The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back

Ethan had managed to slip into a light sleep, but it didn't last. He awoke shortly after, feeling the restless energy that seemed to always pulse beneath his skin. He wasn't the type to enjoy the quiet comfort of rest, especially not in a place like this. The sterile scent of the hospital pressed against him like a heavyweight. He couldn't stand it a second longer.

"Can you please call my doctor?" he whispered, his voice raspy from the dryness in his throat. His eyes darted open, landing on Maria-Isabel, who sat nearby, comfortably nestled in a chair with a book in her hands.

Maria-Isabel looked up, alarm flashing in her eyes. "What? Are you in pain? What's wrong?" Her voice was laced with concern, her brow furrowed in worry. Ethan saw it, the way she always overreacted, the way she always cared just a little too much. He found comfort in that, though. She was like a quiet storm, gentle but unyielding.

"No, nothing like that. I'm fine," Ethan reassured her quickly, though his thoughts lingered elsewhere. If only Mara paid as much attention to him as Maria did. If only the fire of ambition and independence that burned so brightly in Mara's eyes could soften just a little.

Ethan couldn't help but admire Mara's strength. She was fearless and self-sufficient. But at times, he wished she'd lean on him more. In his heart, there was a desire to be her superhero, to be the one she turned to when things got tough. But it felt as though she had it all figured out, as though she never needed saving. That was the difference, wasn't it? Mara didn't need him the way Maria did.

Maria breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, thank goodness, you scared me for a moment there," she said, flashing him a soft smile before heading toward the door to call the doctor.

Ethan didn't waste time. As soon as Maria left, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and began to dress. There was no way he was staying here any longer. He had no patience for hospitals.

Moments later, Maria and Dr. Fred walked back in, only to find Ethan fully dressed, his expression stubborn, yet determined. Dr. Fred raised an eyebrow, clearly not surprised by Ethan's impatience.

"And where do you think you're going?" Dr. Fred asked, crossing his arms, his tone firm yet amused.

"I'm discharging myself now. I need you to clear me so I can get out of here," Ethan said, his voice steady, sitting back on the bed as if it were a simple request.

Maria-Isabel's eyes widened in disbelief. "Ethan, you can't be serious…"

But Ethan didn't waver. He had places to go, and things to do. And whether Maria-Isabel or Dr. Fred liked it or not, he was leaving.

"You just had surgery, man. It might have been a simple procedure, but you still need rest. You can't just go back to work like nothing happened," Dr. Fred said, his voice firm with concern.

Ethan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I can't stay. This place makes me feel useless. I'll rest when I get home," he muttered, already feeling the hospital walls closing in on him.

Maria-Isabel stepped in, her voice light but reassuring. "Don't worry, Doctor. I'll make sure he gets the rest he needs," she said with a confident smile.

Dr. Fred sighed, shaking his head. "Alright, if you say so. I know there's no talking sense into this patient. You can take him home," he relented, though his tone carried a mix of amusement and resignation.

Ethan was already halfway to the door when Dr. Fred called after him. "And make sure to come back for your report next week."

"Email it," Ethan replied over his shoulder, disappearing into the hallway with Maria-Isabel close behind.

Dr. Fred watched them leave, shaking his head as he slipped his hands into the pockets of his white coat. Some patients never changed.

***

Ethan let out a slow breath as Maria-Isabel's words settled over him. She had a way of reading between the lines, of understanding things even when he didn't say them out loud. He appreciated that about her.

"I know it's not my place, but you look worried," Maria said gently, her warm brown eyes searching his face. "Whatever it is, you're not alone, Ethan. And Mara will always support you. She might seem strong and indifferent sometimes, but I know for a fact she loves you. Her journey with her adopted family made her independent and made her believe she had to handle things on her own. But that doesn't mean she wouldn't be there for you. Talk to her she'll understand."

Ethan nodded, grateful for her words, but deep down, he knew he couldn't talk to Mara about this. Not yet. Some things needed to stay buried a little longer.

"Thank you for saying that," he murmured. "Mara might not be home yet, so I'll quickly pass by the office. Don't worry, you can take the car. I'll have Steph pick me up." His voice was strained, the exhaustion from the hospital stay catching up with him as he raked a hand through his hair.

Maria's brows knitted together. "No way, Ethan. I promised Mara and the doctor that you'd be taken care of, and right now, you don't need work," she insisted firmly before her expression softened. "Why don't we do something fun instead? You need a distraction. When I'm upset, I like to shop. I think you could use that too."

Ethan couldn't help but chuckle. Shopping wasn't exactly his way of blowing off steam his idea of fun was acquiring companies, not picking out clothes.

Maria's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Honestly, tell me, when was the last time you went shopping and bought something for yourself?"

