All Chapters of Her Return, His Regret: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Lilian stepped out of the restroom, smoothing her blazer and forcing her expression back into calm, unshakable professionalism.And froze.Ethan stood at the entrance.Waiting.Silent. Still.Like a wall she couldn’t walk around—only crash into.Her heartbeat slammed violently against her ribs.For one brief, reckless second, memories threatened to surface. Then she turned sharply, heels clicking as she moved to walk away—But his hand shot out, gripping her wrist and yanking her back.“Don’t,” he said lowly.The single word landed like a command.She stopped.But she didn’t look at him.Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. He planted one hand against the wall beside her head, caging her between his body and the cold marble surface. The faint scent of his cologne—too familiar—cut through her defenses.“You’re really Lilian,” he said, his voice rough, almost disbelieving. “You hid it well. You disappeared like you never existed.”Slowly, she lifted her eyes to his.Cold. Sh

⭐ THE DOCTOR’S GAMEThe morning sun hadn’t fully touched the city skyline, but Alexandra’s sleek black car already gleamed under the early light as he stepped out in front of his office.The media pounced instantly, cameras flashing, microphones thrust forward.“Sir! About yesterday… was that real?”“Do you have any record of this woman?”“Why are you suddenly interested in the new doctor?”Alexandra’s lips curved into a small, confident smile. The kind of smile that said he had already won before the game had even started.“She’s special,” he said simply, his voice calm and unbothered.Then, without another word, he turned and walked into the building, leaving the reporters stunned, murmuring, and scribbling notes frantically.Meanwhile, Lilian arrived at the hospital, her mind a tangled mess of thoughts—her children, the banquet, Alexandra’s audacious move, and Ethan’s silent threat still echoing in the back of her mind.Heads turned the moment she stepped inside. Nurses whispered.

⭐ AFTER THE STORMThe car moved steadily through the quiet streets, streetlights flashing past the windows like fading thoughts, but Lilian felt completely lost inside it. Her hands rested in her lap, fingers curled tightly, as though holding herself together required effort.Alexandra glanced at her more than once. Each time, he saw the same thing—distance. Her silence wasn’t empty; it was heavy, the kind that came after too much had been said, and too much had been taken without permission.“Ethan…” he said at last, his voice careful, controlled. “Is he your husband?”Lilian turned to him slowly. Her eyes were tired, rimmed with pain, yet firm in a way that told him this was not a wound she would explain easily.“He’s my ex.”The word lingered between them.Alexandra paused, his grip tightening slightly on the steering wheel. “I’m sorry.”She nodded faintly, as if apologies had long lost their meaning. After a moment, she spoke again.“Please stop here.”He frowned, instinctively ch

Night had swallowed the city.Inside Ethan Brook’s mansion, everything was quiet—until the gates burst open.“ETHAN!”Lilian stormed inside like a hurricane, her heels striking the marble floor as tears blurred her vision.“Bring out my baby!”The guards rushed forward.“Ma’am, you can’t—”“Move!” she screamed.At the sound of her voice, Ethan froze upstairs.He rushed down.The moment he appeared, Lilian broke free from the guards and ran to him.Before he could speak—She shoved him.“How dare you kidnap my child, Ethan!”Ethan staggered.“What?”“Don’t pretend!” Lilian cried. “Bring out my son! Bring out Aiden right now!”Her voice echoed through the hall.“AIDEN!”She looked around wildly, hoping her voice would reach him if he was hidden somewhere.Ethan stared at her, confused, shaken.“Lilian… what are you talking about?”She pointed at him, trembling.“That is my child alone! You have no right! If you touch him, I swear I’ll drag you to court and destroy you!”Tears streamed d

SILENT TRAPS Lilian looked at the two men, her eyes filled with fear and exhaustion.“Can we really not do this now?” she asked weakly.Alexandra opened his mouth to answer, but Ethan had already reached for the car keys.“We’re taking my car,” Ethan said firmly.Alexandra studied him for a second, then nodded.“That’s fine.”Without another word, they walked out together and drove into the night.The moment they arrived at the location, hope didn’t disappear.It bled out slowly.The abandoned docks stretched endlessly before them, dark and lifeless under the pale moonlight.Rusty containers stood like graves.Broken crates rolled softly as the cold wind brushed past them.Too quiet.Dangerously quiet.Searchlights swept across the empty space.Left.Right.Again.Nothing.No child.No footprints.No sign of a struggle.Not even a distant cry carried by the wind.Only the sound of waves slamming gently against metal, as if the sea itself was whispering secrets.Lilian sat in the bac