The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 45: Old times

Mara lay awake, staring at the ceiling, her mind restless. No matter how hard she tried, there was something her memories refused to reveal—a piece of the past just out of reach.

"You can sleep in my room tonight," Steve murmured, his voice gentle. "I’ll have Mom’s room prepared for you and get you new things." It was an old habit of his, as if he could read her thoughts before she even spoke them.

Mara offered a small smile. "No, it’s fine," she whispered.

Steve leaned against the doorframe, watching her. "Everything’s just as you left it. We didn’t want to risk you throwing a tantrum if anything had changed." His lips curled into a teasing grin. "Someone did touch a few things, but I guess you’ve outgrown this room. Our little Stafania, ten years old in my mind... and now, about to be a mother."

She barely heard him. The room around her felt frozen in time, yet everything in it seemed to reach for her, urging her to remember. And just like always, her thoughts stopped at that one night—the night that changed everything.

"Yeah, and she’s twenty," Mara added with a small smirk.

Steve chuckled. "Don’t feel bad. Stay in my room tonight. I’m sure the others will be jealous."

He had only stopped by to check on her, to see if she was comfortable, but there she was—still awake, lying on the bed, lost in thought.

"Make yourself at home," he continued. "You’ve always loved stealing my clothes anyway. First thing tomorrow, we’ll get you new ones." His voice softened. "And I’ve already started the process for the annulment. Don’t worry about a thing—I’ll handle all the details. You won’t have to see him again."

Mara let out a quiet smile, but her heart felt heavy.

Before everything fell apart, Ethan had given her a place when she thought she belonged nowhere. He had loved her, cared for her. She wondered—when had that changed? Had she been too blind to see it coming?

"Alright, Steve, but I..." Her voice faltered.

"You don’t have to go back to Anderson Law either," he said gently, studying her face. "You can start fresh at Shepherds Law Firm. It’s not as big, but we have high-profile clients too. You’ll fit right in."

She looked at him, searching for words.

"You don’t need him anymore, Stefania," Steve murmured. "Just leave everything to your brothers." He took her hand, then wrapped his arms around her, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Mara’s dream had always been to work at Anderson Law. She had spent years preparing for it. Now, everything had changed so quickly, she could barely process it.

"Okay, Steve," she said finally, as if trying to convince herself.

She wanted to believe this was what she wanted—to be free of Ethan. She knew she couldn’t forgive him. But her heart, the one that had loved for the first time, refused to let go. He was her first in everything. How do you just forget something like that? If she had known it would end so soon, maybe she would have cherished every single moment.

She thought she had time. But time, as she was learning, belonged to no one.

Steve lingered for a moment, watching her force herself to close her eyes, before he quietly left for the guest room.

The next morning, before Mara could even wake up, Steve, Stanley, Stafford, and Stafan had transformed her room into a treasure trove of luxury. Designer bags, shoes, clothes, jewelry—everything she could possibly dream of or need was laid out before her. It was the full princess treatment, and they had gone all out to make her feel special.

Mara wasn’t entirely surprised by the gesture. She remembered being spoiled like this as a child, too. Growing up, her parents had always doted on her, and her brothers had been no different. Whenever her parents traveled for business meetings, they would take her along, and whichever brother was her "favorite" that week would join them. Mara had been too young to stay home alone, and her mother wouldn’t have it any other way.

There had always been a quiet competition among the brothers for her affection. Who did she love the most? Who was the kindest to her? Mara was, after all, the golden ticket to everything. Break something? Want something? Just make sure Stafania was on your side, and it was yours. She had been too adorable to say no to, even as a child. But it wasn’t just her charm—she had always been a smart, sensible young girl, even back then. Her brothers knew it, and so did everyone else. She had a way of wrapping people around her finger without even trying.

"I got you the latest car," Stefan whispered with a proud smile, dangling the keys in front of her.

Mara chuckled, shaking her head in amusement.

"Well, I got you the most luxurious clothes and shoes," Stanley added, smirking. "You now own the entire collection of all the top designers."

"And I got you the latest jewelry designs," Stafford murmured, his eyes twinkling as he watched her reaction.

All eyes turned to Steve. He was always the most reserved, the one who thought things through. Everyone was eager to see what he had gotten her.

"What about you, Steve? What did you get Stafania?" Stanley asked, half hoping it wouldn’t outshine his gift—like it always did.

Steve leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Anything she wants," he said with a small smile. "But my real surprise comes later. Don’t worry, Stafania, I know you’ll like it. For now, get ready—you start work today."

Mara’s smile faltered. The thought of a new job, new faces, and a new routine weighed on her. She wasn’t sure she was ready for this.

"Steve," Stefan whispered, sensing her hesitation.