Ethan thought for a moment. "About three weeks ago."

Maria arched a brow. "And what did you buy?" she asked, fully expecting him to say a watch or maybe a car.

"A company," Ethan answered smoothly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "An airline, at Eldorado."

Maria's jaw nearly dropped. "An airline? You mean Attic Airline?" she asked, her voice casual, but Ethan stiffened slightly.

He turned to her, eyes narrowing. "Yes… How did you know?"

Maria sighed, her smile fading. "Well, Daniel was the managing director at Attic Airline but when the management changed, he was fired." Her voice carried a hint of sadness, and Ethan immediately felt the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I—I didn't know," Ethan admitted, feeling uncharacteristically at a loss for words.

Maria shook her head as if shaking off the emotion. "You must have met Mara while coming back from Eldorado. Funny how fate works." She shot him a quick glance before gripping the steering wheel with newfound determination. "So, we're going shopping, real shopping this time. And we can grab some groceries on the way."

Ethan leaned back against the seat, watching the city blur past through the window. He thought about calling Mara, but something stopped him. If she was out of the courtroom, she would've called by now. He wondered how her first case was going, whether she was standing in front of a judge right now, commanding the room the way she always commanded his heart.

Maybe, just maybe, a day away from everything wasn't such a bad idea after all.

***

As Maria and Ethan arrived at the mall, they instinctively steered the conversation away from anything too heavy. It was easier that way—easier to mask their own pain by filling the space with lighthearted chatter.

They walked through the aisles, picking up groceries as they went. Ethan pulled the trolley while Maria browsed the shelves, occasionally tossing an item in.

Just as Ethan reached for a can of sausage sauce, Maria's hand landed on it at the same time. Their fingers brushed, lingering for just a second too long as they locked eyes, both smiling at the coincidence.

"I didn't know you liked this too," Maria said, tilting her head slightly. It felt oddly fated, the way he and Mara seemed to share the same small, peculiar preferences.

Ethan smirked. "Me? No way. Not for me, I wonder why anyone would like something like this."

Then, as if reading each other's minds, they both blurted out in unison, "Mara!"

Ethan had been thinking of grabbing it for Mara, and Maria had been doing the same.

Maria chuckled, shaking her head. "Yes, Mara," she confirmed with a fond smile. "She just loves it."

They each grabbed a few cans, smiling to themselves before continuing their shopping.

As they made their way out of the store, Maria suddenly slowed her steps, her gaze catching on a baby clothing boutique across the walkway. A soft expression crossed her face.

Ethan followed her gaze, understanding without her needing to say a word. He could see the quiet realization settling in her features. She was starting to embrace the idea of motherhood, to prepare for the life growing inside her.

Ethan, meanwhile, felt a different kind of ache. He had everything—wealth, success, power. But one thing was missing. He wished, more than anything, to have a child of his own. A little version of himself. Or better yet, a little Mara, fierce and brilliant.

The thought stirred something deep within him, making his heart sink.

Maria exhaled and turned to him with a small smile. "Do you ever think of having your own child?" she asked, her voice gentle.

Ethan hesitated for only a second before answering. "All the time," he admitted.

Maria nodded, understanding in her eyes. She glanced back at the boutique. "Maybe one day," she whispered, more to herself than to him.

"Why don't we just take a quick look inside?" Ethan suggested, glancing toward the baby boutique.

Maria hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Sure," she said softly.

The moment they stepped inside, they were completely mesmerized. Tiny onesies, soft knitted blankets, miniature shoes—everything was impossibly adorable. They couldn't help themselves. Every time a store assistant showed them something, they exchanged a glance, and before they knew it, they had bought almost everything. Neither could decide what to leave behind, so they took it all.

For a brief moment, they were happy—two completely different people, lost in a fantasy where pain and reality didn't exist. Maria imagined it was Daniel beside her, excited about their child. Ethan let himself believe, just for a second, that he and Mara were expecting a baby of their own.

It was a fleeting illusion, but it brought comfort.

They moved on to the next shop, their laughter lightening the air between them. Since the baby store would deliver everything later, Maria decided to browse for some new clothes. She tried on a few outfits, stepping out to show Ethan. No matter what she wore, he nodded in approval, grinning.

"You look great in everything," he said simply.

Maria rolled her eyes playfully but didn't argue. They ended up buying everything she tried on, along with a few things Ethan picked out for Mara.

Just as they were about to leave, a voice called out.

"Maria-Isabel?"

Maria froze.

A cold wave of fear washed over her as her body tensed. Her hands trembled, her breath hitched. Was it him? Had Daniel found her?

Her heart pounded against her ribs, and she slowly turned around, bracing herself for what—or who—she was about to face.