The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 80: You can’t be serious

Ethan sat on the hospital bed, tapping his fingers impatiently on the metal rail as the doctor finished checking his vitals. His mind wasn’t on his own condition, he was thinking about her.

Mara.

She was resting now, but he couldn’t shake the image of her pale, feverish face, the way she clung to him in the middle of nowhere, the way she had trusted him with her body, her warmth, her love...

His chest tightened. They were finally getting somewhere. He felt it.

And then Lucy walked in.

He barely spared her a glance at first, assuming she was just here to whine about his near-death experience with Mara. But then she held up an envelope.

"I didn’t want to hurt you, Ethan," she started, voice soft, sympathetic too damn fake. "But I heard the nurses talking, and... I think you deserve to know the truth."

Ethan’s patience was thin.

"If you have something to say, say it. Or leave."

Lucy stepped closer, lowering her voice as if she was revealing some heartbreaking secret.

"Some of the nurses overheard Mara saying she... she didn’t know who the father of her baby was."

Ethan froze.

Lucy hesitated, watching his reaction carefully, then continued, "She was so unsure, she secretly asked Stefan to run a DNA test behind your back."

His jaw clenched. No. Not possible.

Lucy even got a nurse to confirm it. Lucy sighed, shaking her head. "I didn’t believe it either, Ethan, but..." She held up the envelope. "I got proof."

Ethan stared at it like it was a ticking time bomb. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, drowning out the rational part of his brain.

This was bullshit.

Mara would never...

Would she?

His fingers curled into fists. He had trusted her. But this seed Lucy had planted, it was digging into his mind like poison.

He almost ripped the envelope apart without looking at it.

Almost.

But doubt was a cruel thing.

His hands trembled slightly as he tore it open, his breath catching as he scanned the paper.

Negative.

Ethan’s vision blurred for a second.

He wasn’t the father.

His stomach twisted violently, his breath coming short. His mind raced, replaying every moment her hesitation, her emotions, her silence when he told her he wanted to be there for their baby.

Had she known all along?

With a sudden surge, he sprang from the bed, yanking the IV line from his hand.

"This is bullshit." His voice was low, almost dangerous.

Lucy stepped back, feigning innocence. "Ethan, I—"

But he was already storming out the door, heading straight for the hospital lab.

He had to hear it from them.

He needed to hear them say this was all a lie.

But when he got there...

The staff didn’t deny it.

The test was real. The request was real.

And the worst part? The hospital director himself Stefan Shepherd had authorized it.

Ethan staggered back, his breath coming short. His head pounded, his vision red with rage and betrayal.

Mara.

The woman he loved. The woman he just held in his arms...

She had cheated on him.

Lied to him.

And now—now he didn’t know what the hell to believe.

Ethan stormed through the hospital halls, his vision clouded with rage, betrayal, and something deeper pain.

Lucy’s words, the DNA test, the damn lab confirming it... Mara had gone behind his back. She had slept with other men so much that she needed a damn test to prove who the father was?

His heart was hammering in his chest, and for the first time in years, he felt lost.

He needed to hear it from her.

From Mara.

Pushing the door open with more force than necessary, Ethan froze at the sight in front of him.

Celeb. Too close.

Sitting beside Mara’s bed, his hand almost touching hers.

Ethan saw red.

His loud entrance startled Mara awake, she was surprised to see Celeb and even Lucy, but before she could even process what was happening, Ethan was already moving.

With one sharp shove, he knocked Celeb out of the way.

"Get your damn hands off her," Ethan growled. Celeb stumbled back, glaring, but Ethan didn’t care. His focus was on Mara.

Mara, still groggy from sleep, barely had time to react before Ethan grabbed her wrist and pulled her up.

"Ethan—what the hell?!" she protested, trying to steady herself.

But he didn’t stop.

He dragged her out of the room, down the hallway, past nurses who called after them, past the stunned looks from patients and staff. Celeb tries to go after them to stop Ethan, but Lucy stops him, and their plan is working.

She struggled, but his grip was firm. "Ethan! Where are we going?"

No answer.

The elevator wasn’t fast enough so he took the stairs, practically yanking her up each step.

And then—

They were on the rooftop.

