Rebirth: The New Bride Wants A Divorce-Chapter 204: Bunny ears

"What do you mean, Dad?" Ethan asked, his expression sharpening with seriousness.

Marcus didn’t respond immediately.

For years, he had lived with a quiet shadow trailing behind him—Stephane’s. His ex-wife.

She’d always been the epitome of elegance, success, and composure. A woman who could walk into a boardroom and command it effortlessly.

Someone sharper, smarter, and more capable in business than him. And that more than anything had been the crack in their marriage.

Stephane’s strength had always overshadowed his. Her confidence made him feel small.

Her competence made him feel replaceable. And every time she took charge, Marcus felt like he was losing grip on his own home.

Even after the divorce, that feeling never left him. If anything, it intensified.

Because Stephane still had influence over Ethan’s life. She still made decisions.

She still stepped ahead before he could.She still had a hold on their son in a way Marcus never managed to.

And that bitterness crept up again now.

Marcus exhaled deeply and leaned back in his chair, trying to veil the insecurities flickering in his eyes.

But Ethan caught them anyway clear as daylight. There was more to this request than Marcus was willing to admit.

"You can’t agree with her. You are my son" he muttered leaving Ethan speechless.

For years, throughout his childhood, Ethan had never truly understood his father.

To him, Marcus had always been that proud, rigid man who needed control over everything—especially Ethan’s life.

Partly because Ethan was his only son, the sole heir to the empire he built...

And partly because of the deep inferiority Marcus carried toward Stephane.

He had never hesitated not even when he took Ethan’s custody and let Stephane walk away with nothing, but some money that could help her survive.

That single act had defined Ethan’s childhood more than anything else.

"I won’t agree with her," Ethan said suddenly, snapping Marcus out of his spiraling thoughts. A flicker of hope lit up Marcus’s eyes.

"But that doesn’t mean I’ll agree with you either."

And just like that the hope vanished instantly.

"Because if anything, this life is mine," Ethan continued, his voice steady and sharp. "And I decide who I choose. Not you. Not her."

Marcus’s face fell, the disappointment clear and even painful.

"So if you’re doing all this so she won’t win... then hear this, Dad." Ethan stood, straightening his posture.

"I won’t let you win either." and then he turned to walk away. But halfway to the door, something made him stop.

He paused, then slowly turned back to face his father.

Marcus Helmsworth, an empire in human form now sat frozen, his jaw clenched, rage simmering beneath his skin.

Ethan looked at him, truly looked at him, and for the first time in years, allowed his own buried emotions to surface.

"Dad," he said quietly, "have you ever loved me? Or was I just a successor to secure your business?"

Marcus’s breath hitched—barely noticeable, but it was there.

Ethan rarely showed emotion. He had learned to mask everything if not for real life, then at least for the sake of his acting career.

But childhood trauma was different. Those wounds didn’t vanish. They festered until he lost hope in love.

And standing there, facing the man who had shaped his loneliness, Ethan felt that shudder again, the same one he used to feel as a boy.

Because in his jealousy, Marcus hadn’t just separated him from his mother. He had tried to mold Ethan into something cold, calculating, and heartless individual that someone that Ethan despised.

Someone exactly like him.

Marcus’s jaw tightened, his eyes turning red with restrained emotion—but he stayed silent.

As if he had no answer.As if he couldn’t give one even if he tried. And just like that, he watched his son walk away again... leaving him with nothing but the familiar sting of disappointment.

***

Ethan stopped in front of his car, one hand resting heavily on the roof as he exhaled shakily.

He had been holding back his anger for too long, swallowing every emotion in front of his father.

Now that he was finally alone, the restraint crumbled.

His eyes burned, moisture gathering as he tried to steady his breathing. But the moment he felt it slipping, he became aware of the people passing by—and the last thing he wanted was to be seen breaking down in front of the servants.

So he quickly unlocked the car and slipped inside, shutting the door with a soft thud that echoed louder in his chest than it did in the air outside.

Without another second’s hesitation, he started the engine and drove off— searching for the one place that might give him the peace he desperately needed.

***

Ethan had no idea how long he had been driving for he only knew one thing—his condo was the last place he wanted to go.

He didn’t want to face his mother neither want to answer her questions nor want to pretend he was fine.

So he kept driving without a destination, letting the city blur past him, until his hands eventually slowed on the wheel... and the car came to a stop.

