The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 57: The Handsome Four

The atmosphere in the Shepherd household was tense, the air thick with worry and fear.

Steve and Stefan had managed to bring Mara back to the house, but her unconscious state was deeply unsettling. She lay still, her breathing shallow, and no matter what they did, she wouldn’t wake up. Steve’s usual composure was slipping, his voice edged with panic as he turned to Stefan. "Do something, Stefan," he urged, his hands trembling as he hovered over Mara.

Stefan frowned as he examined her. "I can’t make a proper diagnosis here," he said, his tone measured but urgent. "She’s not showing any clear symptoms. We need to get her to the hospital."

Steve nodded, his mind racing. "Of course. Get the car ready," he said, already moving to lift Mara into his arms. As he did, his eyes caught sight of something that made his blood run cold—a bloodstain on the bed where she had been lying.

"Stefan!" Steve yelled, his voice cracking with fear. He held Mara tightly, his heart pounding as he stared at the stain. "No, no, no... she can’t lose the baby," he whispered, his voice breaking. The weight of the situation crashed down on him. He had trusted Mara to take care of herself, to make the right decisions, but now he felt a crushing guilt. He had wanted to believe she would leave Ethan on her own, that she would see the truth without being pushed. But this—this was too much.

Stefan’s face paled as he saw the bloodstain, but he forced himself to remain calm. "We need to get her to the hospital now," he said firmly, though his mind was racing with possibilities. Blood spotting could mean many things, and he tried to stay positive, but the fear in Steve’s eyes was hard to ignore.

The two brothers moved quickly, rushing Mara to the car and speeding toward the hospital. Mr. Shepherd Sr. joined them, his usual stoic demeanor replaced by visible distress. "Hurry, oh God, please help my Stefania," he prayed under his breath, his hands clasped tightly together. Stefan, though trying to remain composed, couldn’t shake the unease settling in his chest.

When they arrived at the hospital, the medical staff took Mara in immediately, Stefan joining them, leaving the rest of the Shepherd men in the hallway. Steve and Mr. Shepherd Sr. paced back and forth, their anxiety palpable.

Steve’s dark brown hair was disheveled, his striking blue eyes filled with worry. Nurses and staff passing by couldn’t help but notice the two men, their presence commanding attention even in their distress. It wasn’t every day that Steve Shepherd was seen in person, especially in such a vulnerable state.

Steve stood nearby, his arms crossed as he tried to keep his emotions in check. He knew they needed to stay strong for Mara, but the uncertainty was gnawing at him. Steve’s pacing grew more frantic, his mind spiraling with what-ifs. "She has to be okay," Steve muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "She has to be."

Mr. Shepherd Sr. placed a hand on Steve’s shoulder, a rare gesture of comfort from the usually reserved patriarch. "We’ll get through this," he said, though his voice wavered slightly. "Stefania is strong. She’ll pull through."

He nodded in agreement, though his mind was still racing. He couldn’t shake the image of the bloodstain or the fear in Stefan’s eyes.

All they could do now was wait and hope—hope that Mara would wake up, hope that the baby was safe, and hope that they hadn’t failed her when she needed them most. The hallway felt endless, the minutes dragging on as they waited for news, each second stretching into eternity.

Stefan’s announcement brought a wave of relief crashing over Steve and Mr. Shepherd Sr. "Lucky, both the fetus and Stef are fine," Stefan said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of exhaustion. "I guess the drugs caused her body to react. Looking at her condition, it’s a miracle things aren’t worse."

Steve let out a deep breath, his shoulders sagging as the tension he’d been carrying finally began to ease. Mr. Shepherd Sr., usually so composed, couldn’t hide his relief.

"Thank God," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. Without another word, he turned and hurried toward Stefania’s room, eager to see his granddaughter.

Steve, still processing the news, pulled out his phone. "I’ll call Stanley and Stanford," he muttered, stepping into the hallway to make the call. Stefan nodded, giving Steve a moment to himself, and then quietly returned to Stefania’s room to keep an eye on her.

It didn’t take long for Stanley and Stanford to arrive at the hospital. Both men stormed in, their faces dark with anger. Even after avenging Mara and exposing Lucy, they felt it wasn’t enough. Turning the tables on their enemies had only fueled their rage further.

They wanted more—needed more—to make Ethan and everyone who had hurt Stefania pay.

