The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 43: Home 1

Mara gently rests her head on the seat as her eyes travel the city with everything fading behind her. She was supposed to move into her apartment later, but her baby comes first, she wonders who the man was, but since he was with her doctor, he might not be a bad person, he might be a doctor as well, Mara thought.

"I know you have lots of questions, but don’t worry, everything will be answered once we get there." The man behind the wheels whispered with a loving smile different from the tense glare in his eyes when he clashed with Ethan.

"Mr. At least tell me my results are," Mara whispered, still worried.

"Call me Steve. Steve Shepherd. And don’t worry, both you and the baby are fine."

Mara froze, her mind racing. If she and the baby were fine, then what was going on? Why had they suddenly appeared in front of her, shrouded in mystery?

She hesitated, unsure if she could trust him. Steve Shepherd, a name that carried weight. A renowned lawyer who had taken over Shepherd’s Law Firm less than a year ago, yet already, people were comparing him to Ethan Anderson, debating who truly ruled the courtroom.

He had been abroad for the past decade, ever since tragedy struck his family in Eldorado, the loss of his parents and their little sister. Nothing had been the same since.

Steve had always doted on Stafania, feeling an unwavering need to protect her. But when she went missing, and his parents were found dead, the world as he knew it shattered.

"Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. Just try to rest, being tense isn’t good for you or the baby."

Mara had been on edge since last night, barely holding herself together. She had only forced herself to eat for the baby’s sake, but how could she possibly stay calm when everything around her was crumbling? And now, it felt like another storm was brewing on her path.

Who were the Shepherds, and what did they want from her? Could Ethan have been right? Should she have listened to him?

"It seems like you and Ethan are having trouble?" Steve asked, hesitant to pry but unable to hold back his curiosity.

Mara let out a soft sob, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes... we’re getting a divorce."

She hadn’t meant to reveal much, especially not to a stranger. But for some reason, she felt like she could trust him.

"What?! What did he do?" Steve’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, his anger barely contained. He slammed his hand against it, the sudden impact making Mara jolt in surprise.

"That bastard," he seethed. "I should’ve beaten the hell out of him. What did he do?"

He didn’t need to ask, he already knew Ethan was to blame. If they were getting divorced, it had to be because of something he had done. How dare he?

Mara was startled by Steve’s reaction. Before she could stop herself, the words slipped out, probably because she was hurting. She hadn’t meant to reveal something so personal to a stranger, but there was no taking it back now.

"I saw him with my best friend... apparently, they fell in love," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Steve exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. After a brief silence, he spoke again, his tone calmer but laced with determination.

"Don’t worry. I’ll handle your divorce personally," he said, glancing at her with a reassuring smile. "I’ll make him regret ever hurting you."

With that, he eased his grip on the wheel and adjusted his speed, mindful of the precious passenger he was carrying, her and the baby.

Mara was surprised by his reaction, but she found herself smiling in return. Maybe, deep down, she was relieved to have found someone who wasn’t afraid of Ethan’s power and influence. If borrowing Steve’s help meant finally breaking free, she was ready to take that chance.

"It’s fine," she murmured. "I don’t want anything from him just to be free." Yet, as she said it, the pain resurfaced, raw and fresh, as if the wounds had just been reopened.

Steve’s gaze flickered to the rearview mirror, his expression darkening. "You don’t need his money, and he was never good enough for you," he said firmly. "I’ll take care of you and the little one you’ll never need him again."

Mara held his stare for a moment before looking away. She didn’t need saving. She could do this on her own. But for now, she just smiled. The only thing that mattered was getting through whatever the doctor had to say. Then, she could move into her new apartment and figure out how to start over.

Nearly thirty minutes later, Steve turned into a gated driveway, the iron gates sliding open as he drove through. The road stretched ahead, winding through towering trees and manicured lawns before he finally pulled over in front of a massive mansion.

Mara’s eyes widened. "Where are we?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion. She had thought they were going to the hospital, so why had he brought her here?

Before Steve could answer, three other cars pulled in behind them, their engines humming to a stop.

"You’ll see when we get inside," he said, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he stepped out and opened the door for her.

Still bewildered, Mara hesitated before stepping out. Her gaze swept over the grand estate, then landed on the three men who had arrived with them, the doctor and two others all standing nearby with knowing smiles.

Steve led her toward the entrance, his movements effortless and confident. The three men followed closely behind. As they stepped inside, a group of maids greeted them as if they had been expecting them.

One of them, an older woman, stood at the front. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Mara, her expression a mix of disbelief and overwhelming emotion.

As they stepped into the grand living room, an older man stood waiting. The moment his eyes landed on Mara, his face crumpled with emotion.

"Stafania, my little princess!" he exclaimed, rushing toward her and pulling her into a tight embrace. "My darling!" His voice trembled as he held her close, his hands gently turning her as if trying to reassure himself that she was really there, safe and whole.

Mara stood frozen, confusion swirling inside her. She looked past the man, her gaze darting to the doctor, then to Steve and the other two men. They were all watching her with warmth in their eyes, nodding as if confirming something she didn’t understand.

Were they mistaken? Who were they calling Stafania?

She opened her mouth, but no words came.

"Welcome home, baby sis," the doctor finally said, unable to hold back any longer as he pulled her into another hug.

The moment his arms wrapped around her, something stirred deep within Mara. A strange sense of familiarity. And then her head started to spin.

Memories, fragments from ten years ago flashed before her eyes.

Mara clutched her head as flashes of the past surged through her mind, images of a younger version of herself, running freely through the house, laughter echoing in the air.

"Stanford," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

One of the brothers smiled. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"Stanley," she murmured again, and another brother’s eyes lit up.

Then, her gaze shifted to the doctor. "Stefan," she breathed.

A slow, knowing smile spread across his face. He had been right to secretly draw Mara’s blood, not for additional medical tests, but for a DNA comparison. It had been unethical, but none of that mattered now. The results had confirmed what he had desperately hoped for.

The Shepherd family had found their lost joy.

Mara turned, her steps unsteady as she approached the massive painting on the wall. Her breath caught in her throat. Her mother. Her father. Her four brothers.

Her eyes traced their familiar faces, emotions crashing over her in waves. And then her gaze locked onto her parents. A sharp pain stabbed through her mind. The memories came rushing in, too fast, too overwhelming. Her vision blurred. The room spun.

Before she could process anything else, darkness took over. Steve was there in an instant, catching her before she hit the ground.