The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 100: I’m Home

As soon as Mara stepped inside, she was met with the sight of her brothers gathered in the hall, along with the police. Relief washed over her as she rushed into their arms, embracing them tightly. The tension in their faces softened as they held her close, grateful that she was back home where she belonged.

Among them was Rafael, his face pale, his arm wrapped in a bandage from a gunshot wound. He had already told them everything. Mara’s heart clenched at the sight of him, knowing that once again, he had risked his life for her.

"How’s Vera?" she asked urgently.

Her brother Stefan hesitated before answering. "She’s fine... but when we found her, she was hysterical. She cried and told us it was a trap, that we needed to go back for you. But by the time we got there, it was too late. We found Rafael on the floor."

Mara’s stomach twisted. "And the baby?" she whispered, dreading the answer.

Stefan exhaled sharply. "The doctors say she might lose the baby. She’s still in the hospital. They’re doing everything they can."

Mara closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady herself. When she opened them, her gaze fell on Rafael. "How are you doing?" she asked softly.

He gave her a weak smile, shaking his head as if to brush off her concern. "It’s nothing. And besides, this makes twice now that I’ve saved you." His voice was light, but there was a heaviness in his eyes. "I’m just glad you’re back home."

She reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "Thank you, Rafael. I don’t know how to—"

"Don’t." He cut her off with a small, almost sad smile. "You’re back, that’s all that matters." With that, he turned away and walked toward the door. "Since you’re safe, I’ll be leaving now."

Mara watched as he disappeared into the night, a sinking feeling settling in her chest.

As she turned back to her brothers, they demanded to know how she had escaped.

"Ethan helped me," she admitted.

Their expressions darkened with suspicion. "Did he do anything to you?" Stefan asked cautiously.

Mara hesitated for only a moment before shaking her head. "He doesn’t even remember who I am."

That seemed to confuse them even more, but she didn’t have the energy to explain further. Instead, she sank into a chair, exhausted but determined. "I need to see Vera. I need to know how she and the baby are doing."

Stefan exchanged a glance with their other brother before stepping forward. "Stef, you need to take care of yourself too. You’re pregnant. You should check if everything’s fine."

Mara blinked at him, momentarily taken aback by his concern. She placed a protective hand over her stomach, the weight of everything finally pressing down on her.

"We have a fully equipped medical room here," Stefan continued. "You can get checked without leaving the mansion."

Mara nodded slowly, knowing he was right. Stefan was worried. She could see it in his face but he was trying not to let it show. Stress wasn’t good for her or the baby, and they all knew it.

But with the war brewing around them, how was she supposed to stay calm? Mara tells Stefan about Velarie wanting to stop hiding from their uncle.

Stefan managed to get Mara to fall asleep, though it took some effort. Her exhaustion finally won out after everything she had endured. Once she was resting, he turned his attention back to the ongoing discussion.

"Valerie wants to come out to the world," he announced, his voice laced with concern.

Steve and the rest of his brothers immediately reacted. "That’s a terrible idea," Steve said, shaking his head. "She can’t expose herself. It’s too dangerous." Stanford added.

They called her on the phone and pleaded with her to reconsider, to wait a little longer, but she was adamant. "I’m tired of hiding," she insisted. "I won’t live in the shadows forever."

Steve’s jaw tightened, but he softened his tone when he spoke again. "Think of your mother, your brother, and your grandfather. If you come out now, you’ll be putting all of them at risk. Is that really what you want?"

Valerie exhaled sharply, clearly torn. She hated hiding just as much as she hated the idea of endangering her family. As much as Steve despised Ethan, he knew that Valerie wouldn’t be reckless enough to put her loved ones in danger.

After a long silence, she finally gave in. "Fine. I won’t announce to the world that I’m alive," she agreed. "But I’m not staying in the vault anymore. I refuse to be locked away."

Stanford stepped forward. "Then stay here at the mansion for now. It’s safer, and we can protect you better."

Valerie considered this, then nodded. "Alright. But I won’t be caged. I need some freedom."

They all knew it was a compromise, but it was the best they could hope for, and the call ended.

—

The next morning, Mara woke up still shaken from the events of the previous night. The weight of everything pressed down on her, but before she could fully gather her thoughts, her phone rang.

