The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back

Ethan and Mara stepped into the grand mansion with Maria-Isabel, who was still weak and recovering from her injuries.

"Welcome home, Maria-Isabel!" Mara said cheerfully, but Maria-Isabel shifted uncomfortably. The place was unfamiliar, and all the eyes on her made her uneasy.

"Mara, maybe I should just stay at a hotel instead," she murmured hesitantly.

"Don't be silly," Mara scoffed, waving off the idea. "What's mine is yours. Besides, this place is huge, right? You'll get used to it."

Ethan handed Maria-Isabel's bag to Mrs. Morgan, the housekeeper. "Mrs. Morgan will show you to your room," he said.

"Yes, sir," Mrs. Morgan nodded before gently leading Maria-Isabel upstairs.

Mara exhaled, feeling a weight lift off her chest. Maria-Isabel was finally safe—far away from Daniel. In all the chaos, Mara had almost forgotten about work.

"I need to head to the office today. Some issues need my attention, but Steph will fill you in on the new case," Ethan whispered, pulling Mara into a hug. He could finally feel her focus shifting back to him, and that warmed his heart.

"I wish I could take the day off and spend time with Maria, but I just started," Mara sighed, resting her head against his chest.

"Then take the day off," Ethan suggested. He was the boss, after all—it wouldn't be a problem.

Mara chuckled, shaking her head. "No way. I'm already running late. And just because I'm the boss's wife doesn't mean I get to slack off," she teased, flashing him a soft smile.

Hand in hand, they strolled back to their room.

Within minutes, Mara and Ethan were ready to leave for work. Ethan took a moment to admire his stunning wife, his eyes filled with warmth.

"You look captivating, my beautiful wife," he said with a smile.

Mara smirked, adjusting his tie playfully. "And you, my dear husband, don't look too shabby yourself," she teased.

Before leaving, Mara checked in on Maria-Isabel, making sure she was comfortable. She turned to Mrs. Morgan. "Please keep an eye on her."

"Don't worry, Mara. I'll be fine," Maria assured her with a small smile.

Satisfied, Mara headed out. Since she and Ethan were going to different places, Ethan asked the driver to take Mara to work while he went to the company.

The moment Mara arrived at the firm in her sleek white and purple suit, she could feel the weight of the whispers around her. News had already spread—she was the new lead counsel. People were curious, some even skeptical. But gossip had never bothered Mara. She walked confidently to her desk, unfazed.

Steph greeted her and quickly briefed her on the case. Wasting no time, Mara called for a meeting with the legal team assigned to work with her. The atmosphere was tense—her colleagues weren't exactly welcoming. She could sense the doubts in the room, but she didn't care. She wasn't here to win them over; she was here to prove she was more than capable.

"Let's get to work, everyone," Mara said firmly, ending the meeting.

She was ready to show them exactly why she belonged here.

She was so lost in the case that she forgot just how much time had flown by.

***

Maria-Isabel was bored out of her mind, lying in bed all day with nothing to do. She needed a distraction—something to make her feel useful. That's when an idea struck her. She would cook something special for Mara. She knew Mara would love it.

"Miss Maria, please, leave this to us," Mrs. Morgan said, watching her step into the kitchen.

Maria shook her head with a smile. "Don't worry, it's fine. Besides, I love cooking, and the best part? Mara loves my cooking. I just want to surprise her."

Mrs. Morgan sighed, knowing there was no stopping her.

"You know what would make this even better?" Maria added mischievously, her eyes lighting up. "Music."

The maids chuckled as she turned on the speakers. A soft, classic tune filled the kitchen, and Maria couldn't help but sway to the rhythm. The old classic melody was infectious—even Mrs. Morgan, despite herself, started humming along.

Laughter and warmth filled the room as Maria danced between the counters, stirring pots and seasoning dishes, turning a simple afternoon into something joyful.

***

As Ethan was about to leave the company, he pulled out his phone and dialed Mara.

"Hey, baby. Are you home yet?" he asked.

Mara let out a small sigh, glancing at the time. "No, Ethan. I didn't even realize how late it got. I'm leaving now—see you soon," she whispered, gathering her things.

