The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 84: The Abortion

The brothers had agreed to check out the foundation’s storehouse that night, determined to uncover whatever was being hidden there. Steve had taken the lead, already waiting in the car while Mara finished up.

As she walked past the clinic, something caught her eye a woman sitting on the steps, silently weeping. Her fingers trembled as she clutched a crumpled piece of paper.

Mara hesitated for a moment before sitting beside her.

The paper slipped from the woman’s grip, fluttering to the ground. Mara picked it up and glanced at it. Her heart clenched. It was a medical form, an authorization for an abortion.

She turned to the woman, her voice gentle. "You’re pregnant?"

The woman nodded, her tears falling freely now. "I...I can’t do this," she choked out. "I don’t want to carry the baby of my rapist." Her pain was raw, almost unbearable to witness.

Mara’s chest tightened. She reached for the woman’s hand. "You don’t have to go through this alone. I can help you," she said, her voice firm with sincerity.

The woman looked at her, eyes filled with conflict. But before she could respond, a nurse stepped out, calling her name. "It’s time for your procedure."

Mara tightened her grip. "Please," she pleaded, desperation lacing her voice. "Talk to me first. You don’t have to decide right now."

But the woman pulled away, her steps hesitant as she walked inside.

Mara felt helpless. She wanted to do more, to say something that would change everything, but what could she do? She had no right to decide for her.

Seconds passed, each one heavier than the last.

Then just as the nurse was about to lead her into the procedure room the woman turned around and bolted out of the clinic, her decision made. She ran past Mara, tears still in her eyes, but this time, they held something else relief.

Mara’s heart swelled with pride. She had changed her mind.

Just as Mara was about to run after her, she bumped into something, someone.

A shadow loomed over her.

Lucy.

The impact made Mara drop the paper she was still holding. Lucy’s sharp gaze followed it as it hit the ground, and her expression twisted into something dark and cruel.

"You," Lucy sneered, eyes narrowing. "You’re having an abortion?"

Mara rolled her eyes, Lucy didn’t wait for an answer. A wicked smirk crossed her lips, already weaving a new lie in her head. Mara walks away.

Lucy stood outside the clinic, gripping her phone tightly. A wicked smile played on her lips as she dialed Ethan’s number. He was in the office and furious from earlier, but this, this would push him over the edge.

After a few rings, he picked up. His voice was sharp, laced with exhaustion and irritation. "What do you want, Lucy?"

Lucy took a deep breath, making her voice tremble as if she were on the verge of tears. "Ethan... it’s Mara," she whispered.

Ethan sat up instantly, his grip on the phone tightening. "What about Mara?"

"I...I didn’t want to be the one to tell you this," Lucy continued, feigning hesitation. "But I just saw her at a hospital. She was there for an abortion."

Silence.

Lucy bit her lip to keep from grinning. She could practically hear the gears turning in his head, the rage bubbling beneath the surface.

"You’re lying," Ethan finally said, but his voice lacked conviction.

"I wish I were." Lucy sniffled for effect. "But I saw her, Ethan. She was holding the paperwork. She looked so determined to go through with it." She let out a shaky breath. "I know you don’t want to believe it, but why else would she be there?"

Ethan’s vision blurred with anger. His heart pounded like a war drum in his chest. Is Mara getting rid of the baby? How could she be so selfish, that child was innocent.

His hands trembled as he ran them through his hair. His emotions were a mess hurt, betrayal, pure unfiltered rage. After everything, she did this.

Lucy pressed on, her voice soft, almost soothing. "I tried to stop her, Ethan. I told her she was making a mistake, but she wouldn’t listen. She doesn’t care. About the child... about anything."

Ethan shot up from his desk, knocking over a few files. His blood boiled. His fists clenched.

"Where is she?" His voice was deadly calm, the kind that came before a storm.

Lucy smirked, satisfied. Hook. Line. Sinker.

"She’s probably still at the clinic or went to the office," she said sweetly. "But Ethan... please don’t do anything rash."

But it was too late. Ethan was already grabbing his keys, his mind clouded with fury.

Mara finally caught up with the woman outside the clinic. She was still shaken, her hands trembling as she wiped away fresh tears.

Mara gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey... I meant what I said back there. You’re not alone in this."

The woman looked up at her, the vulnerability in her eyes. "I don’t know what to do," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can’t go back home. I have nothing."

"You have me," Mara assured her. "And you have a future."

