The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 27: Utterly Cherished

Mara finished her last piece of bread before stepping into the car, Ethan. He was too much.

Taking up nearly a third of the back seat was the biggest bouquet of red roses Mara had ever seen. The deep crimson petals were flawless, each bloom perfectly arranged, their fragrance filling the air around her.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she reached out, grazing the soft petals before spotting a small card nestled among them.

She pulled it free and unfolded it. "To my beautiful wife. Each rose represents the number of times I thought of making love to you last night but couldn’t. ...That was a joke. I know you look more stunning than these flowers. I love you, and I’m sorry. Love,

Your Husband.

Mara smiled, warmth spreading through her chest as she brought the card closer, rereading it with a quiet giggle.

The driver shut the door, started the engine, and as the car pulled away from the house, she leaned back into the seat, inhaling the sweet scent of the roses, feeling utterly cherished.

"Ethan," Mara giggled as she picked up the phone, her heart fluttering. She adored the flowers, but more than that, it was the gesture, the thought behind it that truly touched her. She had never been particularly fond of flowers, but no one could deny the beauty of these.

"Did you like your surprise, wifey?" Ethan’s voice was laced with excitement, clearly pleased with himself.

"Yes, I did. Thank you, love," Mara said, her fingers gently brushing over the bouquet beside her. It was large enough to decorate an entire room, and yet, it was the simplest words on that little card that made her feel the most special.

"Yeah?" Ethan grinned, rubbing the bridge of his nose absentmindedly. "There’s a small box at the side of the door. I bet it’ll go well with your outfit."

Diamonds go well with any outfit, he thought smugly.

Mara stretched her hand out, feeling around for the box, and then there it was.

"I found it," she whispered, anticipation bubbling in her chest.

"Well, I gotta go, darling. I’m stepping into a meeting," Ethan said. "We’ll meet at the court hearing later. I love you, my beautiful wife."

Before she could respond, he playfully blew a kiss through the phone, making Mara smile as the call ended.

Still holding the small box, Mara exhaled deeply, warmth blooming in her chest.

"Ethan—" she giggled softly, but the call had already ended.

She had wanted to tell him that Maria would be joining them for lunch, but she hadn’t gotten the chance. I’ll just tell him in person, she thought, slipping her phone into her bag.

Now, her attention was entirely on the small box resting on her lap. She had a pretty good idea of what it could be earrings or a necklace, perhaps?

From the front seat, the driver stole a glance at her through the rearview mirror. Seeing Mara in high spirits reassured him, that last night’s tension was behind them, and with the bosses happy, it meant he got to keep his job.

Taking a deep breath, Mara carefully lifted the lid of the box. Inside, nestled in delicate velvet, was a diamond bracelet. But it wasn’t just any bracelet. She picked it up gently, her fingers brushing over the cool, glittering surface, and then she noticed the engraving.

Forever yours, Mara. Forever mine.

A smile spread across her lips, her heart melting at the sight. Of course, she thought. Only Ethan could pull this off.

This wasn’t just another expensive gift from her billionaire husband. This was proof that they belonged to each other.

Quickly, she slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, flipping it over to admire the engraving again. The diamonds sparkled under the sunlight streaming through the window, but to her, the words meant more than the jewels ever could.

The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the law firm, pulling Mara from her daze. She blinked, still lost in the warmth of Ethan’s thoughtful gift, before gracefully stepping out.

Her eyes landed on the gorgeous bouquet still occupying the back seat, and for a moment, she hesitated. What am I supposed to do with these? She couldn’t possibly carry them inside.

As if reading her mind, the driver spoke up. "Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll have it delivered to your office later."

Mara sighed in relief. "Yes, please. Thank you very much."

With that settled, she straightened her posture, smoothing the fabric of her dress. She was ready to take on the day.

And Jason? He better not even think about showing his face to her.

The thought of last night threatened to creep in, darkening her mood, but she quickly pushed it away. Not today. Nothing is ruining my morning.

As soon as she stepped inside, her boss was already there, waiting.

"You’re meeting the prosecutors with Bruce. Come on," her boss informed her, his tone noticeably different from when she first joined the firm.

Mara had to admit he treated her with much more respect now. Whether it was because he finally recognized her capabilities or because someone had encouraged him to, she didn’t know. Either way, she wasn’t complaining.

