The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 47: Hot Mess

After a grueling courtroom battle, Ethan barely had time to catch his breath before the press swarmed him. He managed to excuse himself and slip into the washroom, needing a moment to gather himself. As he splashed water on his face, something or someone caught his eye.

For a second, he thought he was imagining things. But no, he was certain he had spotted Steve Shepherd in the audience earlier.

Ethan exhaled sharply, washing his hands and staring at his tired reflection in the mirror. He had won the case, that was what mattered. Running his fingers through his damp hair, he tried to shake off the weight of the day. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Then, a voice broke through the silence.

"That was close. You just set a murderer free."

Ethan’s jaw tightened. He ignored it, pretending he hadn’t heard. But the voice came again, sharper this time.

"How does it feel, knowing you’ve stolen justice from that poor woman who was brutally murdered?"

Heat flared in Ethan’s chest. His pulse quickened as he turned toward the voice.

With a loud bang, the door swung open. Anger surged through him, his hands clenching into fists. His eyes, red with frustration, locked onto the man standing in front of him.

Steve Shepherd. Holding a folder.

Ethan forced himself to stay calm. "If you’re a good lawyer, you do your job. And my job is to defend my client." His voice was steady, but his grip on control was slipping.

Steve scoffed. "You’re right. If you’re a ruthless lawyer, shameless, with no morals, you wouldn’t mind defending a killer."

Their eyes met, the weight of the accusation hanging heavy between them.

Ethan barely had time to process Steve’s words before a folder was shoved into his chest.

"Sign these," Steve said coldly.

Ethan looked down at the papers in his hands. His heart pounded as he read the bold title at the top of the Divorce Petition. His breath hitched, but he kept his expression unreadable.

"If you refuse," Steve continued, arms crossed, "we’ll settle it in court. Stafania wants an annulment."

Ethan’s grip on the folder tightened. His jaw clenched. "I want to see my wife."

Steve let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Your wife? She’s your wife on paper, nothing more and that too is about to change," His eyes glinted with something close to amusement. "Face it, Ethan. Whatever you thought you had with her, it’s over and come what may you two are getting this divorce,"

Ethan took a step forward, his voice low but laced with warning. "And what gives you the right to keep her from me?"

Steve smirked, tilting his head slightly, as if enjoying Ethan’s frustration. "Let’s just say I have more of a right to be by her side than you ever did."

Ethan’s blood ran cold. His mind raced, piecing together the unspoken implication in Steve’s words.

"What are you saying?" Ethan demanded.

Steve took a step back, shrugging as he turned toward the door. "I’ll let you figure that out," he said over his shoulder. "You’re a smart lawyer, after all."

With that, he walked out, leaving Ethan standing there, fists clenched, heart pounding, and mind swirling with questions.

What did Steve mean? And more importantly, where was Mara? And why did he refer to Mara as Stafania? Ethan stood frozen, the papers still clutched in his hands. His pulse thundered in his ears. Why was Steve representing her? None of this made sense.

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "This isn’t right," he muttered. His Mara—no, his wife—would never join hands with his enemy just to get back at him.

Steve’s mocking words echoed in his mind: "She’s your wife on paper, nothing more."

Ethan slammed the folder onto the sink, his fingers pressing against the cold porcelain as frustration and confusion churned inside him.

He turned sharply, marching after Steve, catching up to him just outside the washroom. "Where is she?" His voice was low, dangerous.

Steve barely spared him a glance as he adjusted his cuffs. "She doesn’t want to see you."

Ethan grabbed his arm, forcing him to stop. "That’s not your call." His eyes were sharp, unwavering. "You’re not even related to her."

Steve’s lips curled into a smirk. "Aren’t I?"

The words hit Ethan like a gut punch. His grip loosened, and Steve pulled away smoothly, straightening his suit as if nothing had happened.

Ethan shook his head. "No. She is hurt, I admit that I hurt her, but she wouldn’t send you a stranger to do it." His mind raced through possibilities. "Did you threaten her? Coerce her to represent her? Listen, Steve, Mara and I are never getting a divorce, I made a mistake, yes, but like every human makes mistakes, I will fix it,"

Steve exhaled dramatically. "You really think so little of her?" He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You lost her the day you cheated on her, Ethan. She just finally saw who you really are and I’m happy about it,"

Ethan swallowed the bitter taste of doubt creeping up his throat. He knew Mara wanted a divorce even when he threatened to deal with anyone who agreed to represent her. How on earth did Steve find her? What is his relationship with Mara really beyond saving?

He had to see Mara.

"You tell her I’m not signing anything," Ethan said through gritted teeth. "Not today and never."

Steve sighed as if Ethan was exhausting him. "Then I guess we’ll see you in court." He turned to walk away, but paused. Then, without looking back, he added, "Oh, and Ethan?"

Ethan clenched his jaw. "What?"

Steve smirked. "Mara isn’t waiting for you anymore."

With that, he disappeared down the hallway, leaving Ethan standing there, heart pounding, mind spiraling.

He did this to his marriage, and he can’t blame anyone but himself, but he is not ready to give up on his wife over some mistake. And what exactly was Steve to Mara? There was only one way to find out. He needed to see her.

___

Mara told herself she was only going back for her things. That was the only reason she was heading to the mansion—at least, that’s what she kept repeating in her mind. Truthfully, there wasn’t much she needed. Maybe her laptop, a few files, and that old box filled with memories. But what was the point of holding on to them? Every cherished moment locked away in that box had Maria-Isabel’s face in it.

