The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back

"Ethan, I'm sorry," Mara whispered as she buttoned her blouse, glancing at him. "I can't go with you to the hospital. I have to be in court today. But if you want, I can have it canceled."

Ethan lay flat on the bed, watching her. A part of him wished she could come, but another part knew he didn't want her to find out everything about his procedure.

"Don't worry, it's fine," he said with a reassuring smile. "The doctors said it's a simple procedure. I'll be home before you even get back."

Mara leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. She hated leaving him alone, but her case was at a critical stage—she couldn't afford to miss it.

As she pulled away, Ethan smirked, his eyes trailing over her. "You look sexy."

Mara rolled her eyes, but he pulled her back, his hands resting on her waist.

"Maybe you should change," he murmured, his tone turning possessive. "I don't like everyone gawking at you in the office—especially Bruce."

Mara laughed, shaking her head. "Ethan, are you seriously jealous right now?"

Ethan huffed. "I know how Bruce looks at you."

Mara kissed him again, lingering this time. "You're the only one I care about."

Ethan sighed, still not thrilled, but he let her go.

"Maria-Isabel could go with you," Mara suggested, slipping on her jacket. "That way, I know you'll be taken care of. Besides, I haven't spent time with her all week—I'm sure she'd love to."

"No, it's fine," Ethan said quickly, his tone firm. "Steph will be with me. She doesn't need to."

Mara paused, studying him. His reaction was a little too sharp.

"Please go with her," she insisted gently. "Please, for my sake."

Ethan clenched his jaw, but the look in her eyes made it hard to argue. With a sigh, he gave a small nod.

"Fine," he muttered.

Mara smiled, stepping closer to cup his face. "Thank you."

Ethan forced a smirk. "You owe me for this."

Mara chuckled, pressing a kiss to his forehead before heading for the door. But as she left, Ethan's expression darkened slightly.

He had a reason for not wanting Maria-Isabel with him. And now, he'd have to be even more careful.

**

Mara found Maria downstairs, already setting out breakfast and handing a neatly packed lunch to the driver.

"Don't forget to eat," Maria said with a warm smile as Mara descended the stairs.

The driver took Mara's bag and the lunch from Maria, and Mara smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Maria." She hugged her friend tightly before pulling back to hold her hands.

"Could you please go with Ethan to the hospital?" Mara asked softly. "I'd feel much better knowing you're with him."

Maria's face lit up. "Of course, Mara! Don't worry, I'll take care of everything and keep you updated."

Mara beamed. "Thank you—you're such a darling!"

With that, she kissed Maria's cheek and hurried out the door, ready to take on the day.

***

Ethan was ready to leave for the hospital when an emergency came up, forcing him to send Steph to handle it.

"Breakfast?" Maria whispered with a soft smile as she saw him coming down the stairs.

"No, I'm not hungry," Ethan said casually.

Over the past week, he had found himself growing closer to Maria. Just days ago, she had received a call from her husband, Daniel, and the fear in her eyes was unmistakable. She had been shaken, unsure of what to do. Ethan had been there, offering support when she needed it most. He had encouraged her to live her life freely, to not be afraid. And when she broke down in tears, he had held her tightly, comforting her.

Now, he wasn't sure why, but he was starting to feel uneasy around her. He tried to brush it off.

"Okay then, I'll bring breakfast with me," Maria said cheerfully. "After the procedure, you can eat."

Ethan sighed. "No, Maria. It's fine. You don't have to come with me."

Maria shook her head, her expression firm yet kind. "Hey, you were there for me during my difficult times. This is the least I can do. So, come on—let's go."

She picked up the lunch bag and slung her own bag over her shoulder. The dress she wore was loose-fitting, simple yet effortlessly beautiful.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, his gaze lingering on her. Then, without another word, he turned and walked toward the door. There was no point in arguing with her anymore.

***

They arrived at the hospital, and Maria waited outside the doctor's office while Ethan went in.

"Your wife looks stunning," Dr. Fred, Ethan's doctor and longtime friend, whispered, trying to lighten the mood as he flipped through Ethan's new medical report.

Ethan shook his head. "She's not my wife."

Fred's eyes widened. "Oh, my bad—I'm sorry."

Ethan ignored the slip and got straight to the point. "Can I provide my sperm now?" he asked eagerly.

Dr. Fred hesitated, his expression shifting. He studied Ethan's face carefully before sighing. "Ethan… about that."

A strange, uneasy feeling settled in Ethan's chest.

"The count of your sperm is very low," Fred finally said, his voice serious. "Even if we store it, the chances of fertilizing an egg would be extremely slim—if not impossible."

Ethan felt like the ground had been ripped from beneath him. His vision blurred as the weight of the words crashed over him. He had never considered the possibility that he might lose his chance to have a child—an heir.

