The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 22: It’s not what you think

Daniel’s blood boiled as he watched Maria in another man’s arms. She was his, only his. No one had the right to take her away. He clenched his fists, trying to control the anger surging through him. For the sake of their baby, he had promised himself he would work things out. But now, here she was, embracing another man in broad daylight, humiliating him without a second thought.

His vision blurred with rage as he strode toward them. Without hesitation, he grabbed Maria’s arm and yanked her aside. He would deal with her later. Right now, his focus was on Ethan.

Before Ethan could react, Daniel’s fist landed on his face. A sharp crack echoed in the air, but Daniel wasn’t done. He pulled back for another punch, but Ethan was faster. Stronger. He caught Daniel’s hand mid-air and shoved him back with ease.

Daniel staggered but didn’t back down. Ethan could admit he had owed him that first punch for touching his wife. But a second one? That was out of line. His jaw clenched as he steadied himself, fists still tight, ready to beat the hell out of him.

But then he saw Maria. She stood frozen, her eyes wide with panic. Her hands trembled, and her breath quickened. This wasn’t just about him.

Ethan exhaled sharply, shaking off the fury. He wasn’t going to fight over a woman who was not his wife. Not like this.

Daniel took a step back, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. "This isn’t what you think," Maria muttered, she rushed to Ethan’s side, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

Ethan gave her a small nod, brushing off the pain. "I’m fine. Don’t worry."

Daniel scoffed. "Yeah? Then tell me what it is."

Daniel watched the exchange, his fury igniting into a raging fire. His wife, his Maria was worried about another man that wasn’t him. The humiliation burned through him like acid. His fists clenched so tightly.

"Come here, you bitch!" he snarled, lunging toward Maria. His hand shot out, aiming to yank her by the hair.

But before he could lay a finger on her, Ethan’s grip locked around his wrist like iron.

Daniel barely had time to react before Ethan grabbed him by the collar, their faces inches apart. His normally calm eyes darkened.

"You think you can put your hands on a woman?" Ethan’s voice was low, and controlled but dripping with menace, every muscle in his body itching to teach Daniel a lesson he’d never forget.

For a moment, Daniel saw it, the storm brewing behind Ethan’s gaze. The kind of rage that didn’t just end with a punch, but with destruction. His pulse spiked.

Just then, a voice cut through the thick tension.

"Boss!"

Steph sprinted over, arriving just in time. His presence was the only thing stopping Ethan from turning Daniel into something unrecognizable.

Ethan’s grip tightened for a second longer before he let go, shoving Daniel back with enough force to send him stumbling.

"You’re lucky," Ethan muttered. "Because if I start, you won’t walk away from this."

Daniel straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow. His pride was shattered, and his anger was barely contained.

Maria stood frozen, caught between the past and the present, between the man she once loved and the one who had just saved her. In a single moment, she had lost everything. Daniel would never forgive her now. He believed she had cheated. She had lost her home, was pregnant, and, worst of all, had fallen in love with her best friend’s husband. There was no backup plan, no safety net.

And yet... a grin spread across her lips.

Watching the fire in Ethan’s eyes as he defended her, seeing Daniel dragged away in humiliation, it was worth every tear she had ever shed because of him. Every moment of pain. Every sacrifice. She had endured so much at Daniel’s hands, but now, he would think twice before ever laying another finger on her.

Ethan pulled her into a protective embrace, his arms firm around her. Maria sank into his warmth, feeling safe.

Steph watched from a distance, his mind racing. The way Ethan held Maria and the way he looked at her was different. Protective. Had Ethan finally admitted what everyone else had already seen?

As Maria and Ethan stepped away, Steph reached out, grabbing Ethan’s arm.

"Boss, we still need to go to the office," he reminded him, his voice firm but careful.

Ethan frowned, clearly caught off guard. His mind had been entirely on Maria, on making sure she was safe.

Steph turned to Maria, offering a polite but cautious smile. "Miss Maria, I’ll call you a cab. Don’t worry, you’re safe now." His words were gentle, but his intent was clear he needed to pull Ethan away before he made any more mistakes in the name of protecting her.

Maria gave a soft, sad smile, one so fragile it made Steph feel like the worst person alive for not standing by her. He knew she was traumatized anyone could see it but he also knew Ethan. And Ethan had a habit of throwing himself into things without thinking.

"I’m so sorry about all this, Ethan," Maria said, her voice barely above a whisper. She kept her gaze down, avoiding his eyes. "I was hoping we could talk. I promise it won’t take long."

She clasped her hands together, and that’s when Ethan noticed her hand, she had hurt the night before. The bandage was gone, but he remembered. He remembered exactly how she got hurt.

His jaw tightened.

