The Billionaire CEO Betrays his Wife: He wants her back-Chapter 102: Heartbeats

Meanwhile, Ethan arrived at the foundation, but Mara wasn’t there. His chest tightened with unease. He checked the house next, but the guards outside informed him that she had gone to the hospital. Without hesitation, he headed straight there.

Ethan was no stranger to Shepherd Hospital; he had connections, people who would tell him what he needed to know. It didn’t take long for him to find Mara’s location.

But as he reached the doorway, he stopped.

Through the small gap in the curtain, he saw someone holding Mara’s hand.

His heart shattered.

Pain coiled in his chest, but he knew this was his fault. He had pushed her away. And now, he had to live with the consequences.

He clenched his jaw, forcing back the sting of tears, swallowing the ache in his throat. Instead of walking in, he remained frozen, watching from the outside, unseen, as regret gnawed at his soul.

"Oh my God, finally," the doctor breathed out, relief flooding his voice as he turned to Stefan. The two of them stared at the ultrasound screen, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief.

"What is it?" Mara’s voice trembled, her grip tightening around Rafael’s hand, her knuckles white with tension.

"Wait for it," Stefan murmured, his fingers hovering over a control panel. With a small twist of a knob, the room filled with sound.

A rhythmic, pulsing melody, strong and steady, echoed through the space. It was soft at first, almost unreal, but then it grew two distinct beats intertwining like a duet of life.

Mara’s breath hitched, and before she could even process what she was hearing, warm tears slipped down her cheeks. She turned to Rafael, who stood frozen, his lips parted in shock. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

"What is that?" he whispered, almost as if he were afraid speaking too loudly would shatter the moment.

"The heartbeat of the babies," the doctor confirmed. "Babies, Mara."

Mara’s eyes widened. "Babies?" she repeated, the word tasting foreign and unreal on her tongue.

Stefan leaned closer to the screen, his brows furrowed. "Are you sure?"

The doctor nodded, adjusting the angle of the ultrasound. "It’s difficult to tell at this stage, but I strongly suspect another baby is hidden behind the first one. Look closely."

Mara’s chest ached with joy, her fingers trembling as she touched her belly. "Twins?" she whispered in disbelief, her lips stretching into a tearful smile.

Stefan let out a stunned laugh before turning and hugging his sister, his excitement spilling over. That was when Mara realized her fingers were still wrapped around Rafael’s hand. She let go, feeling a sudden rush of guilt, but Rafael just shook his head, his eyes still locked on the screen.

"You scared me," he murmured, his voice softer now, edged with something deeper something substandard.

Outside the room, just beyond the door, Ethan stood frozen in place. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his chest rising and falling in uneven breaths. The sound of his children’s heartbeats, strong and alive, filled the space beyond him, yet all he could do was listen.

Excitement and pain twisted inside him like opposing forces in battle. He should have been in that room. He should have been the one Mara was holding onto, the one whispering reassurances in her ear. Instead, he stood alone, his back against the cold hospital wall, drowning in the cruel beauty of what he could not have.

Inside, the doctor cleared his throat, bringing everyone’s attention back. "Stefania, you need to take it easy this time," he warned gently. "It’s crucial."

"I will," she promised, wiping at her cheeks, though the joy still shimmered in her eyes. "Doctor, can I get a recording of their heartbeats?"

"Of course."

And as the doctor moved to save the sound, Ethan swallowed back the storm in his throat.

"Boss... why are you doing this to yourself?"

A firm but gentle hand landed on Ethan’s shoulder. He blinked rapidly, pulling himself out of the trance of his own thoughts. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was Steph.

Ethan swallowed, quickly wiping at his eyes before shifting his stance. His voice, rough with unshed emotions, came out quieter than he intended. "Is Lucy and her father in prison?"

Steph sighed, his grip on Ethan’s shoulder lingering for a second longer before he pulled back. "Yeah. Their court date is set in three weeks."

Ethan nodded, his jaw tightening. It should have felt like a victory seeing justice close in on the people who had tried to destroy everything. But the hollow ache in his chest reminded him that some wounds weren’t so easily healed.

Without another word, Ethan stepped past Steph, pushing open the door just as the doctors, Mara and Rafael stepped out of the room. He didn’t stop, didn’t let himself be seen. He just kept walking and hid himself.

"Lunch?"

Rafael tossed the question out casually, more as a tease than a serious offer. He wasn’t expecting a yes. In fact, he was already smirking, waiting for Mara to roll her eyes or shake her head.

Instead, she surprised him.

"Yes."

Rafael blinked. "Wait, really?"

Mara nodded, her fingers tightening around the small recording device that held the sound of her babies’ heartbeats. The excitement still hummed in her veins, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she wanted a moment to just breathe. To pretend if only for an hour that things were normal.

Stefan, however, wasn’t as thrilled. His arms folded across his chest, a clear sign that he was already against the idea. "Mara, you need rest. And with Uncle Philip still out there—"

"The guards can come along," Rafael cut in smoothly, reading Stefan’s thoughts before he could voice them all. "And you may as well join too." His voice held an easy confidence, but there was an edge to it, a silent promise. Trust me, I can protect your sister.

Stefan hesitated, his protective instincts warring with reason.

Mara, sensing the tension, turned to the doctor instead. "You should come too."

The doctor, who had been observing the exchange with quiet amusement, brightened at the offer. "Yes, of course."

Stefan turned to protest, his colleague shouldn’t just agree without hesitation but the look on the doctor’s face made him pause.

Mara smirked knowingly. Oh, she knew her brother well. And she had definitely noticed the way his doctor friend looked at him when she thought no one else was watching.

As they all prepared to leave, Ethan couldn’t help but listen to their conversation. Steph was genuinely taken aback by his calm demeanor, especially considering the turmoil he felt inside.

It was evident that beneath his composed exterior, a storm of emotions raged, and he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of empathy for what he was going through. Once they had left Ethan found someone a quiet favor, a well-placed word. And soon enough, he had what he needed.

Now, in the silence of his car, Ethan pressed play.

The recording began, and suddenly, the world shifted. The steady, rhythmic thump filled the space around him, raw and undeniable. It wasn’t just sound. It was life. Their life. His life.

With every heartbeat that echoed through the speakers, Ethan felt something deep inside him stir.

With every heartbeat, he lived again.