The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 101: Formalities

Mara strode purposefully into the hospital lobby, her heels clicking against the pristine white tiles as Stefan walked beside her. The scent of antiseptic and faint traces of coffee from the nearby vending machine filled the air. Despite the sterile environment, a warm energy buzzed around the reception desk, where Nurse Joanne sat, radiating cheerfulness like the morning sun.

"Good morning, Dr. Shepherd!" she chirped, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him.

Stefan, known to nearly everyone in the hospital as the "handsome doctor," barely glanced up from his thoughts. He offered her a distracted smile, his mind already ahead of him, searching for answers before he even reached his destination.

"Hey, Joanne. What room is Vera Knight in? The patient was admitted last evening?" His voice was calm but urgent. He hadn’t been on shift when Vera was brought in, but something about her case had lingered in his mind since he first read the report.

Joanne, ever the smitten admirer, let out a small giggle as she turned to check her monitor. Maybe it was excitement that he remembered her name, or perhaps just the thrill of having his attention, even if momentary.

"Room 78, doctor," she replied, flashing another eager smile.

Stefan was already turning on his heel, Mara close behind, barely acknowledging Joanne’s response. "Thank you, Joanne," he called over his shoulder, motioning for Mara to follow. But before they could disappear down the corridor, Joanne’s voice stopped them in their tracks.

"Hmm... handsome doctor sorry I mean Doctor Shepherd—"

Stefan turned back, brows knitting together. Mara exhaled sharply, her patience thinning. The nurse’s dreamy expression was beginning to grate at her nerves.

"What is it, Joanne?" His voice was firmer now, pressing for efficiency.

Joanne hesitated, biting her lip, her earlier cheer dimming slightly. "She’s no longer here."

Mara’s fingers clenched into fists at her sides. Why hadn’t she mentioned that in the first place? The casual way Joanne dropped the news felt like a slap.

"What?" Stefan walked back to the desk, his heartbeat accelerating.

Joanne’s gaze flickered between them before she added, almost too gently, "She lost the baby."

The words hung in the air, heavy and cruel. Mara’s breath caught in her throat. Stefan’s jaw tightened, a storm flickering behind his usually composed eyes.

"And who discharged her?" he demanded, his voice dropping an octave, losing its usual warmth.

Joanne fidgeted with the pen in her hand, her demeanor shifting from flirtatious to uneasy. "Dr. Malaski signed the release forms early this morning. Said she insisted on leaving."

Stefan ran a hand through his hair, frustration rippling through his body. He had seen this before—patients making rash decisions in the wake of unbearable loss, fleeing instead of healing. And Vera... Vera had been through hell even before she was admitted.

Mara swallowed the lump in her throat. "Where did she go?" she asked, her voice softer than she intended.

Joanne shook her head. "She didn’t say. Just walked out. Alone."

A silence fell between them, thick with unspoken fears. Mara exchanged a look with Stefan,

Stefan requested Vera’s file and flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the details with a focused intensity. His stomach twisted at the words before him. The baby had been at risk. The doctors had no choice but to perform emergency surgery—the fetus had stopped breathing.

The thought of it made Stefan’s chest tighten. He had seen tragedies unfold in this hospital before, but something about this one sat heavier in his gut. He swallowed hard, pushing down the wave of unease creeping through him. Last night, when he checked on Mara, her fetus hadn’t been in great condition either. He had urged her to rest, prescribed medication, and assured her that everything would be okay.

But now, reading Vera’s case, he couldn’t shake the fear that ’okay’ was a fragile thing.

He closed the file and handed it back to the nurse. "Thank you," he muttered before turning to Mara.

She stood there, tense, eyes filled with worry. Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms. "She’s fine now. The records show they had to remove the baby, but she’s physically stable. No need to worry, okay?"

Mara’s body was stiff against his, but she let out a slow breath, nodding slightly. Stefan guided her to a nearby chair. "Sit down for a second."

