The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 68: Can I make it right?

Mara couldn’t sleep.

She tossed and turned, willing her mind to rest, but the thoughts wouldn’t stop. Memories of her parents haunted her dreams. Her uncle, the foundation, everything she had learned, it all swirled in her head like a storm, refusing to settle.

She needed rest. Not just for herself, but for her baby.

But no matter how hard she tried, sleep wouldn’t come. She begged for it, pleaded for just a few hours of peace. Yet, every time she drifted off, the slightest noise jolted her awake.

Another restless night.

By the time she glanced at the clock again, it was 5:30 a.m.

Morning had come, and she was done trying.

With a sigh, she sat up, her body aching from exhaustion. To hell with sleep. She had things to do.

Dragging herself into the bathroom, she let the warm water from the shower wash over her, hoping it would cleanse away some of the weariness. When she stepped out, she chose a beautiful dress, something elegant, something that made her feel like herself again.

It had been days since she had dressed up properly.

As she caught her reflection in the mirror, she noticed the subtle changes in her body. Maybe it was too early to tell, but she could feel it, something was different. A small smile touched her lips as she ran a gentle hand over her six-week belly.

A reminder of the life growing inside her. By 6 a.m., Mara was out of the house.

Sliding into her luxurious car, she started the engine and drove off, the hum of the vehicle breaking the quiet morning.

She had left before any of her brothers woke up.

Mara remembered it clearly when she had been unconscious, she had heard Ethan’s voice. Soft, broken, desperate. She could recall every word he had said to her.

Or at least, she thought she could.

The memory felt so real, yet she was stuck in uncertainty. Had he truly been there, speaking to her? Or was it just a dream? A cruel trick played by her mind in her weakest moments?

She shook off the thought as she focused on the road ahead.

After an hour and a half, she finally arrived at the Anderson mansion.

As she pulled up to the gates, she rolled down her window, sticking her head out slightly. The security guard’s face lit up the moment he saw her.

"The lady of the house is back," he said with a wide smile, quickly opening the gates.

Mara returned his smile before driving inside.

The moment she stepped out of the car, the maids rushed to greet her, their expressions filled with joy and relief. They had missed her.

Mara offered them warm smiles in return, exchanging pleasantries before heading inside.

Inside the Mansion

The scent of freshly brewed coffee and warm bread filled the air.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Morgan, the longtime head housekeeper, was preparing breakfast. When she saw Mara, her eyes softened with warmth.

"Oh, my dear, it’s so good to see you," she said, wiping her hands on her apron before stepping closer. "How are you? And how’s the baby?"

Mara’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "You... you knew?"

Mrs. Morgan chuckled knowingly. "I knew from the very beginning. I’ve had seven children myself, dear. A woman knows."

Mara blinked, momentarily stunned. She hadn’t expected that.

Gathering herself, she asked, "Where’s Ethan?"

Mrs. Morgan’s expression shifted slightly. "He’s in the guest room."

Mara frowned. "The guest room? Not the bedroom?"

Mrs. Morgan sighed. "Since the day you left, he hasn’t slept in your room. He always stays in the guest room now."

Mara’s fingers tightened around the strap of her handbag. She hadn’t expected that either. She shook off the thought. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t here for Ethan.

"I just need to grab something from the bedroom," she said, keeping her voice even.

Mrs. Morgan smiled gently. "Would you like me to make you something while you’re here?"

Mara hesitated for a moment before offering a small nod. "Maybe some tea."

"Of course, dear. Go ahead."

With that, Mara turned and made her way upstairs, her heart steady, her mind racing, she thought she could see Ethan but now she wasn’t so sure she could..

She would get what she came for and leave.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

Mara stepped into the bedroom, her heels clicking softly against the polished floor. Everything looked almost the same, except the memories.

Memories of Maria-Isabel.

Memories of Ethan.

She swallowed the bitter feeling that rose in her chest and shook it off. She hadn’t come here for this.

Moving toward the drawer, she pulled it open and took out a small wooden box. It was old but well-kept, holding pieces of a past she wasn’t sure she wanted to revisit.