"With Bruce?" she echoed, her mind flashing to Ethan’s words from this morning. Spending half the day with Bruce? Ethan is going to go ballistic.

"Yes. Is there a problem? Or would you rather go with Jason?" Mara nearly grimaced. Not a good option either.

"You know what? Why don’t I go solo?" she suggested. "I can meet the prosecutors alone while they prepare for the case. I’ll report back once I get the information we need."

To her surprise, her boss didn’t argue. "Do you," he said flatly, then walked away. Mara watched him go, blinking. What happened to him? Just as she was about to turn and leave, a familiar sight stopped her in her tracks.

Her bouquet massive, vibrant, impossible to ignore was now covering half the body of the person carrying it.

Naturally, it had caught everyone’s attention.

Mara stared in shock as the driver directed the person on where to take it, the murmurs around her growing. Her cheeks warmed slightly. Well, Ethan certainly knows how to make a statement.

"That must be yours?"

Mara turned to see Lucy approaching, one of the senior partners at the firm. Her first encounter with Lucy hadn’t been terrible, but she always sensed something guarded about the woman.

Mara smiled, neither confirming nor denying ownership of the extravagant bouquet.

"Heading to the police station, I assume?" Lucy asked casually.

"Yes," Mara replied.

"Come on, I’m headed there too. I’ll give you a ride," Lucy offered.

Mara hesitated for a split second before nodding. "Thank you."

Lucy had been around the firm for years, and from what Mara had heard, she had once been quite taken with Ethan so much so that she became his confidante in the courtroom, always hoping he’d see her differently. Now, standing beside her, Mara couldn’t help but wonder if Lucy saw a younger version of herself in her.

As Mara tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Lucy’s eyes flickered to her wrist.

"Nice bracelet. And you’re married too," she observed, her gaze lingering on the flashy wedding band and the diamond bracelet.

"Thank you. And yes," Mara answered, quickly tugging her sleeve down to cover the bracelet. The last thing she wanted was to seem like she was showing off.

The rest of the ride was steeped in silence, but Lucy remained quietly intrigued by Mara. There was something about her, something that set her apart. She wasn’t just some privileged girl coasting on the influence of a powerful man. No, she was sharp, hardworking, and determined. Lucy could respect that, even if she suspected there was someone in the shadows supporting her.

Finally, she pulled the car up at the station, "I guess you’re seeing Prosecutor Choi?" Lucy finally broke the silence.

Mara nodded stepping out of the car. She appreciated any insight she could get before facing him.

"Be careful with that one," Lucy warned, her tone carrying a mix of amusement and caution. "He’s scrupulous, arrogant, and corrupt. But—" she sighed, shaking her head slightly, "—he’s also a damn good prosecutor. He knows his way around a courtroom like no one else."

Mara nodded, absorbing every word. She didn’t like walking into a fight blind, and now that she knew what kind of opponent she was dealing with, she could prepare accordingly.

"Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind," she said, offering Lucy a small but appreciative smile.

Lucy returned the smile before heading in the opposite direction.

Mara had braced herself for a tough negotiation, but Lucy had failed to mention one crucial detail that Prosecutor Choi was a shameless womanizer.

Throughout their discussion, he had flirted incessantly, slipping in suggestive remarks between legal arguments. When he finally leaned back in his chair with a smirk, he made his offer: he would agree to a settlement but only if Mara agreed to have a drink with him.

Mara kept her expression neutral, though internally, she was unimpressed. Typical.

"The evidence is solid," he said, tapping the file in front of him, his eyes scanning her with unhidden interest. He clearly thought he had her cornered.

Mara, however, had already spotted a loophole in the case.

She smiled sweetly, gathering the documents with practiced ease. "It was nice meeting you. See you in court," she said, turning on her heel before he could react.

Choi’s smirk faltered as she walked away, victorious without so much as lifting a glass.

As she stepped into the station, her confidence wavered slightly when she caught sight of someone familiar. Her steps slowed.

She wasn’t sure whether to be amused or concerned.

Mara wasn’t the type to gloat over someone’s misfortune, but she couldn’t ignore the curiosity tugging at her.

What trouble had he gotten himself into this time?