The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 60: You can’t hide from me baby girl

Ethan wasn’t a man who showed his pain easily. He carried it inside, hidden beneath the surface, where no one could see. But in the quiet moments, when the chaos of the day faded and he was alone with his thoughts, he let himself feel it. The ache of losing her, the emptiness where she used to be.

For now, though, there was no time to dwell on it. The fight wasn’t over. Ethan straightened his shoulders, took a deep breath, and stepped back into his work.

Ethan walked into his office, the room cluttered with papers scattered across his desk. His steps were heavy, his mind racing. The first words out of his mouth were the same as they had been for days now: "Any sight of her?"

Steph, standing near the desk, shook his head. "No, boss. The investigators watching the Shepherd mansion haven’t seen her come out or go in. It’s like she’s vanished."

Ethan sighed, pulling off his glasses and rubbing his tired eyes. The glow from his computer screen had been relentless, leaving his vision blurry and his head throbbing. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment, as if the answers might be written there.

"Maybe she’s not with them," he said slowly, more to himself than to Steph. "It might be time we start looking elsewhere. Any updates on the investigation into her real family?"

Steph hesitated, then shook his head again. "Nothing solid. We’ve talked to the Williams family, Jason, and everyone else we could think of. But no one knows anything. The only thing we’re sure of is the day she was found—no one in the city knew who she was or where she came from."

Ethan frowned, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk. If the Shepherds could dig into Mara’s past, why couldn’t he? He was convinced she was connected to them, but without hard evidence, it was just a gut feeling. And gut feelings weren’t enough to bring her back.

Steph shifted uncomfortably, holding a file behind his back. He cleared his throat. "You should take a break, boss. This can wait. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard."

Ethan’s eyes flicked to Steph, sharp and questioning. "What are you hiding?"

Steph froze, then reluctantly brought the file forward. "It’s nothing, just... some old leads that didn’t pan out. I didn’t want to waste your time with dead ends."

Ethan reached for the file, his movements slow but deliberate. He opened it, scanning the pages quickly. His jaw tightened as he read, but he didn’t say a word.

After a long moment, he closed the file and set it down. "Keep looking," he said quietly. "And Steph... don’t hide things from me. Not now."

Steph nodded, his expression serious. "Understood, boss."

Ethan leaned back again, his gaze drifting to the window. Somewhere out there, Mara was waiting. And he wouldn’t stop until he found her.

Ethan adjusted his glasses, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "And wait, any new cases? We need all the cases we can get. The higher the profile, the better. And the messier they are, the more they work in our favor," he said, his voice steady but with a spark of anticipation.

Steph nodded, reaching for a bright red file on the cluttered desk. He placed it in front of Ethan, clearing a space as he did so. "Well, yes. It’s a huge case, and the client specifically requested you to handle it. But the most interesting part is..." Steph trailed off, his tone deliberate, as if savoring the moment.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. He opened the file, his eyes scanning the details quickly. "Go on," he said, not looking up.

Steph leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just a notch. "The other party is represented by the Shepherd Law Firm."

For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath. Then Ethan’s smile widened, a glint of determination flashing in his eyes. "That’s great," he said, closing the file with a soft thud. "Prepare the conference room. Have everyone ready for a meeting. And invite Mr. Lackman over as well. Oh, and one more thing—" he paused, his tone turning sharp, "—for now, hide the fact that I’m the lead counsel for this case."

Steph nodded, understanding the strategy immediately. "Got it, boss."

As Steph turned to leave, Ethan leaned back in his chair, his mind already racing ahead. This wasn’t just another case. This was an opportunity. The Shepherds were involved, and where the Shepherds went, Mara was never far behind. Ethan was sure of it.

The thought filled him with a quiet hope. For the first time in days, he felt like he was closer to seeing her again. The courtroom might just be the place where their paths crossed again. And this time, he wasn’t going to let her slip away.

Ethan’s smile lingered as he stared at the red file on his desk. His thoughts drifted to Mara, and a quiet determination settled over him. You can’t run away from me, baby girl, he thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the edge of the file.

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door. Ethan didn’t look up, already knowing who it was. "What do you want, Lucy? I’m busy," he said, his tone clipped as he opened a random file, pretending to focus on it.

Lucy stepped inside, her expression hesitant. She could tell he was avoiding her, just like he had been for days now. "My heart is acting up lately," she said softly, placing a hand on her chest. "I want to go see the doctor."