Still, she wouldn’t leave Caleb waiting just to retrieve a handful of photographs. They were her greatest treasures, yes—but not anymore, not after what Maria did to her, her betrayal hurts more and more each time she thinks of her.

As she pulled up to the mansion, she hesitated, gripping the wheel a little tighter. The house stood before her, aged yet imposing, its silent presence daring her to step inside. She sat there for a moment, staring, debating whether to cross the threshold or turn back before the past swallowed her whole.

What did she want? Why was she even considering going back to the place that held nothing but pain? The memories, the betrayal—it should have been enough to keep her away. She wished she could tear her heart out, erase the part of her that still felt anything at all.

Then, her phone rang.

Bruce.

The sound jolted her back to reality. With a sharp inhale, she blinked away the thoughts clawing at her mind and tightened her grip on the wheel. Without another glance at the mansion, she turned the car around and drove away.

"Mara, where have you been?" Bruce’s voice came through the line the moment she answered.

She forced a small smile, as if he could somehow hear it. "Bruce, how are you?"

"Me?" He scoffed. "Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that? You didn’t show up for work, and your voice—Mara, have you been crying?"

She swallowed, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. She hadn’t even realized she sounded that way.

"I’m fine, Bruce," Mara said, though her voice lacked conviction. She waited for him to get to the real reason he called.

Bruce hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I was hoping you could take over the Sinper case. Everyone’s exhausted. After you left yesterday, the boss kept us working through the night and straight into the morning. He’s at the courthouse now, and the rest of the associates are finally heading home to rest. But the case can’t stall, so I thought..."

"I’ll talk to you later, Bruce," Mara interrupted, her tone firm. "I might not be in the office for a while—I’m dealing with some personal issues. But I’ll let you know."

Before he could say anything else, she ended the call.

She exhaled sharply, gripping the wheel. How could she have been so stupid? To even think Ethan was with Maria—it was ridiculous. Or was it? She shook the thought away and made a snap decision.

Instead of heading home, she turned the car toward the courthouse. If Ethan was there, she wanted to see for herself.

As she drove, she switched on the radio. The news was already buzzing about Ethan’s case, voices discussing the trial in real-time.

Everyone was certain—Ethan was going to lose this case. For the first time in his career, defeat seemed inevitable.

Mara gripped the wheel, her chest tightening with worry. She knew how much this case meant to him, how hard he had fought for it. If things went south, Ethan would be devastated. And despite everything, despite her own pain she couldn’t ignore that.

Without a second thought, she pressed her foot down on the gas. The road blurred past her, but all she could see was Ethan, standing in that courtroom, watching everything he had worked for slip through his fingers.

He would need her.

And she had to be there.

___

Steve stepped outside the courthouse, his fingers tightening around his phone. The weight of the confrontation with Ethan still lingered, but that wasn’t what made his chest ache.

It was her.

Mara.

His baby sister. The girl he had spent his whole childhood to protect. And yet, here she was—still searching for Ethan.

She stood near the courthouse steps, scanning the crowd, her dark eyes filled with hope. Steve’s stomach twisted. Didn’t she know by now? Hadn’t Ethan hurt her enough?

With a deep breath, he walked over, forcing his expression into something neutral. "You’re wasting your time, Staf."

She turned to him, her brows furrowing. "Steve?"

"He’s not coming."

Her shoulders tensed, and she hugged her coat tighter around her body. "You don’t know that."

Steve let out a bitter laugh. "Come on, Staf. I thought you were over this?"

She shook her head, looking away. "You don’t understand."

"Oh, I understand perfectly," Steve snapped. "You’re still clinging to a man who—" He stopped himself, forcing down the anger. "Who doesn’t deserve you."

Mara’s eyes flickered with hurt, but she lifted her chin. "It’s not that simple, I just..."

"Yes, it is," Steve insisted. "He cheated on you with your best friend. Lied to you. Broke you. And yet, you’re still here, waiting for him like he’s going to magically turn into the man you deserve."

Tears burned in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. "I only want to talk, Steve."

Steve exhaled sharply. He had fought battles in court, stood toe-to-toe with ruthless criminals—but this? Watching his sister suffer? Knowing he couldn’t save her from this heartbreak?

That was unbearable.

But there was one thing he could do.

"I won’t let him hurt you again," Steve said firmly. Then, before Mara could argue, he took her hand and started leading her away.

"Steve—" she protested.

"Enough, Staf." His voice was softer now, but unshakable. "Let’s go."

She hesitated, looking back toward the courthouse. Still waiting. Still hoping to ask him what she did wrong and if Maria was still with her

But Ethan wasn’t coming.

Not this time.

And Steve would make sure of it.

Mara just wanted to talk—nothing more. But back in her car, she realized she had let Daniel’s words get to her. She hated that. Still, at least Ethan hadn’t lost the case. That was something.

He had made it out of the courthouse victorious, but the moment he did, he saw Steve dragging Mara away.

Now, there was no doubt in his mind—Steve was forcing her into something.

Whatever they were using to threaten her, whatever hold the Shepherds had on her, Ethan was going to break it. He would get her back.

Come hell or high water.

His fists clenched at his sides, his jaw set with resolve.

Mara wasn’t alone in this. Not anymore