Steph saw the shift in Ethan’s expression and sighed inwardly. It was too late Ethan wasn’t going anywhere.

"Wait for me in the car, Steph," Ethan ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Steph hesitated for a moment, his instincts telling him this was a mistake. But Ethan had already made up his mind. With a resigned sigh, he nodded. "Yes, boss."

As he walked away, shaking his head, he couldn’t help but hope Ethan knew what he was doing. But deep down, he knew Ethan didn’t.

Ethan led Maria to a quiet, secluded spot, away from prying eyes. The air between them was heavy, thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions.

Maria took a shaky breath, her fingers twisting together. "Ethan, I’m sorry about the kiss. Really. I don’t know what came over me," she whispered, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes.

Ethan exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It wasn’t just you," he admitted. "It was my fault too. Let’s just forget about it. It was nothing."

Maria’s heart clenched at his words. She shook her head, the tears finally spilling over.

"That’s the problem, Ethan. I can’t forget about it," she said, her voice trembling. "I’ve tried so hard, but that kiss keeps replaying in my mind every second. That kiss wasn’t nothing to me, Ethan. It meant everything."

She looked at him, her tear-streaked face filled with raw honesty. She knew what those words meant. She knew there was no taking them back.

If Ethan could keep a secret, so could Maria.

Ethan stood frozen, his mind racing. He should have listened to Steph. He should have walked away. But now, he was trapped in a web of emotions, tangled in something he had never meant to create.

Maria’s tears hit him harder than any punch ever could. He hated seeing her like this, but at the same time, he didn’t know how to untangle himself from this mess. He had built a reputation as someone ruthless, someone feared. The little devil, they called him. But right now, he didn’t feel like that man at all.

"Maria, I..." His voice faltered. He was out of words, out of ways to make sense of what was happening.

Maria shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I don’t need you to say anything, Ethan," she whispered. "Just one night. That’s all I ask."

Her voice trembled, raw with longing and desperation. She had tried to fight it, tried to bury it deep inside, but it was useless. Her emotions had taken over, her heart drowning out all logic.

She wasn’t asking for promises. She wasn’t asking for forever.

She just wanted one night.

One night with a man who truly cared. One night to experience love in a way she never had before.

And as she looked into Ethan’s stormy eyes, she prayed he wouldn’t turn her away.

"Maria, please come to your senses," Ethan pleaded, his voice strained with disbelief. "One night of what?"

He refused to believe she was asking him to sleep with her. Maybe it was the pain talking. Maybe she just needed comfort someone to listen, to hold her, to remind her she wasn’t alone.

Maria let out a broken sob, clutching her chest as if trying to rip the emotions out of herself. "I don’t know what to do with these feelings, Ethan. How do I stop it?" She hit her chest, tears streaming down her face, frustration and agony consuming her.

"Stop, please," Ethan begged, stepping closer. "Maria, please stop."

He couldn’t watch her like this. It hurt in ways he didn’t understand.

Without thinking, he reached for her, but Maria moved first wrapping her arms tightly around him, clinging to him as if he was the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely.

For a fleeting moment, Ethan thought about it. Maybe if he gave in just this once... Maybe if they crossed that line, this pull between them, this chaos would finally settle. free𝑤ebnovel.com

But the thought vanished as quickly as it came, and he clenched his jaw, shaking it off.

"Maria," he murmured, his hands gripping her shoulders gently. "You are stronger than this." He forced himself to meet her gaze, his own resolve wavering. "What we’re feeling it isn’t right. It’s wrong, and we can’t—"

Maria looked up at him then, her eyes soft, full of something deeper than just desperation.

She wasn’t alone in this.

Ethan felt it too.

"You mean... you feel it too?" Maria whispered, a soft smile forming on her lips as if a weight had finally been lifted off her shoulders.

She loved Daniel at least, she had. But she couldn’t deny what she felt now. And knowing Ethan felt it too made it all the more real. All the more right?

Mara would have to understand. They hadn’t planned for this to happen, but it had.

Slowly, Maria traced her fingers along Ethan’s face, down to his chest, her touch lingering.

Ethan caught her hand, holding it firmly. "Please stop," he said, his voice tight. "You’re getting it all wrong."

Maria searched his eyes, but before she could speak, Ethan abruptly pulled away.

"Think about your baby, Maria," he blurted out, stepping back as if distance could erase whatever was happening between them.

"I am, Ethan," Maria said softly. "That’s why I need to experience love. So I can love her too. See? I am thinking about her."

Ethan stood there, lost. Confused. His heart pounded, his mind scrambling for the right words anything that wouldn’t shatter her completely.

But all he really wanted in that moment... was to go home to his wife.