Only then did he realize where he was.

The same place he had first met Anna.

His eyes softened slightly as a memory flickered before him—

Anna throwing herself in front of a speeding car to save a child, her recklessness earning her injuries she brushed off as "nothing."

Thinking about it now, Ethan couldn’t help the sigh that escaped him.

"She’s always been reckless," he muttered to himself realizng how much he appreciated it and also not.

And then, with an involuntary shake of his head, he recalled yet another memory— Anna walking straight into the sea, completely immersed in her fictional character, as if reality didn’t exist.

"No wonder she walked into the sea just to make sure she was actually living her role," he said under his breath, trying to shake off the heaviness in his thoughts.

The reason why he felt connected with Anna was for the life they both lived, being ignored by their parents. So even when he was alone at times, over the years her thoughts kept crossing her mind.

Slowly, he stepped out of the car. Knowing this area well enough—there was a park nearby. And right now, the sound of children playing felt like the closest thing to peace he could grasp.

So he pulled on his mask, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked toward the cheerful noises drifting through the air.

Toward a little bit of calm after a storm.

***

[Back at the amusement park]

After finishing their meal, Anna had no energy left to play any more games.But there was still one thing she absolutely wanted to try.

The carousel.

"Are you sure you won’t puke?" Daniel asked, skeptically eyeing her as she beelined toward the ride.

Instead of answering, Anna simply grabbed his wrist and dragged him toward the huge spinning attraction.

It was the last ride she wanted to experience before leaving the place where she’d made so many unexpected memories with him today.

"Wait—hold on," Anna said suddenly, halting in her tracks.

Rummaging through one of the bags Daniel was holding, her eyes lit up.

"Aha!"

She triumphantly pulled out two bunny-ear headbands she had bought earlier.

"Let’s wear them" she announced happily.

Daniel’s lips tightened. He immediately leaned back, blocking her attempt to place one on his head.

"That’s for kids," he said flatly.

Even with her mask on, Daniel could feel the displeasure radiating from her.

"Who said only kids wear them? Look around!" Anna retorted, pointing at the crowd.

Daniel reluctantly turned his head. And sure enough, almost every couple heading toward the carousel was wearing cute headbands, matching accessories, or taking adorable pictures together.

Daniel stared at them, then at Anna, then back at them, each realization hitting him like a slow, painful slap to his pride.

He looked utterly defeated. Because he cared about his image— and these bunny ears were a direct threat to it.

"Still... I’m not wearing them." He crossed his arms stubbornly, imagining all the ways he would look ridiculous.

Anna, however, didn’t hesitate.

"Fine," she said coldly. "Then let’s call it a day. If you don’t wear this, I’m leaving."

Daniel froze.

"..."

His proud, intimidating aura cracked just a little. And Anna knew she had him exactly where she wanted him.

Daniel stared at her, genuinely stunned.

"You’re... leaving? Because of bunny ears?" he asked slowly, as if trying to understand this new, terrifying level of Anna Logic.

Anna crossed her arms, tapping her foot."Exactly."

Daniel looked from her... to the bunny ears... to the carousel... then back to her again.

His pride screamed no.His heart — unfortunately — whispered put them on before she actually leaves you, you idiot.

With a long, suffering sigh, he reached out and snatched one of the headbands from her hand.

"Fine." His voice was low, resigned, and dramatic like a king being forced to relinquish his crown.

Anna’s eyes glittered with triumph as she giggled.

Daniel lifted the bunny ears... paused... then reluctantly placed them on his head.They perched there innocently, the pink tips bouncing slightly.

Anna clapped her hands in delight. "Cute!"

Daniel’s soul left his body.

"Don’t—call me—cute," he muttered, but the damage was done.

Anna quickly put on her own headband, the pastel ears sitting perfectly atop her hair. Then she grabbed his hand tightly, as if afraid he’d run and pulled him toward the carousel.

A nearby couple glanced at Daniel... did a double-take... and then their jaws dropped.

"Isn’t that—?"

"No way—does he know he looks that adorable—?"

Daniel’s ears turned red beneath the headband.

Anna, however, walked proudly beside him, chin high, hand in his.

Because today, Daniel Clafford, the cold CEO, the man who terrified half the business world —was wearing bunny ears for her.

And she wasn’t about to waste a single second of it.