With a sigh, she sat on the bed, resting the box on her lap. Her fingers hesitated before she lifted the lid.

Inside were old photos and small gifts from Maria-Isabel, reminders of a friendship that had once been unbreakable.

Mara reached for a particular photo. It was from their first day of college, both of them grinning, arms around each other, eyes filled with dreams. She could still hear Maria-Isabel’s laughter, still remember her words as if they had been spoken yesterday.

"If you ever need something that’s mine, just take it. What’s mine is yours."

Mara’s gaze shifted to a small, worn-out teddy bear tucked in the corner of the box. It had belonged to Maria-Isabel, one of the many things they had shared growing up.

They had shared everything.

Everything except Ethan.

And that was why their betrayal hurt more than anything else.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she clutched the teddy bear and the photo. She had loved Maria-Isabel like a sister, yet Maria had still done the one thing Mara could never forgive.

She wondered where Maria was now. She had disappeared that night, vanished without a trace. Had Mara been too hard on her, as she remembered each word she had said to her.

She knew how women in their family were treated. Even her own father had beaten her mother, yet her mother had been kind, had always protected Mara as best as she could.

The tears wouldn’t stop.

Then—

The door creaked open.

Mara quickly wiped her tears as Ethan stepped inside.

He froze.

His heart skipped a beat at the sight of her sitting on their bed.

"Mara?" he whispered, as if afraid she would vanish if he spoke too loudly. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Mara didn’t respond. She simply began packing the pictures back into the box, her movements careful, controlled.

Ethan took a hesitant step forward. His instinct was to hold her, to tell her how much he had missed her, how relieved he was to see her back.

But then—his eyes landed on the picture in her hand.

Maria-Isabel.

His breath caught.

A wave of guilt crashed over him. The moment he saw that picture, all his words died on his tongue. He cursed Maria-Isabel under his breath. If only he had never met her. If only she had stayed away. Because she was the reason everything had gone so terribly wrong.

"I’m sorry I came unannounced. I just needed to get this."

Mara’s voice was steady, controlled, as she sifted through the box without sparing Ethan a glance.

For a moment, he wondered if that was just an excuse. Why would she come back for something that reminded her of Maria-Isabel?

Still, he offered a small smile. "This will always be your home. You’re always welcome here."

Mara didn’t respond.

Her fingers found what she had been searching for, a delicate pendant, tucked between old letters and faded photographs.

Finally, she looked at him.

Ethan’s gaze followed hers, landing on the pendant in her hand. He understood the unspoken message in her eyes: I found what I came for.

A heavy silence stretched between them until Ethan finally spoke.

"How’s the baby?" he asked, his voice quieter now. "Is everything okay?"

Mara stared at him. She wasn’t surprised he knew. After the accident, it was inevitable.

She said nothing.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" he pressed, his voice laced with quiet frustration. "You knew how much I wanted to be a father... and you kept it from me?"

That hit a nerve.

Mara’s fingers tightened around the pendant.

She had planned to tell him. But that same night, she had found him in Maria-Isabel’s arms. He had no right, none to question her silence.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "Mara, I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry." His voice cracked with sincerity. "But this changes everything. Let me be here for you. For our baby. Let me protect you both."

Mara’s lips parted, but no words came out.

"Not just because I want to be a father," he added quickly, sensing her hesitation. "But because I love you. Because when you were lying unconscious in that hospital bed, I realized—I can’t live without you."

For a long moment, Mara didn’t move.

Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe it was the weight of everything. Maybe it was the crack in Ethan’s voice that made her chest tighten.

But she let herself break, just for a minute.

She allowed herself to lean into him.

Ethan wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. It was the first time in weeks they weren’t drowning in anger, betrayal, or regret.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Mrs. Morgan stepped in, carrying a tray with a steaming cup of tea.

She hesitated for a second, surprised by the sight of them, but said nothing.

Setting the tray down, she quietly stepped away.

For the first time in weeks, Mara and Ethan sat together, having breakfast in silence.

No anger.

No guilt.

Just a moment of peace.

Ethan hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can I... can I touch your belly?"