The Secret Pregnancy of the Billionaire's Ex-Wife

Chapter 280 Ex-Wife Chapter 280: A Christmas Proposal Angela Pov This Christmas dinner feels different-warmer, fuller, like everyone's trying to make up for the mess of the past few days.

The table's crowded with food, and every dish has a story.

Dad made his usual roast chicken, crispy and golden, the way he's done since I was a kid.

Victoria brought a creamy potato casserole, her specialty. Even Alexander and Sean, who barely step foot in a kitchen, pitched in- Alexander with a lumpy but tasty vegetable stew, and Sean with a pata dish that's a little too salty but no one complains about.

Ethan and Aria helped with dessert, a tray of chocolate cookies they shaped themselves, slopsided, sperfect, all sprinkled with red and green sugar.

We eat and talk, the kids chattering over each other, the adults laughing at old stories.

My head still aches a little, but being home, surrounded by this, makes it bearable. After the plates are cleared, we move to the living room. The Christmas tree glows in the corner, lights bouncing off the ornaments.

Aria and Ethan dive into their pile of gifts-books, toys, a new sketchpad for Ethan, a doll with a sparkly dress for Aria. They rip through the wrapping paper, squealing with every new thing, and I can't help but smile. Sean stands by the tree, reaching up to the top where Ethan hung their special gift for me. "Here it is," he says, handinga small box wrapped in red paper with a lopsided bow.

1. 1.

I peel the paper off and open the lid. Inside are two little clay figures, about the size of my palm. They're rough around the edges, the faces smudged, but I can tell who they are. One has black hair and amber eyes-me. The other has black hair too, with green eyes-Sean.

My breath catches. They're us, made by tiny hands that see us together.

"Mommy, there's more!" Aria says, bouncing on her knees. I look under the figures and find a folded card. I pull it out, opening it carefully. The handwriting is wobbly but clear: To our dear Mommy and Daddy, Merry Christmas! We wish you happy forever.

Love, Aria and Ethan Below the words is a drawing-four stick figures on a grassy field, holding hands. Me, Sean, Aria, Ethan. A family.

My throat tightens, and I blink hard to keep the tears back. I glance at Sean, and he's not even trying to hide it- his eyes are wet, shining under the tree lights.

He slides an arm around my shoulders, pullingclose, and buries his face in my neck. His breath is warm against my skin, shaky, like he's trying to keep it together. I don't pull away. I just let him hold me, feeling the weight of the moment.

Victoria clears her throat, breaking the silence, with a playful huff. "What about me? Don't I get a gift from my grandkids?" she says, pretending to pout.

Aria giggles and jumps up, running over to plant a big kiss on Victoria's cheek. "Next time, Grandma, we'll make you a bigger one! 1/3 Chapter 280. A Christmas Proposaland Ethan worked really hard on these.

Ethan nods, serious. It took us two days." Giulia grins, tapping her own cheek. "I want a kiss too, Arla." Aria ofiges, hopping over to peck Giulia's face, and the room fills with soft laughter.

It's simple, sweet, and for a second, I forget the mess of the past week-the hospital, Christina, the memories that hitlike a storm.

Then Sean shifts beside me, letting go of my shoulders. "I've got something for you too," he says, his voice quieter now, almost nervous. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small velvet box My heart stumbles, a quick thud against my ribs. He drops to one knee in front of me, right there by the tree, and the room goes still. Even the kids stop giggling, staring wide-eyed.

He opens the box, and inside is a diamond ring. It's not huge, but it catches the light, sparkling against the dark velvet. I lean closer and see it-the inside of the band has my netched into it, Angela, in tiny, careful letters.

My chest tightens again, but this tit's different-fear, hope, love all mixed up.

"Marry me," Sean says, looking up at me. His eyes are steady, but his hands shake a little holding the box. "I know! screwed u up before, But I'm here now, Angie. I want us-me, you, Aria, Ethan. A family. For real this time." I can't breathe right. My mind's a mess-five years of hurt crashing against the past few days of him being here, trying. The hot spring, the hospital, last night in my bed-it's all spinning.

I don't know what to say, what to feel. The room's watching, waiting, and I'm stuck, my hands trembling in my lap.

Then Aria pipes up, breaking the silence. She reaches over, plucking the ring from the box.

"It's so pretty, Mommy! Don't you like it?" She holds it out to me, her little fingers curling around it, and then presses it into my hand. The cool metal brushes my skin, and I look at her bright eyes, so sure, so simple. The others jump in, their voices overlapping.

"Say yes!" Victoria claps, grinning. Dad joins in, his hands smacking together. Giulia's laughing, chanting it too- "Say yes! Say yes!" Ethan just watches, quiet, but his small smile says enough.

I look around at them-my family, my kids, all these people who've seenLe through everything. Then I look at Sean still on one knee, his face tight with hope and fear. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, and close my fingers around the ring. "Sean..." I start, my voice shaky. He tenses, like he's bracing for a no. "I'm not saying it's easy. Or that I'm over it all. But I want to try. So... yes." Chapter Comments LIKE POST COMMENT NOW