"What are you saying, Fred?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but the desperation in it was unmistakable.

Fred met his gaze, firm but compassionate. "We need to proceed with the treatment as soon as possible. You will recover, but it's going to be a long process. Don't lose hope yet."

Ethan clenched his jaw, his hands curling into fists. "You're telling me I won't be able to get my wife pregnant? Or any woman, for that matter?"

Fred exhaled heavily. "There are other options, Ethan. You could consider a sperm donor or adoption. I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, but—" He paused, guilt flickering in his eyes.

Ethan stared at him, his breathing uneven.

"If you had agreed to do the procedure earlier… even just a day sooner," Fred continued carefully, "there might have been a better chance. But your condition deteriorated faster than we expected."

Silence filled the room.

Ethan swallowed hard, his heart hammering against his ribs. He wasn't just losing the ability to have a child—he was losing a part of himself.

And he didn't know how to tell Mara.

Ethan was still in shock. He picked up his phone, his fingers hovering over Mara's number, but then he stopped himself. She was probably in the courtroom by now. He didn't want to distract her—especially not with this.

With a heavy sigh, he changed into the hospital gown and was wheeled toward the operating room.

"I'll be right here, waiting for you," Maria said, holding his hand as the nurse began to push the stretcher away.

Ethan glanced at her, appreciating her presence, but deep down, he wished Mara was the one beside him. She had a way of comforting him—of making everything feel okay, even when it wasn't.

The procedure lasted an hour and a half. When it was over, Ethan was wheeled back to his room, still groggy from the anesthesia.

Maria was there, attending to his every need. She wouldn't even let the nurses come near him, insisting on taking care of everything herself.

Ethan watched her for a moment, noting how attentive she was. He appreciated it, but something about it felt… different.

"It looks like you have something on your mind," Ethan murmured, noticing Maria-Isabel drifting into her thoughts.

She snapped out of it, forcing a smile. But Ethan could see it—something was bothering her.

And for the first time, he wasn't sure if he wanted to know what it was.

"Nothing," Maria murmured, but there was hesitation in her voice. She took a deep breath, then looked at Ethan. "Can I ask you something?"

Ethan nodded, adjusting himself slightly on the bed.

"Would you ever forgive and love a woman who has had an abortion?" Maria asked, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Ethan's eyes widened. His first thought was Mara. Could she be pregnant and thinking about ending it? No, that didn't make sense. Mara wasn't that kind of person. And he knew for a fact that she had never been with anyone before him. That meant Maria was talking about herself.

"Are you thinking of aborting your baby?" Ethan asked directly, piecing it together.

Maria's eyes welled up with tears. "I don't know what to do with my life. I can't even protect myself—how can I protect a child?" Her voice broke as she wiped at her tears. "I thought… I thought having a baby would make him stay. So I agreed to sleep with him before the wedding. And at first, he was happy. He wanted us to get married immediately. But then everything changed. He stopped caring. He… he forced himself on me. He beats me every night." Maria sobbed, her pain spilling out like a flood.

Ethan swallowed hard, his heart aching for her.

"You're not alone," he said softly. "And your child won't be either. You're going to be a great mother, Maria. Don't give up on that baby."

Maria looked at him, searching his eyes for reassurance. If only that child was his, Ethan thought bitterly. He would have worshipped the ground she walked on.

"I don't know how to tell Mara," Maria whispered. "You know how she is. She wants me to divorce Daniel, but I don't want my child to grow up without a father."

"And she's right," Ethan said gently. "You're separated now, but you're still legally his wife. The only way to truly get rid of him is through a divorce. But listen—Mara and I will be here for you. For your baby. If you let us."

Maria's lips trembled, and for the first time, a small, grateful smile appeared. "Mara is so lucky to have you," she whispered.

Their eyes locked in a silent exchange—one filled with gratitude, pain, and something unspoken.

Just then, Ethan's phone rang. Mara.

He wanted to answer, but before he could, the nurse came in, insisting he needed to rest. Maria hesitated, then silenced the call.

For now, Mara would have to wait.

"Who was it?" Ethan asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Maria gave him a small smile. "Listen to the nurse and get some rest," she said, switching off his phone before he could protest.

Meanwhile, Mara was anxiously waiting outside the courtroom for the jury's verdict when she called Ethan. The phone rang, but there was no answer. She tried again and it was off. A knot tightened in her stomach. When she called Maria and found her phone off as well, worry consumed her.

Something wasn't right.

Mara's heart pounded as she grabbed her bag, ready to rush to the hospital. But just as she reached the door, Bruce, one of the co-counsels, called out, "Mara, the jury is back with the verdict."

She hesitated, torn between the case and the overwhelming need to check on Ethan. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to turn around and walk back into the courtroom, but her mind remained with her husband.

Something was wrong. She could feel it.