She frowned at the unknown number before answering. "Hello?"

"How are you feeling?" Ethan’s voice came through the line, smooth and steady.

Mara sat up, immediately on guard. "How did you get my number?"

He let out a small chuckle. "I have my ways."

She sighed, rubbing her temples. She wasn’t sure how to feel about him calling, but there was something in his voice genuine concern. He wasn’t calling to interrogate her or manipulate her. He just... wanted to check on her.

Before she could answer, Stefan walked into the room, unaware she was on the phone.

"Listen, Stef, last night was risky. Even though you and the baby are fine, you still need to take it easy, why don’t you rest at home today," Stefan said, his voice firm but filled with brotherly concern.

Mara’s eyes widened as she glanced at her phone.

Stefan frowned, realizing something was off. "Who are you talking to?"

Without hesitation, Mara ended the call without another word, setting her phone aside. "No one," she said quickly.

Stefan narrowed his eyes but didn’t press. Not yet.

Ethan sat in stunned silence, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him like a boulder. Mara hadn’t aborted the baby. Their baby was still there, still growing, still a part of this world despite everything that had happened between them.

What a fool he had been.

The realization clawed at him, a relentless wave of guilt crashing over his heart. He had been selfish, blinded by anger and pain, as if possessed by something dark and unrecognizable. And now, he had lost her.

Mara’s eyes once filled with warmth, passion, and an undeniable fire for him were now cold, distant. That fire that had once burned so fiercely for him was gone, extinguished by the very hands that should have protected it. He had done this. He had destroyed everything.

There was no one else to blame. Not Maria-Isabel. Not Lucy. No schemes, no manipulation, no external forces.

It was all him.

He had ruined everything with his own hands, his own choices. And at this point, he wasn’t sure if there was any way to fix it. Maybe there wasn’t. Maybe the only thing left to do was to let Mara go completely.

Maybe it was time to give her the divorce she so desperately wanted.

Ethan knew what he had to do. He needed to let her go. There was no other choice. Bracing himself, he prepared to face Mara once and for all to tell her that he didn’t deserve her and that he was ready to set her free.

As he made his way to her, he unexpectedly ran into Bruce. Ethan had thought he was still on vacation.

"Bruce?" Ethan’s brows furrowed in surprise. "I wasn’t expecting to see you."

Bruce gave him a firm look before handing over an envelope. "I came to hand in my resignation. I’m starting my own law firm."

Ethan’s jaw tensed. He had expected this after everything that had happened. "Is there anything I can do to make you stay?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.

Bruce scoffed. "Unless you’re willing to divorce your wife." His eyes burned with quiet anger. "You don’t deserve Mara, Ethan. You never did."

Ethan remained silent, absorbing the weight of Bruce’s words. He didn’t argue because deep down, he knew Bruce was right. He tapped Bruce’s shoulder in acknowledgment, offering a small nod. "Good luck with your new firm."

And with that, he walked away, heading toward the one person who mattered most.

Meanwhile, at the Shepherd mansion, Mara was insistent. "I need to see Vera at the hospital."

Her brothers tried to dissuade her, worried about the dangers outside. "Mara, it’s not safe," Stefan argued. "You just got back. You need to rest."

But she was determined. "Vera needs me. I have to go."

Before the argument could continue, the front doors opened, and a figure stepped inside. A woman, her face partially hidden under the hood of her oversized sweatshirt. The air in the room tensed, uncertainty filling the space as the brothers stared at the stranger in wary silence.

It took them a moment to realize who she was.

When she finally pulled back her hood, revealing her face, there was a collective gasp.

"Valerie?"

Stanford was the first to break the tension, smirking as he crossed his arms. "Damn, Valerie. You look like a zombie. I should call a beautician to fix you up."

Valerie chuckled, the first genuine laugh she had in years. "I actually need that. It’s been ten years. I could use a miracle."

Mara smiled, warmth filling her heart at seeing Valerie. But time was slipping away. "I have to go," she said, looking at Stefan. "Are you coming with me or not?"

Stefan sighed, exchanging a glance with the bodyguards before nodding. "Fine. But we’re taking extra security."

With that settled, Mara bid Valerie a quick goodbye and left for the hospital, Stefan and the guards closely following her.