The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 29: His Opening statement

Mara turned to him, her voice firm. "You promised me, Ethan. We agreed to keep our relationship quiet at work."

His eyes locked onto hers, frustration still evident. "And how long do you expect that to last? You think Bruce or anyone else is just gonna stay in the dark forever?"

Mara sighed, rubbing her cheeks. "I don’t know. But right now, I need to focus on this case. And you need to leave before anyone else comes looking for me."

Ethan exhaled sharply, then stepped closer, his fingers grazing her arm. "This isn’t over, Mara," he murmured, his voice low and firm. "Steph will pick you up later so we can go to court together."

Before she could respond, he leaned in, pressing a lingering kiss against her temple before slipping out the door. Mara stood there for a moment, trying to steady her breath.

This was getting complicated. And she had a sinking feeling it was only going to get worse. Mara grabbed her file and hurried to the conference room, her heels clicking against the polished floors.

By the time she arrived, Bruce, Jason, her boss, and the client were already seated. Jason shot her a smirk, but Mara silenced him with a sharp, deadly glance before slipping into the seat beside Bruce.

The discussion was tense but productive, and each detail of the case was dissected with precision. Mara remained professional, despite the whirlwind of emotions still lingering from her earlier encounter with Ethan.

As the meeting wrapped up, she gathered her things quickly. Steph was already waiting for her outside, checking his watch impatiently.

"We need to go, Mara," Steph reminded her.

Mara nodded, gripping her files a little tighter. Ethan was set to give his opening statement for a high-profile murder trial, a case that had drawn significant media attention. And he wanted her there.

The three of them arrived at the courthouse, slipping through the heavy doors as the tension of the room settled around them. Reporters lingered outside, murmurs buzzing in the air, but inside, everything was still, the weight of the trial pressing down on everyone present.

Mara took her seat in the co-counsel chair alongside other senior partners. She could feel eyes on her, but she kept her expression composed as the judge settled in.

"All rise," the bailiff announced.

Everyone stood as the judge entered and took his seat. A few formalities passed before the moment finally arrived.

"The defense lawyer may proceed," the judge said.

Mara turned her head just in time to see Ethan rise, buttoning his suit jacket with practiced ease. His presence commanded the courtroom effortlessly poised, confident, and utterly in control.

Then, with steady eyes and a voice that carried through the courtroom, he began his opening statement.

Mara felt a shiver run down her spine as she watch him, he was damn good as they said her husband was.

Ethan adjusted his stance, his eyes scanning the jury with quiet confidence before he spoke.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury," he began, his voice smooth yet commanding, drawing everyone’s attention.

"What you will hear in this courtroom over the coming weeks is more than just evidence, more than just testimonies—this is a story. A story about power, about deception, and about a single act of violence that shattered a life forever."

Mara watched him, her fingers tightening around her pen. She heard stories about how when Ethan stepped into a courtroom and made it his stage. But today, something felt different she was witnessing it herself. There was an edge to his voice, a fire beneath his usually controlled demeanor.

"The prosecution will tell you that my client is a murderer. That he committed this crime in cold blood. But assumptions are not facts. And speculation is not justice."

Ethan took a measured step forward, pausing just long enough to let his words settle.

"What we do know is that on the night in question, the victim had enemies. We know that the evidence the prosecution clings to is circumstantial at best. And we know that the truth the real truth is often buried beneath the easy answer."

His gaze flickered, just for a second, toward Mara. Their eyes met across the room. It was fleeting, but it sent a pulse of heat through her.

"My job is not to tell you what to think. My job is to show you the facts, to expose the flaws in this case, and to remind you that every person in this courtroom is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise."

A pause. A perfectly timed breath.

"Because in the end, justice isn’t about how a story is told. It’s about what’s true."

Silence blanketed the courtroom as Ethan stepped back, letting his words linger. Even the judge seemed to take a moment before nodding.

Mara exhaled slowly, stealing another glance at him.

Ethan was brilliant. And he knew it.

As the court adjourned for the day, the air outside buzzed with tension and hushed conversations. Mara and Steph lingered by the car, waiting while Ethan faced the press. Flashbulbs popped, and reporters leaned in, hungry for a statement.

Once the last question was answered, Ethan turned to escort his client toward the waiting vehicle, only to be stopped by Lucy.

"Ethan, can we speak?" she asked, stepping forward with a sense of urgency.

He exhaled, glancing at his watch. "Can it wait, Lucy? I’m in a hurry."

"It’s about your mother’s divorce," she said quickly, searching for an excuse to keep him there just a moment longer. "I wanted to talk to you about her options."

Ethan let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Lucy, you’re the best divorce lawyer I know. Just do what you do best. You have her number—talk to her and let her decide." His smile was kind but dismissive, leaving no room for further discussion.

Without another word, he climbed into the car with Mara and Steph, the door closing with finality as they drove off.

Lucy stood there for a moment, watching the car disappear. A thought lingered in her mind could Ethan the unseen force standing behind Mara?

The quiet support in the shadows? She hadn’t had the privilege of being in court today, relegated to the spectator benches rather than a seat at the counsel’s table. And Lucy intended to find out exactly what was going on.

"I finally understand why everyone fears you in the courtroom," Mara whispered, leaning against Ethan’s chest. "The prosecutor practically lost his tongue after your opening statement."

Ethan smirked. He knew his skills were formidable, but hearing it from Mara added a different kind of satisfaction.

"You haven’t seen anything yet," Steph chimed in from the driver’s seat. "Wait until the trial starts."

Mara chuckled softly. "I can only imagine." She hesitated for a beat before adding, "But I guess you’ll have to fill me in later. I’ve been assigned a new case."

Ethan raised a brow but didn’t press. It hadn’t clicked yet he could find out if he wanted to. Mara knew that. But for now, she preferred to keep it to herself. She couldn’t bring herself to tell him she’d be working alongside Bruce and Jason the two people he could barely stand being around her. Knowing wouldn’t change anything, so she kept quiet. Or maybe it would.

"I made a reservation at your favorite restaurant," Ethan said, taking Mara’s hand and pressing soft kisses against her skin.

"Oh, okay. I’ll just text Maria the address," Mara replied, pulling out her phone.

Ethan froze. "Maria?" His voice carried a hint of surprise, though he masked it quickly.

He had been trying so hard to put distance between himself and Maria, yet she always seemed to find her way back into his orbit. It was unsettling. He never struggled to forget women who meant nothing to him—until now. There was something about Maria that lingered, something he couldn’t shake, no matter how hard he tried.

"Yes," Mara continued, glancing up at him. "I promised her we’d have lunch together, the three of us. I meant to tell you earlier, but the call cut off before I could. I hope that won’t be a problem." She studied his face, searching for any sign of hesitation.

Ethan forced a smile. "Of course not."

It was absolutely a problem.

He adjusted his tie, trying to keep his composure, but Steph, watching from the driver’s seat, let out a quiet chuckle. He knew all too well that Ethan was in a tight spot.