As they approached Steve, Stanley’s phone rang. He answered it with a sharp, "What?" The voice on the other end delivered news that made Stanley’s eyes narrow.

"Boss, the Andersons are bidding for the river land project," his assistant informed him.

Stanley’s lips curled into a cold smile. "Make sure they win the bidding," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. The response from his assistant was a confused stammer, but Stanley didn’t elaborate. He turned to his brothers, who were staring at him in confusion.

Then, he dropped the bombshell. "Then we will buy all the lands from the owners at the river land," Stanley said, his smirk widening as he saw the realization dawn on his brothers’ faces. It was a savage move, one that would cripple Ethan’s corporation.

If Ethan’s company won the bidding for the river land project, they would need the surrounding lands to proceed. Without those lands, the project would be impossible to carry out, costing Ethan not only the project but also a significant amount of money.

Stanford’s eyes lit up with approval, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

"Great brother," he whispered, his voice low but filled with admiration. In his mind, Ethan deserved every bit of this. He had to pay for everything Stefania had gone through.

Stanley ended the call and slipped his phone back into his pocket, his expression hardening once more. "How is Stef and the baby?" he asked, his voice softer now, the concern for his sister cutting through his anger.

Steve sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They’re fine for now. Stefan said it’s a miracle, but she’s stable. The baby’s okay too." He paused, his jaw tightening. "But this isn’t over. Not by a long shot."

Stanley nodded, his eyes darkening. "No, it’s not. Ethan and everyone who hurt her will pay. We’ll make sure of it."

The four Shepherd brothers stood together in the hospital hallway, their presence commanding attention even amid their serious conversation. Nurses, patients, and even doctors couldn’t help but glance their way, whispering and giggling as they passed.

The brothers were used to it their striking looks and powerful aura often drew stares but today, their focus was entirely on Stefania.

Stanley broke the silence first, his voice low but firm. "I really want to be here with Stef, but I need to go for a conference that will last a month," he said, his brow furrowed in frustration.

"Maybe I can convince her to go with me. A change of scenery might do her good."

Stanford nodded in agreement, his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall.

"If only she’ll agree. She needs the distraction. I’ll be going abroad myself soon, and I was thinking the same thing. Getting her out of the country, far away from Ethan, might be exactly what she needs."

Steve, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "I had that in mind too. In fact, it was supposed to be a surprise for her—to take over the corporation’s operations overseas. But I don’t know if she’ll like that idea. She’s been through so much already, and I don’t want to push her."

Stefan, who had just joined the group, adjusted his glasses and sighed. "It’s a good plan, but we need to be careful. Stefania’s been through a lot physically and emotionally. If we push her too hard, it might backfire. She needs to feel in control of her decisions, especially now."

The brothers fell silent for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. They all wanted what was best for Stefania, but they also knew how stubborn she could be. Convincing her to leave the country, even temporarily, wouldn’t be easy.

As they stood there, the hallway buzzed with activity. Nurses whispered to each other, patients craned their necks to get a better look, and even a few doctors paused to admire the four brothers.

It wasn’t every day that the Shepherd men were seen together in public, and their combined presence was impossible to ignore.

Stanley, finally broke the silence. "Let’s not overthink it. We’ll talk to her when she’s ready. For now, the priority is making sure she and the baby are okay. Once she’s stronger, we can discuss the future."

Stanford nodded. "Agreed. But we need to be united on this. If we’re going to convince her to leave, it has to come from all of us. She needs to know we’re all behind her."

Steve and Stefan exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison. "We’ll figure it out," Steve said, his voice steady. "For now, let’s focus on her recovery. The rest can wait."

As the brothers continued to talk, their bond was palpable. Despite their differences, they were united in their love for Stefania and their determination to protect her.

"Well, I’ve got to go. Let me know if Stef wakes up," Stanley said, his voice firm despite the ache in his chest. Leaving now felt like a betrayal, but he had bigger plans—plans that would ensure the Andersons’ downfall. The Riverland Project was his weapon, and he was ready to bury them with it.

"I’ll head out too," Stanford added with a smirk. He knew the Andersons would come crawling for loans once things started crumbling. His job? Make sure every bank in the city turned them away. Before leaving, he cast a lingering glance at Stefania, lying there so peacefully—too innocent for the storm brewing around her.

Steve walked his brothers out, but as he returned, the news stopped him in his tracks.

"She’s awake," someone said.

Stefania had opened her eyes.