The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 56: Operation win Mara back

Steph and Ethan sat hunched over the monitors, their eyes scanning the grainy footage for any trace of Mara. The tension in the room was thick, suffocating. The cameras showed her last movement—heading toward the washroom—and then nothing. No sign of her exiting, no hint of where she might have gone. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.

Ethan slammed his fist on the desk, frustration boiling over. "The earth couldn’t have just swallowed her!" he yelled, his voice cracking under the weight of his desperation. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands as if the physical pain might distract him from the gnawing fear in his chest.

Steph leaned back in his chair, his tone calm but edged with exhaustion. "Maybe she just left," he suggested, though the words felt hollow even as he said them.

Ethan shot him a glare, sharp and accusing. "What would you have done if it was Mara in there?" Steph asked, his voice steady but probing. The question hung in the air, heavy. Ethan’s jaw tightened, his mind racing with the implications. The thought alone made his blood boil, his fists clenching involuntarily.

"I’d probably be in jail by now for murder," Ethan admitted, his voice low and dark. The honesty in his words was unsettling, even to himself.

Steph didn’t let up. "You can’t forgive her, but you expect her to forgive you?" he pressed, his gaze unwavering.

Ethan’s defenses flared. "It’s not the same. I didn’t sleep with Maria-Isbel," he snapped, his voice rising as if the volume could somehow justify his actions.

Steph’s expression didn’t change. "You would have if Mara hadn’t shown up when she did," he said quietly, his words cutting through Ethan’s anger like a knife. "And to me, kissing her is the same thing as sleeping with her. Because at the end of it, you still betrayed your wife."

Ethan’s chest heaved as he struggled to respond. He wanted to argue, to explain why his mistake wasn’t as bad as what Mara might have done. But the words caught in his throat, tangled in a web of guilt and shame. He couldn’t bring himself to say it, couldn’t admit that he was holding her to a standard he himself had failed to meet.

"Stop," Ethan finally said, his voice breaking. "Mara would never do that to me. I made a mistake. Yes, I’m trying to fix that. It was just one mistake."

The room fell silent, the weight of his words settling over them like a heavy blanket. Ethan stared at the screens, the flickering images blurring as his vision swam with unshed tears.

Steph’s words hit Ethan like a tidal wave, each one crashing into him with a force. "Falling in love with your wife’s best friend is not a mistake," Steph said, his voice firm. "You had plenty of time to think it through. I bet when you walked into that room and saw that shadow dressed as your wife, wearing your wife’s perfume, you knew it wasn’t her. Because you’ve touched this woman every minute—it was impossible you didn’t feel that the touch was different." His tone was sharp, cutting through Ethan’s excuses like a blade. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Ethan’s face flushed with a mix of anger and shame. "You know I was drunk," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "And stop talking about that cursed night. All I know is I didn’t sleep with her. We just kissed, and that’s all."

Steph didn’t back down. "Accept the truth, Ethan. The kiss might have meant nothing, might have been pure desire, but you felt something. And you admitted that to your wife. I think it’s about time you leave her alone." There was a heaviness in Steph’s voice, a pain that suggested he wasn’t just speaking for Mara’s sake. He was hurting too, and perhaps that was why his words carried such weight.

Ethan stared at him, stunned. "What, Steph?" he exclaimed, his voice cracking. "You’re telling me to just give up on her? On us?"

Steph’s expression softened, but his resolve didn’t waver. "I’m telling you to face the reality of what you’ve done. You hurt her, Ethan. Deeply. And sometimes love means letting go."

For a moment, Ethan was silent, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to process Steph’s words. Then, like a dam breaking, the floodgates opened. "Fine," he said, his voice trembling. "I accept all of it. I lied. I betrayed her. Call it whatever you want. I admit I was wrong. I’m the biggest fool and monster in the world. I’ll accept that, too. But what I will not accept is losing her."

His voice grew stronger, fueled by a raw, desperate emotion. "I’ll live with any consequences for my actions. I’ll take responsibility and be held accountable however the universe sees fit. But I will not lose my wife. It’s not an obsession or possession. And not because she found out. I really, really do love her. At first, I thought it didn’t matter, but I have a purpose now, and she is the reason why I want to wake up in the morning. Tell me, if it isn’t love, what is it?"

Tears streamed down Ethan’s face, his composure shattering. Forget the saying that real men don’t cry—Ethan cried bitterly, his sobs echoing in the room. He cried for the pain he had caused, for the trust he had broken, and for the love he was terrified of losing. "I wronged her, I know," he choked out between sobs. "But I’m not doing this because I got caught. I’m doing this because I finally realized what I have, and it’s exactly what I want."

Steph watched him, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. He didn’t say anything, but for the first time, there was a flicker of understanding in his gaze. Ethan’s pain was real, his remorse palpable. Whether it was enough to fix what had been broken, Steph didn’t know. But in that moment, he saw a man who was truly, deeply sorry—a man who was willing to fight for the love he had nearly destroyed.

Steph’s words hung in the air, a rare moment of vulnerability between the two men. "I was wrong," Steph repeated, his voice softer now, as he pulled Ethan into a firm hug. Seeing the man often called the "red devil" break down was something Steph had never witnessed before—not when Ethan lost his only sister, not even when his father passed away. This was different. This was raw, unfiltered emotion, and it shook Steph to his core.

"Let’s get your wife back," Steph said, pulling away with a determined smile. "It’s Operation Mara Back. And I know exactly where we could start."

Ethan looked at him, his eyes still red but now glimmering with a faint spark of hope. "Where?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

Steph didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he walked over to a nearby table and pulled out a large board. He began pasting photos onto it—images of all the Shepherd family members and, notably, Celeb. Though they couldn’t quite piece together Celeb’s connection to the Shepherds, they knew one thing for certain: he was interested in Mara.

Ethan stared at the board, his brow furrowed in confusion. He was used to treating everything like a business deal, analyzing every angle, but this time, he didn’t see the need for the board. This wasn’t a negotiation or a strategy session. This was personal.

Steph noticed Ethan’s puzzled expression and grinned. "We’re going to start with the least Shepherd member," he said, pointing to a photo on the board. The image showed a man with sharp features and an air of quiet intensity.

Ethan squinted at the photo, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stefan Shepherd?" he mumbled, more to himself than to Steph.

Steph nodded, his smile widening. "Yes, the doctor. I heard he’s the most civilized among the brothers. He wouldn’t tell us where Mara is outright, but if we tail him, we might be able to gather some information."

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he processed Steph’s words. Stefan Shepherd—the one member of the family who seemed to operate outside their usual schemes. If anyone could provide a lead without raising suspicion, it was him.

"We should head to the hospital now," Ethan said abruptly, pushing himself up from the chair. His voice was firm, his earlier vulnerability replaced by a steely determination. He strode toward the door, his mind already racing with plans.

Steph watched him go, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. This wasn’t just about finding Mara anymore; it was about Ethan stepping up, owning his mistakes, and fighting for what he loved. Steph had come up with the plan, but it was Ethan’s resolve that would make it work.

As Ethan reached the door, he paused and glanced back at Steph. "You coming?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

Steph nodded, grabbing his jacket and following Ethan out. "Let’s do this," he said, his voice filled with quiet confidence.

Was the plan going to work? Steph didn’t know for sure. But it didn’t matter. Ethan wouldn’t have it any other way. Besides, they say if you want something badly enough, the universe will make a way. Maybe, just maybe, the universe would take pity on a man who had recognized his mistakes and was willing to do whatever it took to fix them. For Ethan, for Mara, and for the love they still shared, Steph was willing to believe in that possibility.