Mara shook her head, determined. "I’m fine, Stefan. Let’s go to her apartment and check on her. She has no one."

Stefan hesitated, studying the fear flickering in her expression. She was right Vera was alone, and in her current state, that wasn’t safe but Mara came first

He nodded. "Alright. Stay here. I’ll be back."To ensure Mara didn’t experience any complications, Stefan consulted an expert on her condition a trusted friend.

Mara noticed Stefan whispering to the doctor, their heads close together. The proximity made her uneasy. They looked intimate, too close. Were they just discussing medical concerns, or was there something more?

"Hey, Stef, I’m a friend of your brother," the doctor said, turning toward Mara. "Just to be thorough, he wants me to do a quick ultrasound. Nothing to worry about, just formalities, you know."

Mara’s gaze snapped to Stefan. "What’s going on, Stefan?" she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.

Stefan sighed, his tone gentle but firm. "She’s an expert, just making sure the stress isn’t affecting you or my niece or nephew. Please, Mara."

Mara huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But you’re coming with me." She pulled Stefan aside before they entered the examination room. "Do you like her?" she asked suddenly.

Stefan blinked. "Who?"

"Your doctor friend, of course," Mara said, narrowing her eyes.

Stefan exhaled sharply. "No, she’s just a work colleague."

Mara smirked, glancing over at the doctor. "Well, she likes you."

Stefan groaned. "Mara, behave. She can hear you. Can we go in now?"

Mara rolled her eyes. "Fine. Let’s get this over with."

Just as they were about to enter the room, a familiar voice cut through the air.

"Stefanie."

She turned, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Rafael, was he okay? She thought.

Surprised, Mara couldn’t ignore him now he had saved her twice. Seeing him in the hospital, worry flickered in her eyes.

Rafael caught the look and quickly reassured her. "Hey, I’m fine. Just came to change these bandages. What about you? Are you okay?" His voice was warm, laced with genuine concern.

"Yes, just a little checkup," Mara answered as Stefan gently led her away.

Rafael’s gaze lingered on her. "Can I come? You seem nervous," he said with a charm that made anyone feel safe and assured.

Stefan glanced at him, his expression unreadable. Mara, knowing her brother too well, saw something was bothering him. He cared too much to hide it.

"You may," Stefan finally said. "But you stay outside." Rafael grinned, more than happy to take the offer.

Mara lay on the hospital bed as the doctor performed the ultrasound. The machine hummed, the screencasting a faint glow across the dimly lit room. She stole glances at Stefan, searching for reassurance, but his face remained unreadable.

The silence stretched too long.

Her heart pounded. "Is everything okay? Is my baby okay?" her voice trembled slightly, betraying her growing fear.

She had her brother by her side, the person who loved her most in the world, but right now, she felt utterly alone. She clenched her fists, fighting the creeping sense of isolation, the pressure building inside her.

Rafael, standing just outside the room, watched her closely. He could see the worry tightening her expression, the way her breath grew shallow. Without thinking, he stepped forward, striding straight to her side.

He reached for her hand.

Mara was caught off guard, and subconsciously clutched his hand tightly, grounding herself in his warmth.

"Everything will be fine," Rafael murmured, his voice steady, his grip firm.

He didn’t know Mara was married that little detail was not in his research. He didn’t know she was pregnant the least. But none of that mattered to him, if the man in question was not in the picture it meant he walked away or was a jerk either way it was his loss.

The only thing he knew was that he wanted this woman’s hand in his more than anything in the world. If she had would have him, he wouldn’t have cared about anything else.

Stefan watched the exchange, his face indistinct, but he didn’t stop Rafael from comforting her.

The doctor continued scanning, frowning slightly as she adjusted the screen. Mara’s anxiety spiked. Why was she taking so long? What was she looking for?

The silence in the room stretched, pressing down on her like a weight. Something was wrong