The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 40: Worse fear

Ethan reached Mara’s office, but he didn’t bother knocking. He pushed the door open, his presence filling the room as he stepped inside. Mara looked up from her desk, her expression calm but guarded. She didn’t seem surprised to see him.

"Ethan," she said, her voice steady. "What do you want?"

He slammed the torn papers onto her desk, his eyes blazing. "What is this, Mara? Do you think you can just end us like this? Without even talking to me?"

Mara leaned back in her chair, her gaze unwavering. "I already talked to you, Ethan. I told you what I wanted. You didn’t listen."

"I’m listening now," he said, his voice softening. "Mara, please. Don’t do this. We can fix this. I’ll do whatever it takes."

Mara stood, her hands resting on the desk as she met his gaze. "You can’t fix this, Ethan. Some things are broken beyond repair. And this... this is one of them."

Ethan’s chest tightened, his desperation growing. "I love you, Mara. You’re my wife. I’m not giving up on us."

Mara’s eyes flicked to the torn papers on her desk, then back to him. "You already did, Ethan. The moment you fell in love with my best friend, you gave up on us. Now, please leave."

"You’re still angry. I get that," Ethan said, his voice softer than before. "But Mara, I’ll give you space—whatever you need."

He exhaled, searching her face for any sign of hope. But she remained still, her expression unreadable.

"Forget about the divorce," he continued, his tone turning firm. "I already fired the person who drafted the papers, and anyone else who tries to represent you will meet the same fate." He stepped closer, his eyes dark with resolve. "You are mine, Mara. And in this lifetime, you can only be mine."

Silence stretched between them, thick with everything left unsaid.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked out, the weight of guilt pressed down on Ethan’s shoulders like a leaden cloak, but beneath it burned a resolve that refused to be extinguished. She was his. No matter the mistakes, no matter the distance, he wasn’t going to let her go. The thought anchored him, even as the chaos of his emotions threatened to pull him under.

Back in his office, Steph and Lucy stood near the door, their exchanged glance a silent conversation Ethan didn’t have the patience to decode. Lucy’s voice broke the silence, sharp with curiosity and something else that sounded too much like hurt. "What’s going on, Ethan? The partners are talking." Her words were careful, and measured, but her eyes betrayed her. She was searching for answers, for reassurance, for anything that would make sense of the rumors swirling around him.

Ethan sank into his chair, his gaze fixed on the files scattered across his desk. "Since when has my personal life been anyone’s concern?" The words came out colder than before, a defensive shield he couldn’t help but raise. He didn’t owe anyone an explanation, not even Lucy, who had always been there for him.

Her voice softened, a plea wrapped in concern. "Ethan..." She took a step closer, her presence a familiar comfort he didn’t need. She wanted to help, to be the confidant she’d always been, but he couldn’t let her in. Not when his mind was a storm of regret and determination, swirling around the one person who mattered most his wife.

"Please leave. I have work to do," he said, his tone final, his eyes never leaving the papers in front of him. Steph placed a hand on Lucy’s arm and gently guided her out of the room, casting one last glance at Ethan before closing the door behind them.

Alone at last, Ethan leaned back in his chair, the leather creaking as he swiveled to face the floor-to-ceiling windows. The city sprawled out before him, but his thoughts were far away, consumed by Mara who had walked out of his life. His wife. The word divorce echoed in his mind, a reminder of what he had and what he stood to lose.

He had made mistakes. Too many to count. But he wasn’t ready to give up. Not on her. Not on them. His mind raced, plotting as if this were the most important deal of his life. And in a way, it was. This wasn’t about contracts or mergers or bottom lines. This was about the love of his life. About redemption. About proving to her that he was worth a second chance.

Ethan drummed his fingers on the armrest, a rhythm of determination. He would win her back, no matter the cost. She was his, and he wouldn’t let her go.

The day dragged on. Mara threw herself into her work, trying to focus on anything but the mess her life had become with Ethan refusing to sign the divorce papers and the fact that she got an innocent person to lose her job weight on her.

Every now and then, her mind would wander to Ethan, to Maria, to the life she was trying to leave behind. She felt a pang of guilt for leaving Mrs. Morgan without a proper goodbye, but she couldn’t face the kind older woman right now. Not when she was still hurt. She needed to find a lawyer who wasn’t scared of Ethan and certainly, the Anderson law firm isn’t the place to look.

During her lunch break, Mara ordered food for herself while eating she tried to figure out how to move her things out of the mansion without running into Ethan. The thought of facing him again made her stomach churn.

As the workday finally came to an end, Mara packed up her things and stepped outside. The cool evening air brushed against her skin, but it wasn’t the breeze that made her shiver rather it was the four men standing by their cars, all watching her.

They were handsome, well-dressed, and radiated the kind of wealth and power she had learned to fear.

Mara ignored their lingering gazes, tightening her grip on her bag. She had learned her lesson to stay away from rich, charming men. They brought nothing but heartbreak. Without a second glance, she turned in the opposite direction, ready to leave.

"Mara, please wait."

A deep voice called after her, stopping her in her tracks.

She turned slowly, her heart hammering in her chest as the three other men followed suit. But then, her eyes landed on one familiar face—her doctor.

Her breath hitched.

Her hand instinctively went to her flat stomach.

Why was he here? Was something wrong with her test results? And why was he delivering them in person?

Her pulse quickened as a sickening fear coiled in her stomach.

"Doctor," she whispered, her voice barely steady. "Please... is everything okay with my test results?" Before the doctor could respond, one of the men suddenly pulled Mara into a warm embrace.

She stiffened, her mind struggling to process what was happening. His touch was gentle, yet firm, as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"Come, I’ll explain everything," he whispered against her ear.

Mara was dazed, uncertain. Her body screamed at her to pull away, but her mind was consumed with a single thought—her test results. If he had answers, she needed to hear them.

After a brief hesitation, she followed him to the car.

Meanwhile, Ethan rushed outside, determined to take Mara home. But the moment his eyes landed on her, his breath caught in his throat.

A tall, striking man had her in his arms, holding her close, his face buried in the crook of her neck.

Ethan’s vision blurred with rage.

His teeth clenched so hard his jaw ached, his fists curling at his sides.

Who the hell was he?

Then, he saw one of the men leading Mara toward the car, his arm protectively wrapped around her waist. Ethan’s blood boiled as the stranger opened the door for her, easing her into the seat before leaning in to buckle her seatbelt.

Like she was his. He knew the four of them and that made him even angrier how dare they try to use Mara against him. Ethan saw red. Without thinking, he strode toward them, his entire body humming with barely contained fury.

This wasn’t happening. He wouldn’t allow it.