The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 176: Please come back

The first time she cried because she didn’t want him to go.

Rafael cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing the tears away. "Of course I’ll come back. You’re the only reason I’d want to." And with that, he kissed her forehead,

"Hey... don’t say that," Rafael murmured, seeing the tears welling in her eyes again. He gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing across her cheek. "Why wouldn’t I come back? My whole life is right here. By your side."

He paused, his voice soft but certain. "I love you, Mara. I’ll wrap this up real fast, and when I return—"

He trailed off, his words hanging in the air like a promise not yet sealed.

Mara looked up at him, voice barely a whisper. "And when you return...?"

Rafael smiled, eyes locked on hers. "You’ll say yes to me."

Mara blinked, her heart skipping. "If I say yes now... will you come back faster?"

He chuckled softly, his forehead resting against hers. "Well, yes... that would help a lot."

Her voice broke into a soft laugh, teary but sincere. "Then yes. Yes."

It was simple. No grand gestures. No rings. Just raw honesty and two hearts finding home in the middle of chaos.

Rafael’s smile deepened, and he pulled her in, holding her like she was the only thing anchoring him to the world. He didn’t care that her brothers were standing a few feet away, likely watching in silent judgment. For once, it didn’t matter.

Mara leaned into him, closing her eyes as his warmth wrapped around her like a shield

Mara found herself quivering in Rafael’s arms, their bodies drawn together as if the moment had been waiting for them. His eyes fluttered shut, and she didn’t need to say a word; he knew.

And then he kissed her.

It was gentle at first, but soon deepened, full of unspoken emotion, longing, regret, and hope. His lips claimed hers in a kiss that wasn’t rushed or desperate but slow, lingering... like a goodbye wrapped in a promise. Their tongues danced in perfect rhythm, like they were trying to memorize each other before life pulled them apart again.

From a short distance, Steve cleared his throat loudly.

"Forget we’re here, why don’t you?" he said, half-laughing.

The other brothers, Stanley and Stanford, turned away, grinning to themselves, allowing their sister this rare, unguarded moment of happiness. freeweɓnovel.cøm

Rafael pulled back, his hand resting on Mara’s cheek. "I’ll be back soon," he whispered.

Mara nodded, eyes still closed, forehead resting against his. "Come back soon. And if you need anything, resources, lawyers, whatever it takes to help her, you let me know. The S Foundation will be more than happy to help."

He looked at her, genuinely moved. "Thank you. That means a lot. I’ll let you know. And this time," he added, brushing her hair behind her ear, "I promise, I’ll be in touch."

"Try and stay out of trouble," Mara teased with a smile, though her eyes shimmered with something deeper.

He smiled back. "You too."

With one last look, one last breath of her perfume and presence, Rafael turned and stepped out of the Shepherd mansion, his heart a little heavier... but his purpose clearer than ever.

The door had barely clicked shut behind Rafael when Mara slowly turned, her back pressing gently against it.

The warmth of his touch still lingered on her skin, the taste of his kiss still on her lips. For a moment, she just stood there, eyes closed, trying to slow her breathing, trying to make sense of the whirlwind he always seemed to bring with him.

She smiled.

A real one, soft, shaky, but real. It had been a while since she smiled like that without forcing it.

"You good?" Steve asked from down the hall, arms crossed, watching her with the protective gaze of an older brother who had seen her survive too much.

She gave a small nod. "Yeah... I think I actually am."

He nodded back, silently approving, then disappeared into his room to give her space.

Mara walked down the hall and into her bedroom, shutting the door gently behind her. The night was quiet now, except for the hum of the house settling and the steady rhythm of her own heartbeat. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring out at the moonlit garden just beyond her balcony.

She thought about everything: Ethan’s words, Lucy, the fight, the twins, the sleepless nights, the aching past that kept trying to define her.

And then there was Rafael.

He had walked into her chaos without hesitation, not to fix her, but to stand beside her.

That kiss... that promise.

It didn’t erase the pain. It didn’t undo the year she’d lost. But it gave her something she hadn’t dared to believe in again:

Hope.

A single tear slipped down her cheek, not from sadness this time, but from something softer, something healing.

She lay back slowly, pulled the blanket over herself, and stared at the ceiling for a while.

"Please come back," she whispered into the stillness. "And please let it be different this time." Outside, the stars glimmered quietly, as if keeping watch over a woman who had finally let herself believe in love again.

—

Lucy winced as she dabbed the last trace of concealer over the bruised side of her face. The swelling had gone down, but the pain was still very real, a deep, throbbing reminder of Mara’s wrath. She stared at her reflection, her jaw clenched tight.

"That bitch," she muttered, fury bubbling just beneath her skin. "She’s going to pay for this. I swear, she will."

She tossed the makeup sponge aside and stormed into the living room. Her plan to manipulate Caleb had backfired, and now the idiot had suddenly grown a conscience. He hadn’t returned her calls, hadn’t sent a single dime.

But Lucy was far from finished.

"You think you can just walk away, Caleb?" she whispered to herself with a bitter laugh. "You owe me... and I know exactly what you want."

With a slow breath, Lucy peeled off her robe, leaving herself in little more than sheer temptation. She lay flat on her belly across the couch, legs bent just slightly, every move calculated, rehearsed. Her bruised side faced away, only the softest, most irresistible angles on display.

She could feel it.

Caleb was coming.

She knew how his mind worked. His weaknesses. And if the promise of power didn’t bring him back... seduction would.

The door creaked, ever so slightly.

She didn’t look up. She didn’t have to.