The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 26: Beautiful surprise

Maria stood by the door, her body tense, her mind racing. She wiped her face with the back of her palm, surprised to find tears she hadn’t even realized had fallen. She quickly composed herself just as a maid, still groggy from sleep, approached.

"I wanted to speak with Mara, but it seems she’s asleep," Maria whispered, forcing a tight smile.

The maid studied her for a moment, skepticism flickering in her eyes. She wasn’t naïve enough to fully believe Maria’s excuse, but she couldn’t quite place what exactly was off.

"Alright, Miss Maria," the maid finally said. "Get some rest."

She lingered for a moment, watching Maria, making sure she left first before turning away.

Back in her room, Maria paced restlessly, her mind an unrelenting storm. Every thought, every emotion, every unspoken desire pulled her in one direction—toward Ethan.

It wasn’t just want; it was need. It was as if something beyond her control was drawing her to him.

Mara will have to understand, she told herself, her voice trembling with conviction. Yes, she will. It’s me Ethan wants to be with. Mara loves me—she will have to understand. She must.

She whispered the words over and over, pacing faster, her breathing uneven. And the more she repeated them, the more they began to make sense. Or at least, she convinced herself they did.

**

Ethan woke up before Mara, slipping out of bed quietly. He had a full day ahead—meetings at the corporation to close some deals, followed by a court hearing.

Mara’s alarm blared, making her frown in protest. She had stayed up too late and waking up this early felt like a cruel punishment. Without lifting her head, she blindly reached for the alarm, fumbling until she finally turned it off.

Ethan watched the whole thing and scoffed, amused by her sleepy resistance.

"Wake up, sleepyhead," he teased before jumping back onto the bed, pressing soft kisses against her cheek and jaw.

Mara hummed in response, stretching lazily before finally blinking her eyes open. Ethan was already fixing his tie, ready for work.

"You’re up early," she said with a small smile.

"Yeah, I have to head to the office to close a deal," he replied. "Why don’t you come with me to court later this afternoon?"

Mara sighed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she sat up. "Alright then." freēwēbnovel.com

"Perfect," Ethan said, leaning down to steal one last kiss before heading out the door.

Mara stared after him for a moment, tempted to crawl back under the covers. But she knew better there was no going back to sleep now.

Mara dragged herself to the bathroom, still groggy from sleep, while Ethan made his way downstairs, trying his best to avoid her.

Maria.

She was already up, waiting at the foot of the stairs with a lunch bag in her hands and a wide, almost unsettling grin. Ethan’s steps faltered for just a second before he picked up his pace again, forcing himself to act naturally.

"Good morning, Maria," he said, managing a polite but tight smile. He hoped—really hoped—she had calmed down from whatever madness had consumed her the night before. But little did he know, her obsession had only deepened.

"Good morning, Ethan!" Maria chirped. "I made your lunch. Oh, and breakfast is ready too! I guess Mara is still sleeping? She can be such a sleepyhead sometimes. I used to have to drag her out of bed back in the day. We could have breakfast together before you go! But I see you’re in a hurry..."

She went on and on, her voice light, almost playful, but Ethan could hear the desperation beneath it.

He exhaled sharply. "Yes, Maria, I am in a hurry, and I’m not hungry but thank you." He shifted uncomfortably, glancing down at the keys in his hand.

Maria’s smile faltered, but she quickly forced it back.

"And I’ll be having lunch with Mara, so there’s no need for the lunch bag," Ethan continued, his tone firm but polite. "Besides, you don’t have to do this. Leave it to Mrs. Morgan. You’re our guest, Maria."

Maria nodded stiffly, her fingers tightening around the lunch bag. "Of course," she said, voice softer now, almost uncertain.

But inside, she burned.

Ethan had rejected her. Again.

Was it Mara? Maria wondered, her mind racing. Is that why he’s avoiding me?

She let out a soft smile, convincing herself that Ethan was just being cautious—probably worried about Mara. That was fine. He cared too much about his wife, but soon enough, he’d see things differently. Maybe if the three of them had dinner together, it would help.

Even long after Ethan had left, Maria kept her eyes on the door as if willing him to turn back.

"Maria?"

Mara’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. She was descending the stairs, her presence warm and effortless, as always.

Maria quickly snapped out of her daze and turned to her with a bright smile. "Don’t you look stunning, my dearest Mara," she said, discreetly tucking the lunch bag behind her. Mara couldn’t see it.

"Thank you, Maria," Mara replied, smiling back. "How are you? With everything going on, I feel like I haven’t had time to check in on you."

"I’m doing well," Maria said, forcing her tone to remain light. "Breakfast?"

Mara glanced at her wristwatch and winced. "Ah, I’m so sorry, but I’m running late. I know you made this with love, and I appreciate it."

Maria swallowed down the sting of disappointment, keeping her expression neutral. "That’s fine," she said.

Mara’s eyes drifted to the bag Maria was still trying to hide. "Is that mine?" she asked, pointing at it.

Maria’s heart skipped a beat.

"No," she blurted out almost immediately, gripping it a little tighter.

"I mean, I was thinking the two of us could have lunch today. What do you say?" Maria suggested, tilting her head slightly. "I’m so bored here, and honestly, I’m afraid of going out alone I might bump into Daniel."

Mara’s expression softened. She knew how much Maria wanted to avoid him, and guilt tugged at her heart.

"That sounds like a great idea," Mara agreed. "I’ll be meeting Ethan in the afternoon, so I’ll send you the address later. The three of us can have lunch together."

Maria’s lips curled into a grin. Exactly what she wanted.

"Okay," she nodded, reaching for a piece of toasted bread and holding it up to Mara. "Here, have this since you’re in such a hurry."

Mara took a quick bite, humming in approval. "Hmm, this is great! I’ll take another one," she said, grabbing another slice from the table before rushing toward the door.

Maria followed her outside, keeping pace. The driver stepped forward, taking Mara’s bag and holding the car door open for her.

Just as Mara was about to step inside, her eyes widened, and her heart melted at the sight before her. A wide grin spread across her face, pure delight radiating from her expression, she never thought something as simple as this could have giggle, she couldn’t contain her joy and she knew it was the doing of Ethan.

Maria frowned as she watched. She wished she could be like Mara, who received so much love and attention. Unlike Mara, who never seemed to care about such things, Maria often found herself wishing for the same. If only she had her own Ethan.

Maria didn’t like this, not one bit.