The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 25: My Fault

Without a word, he reached for her, his hands gently cupping her face. Her wet lashes fluttered, and for the first time since he entered, she looked at him.

"I’m here," Ethan whispered, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks. "You don’t have to say anything. Just... let me be here."

Mara blinked, fresh tears spilling down her face.

And then, finally, she let out a sob.

Ethan pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as the water cascaded over both of them. He didn’t care about the soaked clothes, didn’t care about anything except the woman trembling in his arms.

"I’ve got you, baby," he murmured against her hair, his own eyes stinging with emotion. "I’ve got you."

Mara let herself be held. And for the first time, Ethan truly understood what it meant to be afraid of losing someone.

"Forgive me, please. I’m sorry," Ethan murmured, his gaze finally locking onto Mara’s alluring eyes the same eyes he hadn’t dared to meet for hours. He missed them. Missed her.

Mara didn’t have the energy to protest. She simply watched him, her silence speaking louder than words.

Ethan leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against her lips as he took off his wet shirt and undone his belt and zip. Mara didn’t respond much, but that wasn’t his biggest concern. He wanted to finish what he had started that afternoon, but once again, he found himself facing the same invisible wall.

This time, he didn’t retreat. Instead, he let out a quiet, frustrated sigh and gently guided Mara’s hand to the scar from his surgery.

Mara watched him closely, sensing his hesitation. Something was wrong.

"The surgery..." Ethan finally admitted, his voice low and uncertain. "They told me it might affect the quality of my sperm. I knew that. But what I didn’t expect was that it would affect this too. No matter how hard I try, I just... can’t."

Mara blinked, surprised. She hadn’t considered that possibility. Maybe she wasn’t ready for kids yet, anyway. She had always resented her parents for bringing her into a world they couldn’t protect her from.

A part of her felt like this was punishment divine justice for not being more eager to be a mother. But if she was struggling with that thought, she could only imagine what it was doing to Ethan. He had always wanted to be a dad.

"So it’s not you," he continued, holding his breath. "You have no idea what I want to do to you right now."

Mara’s heart clenched. He looked so vulnerable, so frustrated.

"I didn’t run away from you," Ethan admitted. "I was just... too embarrassed to face you."

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.

"Hey," she whispered against his shoulder. "The doctor said it’ll only take a few days, so don’t be sad." freёwebnoѵel.com

Ethan let out a small chuckle, tilting her chin up and tracing his fingers along her face. His touch was warm, familiar.

At least now, Mara knew she wasn’t the problem. There was no other woman. He still loved her. And for now, that was enough.

Mara let out a soft cough, the warmth of the running shower beginning to feel heavy on her skin.

"I think it’s time to get out of here," Ethan said, reaching for a towel. He gently dried her off before wrapping her in her robe, then scooped her up and carried her back to their bed.

She settled against the pillows, but her mind was anything but at rest. There were questions ones she couldn’t ignore any longer.

"Tell me the truth," she started, watching him carefully. "Were you in a hurry to get married because you wanted someone to carry your baby?"

Ethan froze mid-motion, nearly choking on his breath. He had promised to be honest with her no more hiding.

"Not entirely," he admitted, voice steady but soft. "When I met you, I knew you were the one. The one I wanted to build a life with. The one I wanted to raise our child with. But believe me, it wasn’t out of desperation. Never doubt what I feel for you or what we have."

Mara studied his face, searching for any hint of hesitation, but there was none.

"And what if you could have children," she asked, her voice quieter now, "but I wasn’t ready to have a baby?"

"The first time we met, I already knew you weren’t ready," Ethan murmured, his voice laced with quiet sadness. "But that doesn’t matter now, right?"

A small, almost broken whimper escaped him, and Mara’s chest tightened with guilt.

"Yes, but if I had known we could—"

Before she could finish, Ethan silenced her with a soft kiss, his lips lingering against hers.

"Is my baby girl feeling sorry for me now?" he teased gently, resting his forehead against hers. "I love you, Mara. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and that’s all that matters."

Mara exhaled, tension melting just a little, but there was still one thing nagging at her.

"Okay," she said, eyes narrowing slightly. "What else have you hidden from me?"

Ethan’s heart stuttered.

"That’s it. No more secrets," he said, forcing his voice to stay steady.

Mara studied him, her gaze sharp. "No more secrets, Ethan. Don’t hide anything from me again. Even though I can’t shake the feeling that all of this was planned, I do know you love me. You’ve made me feel like I belong, and I trust you. But just so we’re clear this is the last time I’ll forgive you for keeping something from me."

Ethan swallowed hard and nodded.

"I promise. No more secrets," he said, praying that the one secret left never saw the light of day.

"Now that you’re no longer mad at me, can we seriously talk about Bruce?" Ethan said, his voice firm. "Please, don’t get close to him just to make me jealous. You have no idea what happened to me when I saw you two together."

Mara smiled to herself. So that’s why I felt someone watching me earlier.

"I would never try to make you jealous," she reassured him. "Bruce works at the firm, and we’re just starting to be friends."

Ethan frowned. "I don’t like it. I really don’t like the way he looks at you. I might just pluck those eyes of his right out."

Mara laughed. "No, you wouldn’t."

She sighed in contentment, nestled in Ethan’s arms, where everything finally felt right again.

"Yes, I would," Ethan murmured with a smirk, tightening his hold on her. He was just glad the day ended with him exactly where he belonged wrapped around his beloved wife.

Mara, feeling playful, let her fingers trace slow, deliberate patterns along his body before lowering her hand just enough to send a shiver down his spine.

Ethan sucked in a breath, his muscles tensing.

"You’re being a bad girl, Mara," he whispered, trying and failing to control the excitement building inside him.

Unbeknownst to them, Maria-Isabel stood just outside the door, her heart twisting painfully at the soft giggles drifting from inside the room. This wasn’t what she had expected at all. A mix of hurt and anger surged through her, and before she realized it, her fingers curled into fists, nails digging so hard into her palms that they nearly broke the skin.

"How could he?" The thought burned through her mind like wildfire.

"What are you doing there?"

The sudden voice shattered her spiraling thoughts, making Maria jolt as if she had been caught in the middle of a crime.