"Should I come pick you up?" he offered, already considering it.

But Mara shook her head, even though he couldn't see her. "No need, I've got it covered."

For some reason, Ethan didn't want to get home before her. Maybe it was the thought of walking into an empty house, or maybe he just liked the idea of arriving together. Since the firm was farther from home than the company, he decided to stall a little—take his time, and delay his drive.

With a small smirk, he leaned back against his desk. 

***

Mara sat in the backseat, her laptop open as she continued working, barely noticing the rain pelting against the windows. The traffic was at a standstill, the storm making things even worse.

"Ma'am, the traffic is really bad because of the storm. Should I call Sir and let him know?" the driver asked, glancing at her through the rearview mirror.

Mara barely looked up from her screen. "No need. I'm sure he's also stuck in traffic," she muttered, her fingers still flying over the keyboard.

Outside, thunder rumbled in the distance, but inside the car, Mara was too focused to care.

***

Maria-Isabel sat in the living room, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest as she waited for Mara to get home. The storm outside had settled into a soft drizzle, and the house felt quieter than usual. She had been counting down the minutes, eager to see her friend after a long day apart.

Then, she heard it—the sound of a car pulling into the driveway. Her heart lifted, and without thinking, she ran to the door, ready to throw her arms around Mara.

But when the door swung open, it wasn't Mara.

It was Ethan.

Maria skidded to a stop, nearly crashing into him. He stood there, slightly startled, holding a bouquet of deep red roses.

"I—I'm sorry," Maria stammered, feeling her face heat up. "I thought it was Mara."

Ethan raised a brow, surprised by the energy in her voice. The last time he saw her, she was fragile, barely speaking. But now, she looked… different. Livelier. Stronger.

"That's fine," he murmured, shifting on his feet. Maria's gaze lingered, first on him, then on the flowers in his hands. He suddenly felt uneasy under her stare.

"Flowers?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.

Ethan cleared his throat, holding them out instinctively. "I figured you might like them."

Maria's lips curled into a small smile as she traced the petals with her fingers. "Such lovely red roses," she mused, inhaling their scent. "Mara was never really a flower person. I suppose these were meant for her?"

"Yes… they were," Ethan admitted, but from the way Maria's eyes softened as she admired them, he could tell she needed them more.

Just then, the maids stepped in, taking his briefcase and helping him out of his suit jacket.

"Mara seems to be running late," Maria-Isabel noted as she carefully placed the roses in a crystal vase.

Ethan was about to respond when the rich aroma of spices and simmering sauce drifted through the air, catching him off guard. He turned toward the kitchen, inhaling deeply.

"Mrs. Morgan, that smells incredible," he said, unable to ignore the enticing scent.

The housekeeper chuckled. "Oh no, sir. That would be Miss Maria. She insisted on cooking tonight."

Ethan glanced toward the kitchen, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. Maria-Isabel cooking? That was the last thing he expected.

And yet, something about tonight felt… different.

"Oh, really?" Ethan raised a brow, clearly surprised.

Maria nodded with a smile. "Yes, I wanted to cook for Mara. She loves my cooking."

Before Ethan could respond, the front door opened, and Mara stepped in. She barely made it past the entrance before the rich, familiar aroma wrapped around her like a warm embrace. Her eyes lit up as she inhaled deeply.

"Tell me this smell is what I think it is," Mara grinned, quickly making her way toward the dining table.

"There she is," Maria beamed, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes at Mara's excitement.

Mara hugged Ethan, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. He smiled, then gently pulled out a chair for her. "Sit," he murmured, always attentive.

Maria wasted no time, happily serving them both. Mara took the first bite, her eyes closing in delight. "Maria, this is incredible! I missed your cooking so much," she gushed between bites.

Ethan, too, was impressed. "This is amazing," he admitted, nodding in approval as he tasted the dish.

Maria watched the two of them, her heart warm as she saw how Ethan doted on Mara—the way he listened, the way he made sure she was comfortable, the way his eyes softened just for her.

She was happy for Mara. Truly.

And yet, deep down, in a small, quiet corner of her heart, she couldn't help but wish she had that with Daniel.