The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 168: After her

"Who was it?" Stefan asked, striding into the living room, his brow furrowed.

"Ethan," Steve muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "He says Stef might be in danger. Claims she went after Lucy... who took his son."

Stanford, who’d just walked in, snorted. "I knew this would happen. She was getting too attached to that baby. The moment his mother showed up, Stef was bound to snap."

"Call her. Now." Steve’s voice was sharp as glass.

Stefan didn’t argue. He grabbed his phone, hit Mara’s number — straight to voicemail. He tried again. Nothing.

"Where the hell could she be?" Steve muttered, tension thick in the room.

"Call Rafael too," Stanford suggested. "The guards said they left together."

They tried his line next. No answer.

Steve cursed under his breath, pacing. "Oh Stef, why do you keep doing this to yourself?" he muttered, frustration simmering.

"And Rafael," Stanley added, shaking his head. "Giving in to her every demand."

"You speak like you don’t know our sister," Steve shot back, stopping mid-pace to glare at them. "You can’t say no to her. You can’t stop her once her mind’s made up. And at least Rafael doesn’t let her go through it alone."

"Yeah, yeah," Stanford grumbled, though he didn’t argue.

"Enough," Stefan cut in. "Now’s not the time. I’ll trace the car’s GPS." His fingers flew across his phone screen. A moment later, it pinged. "Got it."

"Finally." Steve grabbed his jacket. "Let’s go."

Without another word, they moved, each heading for their car as Stefan sent the location to the group. The engines roared to life, headlights cutting through the night as the brothers tore out of the driveway, chasing after their sister — and whatever hell she’d walked into.

—

Mara left Rafael standing in the hallway, her heart pounding in her chest. The shrill wail of the alarm echoed through the house, lights flashing red, but she didn’t care. Not now. Not when she was this close.

She reached the door to the nursery and pushed it open.

Inside, Andrew lay asleep in his crib, tiny hands curled into fists. The nanny, startled by the alarm, was already hurrying toward the door, trying to figure out what was happening — desperate to keep the baby calm.

They collided at the doorway.

The woman gasped, about to scream, but Mara was faster. She slammed the door shut and clamped a hand over the nanny’s mouth.

"Listen," Mara hissed, her voice shaking. "I’m not a bad person. I just want my son. He was stolen from me. I won’t hurt you — just, please, don’t scream."

The nanny’s wide, terrified eyes met hers. Slowly, she gave a trembling nod.

But the second Mara lifted her hand, the woman shrieked, her voice cutting through the room.

"Help! Someone—"

Before she could finish, Rafael burst through the door and, without hesitation, struck her. The nanny crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the baby’s soft breathing.

Mara stared at him, disbelief and gratitude warring in her expression.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Rafael shot her a glare. "For what? You’re insane. And you make me insane for going along with this." He ran a hand through his hair, glancing toward the door. "What now, genius? The doors are locked, alarms are blaring, and this place is crawling with armed men. You got a brilliant escape plan, or are we just waiting to die?"

Mara was already moving, eyes flicking around the room, thinking, calculating. A fierce determination settled over her face like a mask.

"I’ll figure something out," she muttered.

Because she always did.

And this time, she wasn’t leaving without her son.

Lucy’s heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she stormed down the hallway, her nerves frayed by the blaring alarm. She was already furious that the security system had been tripped. Caleb was supposed to handle this. The guards were supposed to handle this. Nothing ever ran smoothly unless she was the one pulling the strings.

And now—now something was off.

She reached the nursery door and hesitated. The silence behind it unsettled her. No nanny’s voice, no crying baby.

Lucy pushed the door open.

Inside, the room was still. The soft hum of a lullaby played from a speaker, the curtains gently swaying in the draft. Andrew lay peacefully in his crib, his tiny chest rising and falling in the dim light.

Lucy’s brow furrowed. Where the hell was the nanny?

She stepped inside, glancing around. A flicker of suspicion crossed her face, but Andrew’s calm, sleeping form reassured her.

"Good boy," she murmured, brushing a hand over the baby’s dark hair.

She lingered a moment longer, then turned and walked back toward the door, heels clicking as she disappeared down the hallway.

From behind the thick velvet curtains, Mara didn’t move.

Her heart thundered in her chest as she kept one arm braced around the unconscious nanny’s limp body, hidden in the narrow space between the wall and an armoire.

Rafael, crouched beside her, exhaled the breath he’d been holding as soon as Lucy’s footsteps faded away.

Mara didn’t dare speak, but her eyes met his — wild, terrified, and determined.

"That was a close call," Mara whispered, stepping out from behind the heavy curtains.

She gently lifted the unconscious nanny onto the bed, careful not to make a sound. Then, with trembling hands, she scooped Andrew into her arms. Even in his sleep, the baby stirred, a soft, contented smile curling on his lips as if sensing his mother’s touch.

Mara’s eyes flooded with tears.

"My baby... my beautiful boy," she whispered, cradling him tight, pressing frantic kisses to his tiny forehead. She wrapped him snugly in a thick blanket, enough to shield him from the cool night air and any danger that lay ahead.

Then, she turned to Rafael, her face streaked with tears but set with grim resolve.

"Take him."

Rafael shook his head, stepping back.

"No. What’s the plan, Stef? You’re gonna die here while I run off with your kid? Hell no. I’m not leaving you."

"Raf, please," Mara begged, her voice breaking. "There’s no time to argue. Just this once — do this for me. Get him out, safe and sound. I swear, I’ll never ask you for anything again."

But Rafael’s jaw clenched. His gaze didn’t waver.

"I said no." His voice was sharp. Solid. "I’m not letting you do this alone. We leave together, or not at all."

A beat passed between them — months of friendship and love, loyalty, of every crazy scheme and dark night they’d survived together.

Finally, Mara gave a small, broken smile.

"Fine," she whispered. "Together."

They crept into the hallway. The guards were still outside, convinced the intruders hadn’t yet made it into the house. The path they’d used to enter was locked tight now.

"We wait," Rafael murmured, adjusting the baby in his arms, holding him close. "As soon as they open that door, we move."

Mara nodded, but deep down, she knew the odds.

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She tightened her ponytail, her fingers trembling. Took a breath. Then, before Rafael could stop her, she stepped into the open corridor, staring straight down at the cluster of guards.

"There she is!" one of them shouted.

"Stef, what the hell—" Rafael gasped.

As she’d predicted, the door flung open as the guards scrambled to intercept her.

And in that split-second, as Rafael lunged forward, Mara turned and shoved the heavy door shut behind her, locking herself inside with the armed men, leaving Rafael and the baby on the other side.

"Stef!" Rafael roared, pounding against the door, his heart in his throat.

"Get my son out, Raf," she called, her voice muffled but steady. "Promise me!"

"You’re out of your damn mind! You stubborn—" he cursed under his breath, eyes blazing as the guards closed in on Mara, and he could do nothing but hold the child tighter and pray he could keep her promise.