All Chapters of I’m Back, Mr. CEO : Chapter 291 - Chapter 300

304 Chapters

BOOK 4 - Chapter 46: The Second Setup (Continued)

“I told her the truth. That I don’t know anymore. That my memories are confused. Maybe I was wrong.” I move even closer. “I’m trying to fix this, Ethan. Trying to give you both a second chance.”“By luring me to a hotel room under false pretenses?”“By creating a neutral space where we can talk honestly. Away from everyone else. Away from Derek’s investigation and Lin’s judgment and all the noise.” I gesture to the wine again. “Please. Just one drink. Then we can talk about how to approach Maya. How to make her listen to you.”He stares at the wine glass. I can see him wavering.“How do I know you didn’t put something in it? Like you did last time?”My blood runs cold. “What are you talking about?”“I know you drugged me, Sophie. I know you staged everything. I just can’t prove it yet.” He steps back toward the door. “This was a mistake. I’m leaving.”“Wait!” I grab his arm. “Please. Just listen to me.”“Let go.”“I love you!” The words burst out before I can stop them. “I’ve always l

BOOK 4 - Chapter 47: The Trap Springs

{ETHAN POV}The wine burns my eyes, but I force them to stay open just long enough to see Sophie’s panicked face before I let myself collapse.“What did you…” I slur the words deliberately, making them sound more affected than I am. “What was in that…”I stumble toward the door, letting my legs give out exactly where I planned. In the hallway. Where the security camera Derek installed this morning will catch everything.Sophie drags me back into the room. I let my body go limp, dead weight, making it harder for her. Making sure she struggles. Making sure every second of this is documented.The small recording device in my shirt pocket is still running. It has been since before I arrived. Every word. Every confession. Every moment of her admitting she loves me, that she’s obsessed, that Maya is “hers.”All recorded.She positions me on the bed, and I keep my breathing steady, deep. Playing unconscious while my mind races.This is it. The moment we’ve been planning for three days.When

BOOK 4 - Chapter 48: She Knows

The door handle rattles. A key card beeps. The door swings open.“Sophie? I’m here, what—”She stops. I can imagine her face. The shock. The horror. The betrayal.Just like last time.“Maya…” Sophie’s voice, perfectly calibrated. Shocked. Scared. Guilty. “I can explain…”“Explain what?” Maya’s voice is cold. Deadly. “Explain why you’re in bed with Ethan? Half-dressed? In a hotel room?”“It’s not what it looks like. He… he lured me here. Said he wanted to talk about that night. About clearing his name. And then he…” Sophie’s voice breaks convincingly. “He tried to force himself on me again. I threw wine in his face to stop him and he passed out.”“You’re lying.”The words are simple. Direct. And for the first time since this nightmare began, Maya sounds certain.“What? No, I’m not—”“You’re lying, Sophie. I know you are.” Footsteps. Maya moving into the room. “Because Ethan texted me two hours ago. Told me you were trying to set him up again. Told me to trust him and come here at exact

BOOK 4 - Chapter 49: Caught

“Because we’re not.” Maya’s voice is gentle now. Sad. “I’m sorry if I ever gave you the wrong impression. Sorry if my friendship made you think there could be something more. But Sophie, what you did, what you’ve been doing, that’s not love. That's an obsession. And it’s sick.”“The police are on their way,” James says quietly. “I called them before we came up. They’ll want statements from all of us. And Sophie, you’ll be arrested. Charged with assault, drugging, stalking, harassment. You’re looking at serious prison time.”“I don’t care.” Sophie’s still staring at Maya. “I don’t care about prison. I don’t care about charges. I only care that I’m losing you.”“You already lost me. The moment you lied about Ethan. The moment you destroyed an innocent man’s life for your own twisted purposes.” Maya turns away. “I can’t even look at you.”She walks to me. Stops a few feet away. Her eyes are red, face blotchy from crying.“Ethan, I—”“Not here. Not now.” I glance at Sophie, still crumpled

BOOK 4 - Chapter 50: Healing Together

{MAYA POV}The conference room at my mother’s San Francisco house feels too small for all the people gathered here.Serena Moore sits beside Lucas Grant, her hand in his, both of them watching me with careful expressions. My mother, Lin, is at the head of the table, Uncle James beside her. Derek and Rachel are near the window. Clara, Serena’s best friend who flew in from New York this morning, sits across from them.And Ethan. Ethan sits beside me, close enough that our shoulders almost touch but not quite. Close enough that I can feel his presence, his warmth, his support.But also the distance. The careful space he’s maintaining. The uncertainty about whether he’s allowed to touch me yet.“Thank you all for coming,” my mother begins. Her voice is steady, but I can see the strain around her eyes. “I know this is difficult. But Maya asked for this meeting. Asked for all of you to be here.”All eyes turn to me.I’ve been dreading this moment since I woke up this morning. Spent an hour

