The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 88: The Car Clash

The disrespect. The insults. After cheating on her, and humiliating her, he dared to believe she had been raped? Was she doing the paternity test because of that? He had believed the damn test before he ever believed her. He had trusted a piece of paper over the woman he claimed to love. That hurt more than anything else.

Ethan ran a hand over his face, his voice breaking slightly. "Help me understand, Mara. If I was the only man... and you weren’t raped... why would you need a test? And was it my sample or his sample that was used? Is it mine... or his that came out negative?" His voice wavered with uncertainty.

"I have all these questions in my head, and I can’t... I can’t do this anymore. I need you to tell me the truth. I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you before I jumped to conclusions, and I was wrong. But I’ll listen now. I promise. I won’t get angry. If you could forgive me for Maria, then maybe I can try to let us move past this too."

He tried to steady himself, to keep his voice from shaking. But deep down, he wasn’t ready for the truth.

And Mara could see it written all over his face.

"Oh, Ethan." Mara’s voice was cold, laced with disappointment. "You know, I blame myself for what happened with Maria Isabel. We had just gotten married, and when I should have been focusing on our marriage, I brought my traumatized friend into our home. And for that, I was wrong. But I trusted you both so much... that was my mistake. And in the end, it was your choice. You both decided to have that affair."

Ethan’s face fell, but Mara wasn’t done.

"But this? This is entirely on you, Ethan." Her voice was like steel, unwavering. "What possible reason would I have to cheat on you? You never trusted me. You never respected me. Maybe I was just some kind of invisible trophy to you. I was stupid once but not anymore." She scoffed, shaking her head. "I’ll leave it to your imagination. Think whatever you want. At this point, I don’t even want to see your face."

Ethan’s eyes welled up as he took a shaky breath. "If that baby was mine, you just killed him! At least explain the DNA test to me, help me understand if there is still a chance for us," he pleaded.

"Chance?" Mara let out a bitter laugh. "I gave you plenty. And you threw them all right back in my face. I never let a man walk all over my dignity in twenty years. But I guess love makes you stupid." Her voice dropped, and for a moment, the fire in her eyes was replaced with something even stronger, resolve. "Guess what? I woke up from that dream. That fantasy of love I thought I was in."

She stepped closer, her voice low but firm. "Chance, you say? I don’t need it. I am done with you. But one thing is certain, you will never get my forgiveness for this insult. For all the names you called me." She took a deep breath, eyes burning into his. "I will remember. And I will make you remember too."

"You’ve seen good Mara," she muttered. "Now, you’ll face angry Stefania." Ethan stood frozen, his world crumbling as Mara walked past him without another glance.

Ethan took a desperate step toward her. "Mara, please. Let’s fight for our marriage. I promise we’ll find a way."

Mara’s eyes darkened. "You don’t get it, do you? I want the divorce papers signed and delivered to me first thing tomorrow so we can put this nightmare behind us."

"Mara, you can’t say that. You love me, I still love you Even if you made a mistake, we can fix it," Ethan begged.

Mara’s voice wavered for the first time, not with doubt, but with pain. "You still think I wronged you. You still trust them over me. Wow." She shook her head. "That’s so rich coming from you."

Without another word, she walked away, leaving Ethan standing in the cold, his world falling apart.

Stefan and Steve had witnessed everything from the start, and now, watching their baby sister finally walk away from this mess, they couldn’t be prouder. She was done with Ethan for good this time.

"All this drama over a damn DNA test." Steve scoffed, shaking his head. "Wow. And to think they call you the smartest lawyer in town."

Ethan clenched his jaw, his frustration boiling over. He turned to Stefan, desperate for something, anything to hold onto. "You requested the DNA test," he accused.

"You had it done with my sample without my consent! That was illegal I could have your license revoked as a doctor."

Stefan smirked, completely unfazed. "I’d love to see you try," Steve warned, stepping closer, his presence alone a threat.

"Yes, I did, stupid," Stefan admitted, arms crossed over his chest. "But the test I requested? It wasn’t yours. It was mine and Stef’s." His voice turned sharp, slicing through the tension. "And I don’t think I have to spell out why."

The words hit Ethan like a wrecking ball. His breath caught in his throat. It wasn’t about him. It was never about him. All this time, the test had proven Mara was their lost sister. And he...he had been too blind, too consumed by his own insecurities, to see it.

