The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 156: We meet again

LUCY’S NEW APARTMENT

It was modest, paid for with Celeb’s "support." Lucy held a glass of wine as she watched Andrew’s photo on her cracked phone screen.

"You will be mine, baby," she whispered. "And when you are... Ethan will finally understand what loss feels like."

AIRPORT – SALVADOR – MIDDAY

The warm sun and salty breeze greeted them as the private jet touched down. Mara stepped off first, baby Audrey bundled in her arms, her eyes scanning the familiar skyline. The place held both memories and ghosts.

Behind her, her four brothers followed, protectively forming a loose semi-circle around her like they always did. Rafael remained a few steps behind, eyes dark, jaw set.

He knew.

He knew Ethan was here.

And he knew what seeing him might do to Mara.

"You okay?" Steve asked, glancing back at Rafael.

Rafael nodded, offering a strained smile. "I’m good. Just... memories."

He wasn’t lying. Salvador was where he’d first seen Mara. Broken. Fiery. Unstoppable.

It was also where Ethan still breathed the same air as her.

OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT – CARS WAITING

As the brothers loaded the bags, Rafael pulled back from the group for a moment. His hand tightened into a fist inside his jacket pocket. He didn’t want to say it, but it gnawed at him.

What if seeing Ethan stirred something in Mara? What if Ethan tried to fight for her?

And worst of all... what if part of her heart still beat for the man who helped break it?

Mara sat in the backseat beside Audrey. Her fingers lightly played with her daughter’s tiny ones.

Ethan was here.

She hadn’t said it aloud, but everyone in the car knew.

"Are you okay, sis?" Stanley asked softly.

Mara gave a faint smile. "Yeah. Just... unfinished business."

Stefan, from the passenger seat, muttered, "You are our brave Stef."

–

Rafael rode alone in the second SUV. He looked out the window, lost in thought.

He’d given Mara space. Respect. Support. Everything she never got from Ethan.

But love? Love was messy. And Ethan was her past, one she never really got to bury.

So Rafael did what he always did when fear tried to creep in.

He leaned back, took a deep breath, and whispered to himself:

"No matter what happens... I won’t lose her. Not without a fight."

"Steve, stop the car," Mara said from the back seat, glancing out the window.

Steve pulled over immediately. "Everything okay?"

"I just want to grab a few things for Audrey at the mall," she replied, unbuckling her seatbelt.

Stanley, Stefan, and Stanford all stirred at once, already moving to follow.

"We’ll come with—"

"No," Mara interrupted gently, with a small smile. "You guys go ahead. I won’t be long."

They exchanged glances but didn’t argue. They knew their sister. When Mara made up her mind, it was easier to move a mountain than to talk her out of it.

Meanwhile, a few cars back, Rafael noticed their SUV pull over. Instinctively, he slowed and parked a few spaces behind.

He stepped out, approaching the curb just as Mara emerged with baby Audrey on her hip.

"You alright?" he asked, scanning her face.

"Yeah," she replied, shifting Audrey to her other side. "Just need to pick up a few things."

Rafael nodded. "Alright then... I’ll see you back at the house." ƒгeewebnovёl.com

He turned, already stepping back to his car.

He wasn’t angry, not jealous, just trying to respect her space. He wasn’t about to become her shadow. If she wanted to run back to Ethan, no amount of following her would stop it.

But before he could open the door—

"You could join us," Mara said.

It wasn’t loud, but it stopped him cold.

He looked back slowly, surprised. There was something hesitant in her voice, like she hadn’t meant to say it, or hadn’t expected herself to.

A flicker of a smile played on his lips. Maybe...just maybe... all the moments they’d shared were starting to chip away at the walls around her heart.

"I’d like that," he said, walking back.

Inside the mall, Rafael reached for Audrey instinctively. "Let me carry her."

Mara handed the baby over, who was more than happy to plop into his arms, already reaching for his beard with chubby fingers.

"She’s getting heavy," Mara said, adjusting her bag.

"She’s going to be a strong one," Rafael replied, cradling Audrey like he’d done it all his life. "Probably lead a boardroom or a rebellion before she turns five."

Mara laughed, despite herself.

Mara drifted from rack to rack, pushing the cart. She was quiet, but focused, carefully selecting clothes and supplies.

She picked a soft pink bib, then, without hesitation a baby blue one.

A tiny pair of pink shoes.

Then a blue pair.

She didn’t even realize she was doing it—picking everything in pairs. One for Audrey. One for the son, her heart still grieved. Her baby boy. Her lost twin.

