Chapter 66: The black sheep-One
Mara was finally awake, resting in the Shepherd mansion. The accident had left her unconscious for days, and though she was now stable, the family had insisted she recover under their care.
Ethan had tried to take her from the hospital while she was still unconscious, his desperation to protect her driving him to make reckless decisions. But Steph and his mother had intervened, their calm but firm words cutting through his panic.
"You won’t win her back by taking her like this," Mrs. Anderson had said, her voice steady. "She needs time, Ethan. Let her heal."
Now, with Mara safely at the mansion, Ethan was left in the dark. He had no news of her condition, no way to reach her. The Shepherd family had closed ranks with their gate heavily guarded.
He wondered why they were keen on keeping him away, as he was shut out completely, it was his wife and child for crying out loud. The uncertainty gnawed at him, his worry for Mara and their unborn child consuming his thoughts.
He paced his apartment, his mind racing with scenarios each one worse than the last. His assistant tried to reassure him, but Ethan was beyond comfort. The fear of losing Mara, of not being there with her, was a weight he couldn’t shake.
Mara lay in her parents’ bedroom, the familiar surroundings a small comfort as she slowly regained her strength and memories from that night. Steve and Stefan took turns watching over her, their protective instincts in overdrive.
Stanley arrived late that evening, his usual composed demeanor frayed at the edges. He hugged his brothers tightly, the relief of seeing them mingling with the guilt of not being there sooner. "How is she?" he asked, his voice low.
"She’s stable," Stefan replied, his tone guarded. "But she’s been through a lot. We’re taking it one day at a time."