Steve sighed. "Fine. You can stay home today and get all the rest you need," he relented. "I’ll have your things brought over from your old office, and I’ll take care of your resignation." His voice was firm, protective. He would make sure she never had to face Ethan again.

Mara glanced at her brothers—at the lavish gifts, the overwhelming support. They were doing everything to make her feel safe, to erase the past.

"Or," Stafford suggested with a grin, "you could come with me to the bank."

"I could take you to the office," Stanley chimed in. "Show you around the family business."

"You could come with me to the hospital?" Stefan offered eagerly.

"That’s enough, boys," Mr. Shepherd Sr. interrupted, shaking his head. "Stafania stays with me today. Now, off you go."

The brothers groaned but obeyed—though not before smothering Mara with hugs and kisses.

As they left, Mara turned to her grandfather with a hopeful smile. "Grandpa, maybe we could have lunch together?"

Mr. Shepherd’s expression softened. "Anything you want, my dear."

They spent the morning shopping, strolling through boutiques as he insisted she pick out whatever she liked. By the time exhaustion set in, they found a quiet, elegant restaurant and settled in for lunch.

"Order anything you want," Mr. Shepherd said warmly, patting her hand before pulling out his phone. "I just need to make a quick call. I’ll be right back."

Mara nodded, watching him step away. As she glanced down at the menu, she felt something she hadn’t in a while.

A shadow fell over Mara’s table, and she looked up to see a tall man standing before her. His warm smile was instantly familiar.

"Caleb?" she whispered, surprised.

He chuckled. "Hey, stranger."

They had known each other since childhood, growing up side by side. Time had sharpened his features, turning the boy she remembered into a strikingly handsome man.

"You look good, Staf," Caleb said, taking the seat across from her without hesitation. "Your grandfather called me over. Thought you could use some company." His gaze was gentle, understanding—he knew about the divorce.

Mara sighed, then smiled softly. "That sounds like something Grandpa would do."

"I don’t mind," Caleb said, resting his arms on the table. "It’s been too long. We have a lot to catch up on."

And just like that, the conversation flowed. They talked about old memories, childhood mischief, and the way life had pulled them in different directions. For the first time in a while, Mara found herself genuinely laughing. Caleb had a way of making things feel light, easy.

But just as she was beginning to forget the weight of everything, a presence loomed behind her.

"Mara."

Her heart stilled. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The voice alone sent a shiver down her spine, she turned to face the person standing there.

Daniel.

His tall frame was relaxed, but his sharp eyes held something unreadable, amusement, maybe even a hint of triumph.

"Well, well," he drawled, crossing his arms. "Look who’s finally coming up for air."

Caleb tensed beside her, instantly sensing the shift in mood. But Mara kept her expression calm, unwilling to give Daniel the reaction he was looking for.

"You’re in a good mood," she noted dryly.

Daniel chuckled, shaking his head. "I warned you, didn’t I? Told you not to trust her." He leaned in slightly. "Tell me, Mara, where’s Maria? Haven’t seen her around."

Mara’s fingers curled around the edge of the table. The mention of Maria—her best friend, the woman she had seen with Ethan—sent a fresh wave of anger and betrayal crashing over her.

Daniel tilted his head, studying her. "You really thought she wouldn’t betray you?" His smirk deepened. "And now, what? You’re running? Hiding?"

Caleb’s voice was calm but firm. "Man, if you came here to cause trouble, you can leave."

But Daniel ignored him, his gaze locked on Mara. "You know I won’t let her raise our child alone, right?" His voice dropped lower, a quiet challenge. "I won’t make the same mistake twice."

Mara’s heart pounded. She had spent so much time trying to forget, trying to move forward. But Daniel, Daniel was here to remind her that the past wasn’t done with her yet.

Daniel smirked, his words sharp and deliberate. "If you don’t know where she is, maybe your husband does. Besides, here you are with another man—one thing I’ve always admired about you, Mara. You move on fast."

He turned and walked away, leaving his words to linger like a bad taste in the air.

Mara clenched her fists, her mind racing. As much as she hated to admit it, Daniel had a point. What if Ethan did know where Maria was? What if they were still seeing each other? The thought made her stomach twist. And worse—Ethan hadn’t even tried to call her, hadn’t come looking for her since last night.

Is this how he planned to fix things? By doing nothing?

Her anger flared. Without thinking, she grabbed her bag and pushed back her chair.

"I’m sorry, Caleb," she said hastily, barely meeting his concerned gaze. "We’ll catch up another time, I need to go."

"Stafania, wait—" Caleb started, but she was already turning away.

By the time he managed to settle the bill and rush outside, she was gone, her car speeding down the road.

Caleb exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. Whatever had just happened, it wasn’t good. And something told him Mara was about to make a reckless decision.