The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 44: Home 2

"What happened!" Mr. Shepherd Sr. shouted, his voice filled with panic as the rest of the brothers gathered around, their faces tight with worry.

"I told you we needed to be careful," Stefan said, his tone firm yet concerned. "She doesn’t remember everything after she went missing."

Steve didn’t waste a second. He scooped Mara into his arms and carried her upstairs to her old room, moving with urgency but careful not to jostle her.

"Check on her, Stefan," Stanley whispered, his worry evident in his voice.

Stefan quickly assessed her, checking her blood pressure and pulse. After a moment, he exhaled in relief. "She’ll be fine. She’s pregnant, and the stress must have been too much for her. The memories, the shock, it was overwhelming. She just needs rest. She’ll wake up soon," he assured them as he packed away his medical tools. freewebnøvel.coɱ

A deep sigh of relief passed through the room, but then Mr. Shepherd Sr. chuckled, shaking his head.

"I’m truly blessed," he said with pride. "Imagine seeing my great-grandchildren before any of you have even settled down! None of you, at your age, have gotten married, let alone given me grandkids. But my Stafania... she has always been a blessing."

The brothers exchanged glances, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in their eyes. But at that moment, nothing mattered more than the fact that their lost sister was finally home.

Steve clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. His grandfather, Mr. Shepherd Sr., was still unwell, too frail to handle any stress. So for now, Steve swallowed his anger, keeping it buried deep inside.

"I’ll tell Maggie to make Stefania’s favorite food," Mr. Shepherd Sr. said cheerfully before walking out of the room, his steps lighter than they had been in years.

Stanley, however, wasn’t fooled. He caught the tension in Steve’s posture, the way his jaw tightened.

"What’s wrong, Steve?" he asked, his voice low but knowing.

Steve exhaled sharply, his anger barely contained. "That fool dared to cheat on our Stefania," he muttered, his voice laced with fury. "It’s a good thing they’re getting a divorce. But that’s not enough, I’ll make him pay for this."

Regret flickered in his eyes. He should’ve beaten Ethan to a pulp when he had the chance.

"What?! He did what?" Stanley roared, his expression darkening. "And when she’s pregnant with his child? That scumbag!" His jaw tightened as he turned to Steve. "We’re cutting all business ties with the Andersons. He will pay for this."

Stanley, the second eldest, had taken over as head of Shepherd Corporation after their father, turning it into an empire ten times stronger. His words carried weight, and when he made a decision, it was final.

"I can’t believe it," Stafford muttered, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "Little Stafania must be devastated. We have to keep him away from her."

As the third eldest, Stafford controlled Shepherd Bank, the largest and most powerful financial institution in all of Salvador. His influence alone was enough to ruin Ethan if he wanted to.

"She must be heartbroken," Stefan whispered, his gaze soft as he brushed his thumb across Mara’s cheek. "I can’t imagine how much pain she’s in."

The youngest of the four, Stefan ran the family’s chain of hospitals, dedicating his life to saving others. But right now, all he cared about was her, his long-lost baby sister.

"Why isn’t she awake yet?" Steve muttered, worry creeping into his voice.

The four brothers stood around Mara’s bed, their expressions a mixture of concern and quiet rage. Their youngest sibling, their Stafania, had suffered enough.

And Ethan?

From this moment on, his life would be nothing short of a living hell. After all, the Shepherds never forgave those who hurt their own. Stafania Shepherd had mysteriously disappeared at the age of ten. Now, she was finally home.

"You’re awake."

Mara slowly opened her eyes, only to find four pairs of intense gazes locked onto her, as if she might disappear the moment they blinked.

"Yes... but my head really hurts," she murmured, attempting to sit up.

Steve was at her side in an instant, his strong hands gently supporting her.

"You don’t remember much from the past," Stefan said softly, his voice laced with understanding. "But you do remember us, don’t you? We’re your brothers, Steve, Stanley, Stafford, and me, Stefan. You’re home now, Stafania. You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. No one will ever hurt you again."

The others nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with both relief and determination.

Mara hesitated, doubt creeping in. "But... there must be some mistake. Jason made sure all the records were erased," she said, her voice uncertain.

"No, Stafania," Stefan said firmly. "From the moment I saw you at the hospital, I knew. The bond was too strong. I could recognize you anywhere. But just to be sure, I did a test, your DNA matches ours."

Mara’s breath hitched.

"You might not remember everything yet, and that’s okay," Stefan continued gently. "But you are Stafania. You’ve finally found your family again."

Mara swallowed hard, her emotions swirling. She had always wondered who she was, where she came from. But now, as she looked into their familiar eyes, a new fear crept in.

Had her parents... abandoned her? The answer lay buried in the memories she couldn’t reach

"What about our parents?" Mara asked, her voice hesitant, yet desperate for answers.

A heavy silence filled the room. The brothers exchanged glances before all eyes settled on Steve.

The truth was too painful, too cruel. Their parents’ bodies had been found in an abandoned shelter years ago, but Mara had been missing, gone without a trace. They had spent years searching for answers, but none ever came. And now, the only person who might hold those answers... was Mara herself.

But how could they place that burden on her when she didn’t even remember?

Steve cleared his throat, forcing a reassuring smile. "You need to rest more before your head starts hurting again," he said, skillfully steering the conversation away. He reached out, tapping her head gently, as if to ease her worries.

Just then, the door creaked open, and Mr. Shepherd Sr. entered, carefully balancing a tray in his hands.

"Look what Grandpa brought you, Stafania," he said softly, his eyes shining with warmth. On the tray was a bowl of pudding, her childhood favorite.

Steve quickly stepped forward, taking the tray from him before guiding their grandfather to sit beside Mara on the bed.

One by one, they each insisted on feeding her, taking turns like they had when she was little.

For the first time in a long time, Mara felt something unfamiliar, a warmth, a sense of belonging. She wasn’t alone anymore.

"I remember... I was with Mom and Dad that rainy day," Mara whispered, her voice distant as she struggled to piece together the fragments of her past. "There was a big storm. I try so hard to remember, but the only thing that comes back to me is walking alone in the storm... endlessly... until a nun found me."

She frowned, frustration flickering in her eyes. How did I get lost? What really happened that night?

"You don’t need to dwell on that now," Stafford said gently, offering her a reassuring smile. "You’re home, where you belong."

"Yes, Stafania," their grandfather added, his voice filled with warmth and certainty.

Mara took a deep breath, then nodded, determination settling in her gaze. "You’re right. I’m home now. The past is the past. And Stafania Morissette Shepherd is a fighter."

The room fell into a brief silence as her words sank in.

Her full name. Her true name.

The four brothers and Mr. Shepherd Sr. exchanged knowing glances before their lips curled into satisfied smiles.

To them, Mara Duncan and Mara Anderson were gone.

The only name that mattered now, the only name that would ever matter, was Stafania Morissette Shepherd.

Even if her memories were incomplete, she remembered the most important thing. Her family.

Steve, especially, felt a wave of relief wash over him. That small yet significant sign, the way she embraced her true name, meant she was ready to leave the past behind.

Including Ethan. She was choosing her family, her true identity, and a fresh start. And Steve would make sure nothing and no one ever hurt her again.