BOOK 4 - Chapter 51: Pleading

“No. Sophie destroyed him. You were her weapon, but you weren’t the villain.” She pulls back, looking at me directly. “And my son loves you. Has loved you since you were children. One month of hell doesn’t erase that. Doesn’t change that.”“I don’t know if I can forgive myself.”“Then let us help you. Let Ethan help you. Let all of us help you.” She glances at her son. “You’re both victims of Sophie’s obsession. Both of you need to heal.”Lucas stands now, moving beside Serena. “Maya, I’ve watched Ethan these past few weeks even though I only visited San Francisco for just few days. Watched him fall apart, barely eating, barely sleeping, consumed with proving his innocence. Not because he wanted revenge on Sophie. But because he wanted you back. Wanted you to know the truth.”“I know.” My voice is small. “I know he never stopped fighting for us.”“And you never stopped loving him,” Lin says. “Even when you thought he was guilty, I saw how it was destroying you. How you couldn’t sleep,

BOOK 4 - Chapter 52: Pleading (Continued)

“You stopped it as fast as you could in your condition.” I squeeze his hand. “And I’m sorry I wasn’t there. Sorry you had to go through that alone.”“You were manipulated into believing I was the attacker. How could you be there for me?” He shakes his head. “Sophie really did isolate us perfectly. Turned us against each other so completely that neither of us had support.”“That ends now,” Serena says firmly. “No more isolation. No more carrying guilt alone. You’re both going to therapy. Together and separately. You’re going to process this trauma with professionals.”“And with family,” Lucas adds. “We’re here. All of us. For both of you.”Lin nods. “Maya, you’re moving back to your own apartment. You need your own space. Your independence. Not my house, not Ethan’s place. Your own.”“And you’re taking time off work,” James says. “Real time. Not a few days. At least a month. Let your team handle things while you heal.”“I can’t just abandon my company—”“You have a COO,” Derek points o

BOOK 4 - Chapter 53: The Proposal

The greenhouse in our garden is beautiful at night.Now it’s filled with twinkling lights. Hundreds of them, strung through the plants and flowers, creating a canopy of stars above us.“This is beautiful,” I breathe, looking around. “When did you have time to do all this?”“I had help.” Ethan takes my hand, leading me deeper into the greenhouse. “My mom, Lucas, Derek, even your mom flew in this morning to help set up.”“My mom knew about this?” I stop walking. “What is ‘this’ exactly?”He smiles, nervous. I’ve never seen him nervous before. “Just trust me. Please.”We’ve been back together for three days. Three careful, tentative days of therapy sessions and long talks and learning how to be around each other again without the weight of Sophie’s lies between us.It hasn’t been easy. I keep catching myself doubting, wondering if I’m making another mistake. And Ethan keeps pulling back when he wants to touch me, uncertain if he’s allowed, if I’m ready.We’re broken. Both of us. Trying t

BOOK 4 - Chapter 54: To Ethan and Maya

Lin hugs Ethan, whispering something in his ear that makes him nod seriously. Probably threats about what she’ll do if he ever hurts me. But she’s smiling when she pulls back.“I knew you were the one,” she tells him. “Even when I questioned the assault allegations, even when I suspected Sophie was lying, I knew you loved my daughter. I just needed Maya to see it too.”“I’m sorry it took so long,” I say.“You saw it when you were ready. That’s what matters.” She takes my hand, examining the ring. “This is beautiful. Simple, elegant. Very you.”Derek claps Ethan on the back. “Congratulations, man. You finally did it.”“Finally?” Ethan raises an eyebrow.“Dude, you’ve been in love with her since you were eleven. It’s about time you made it official.” Derek grins. “Though I have to say, proposing three days after getting back together is bold even for you.”“When you know, you know,” Ethan says simply.Rachel hugs me. “I’m so happy for you. And I’m sorry for everything you went through w

BOOK 4 - Chapter 55: The Wedding

Six months later.The greenhouse looks different in daylight. Softer. More magical somehow, with afternoon sun streaming through the glass ceiling and white flowers everywhere.I stand in the small room off to the side, staring at myself in the mirror. The dress is simple, elegant. Ivory lace with a flowing skirt. Nothing like the elaborate gown I once imagined for my wedding. But perfect for this moment. For this day.“You look beautiful,” my mother says, adjusting my veil. Her eyes are already red from crying.“Mom, the ceremony hasn’t even started yet.”“I know. But my baby is getting married.” She dabs at her eyes. “To a wonderful man who loves you more than life itself.”“I’m lucky.”“You’re both lucky. You found each other twice. Survived everything that tried to tear you apart. That’s not luck, sweetheart. That’s destiny.”A knock at the door. Rachel pokes her head in. “It’s time. Everyone’s ready.”My heart pounds. “Already?”“You’ve had six months to prepare for this.” Rachel

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