She reached into her bag, pulling out a card. "There’s a foundation I work with. We help women in situations like yours. I can get you a job, and a safe place to stay. You don’t have to figure this out alone."

The woman stared at the card, her lips parting slightly as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. "Why are you doing this?" she whispered.

"Because I know what it’s like to feel lost," Mara said softly. "And because you deserve a chance to rebuild your life."

The woman let out a shaky breath before nodding, relief washing over her. Mara stayed with her, talking her through her fears, and reassuring her that she had options.

By the time the woman had calmed down, Mara knew she had done the right thing.

Just as she was about to leave, her phone rang.

"Where are you?" Steve’s voice came through. "We’re waiting for you."

Mara exhaled, rubbing her forehead. "I had to help someone," she said, quickly explaining everything.

There was a beat of silence before Steve spoke again, his voice softer this time. "You really are just like Mom, you know that?"

Mara smiled at his words, warmth spreading through her chest. "I’ll be there soon."

She hung up and turned toward the parking lot only to hear the screech of tires.

A car skidded to a stop, and before she could react, Ethan stepped out, his face contorted in fury.

"You disgust me, Mara!" he spat, storming toward her. "How could you?!"

Mara didn’t even flinch. She already knew who was behind this. "Let me guess, Lucy called you?"

Ethan’s jaw clenched. "Don’t act innocent. I know what you did."

Mara sighed, her patience wearing thin. "You don’t know anything, Ethan. And you never listen long enough to find out."

He took another step forward, but before he could get too close, Steve was already there, standing protectively in front of her.

"Back off," Steve warned, his voice dangerously low. "You don’t get to come near her."

Ethan’s fists clenched, but the look in Steve’s eyes made him hesitate.

"You always do this," Mara said, shaking her head in disappointment. "You let Lucy manipulate you, and you take it out on me. I’m done, Ethan. I won’t waste my breath explaining myself to someone who never trusts me."

Steve didn’t wait for another argument. He grabbed Mara’s hand and guided her toward the car.

Ethan called after her, but she didn’t turn back.

She was done fighting for someone who refused to fight for her.

As Steve drove them away, he glanced at her and smirked. "You handled that better than I would’ve."

Mara let out a small, tired laugh. "I think I’m just finally learning."

–

Lucy stood at a distance, watching everything unfold with a satisfied smirk.

Ethan’s fury.

Mara’s disappointment.

Steve’s interference.

It was perfect.

She had worked tirelessly to turn Ethan against Mara, planting seed after seed of doubt until it bloomed into full-fledged hatred. And now, slowly but surely, it was happening Ethan was pushing Mara away, just as she had planned.

But Lucy knew she couldn’t stop now.

If Ethan and Mara ever sat down and talked, even for a moment, the misunderstanding she had carefully constructed would unravel. Ethan would realize the truth, and all her work would be for nothing.

No. That couldn’t happen.

She needed to take things further.

Lucy pulled out her phone and dialed a number.

"I need divorce papers drawn up immediately," she ordered, her voice sharp and precise. "For Ethan and Mara Shepherd. Make it convincing. I want Ethan to believe she initiated it."

After hanging up, she took a deep breath, her mind racing toward the next phase of her plan.

Ethan needed one final push.

And she knew just the person to help her.

She scrolled through her contacts until she found his name.

Celeb.

With a smirk, she pressed call. It didn’t take long for him to pick up. "Lucy?" His voice was wary, as if he already knew she was up to something.

"We need to talk," she said smoothly. "We both want the same thing, don’t we? Mara out of Ethan’s life." Celeb exhaled on the other end. "Lucy, I told you, I don’t want to hurt Mara."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Don’t act noble now. You want her, don’t you?" A pause. Then, "You know I do."

"Then do something about it," she pressed. "Your father wants you to marry the heiress, and Ethan is the one standing in the way. If we push hard enough, Ethan will sign the divorce papers, and she’ll be free."

Celeb was silent for a moment, his thoughts tangled. He wanted Mara, he had always wanted her. But he wasn’t sure he could cross the line Lucy was drawing for him.

Still... his father had made it clear. Mara needed to be his. Lucy sensed his hesitation and delivered the final blow.

"Think about it, Celeb. You can either sit back and let Mara suffer in this toxic marriage, or you can take what’s meant to be yours." After a long silence, Celeb finally sighed. "What’s the plan?"

Lucy’s smirk widened.