Chapter 7 much of it . arms and grinned . 11.67 % What I didn't expect ... was to see Xander at the door . He'd lost weight , looked half - dead . Eyes sunken , dark circles , voice shaking . " Natalie ... I finally found you . " His eyes brimmed with tears . " I'm sorry . I messed up . Please , come back with me . " He reached for me . I stepped back . " I was confused by that time , " he continued . " Men make mistakes . That's all it was . " " Tomorrow would've been our tenth mating anniversary . Natalie ... can you really just walk away from everything we had ? " He dropped to his knees , pulled out a ring , and reached for my hand . I felt nothing but disgust . But he took my silence as hesitation . And just as he tried to slip the ring onto my finger , it was snatched away - by none other than Skye , who stormed in like a woman possessed . " Xander ! You promised this ring was for me ! Why can't you let her go ?! " " Is it your human side again ? Is that what's screwing everything up ? " " Don't worry . I'll fix it . I'll kill your human side if I have to - whatever it takes to bring your wolf back . " She cupped his face like she was doing him a favor , eyes wild with obsession . I stood there , arms crossed , lips twitching with amusement . " Really , Xander ? " I said coolly . " You still haven't told her the truth ? " Skye froze . " What truth ? " She stepped protectively in front of Xander , glaring at me like I was the threat . Chapter 8 " Get off me ! " Xander shoved Skye aside , his eyes fixed on me- ashen and trembling . " Natalie, I can explain . Back then , when you got pregnant , I - I panicked . I was overwhelmed and just- " -just needed to blow off some steam ? " I cut in , my voice sharp . " So you faked being ' taken over by your wolf ' and used it as a cover to cheat ? " " I took a step forward , anger boiling to the surface . " You lied . You hurt me . You almost killed our child . All because you got bored ? " Skye's face twisted in disbelief . " Wait ... being taken over by your wolf - that was fake ? " She turned to Xander , her voice cracking . " You were just using me ? You didn't mean any of it ? " Xander didn't even flinch . " I never loved you . You were just a distraction . That's all . " Skye stumbled backward like she'd been slapped . She clutched her stomach , laughing and crying all at once as she collapsed to the floor . Xander didn't even spare her a glance. He dropped to his knees and grabbed the hem of my coat like a man begging for mercy . " Natalie , please . I didn't mean for any of this to happen . I thought ... I thought maybe you'd gotten tired of me too . I just wanted to see if you still cared . " So he played mind games . He pretended to be possessed by his wolf , let it " take over , " just to see if I'd still stay . Just to test my love . I stared down at him , disgust turning in my gut . " You're pathetic , " I whispered , my voice shaking with fury . " Absolutely disgusting . " I grabbed the hem of my dress and lifted it just enough to reveal the prosthetics beneath . " Tell me , Xander , " I spat , " how do you have the nerve to ask for forgiveness ? To look at me after what you did ? " His mouth opened , but nothing came out . His gaze dropped to the floor . He didn't even dare to touch me . " Get out . I never want to see your face again . " I turned away - and nearly bumped into Marcus . " Natalie , there you are . Why are you still outside ? " The moment he saw Xander behind me , his expression hardened . coldly . " So why don't you do everyone a favor and back off . " " She's mine now , Xander , " he Xander lunged like a man unhinged . " You smug bastard ! If you hadn't fed everyone fake intel , I would've found her sooner ! " " And what ? " Marcus shot back still see Fists flew . right through you . You don't deserve her . " They didn't hold back . Every hit landed with bone - crunching force . No words , no warnings - just pure fury . Marcus grabbed Xander by the throat , rage blazing in his eyes . For a second , it looked like he might actually kill him . But then - he hesitated . His fingers loosened . And in that split second of mercy , Xander lashed out . He lunged from behind , going for a sucker punch . In "CEO, The Maid is Your Stunning Wife" by CrushReel, a gripping tale unfolds as an adopted daughter faces a life-altering decision. To save her grandmother, she enters a marriage of convenience with a wealthy but paralyzed elderly man. However, a twist of fate, coupled with her severe myopia, leads her to mistakenly identify the wrong groom on the wedding day. This modern romance novel delves into themes of sacrifice, family bonds, and unexpected love connections. As the protagonist navigates the complexities of her unconventional situation, readers are drawn into a web of secrets and revelations. The unique blend of billionaire intrigue and sweet romance sets this story apart in the genre landscape. "CEO, The Maid is Your Stunning Wife" offers a refreshing take on contract lovers and secret identities, crafting a narrative that captivates with each turn of the page. Dive into this ongoing series at CrushReel for an engaging read that promises to keep you hooked till the very end.