put the phone down. “Oliver. He has asked me to dinn

Aria Bennett POVHarper came home from her dinner with Oliver glowing in a way I hadn’t seen in years.“So?” I asked the moment she stepped inside. She kicked off her heels and let out a soft, happy sigh.“So,” she said, dropping onto the couch beside me, “he apologized again. Properly this time. He told me everything he wished he had done differently. And then he just… listened. For three hours. No excuses. No fixing. Just listening.”“And?”“And I think I might actually forgive him,” she said, like she was still surprised by her own words. “Is that crazy?”“It’s not crazy,” I said. “It’s been four years, Harper. People can change.”She smiled and tucked her feet under her. “He asked to see me again. Saturday.”“And what did you say?”“I said yes before he even finished talking.” She laughed at herself. “I sound ridiculous.”“You sound happy,” I said. “I haven’t seen you like this in a long time.”She looked at me more gently now. “What about you? How are things with Ethan?”I pau