The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 59: She is a Shepherd

Ethan barely heard him. His mind was fixated on one thing: the possibility of Mara carrying his child. He didn’t care about the Shepherds, didn’t care if they were his worst enemies.

All that mattered was Mara and the baby. If she was pregnant, he needed to know. He needed to be there for her, to make things right. The thought of being a father was something he’d never considered possible after his surgery before filled him with a strange, unfamiliar warmth.

But then reality came crashing back. If Mara was pregnant and the Shepherds were her family, they would never let him near her. Not after everything he’d done. Not after the way he’d hurt her. The smile faded from his face, replaced by a grim determination. He had to find out the truth. He had to see her.

Ethan turned to the nurses, his voice tight with urgency. "Where is she now? The VIP patient—where did they take her?"

The nurses exchanged uneasy glances, clearly hesitant to share more information. One of them finally spoke up, her tone cautious. "She was discharged earlier. The Shepherds took her home. That’s all we know."

Ethan’s jaw tightened, his mind racing. If Mara was with the Shepherds, finding her would be nearly impossible. Their family was powerful, secretive, and fiercely protective. But he couldn’t give up. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.

Steph placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder, his expression a mix of concern and resignation. "Boss, if this is true... if Mara is pregnant and the Shepherds are her family... we’re in way over our heads. They’ll never let you near her. Not after everything that’s happened."

Ethan shook his head, his eyes blazing with determination. "I don’t care. I don’t care if they’re the most powerful family in the city. I don’t care if they hate me. If Mara is pregnant, that’s my child too. And I’m not going to walk away from that. Not again."

Steph sighed, knowing there was no talking Ethan out of this. "Alright, boss. But we need a plan. A good one. Because if we go charging in there, we’re not just dealing with Mara. We’re dealing with the Shepherds. And trust me, you do not want to cross them."

Ethan nodded, his mind already working through the possibilities. He didn’t know how he was going to do it, but he knew one thing for certain: he wasn’t giving up on Mara. Whether she was a Shepherd or not, whether she was pregnant or not, she was the love of his life. And he was going to fight for her—and for their future—no matter what it took.

Ethan’s phone buzzed insistently in his pocket, pulling him out of his daze. Steph nudged him, his expression tense. "Boss, your phone," he said, nodding toward the ringing device.

Ethan pulled it out and saw his grandfather’s name flashing on the screen. He hesitated for a moment before answering, already bracing himself for the storm he knew was coming. As soon as he put the phone to his ear, Mr. Anderson Sr.’s voice erupted through the line, sharp and furious.

"What the hell did you do, Ethan? Someone bought all the riverlands! We spent billions to secure the project, and now it’s useless without the lands to carry it out! Do you have any idea what this means for us?" His grandfather’s voice was laced with anger and frustration, each word hitting Ethan like a hammer.

Ethan folds his fist as he listens, his mind racing to process the news. The riverlands project was supposed to be a cornerstone of their company’s future, and now it was crumbling before it had even begun. "I tried to get a loan to buy back the lands," his grandfather continued, his tone growing more desperate, "but no bank will give us a loan. Even my oldest friends—people we’ve worked with for years—refused to help. Do you understand what’s happening here, Ethan? We’re being targeted!"

Ethan took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice calm despite the chaos unfolding around him. "Grandpa, calm down. I’ll figure something out," he said, though he had no idea what that something might be.

"Figure something out?" Mr. Anderson Sr. snapped, his voice rising. "I was told we offended the Shepherds. When did you offend them, Ethan? What did you do?"

Ethan’s stomach dropped at the mention of the Shepherds. His mind immediately went to Mara, to the possibility that she was one of them. If the Shepherds were behind this, it wasn’t just about business—it was personal. "I don’t know, Grandpa," he said, his voice steady but strained. "But I’ll handle it."

Before his grandfather could continue his tirade, Ethan ended the call, shoving the phone back into his pocket. He ran a hand through his hair, his mind spinning. Steph, who had been listening intently, let out a low whistle. "Boss, that’s big trouble," he muttered, his expression grim.

Ethan nodded, but there was a strange glint in his eyes, a mix of determination and something else—something almost like relief. "Yeah," he said slowly, "but it makes sense now. It all makes sense. Mara is a Shepherd."

Steph stared at him, clearly baffled. "Boss, how is that good news? If Mara’s a Shepherd, that means the Shepherds are coming after us. They’re not just powerful—they’re ruthless. And if they’re behind this, we’re in deeper trouble than we thought."

But Ethan wasn’t listening. His mind was already racing ahead, piecing together the puzzle. If Mara was a Shepherd, it explained so much—her strength, her independence, the way she always seemed to carry herself with an air of quiet authority. It also explained why the Shepherds were targeting him. They weren’t just protecting their business interests; they were protecting their sister.

And if Mara was pregnant... if she was carrying his child... then this wasn’t just about business or revenge. This was about family. His family.

Ethan turned to Steph, his expression resolute. "We need to find Mara," he said, his voice firm. "I don’t care what it takes. I don’t care if the Shepherds are the most powerful family in the city. If Mara is pregnant, that’s my child too. And I’m not going to let them keep me away from her—or from our baby."

Steph sighed, shaking his head. "Boss, you’re talking about taking on the Shepherds. Do you have any idea what you’re up against? They don’t just play hardball—they own the whole damn stadium."

Ethan folds his fist, his eyes blazing with determination. "I don’t care. I’ll tear the whole city apart if I have to. But I’m not walking away from this. Not again."

__

Ethan had been moving through the last four days like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Every hour, every minute, was spent trying to save his company. It wasn’t just a business to him—it was his life’s work, his pride and family legacy. And pride was something Ethan held close to his heart. He wasn’t the kind of man to back down, no matter how hard the storm raged around him.

The Shepherd brothers had been relentless. Stanford Shepherd, in particular, had made sure Ethan felt the full force of their power. Banks that once might have helped now turned their backs, leaving Ethan with no choice but to sell everything he owned abroad. His estates, his investments—all of it went into covering the losses from the Riverland projects. It was a heavy price to pay, but Ethan didn’t flinch. He faced it all with a quiet determination, his jaw set, his eyes steady.

Yet, even as he fought to keep his company afloat, there was one thought that never left him—Mara. She was always there, lingering in the back of his mind, like a soft whisper he couldn’t quite shake. He had tried calling her, but her number no longer worked. It didn’t surprise him, not really. He had seen it coming, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.