Lucy had a heart condition, one that had always tied her to Ethan in a complicated way. Her brother, Ethan’s closest friend, had passed away years ago, and in his final act of love, he had given his heart to Lucy literally and the promise he made to him.. It was the reason Ethan had always been protective of her, keeping her close and ensuring she was safe. But things had changed after the night she tried to frame Mara

"Okay," Ethan said flatly, still not looking at her. His voice was distant, almost cold.

Lucy frowned, her hand tightening over her chest. She let out a soft, deliberate cough, hoping to draw his attention. But Ethan didn’t budge.

"If you’re sick, don’t worry. You can take the day off. Or the rest of the week. Or even the month off. Just take care of your heart," he said dismissively, his eyes still fixed on the papers in front of him.

"Ethan," Lucy cried out, her voice trembling. She couldn’t believe how much he had changed. There was a time when he would have dropped everything at the slightest hint of her discomfort. He would have rushed her to the hospital, stayed by her side, made sure she was okay. But now? He barely even looked at her.

"You know why you’re still here, you should be thanking your stars it wasn’t Mara on that bed that night else you would be singing a different song by now," Ethan said, his tone firm but not unkind. "If I were you, I’d make good use of the fact that I still have a job. Now, please leave my office."

Lucy’s eyes widened, hurt and anger flashing across her face. She turned on her heel and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. The sound echoed through the office, but Ethan didn’t flinch.

Outside, Lucy leaned against the wall, her chest heaving with emotion. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. Mara, she thought bitterly. This is all because of you.

"I will get Ethan back," she whispered under her breath, her voice trembling with determination. "Just you wait and see."

But inside his office, Ethan was already moving on, his mind focused on the red file and the case that might finally bring him closer to Mara. Ethan stood up, ready to strut his way to the conference room. But just as he rounded the corner, he was met with a sight that made him stop dead in his tracks. There, standing like a mummy who had escaped from a low-budget horror movie, was Bruce. Bandages wrapped around his head, arm in a sling, and a look so cold it could freeze the office coffee.

"Good day, boss," Bruce said, his voice dripping with enough sarcasm to fill a water cooler. Ethan’s eyes darted everywhere—the ceiling, the floor, the potted plant in the corner—anywhere but Bruce’s bruised face. Guilt hit him like a stapler to the forehead. He couldn’t shake the image of Bruce and Mara together, a thought so infuriating it could probably power a small city. Even in the afterlife, Ethan would probably still be fuming about it.

"Bruce, about the other night, I-I—" Ethan stammered, trying to muster up an apology that didn’t sound like it was written by a toddler. But Bruce wasn’t having it. He cut Ethan off faster than a bad Wi-Fi connection.

"I’ve sent my medical bills to HR," Bruce said, his tone as firm as a freshly printed contract. "And I’ll need a paid vacation to Miami, a raise, and a promotion to senior partner." He crossed his arms—well, the one that wasn’t in a sling—and stared Ethan down like he was negotiating with a used car salesman.

Ethan blinked. Then blinked again. Was this guy serious? A vacation? A promotion? What was next, a golden throne and a crown? Ethan almost laughed. Almost. "What else do you want, Bruce? Should the firm buy you a new house and car too? Maybe throw in a driver, a cook, and a cleaner while we’re at it?" he asked, his voice dripping with enough sarcasm to make Bruce see his point

Bruce’s eyes narrowed. "Boss, I was innocent. I’m just seeking restitution," he said, his voice steady but his bandages quivering with indignation.

"Restitution?!" Ethan barked, his temper flaring like hot iron. The mere thought of Bruce getting cozy with Mara was enough to make him see red. Honestly, Bruce was lucky Mara wasn’t the woman in the bed that night, or he’d be in a full-body cast right now.

Just as Ethan was about to unleash his inner demons, Steph appeared like a ninja, sliding in with the grace of someone who’d spent too much time diffusing his boss’s problems. "Boss," Steph said softly, placing a hand on Ethan’s shoulder like he was trying to calm a rabid raccoon.

"Bruce, why don’t you put in your application and requests? The boss will see what he can do. He’s very sorry—things just got out of hand."

Bruce glared at Ethan one last time, his bandages practically vibrating with unresolved tension.

"This isn’t over," his eyes seemed to say as he hobbled away, looking like a walking pharmacy ad.

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. Steph gave him a look that said, "You’re lucky you have me, he could sue you, you know, " But deep down, Ethan knew this wasn’t the end. Oh no, this was just the beginning of what was shaping up to be the most awkward situation.

And somewhere, in the distance, the office printer jammed, as if sensing the chaos to come.