How could he be so damn stupid?

Regret clawed at his insides, twisting painfully as the realization settled in. He had messed up. Again. And this time, he might have lost her for good and cost him the life of their unborn baby.

"I need to talk to Mara," Ethan demanded, desperation creeping into his voice. He had to fix this. He had to make her understand.

Steve let out a bitter laugh. "You?" His expression hardened. "You’re an excuse of a man, and I thank the heavens my sister finally saw you for what you are, a manipulative bastard who’s too used to getting his way." His glare turned deadly. "Now, get the hell out before I make you sorry."

Ethan tried to push past him, but Steve was faster. With one swift movement, he landed a hard punch across Ethan’s jaw, sending him stumbling back. Ethan wiped the blood from his lip before swinging back and landing a hit of his own.

The tension exploded, fists flying, tempers raging. It was pure chaos until Stefan stepped in, yanking Steve away before things got worse. "Get in the car," he ordered, dragging his brother toward the car as they drove to the house.

As they drove off, Steve shot one final command to the security guards. "Don’t let him in."

Ethan stood there, fists clenched, breath ragged. Anger burned inside him, but beneath it, shame. His jealousy had driven him to this. The thought of Mara with another man, of her being touched, of someone else bringing her pleasure, breathing in her, it had consumed him, made him reckless.

And now?

Now, it had cost him everything, the child he so wanted but he knew Mara wouldn’t do that to their child no matter how much she hated him so he had hope, hope his baby was still alive.

Ethan sat slumped in his car, gripping the steering wheel as anger and regret churned inside him. With a frustrated sigh, he turned the ignition and drove off, heading straight for the nearest bar. He needed an escape, something to drown out the weight of his mistakes.

Drink after drink, he let the alcohol burn his throat, numbing the ache in his chest. His thoughts were a tangled mess, flashing between Mara’s devastated face and the truth he had been too blind to see.

Then Lucy appeared with the divorce papers, she had prepared..

She slid onto the barstool beside him, her expression full of concern but Ethan knew better.

"Where did you get the DNA test from, Lucy?" His voice was slurred but sharp, cutting through the thick air between them.

Lucy hesitated for a moment before putting on her usual act. "Ethan, why are you still thinking about her?" she asked, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. "Mara is nothing but a shameless liar, and you’re just falling into her trap."

Ethan’s jaw tightened, his fingers gripping the glass until his knuckles turned white.

"Why can’t you see me?" Lucy’s voice cracked as she reached for his hand, desperation flashing in her eyes. "She’s gone, Ethan. She lied to you, but I never did. I never left. I’ve always been here, waiting. Why can’t you choose me?"

Even in his drunken state, Ethan recoiled from her touch. His mind was foggy, but one thing was clear he didn’t want Lucy anywhere near him.

For the last time, he asked, "Did you forge the DNA test?"

Lucy’s face paled.

That was all the confirmation he needed.

Fury exploded inside Ethan, his vision darkening as he grabbed Lucy by the throat. She gasped, clawing at his hands, her eyes wide with panic.

"You ruined my life!" he growled, his grip tightening. "You made me turn against the only woman I ever loved!"

Before he could do something he’d regret, the bartender rushed over, pulling him away. Ethan staggered back, his head pounding from both the alcohol and the rage.

His phone buzzed violently in his pocket again and again.

He fumbled for it, squinting at the screen. Steph.

His assistant was probably worried sick, having no idea where he had disappeared to.

Ethan didn’t care. He shoved the phone back into his pocket, stormed out of the bar, and got into his car. His head was spinning, his vision blurred, but all he could think about was getting as far away as possible.

Lucy ran after him, calling his name, but he ignored her.

He stepped on the gas, speeding down the dark, empty road. His grip on the wheel was loose, his mind clouded by alcohol and anger.

Then a blinding headlights.

Ethan squinted, raising a hand to shield his eyes. His stomach lurched as the wheel slipped from his grip.

The car spun.

Everything turned into a blur of motion, flashing lights, the deafening screech of tires, the violent crunch of metal.

Then, darkness.

Lucy screamed as she watched the car somersault over and over before crashing into a ditch.

Her heart pounded as she ran toward the wreckage. "Ethan!" she shrieked, her breath ragged, tears spilling down her face.

But the only response was the eerie silence of the night.