Rafael noticed.

He didn’t say anything.

Instead, he watched her, eyes soft, heart clenching. He couldn’t imagine what it was like to lose a child. But what he could do... was let her hope.

Mara froze when she noticed the cart full of doubles. Her fingers hesitated over another blue item. Her breath caught. What am I doing?

She reached to put the blue clothes back, her face flushing slightly, embarrassed.

"Hey," Rafael said gently, placing a hand on hers. "It’s fine... he’ll come back home eventually. So don’t be so down."

Mara blinked back tears.

Those words, calm, steady, full of belief, meant everything. She looked at Rafael, searching his face for even a flicker of pity or doubt.

There was none.

Just quiet confidence.

Just then, out of nowhere, a chubby little boy, barely walking but trying with all his might, toddled out from another aisle and ran straight into Mara’s legs.

He stumbled and started crying, reaching his tiny arms up instinctively.

Mara, startled, crouched and picked him up.

"Hey, sweetheart," she said, gently bouncing him.

But as soon as she held him, he stopped crying.

Then he giggled.

His hands reached up, grabbing a fistful of her hair and tugging it playfully. His little face lit up in laughter.

Rafael, standing close with Audrey on his hip, raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Wow, he likes you," he said, amused.

A nanny in uniform rushed over, breathless. "Oh my God! I’m so sorry, he just slipped away from me, he’s really fast these days."

She paused.

Then stared.

Mouth falling open.

"He’s... laughing?" she asked, stunned. "He never, he never does that. He doesn’t smile. Ever. Not with me. Not even with his birth mother."

Mara couldn’t tear her eyes away from the boy. Something in her soul stirred, deep.

Then she saw it.

A small fish-shaped birthmark, just under the child’s left shoulder.

Her breath caught.

She spun baby Audrey in her arms and gently shifted her shirt. Audrey had the same birthmark.

"No..." she whispered, voice trembling. "It can’t be—"

Then, louder, with hope breaking through her voice:

"Andrew..."

Rafael’s eyes snapped to her. "Stef—"

"My baby," she gasped, hugging the boy tighter. "My baby!"

The nanny stepped forward, stunned. "How... how do you know his name?"

Rafael’s protective instincts kicked in, moving slightly to her side, alert. His hand hovered near his phone, in case.

Mara’s eyes welled up with tears, not caring about the world around her. "Because he’s mine. I never got to hold him like this. He was stolen from me. And now..."

She looked up at Rafael, overwhelmed, cradling the boy against her.

"Now he’s back."

"Stella! Stella, where did you run to?"

The voice startled both Mara and the nanny.

A familiar voice.

Ethan.

Mara.

They each murmured the other’s name, barely above a whisper, but it was enough.

Ethan’s face lit up with a bright, almost boyish smile. She’s here... And in her arms—Andrew. His heart stirred at the sight. Mara, holding his son. For a brief second, it looked like a picture he used to dream about.

But the warmth drained from his face just as quickly as it appeared when his eyes shifted to Rafael, standing right beside her, holding baby Audrey. Close. Familiar.

The smile vanished.

The nanny stiffened. The tension was thick, almost visible in the air.

She realized, suddenly, she had allowed a stranger to hold the young master. Her heart sank as she stepped forward. "I’ll take him now," she said, reaching carefully for Andrew.

Mara hesitated, arms tightening slightly around the child. Her heart fought her logic.

Rafael gently nudged her.

A silent reminder: He’s not yours, Mara. Not your Andrew. That was Lucy’s baby. Ethan’s son.

Her chest ached. It felt wrong to let go. Her spirit was crying out, but the reality was staring her in the face.

Slowly, painfully, she let the nanny take Andrew.

She turned and reached for Audrey instead, drawing her close, pressing her face into the soft curls of her little girl as if to steady herself, to hold something that was truly hers. Her tears stung—but she blinked them back.

"Wait in the car," Ethan said to the nanny, his eyes still locked on Mara.

The nanny nodded and left, carrying Andrew.

"I’ll give you two a minute," Rafael said, wheeling the cart toward the counter to settle the bills. He brushed past Ethan, calm but cool.

"Hello, Rafael," Ethan said under his breath, a hint of something deeper laced into his tone—something sharp, possessive.

"You were with her this whole time."

Rafael didn’t flinch. "She’s a free woman, Ethan." He glanced over his shoulder with a light shrug. "But anyway, you can ask her whatever answers you want."

And with that, he walked away, leaving Mara and Ethan standing face to face, for the first time in a long time.