The cool air hit her face as he finally let go, turning to face her with eyes burning with a mix of fury and heartbreak.

Mara was breathless, her pulse racing. "Are you insane?"

Ethan didn’t flinch. His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight.

"I need you to tell me the truth," he demanded. His voice was low, rough almost desperate.

Mara frowned, confusion laced in her features. "What are you talking about?"

Ethan let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "Don’t do that. Don’t act clueless. Did you or did you not get a DNA test for the baby?"

Mara’s breath caught, simply because she was still in shock. "Who is the father of the bastard you are carrying, clearly it’s not mine, so whose is it?" Ethan asked, Mara was perplexed. She couldn’t believe her ears so no words came.

Her silence made Ethan feel as if it was all the answers he needed. His heart cracked open right there. His worst fear confirmed.

"All this time Mara," he whispered, his voice breaking slightly. "You were having an affair, yet you blame me for my mistake with Maria-Isabel?"

Mara swallowed hard, still in shock. "Are you being serious right now?"

"Was it fun making a fool out of me?" he cut in, stepping closer. "All of it, the moments we shared, what we had was any of it real? Or was I just some... temporary fun for you?"

Mara’s eyes flashed with hurt. "You accusing me of cheating on you?" she shot back. "You were the one that fell in love with my best friend and suddenly you have the nerve, the nerve Ethan to accuse me of cheating?"

Ethan let out a harsh breath, running a hand through his hair. "Yes you cheated. worse, you don’t even know the father of the bastard in your womb, wow Stefania Shepherd you really played me for a fool for so long!"

"Stop talking Mr. Ethan Anderson! Enough! You have said enough! I can’t believe this," Mara said, breathing heavily, here she thought they could fix this, and this, he is accusing her of cheating, calling their child a bastard. She never requested a DNA test. Ethan had really hurt her so much this time.

They stood there, staring at each other, pain, and betrayal colliding in a storm neither of them knew how to survive. And for the first time... Ethan wasn’t sure if they ever would.

Mara stood there, her heart pounding in her chest, but not from fear—from anger.

Ethan wanted an explanation.

For what?

She had spent so much of her life fighting, proving herself, and surviving. And now, after everything, after trusting him again, this was how he repaid her?

By doubting her?

By throwing accusations at her?

She had never been with anyone but him. This was his child. But what was the point of saying anything when he had already made up his mind?

So she did the one thing she knew would hurt him the most. She said nothing.

Ethan searched her face, waiting. For a denial. For an explanation. For something. But she just stood there.

Silent.

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something—but no words came.

Ethan felt his chest tighten, his breath shallow. His mind screamed at him, Say something, Mara. Fight for us.

But she didn’t.

That silence... it shattered something inside him.

His jaw clenched, his voice hoarse. "Fine," he said coldly. "I’ll have the divorce papers signed and delivered to your house."

Mara didn’t flinch.

She didn’t beg, she didn’t argue. She didn’t break.

Instead, she turned on her heels only for Celeb, Steve, and Stefan to rush onto the rooftop.

"Stef!" Steve called, his face filled with concern. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Mara didn’t say a word. She didn’t spare Ethan another glance. She simply walked straight to her brothers, her real family and collapsed into Steve’s arms.

Steve held her protectively, his eyes cold as he met Ethan’s.

"You’ve done enough," Stefan said, his voice dripping with disgust.

Ethan opened his mouth, but the words died on his tongue. What could he even say now? He watched as they took Mara away, Celeb trailing behind them like a damn shadow.

And then she was gone.

Ethan stood there, his hands shaking. His heart was racing. His mind screaming at him that this was wrong, there was proof.

Why didn’t she deny it? Why didn’t she fight?

He let out a raw, frustrated yell, throwing his fist into the nearest wall. Pain shot through his knuckles, but it was nothing compared to the ache inside his chest.

Just then, a voice.

"Ethan?"

Steph, his assistant, had just arrived, his face filled with concern.

"What the hell happened?" Ethan didn’t answer. Didn’t even look at him. He just walked away.

Ignoring Steph. Ignoring Lucy.

But Lucy... she just stood there. Watching. And then she smiled. A small, victorious smile. Because she had won this time.