Chapter Seventeen

In the RX Hotels boardroom, Ethan, Shaun, Ella, Caleb, Michael, Chairman Owen, and other board members are gathered for a meeting. Caleb stands up to address the group.

"Tomorrow is Emily's birthday, and I'd like to personally invite you all to join us in celebrating," Caleb announces.

"You can count on our attendance," Chairman Owen replies with a smile.

"It would be wonderful if Mae could attend as well," Caleb adds, looking towards Ethan.

"Are you asking me to convince Mae to come to your wife's birthday?" Ethan asks, raising an eyebrow.

"It would mean a lot if you could," Caleb says earnestly.

"I can't force Mae to do something she may not want to," Ethan responds firmly.

"It seems you don't know what's best for her," Caleb counters.

"I—" Ethan begins, but his phone rings, interrupting the conversation. He quickly answers the call.

"Why isn't your phone on silent?" Shaun asks, irritation clear in his voice.

"Hello? What's going on?" Ethan asks, ignoring Shaun's comment.

"Is something wrong with Ethan today?" Chairman Owen observes, concern in his tone.

"It looks like the pressures of marriage are catching up with him," the Executive Director comments.

"What's happening? Are you okay?" Chairman Owen asks, Ethan standing up.

"Ethan, is everything alright?" Michael asks, worry etched on his face.

"I'm on my way. Make sure the procedures begin, and contact my mother. I'll be there as soon as possible," Ethan says before hanging up.

"Is everything okay?" Michael asks.

"I have to go; there's an urgent matter," Ethan replies, his voice tense.

"You can't leave now; we're in the middle of a meeting," Shaun protests.

"I'm sure the meeting can proceed without me. Ella, please fill me in when I get back," Ethan instructs.

"Understood," Ella replies.

"Goodbye," Ethan says quickly, heading for the door.

"I'm really worried about him," Michael says, his concern growing.

"Let's hope Mae is alright," Caleb comments.

"What could have made Ethan leave a meeting this important?" Ella wonders aloud, exchanging glances with Shaun.

Shaun notices Ella's troubled expression and is just as surprised. It's unlike Ethan to leave without explanation, especially with such crucial discussions ongoing. Shaun feels frustration rising as Ethan's absence jeopardizes their negotiations with Mr. Blackwood. As the situation with his grandmother's decision becomes more pressing, Shaun finds himself on edge—failure is simply not an option.

The other board members share in their confusion over Ethan's abrupt departure. His behavior has been increasingly erratic, missing key meetings and showing signs of distraction. While Shaun seems to be stepping up, the truth is that Ethan has become less engaged with work. What they don't know is that Ethan is dealing with the overwhelming news of Mae's pregnancy.

Ethan's focus is entirely on his role as a husband and soon-to-be father. With a sense of urgency, he heads straight to Mae's bedroom, where she lies in bed with Kate and Camilla. Both women look surprised to see him.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asks with concern.

"I'm feeling much better now," Mae replies warmly.

"What happened?" he asks.

"One of her medications posed a risk to the baby," Kate explains.

"Are they both safe now?" Ethan asks, his voice full of worry.

"Both our children are perfectly fine," Mae reassures him with a soft smile.

"Mae, is there something you haven't told me?" Kate asks, glancing at her daughter.

"We're expecting twins," Mae announces, her eyes shining with joy.

"Wow!" Camilla exclaims, eyes wide with surprise.

"That's wonderful news!" Kate exclaims happily.

"Yes, it truly is," Mae agrees with a smile.

"Do you mind if we have some privacy?" Ethan asks politely.

"Of course, let's step outside," Kate agrees, ushering Camilla out.

As Ethan settles beside Mae, he says, "I can't believe my workaholic husband managed to be here."

"Don't scare me like that again," he adds, his tone light, a chuckle escaping him.

"I'm so lucky to have you," Mae says, taking his hand in hers.

"You'll be fine, I promise," Ethan reassures her.

"Sometimes I worry," Mae admits, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "What if my past affects our children?"

"Mae, you're going to be an amazing mother. Our children are so lucky to have you. I'll be here for you, always," Ethan says with heartfelt sincerity.

"You're everything I could ever want in a partner," she says, her voice filled with gratitude.

"Rest now," he suggests gently. "We'll visit Nora tomorrow."

"Did my dad ask about Emily's birthday?" Mae inquires.

"He wants you to attend, but I told him you would make the final decision," Ethan explains.

"I'm not going," Mae says firmly.

"Your dad acted out of love, even if it wasn't always the easiest way to show it," Ethan says with a smile.

"Thank you, Ethan," Mae responds, her voice soft.

"Never forget, I'm always here for you," he reassures her.

"I won't," Mae replies, her face lighting up with a smile.

"What would you like for dinner?" he asks.

"Wasn't your flight to England supposed to be happening right now?" Mae teases.

"I'm sure Shaun can handle things in my absence," Ethan says casually.

"He's quite the accomplished CEO, so I'm sure he'll manage," she teases back.

"I'll be back quickly," he promises.

"Try not to miss me too much," she jokes as he stands to leave.

"Of course not," he replies with a wink, before exiting the room.

"Your father is quite the charmer," Mae whispers, gently caressing her baby bump.

Later, as Shaun and Ella depart for England, Ethan remains with Mae. The next morning, Ethan and Mae are still in bed, peacefully asleep. As dawn breaks, Mae stirs, finding Ethan's arms wrapped around her.

The alarm rings, signaling the start of the day, but Mae finds herself held tightly by Ethan. Smiling, she turns to face him.

"He looks so adorable when he sleeps. I can hardly believe he's the first thing I see when I wake up," she thinks to herself.

"Are you done admiring my sleeping form?" Ethan murmurs as he wakes up.

"I wasn't admiring you," she responds, playfully turning her head away.

"How are you feeling this morning?" he asks, loosening his hold on her.

"I'm feeling much better," she replies.

"I have a big meeting today, so I'll be back by tomorrow morning," he informs her.

"Are you traveling?" she asks, surprised.

"I missed a key negotiation with Blackwood yesterday, so I need to go back immediately," he explains.

"That wasn't part of our agreement. I have an ante-natal appointment today," she points out.

"You can go with your mother," he suggests, getting out of bed.

"Ethan, you're being unreasonable!" she protests.

"I have to go now. I'll see you later," he insists, heading toward the door.

"How could he break our agreement?" Mae thinks, her frustration bubbling up as she throws a pillow on the bed.

At 9:00 A.M., 

In the bustling lobby of the RX Hotel, 

Ethan steps toward the revolving door, briefcase in hand, when Shaun's voice rings out, halting him. He turns to see Shaun striding forward, with Ella in tow.

"What's going on, Shaun?" Ethan asks, a sharp edge to his voice.

"Are you deliberately trying to sabotage me?" Shaun's tone is accusatory. "Why weren't you in England yesterday? The whole deal was hanging by a thread."

"I still made it to the negotiation, didn't I?" Ethan counters, trying to defend his absence.

"Why have you been neglecting your duties lately?" Shaun continues to press.

"I don't expect someone like you to understand the importance of family obligations," Ethan snaps back.

"Are you really defending her?" Shaun hurls the question, disbelief in his eyes.

"Watch your words when it comes to her," Ethan warns, his voice cold and steady.

"Looks like someone's sensitive about his wife," Shaun mocks.

"Mind your own business, Shaun," Ethan retorts, his patience wearing thin.

"I'm off to Shanghai. I'll be back tomorrow. Best of luck at the Wilson's gathering," Ethan says, his hand already on the door.

"You're not attending?" Shaun asks, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Mae's not the social type, and I have work to do. A party doesn't make it onto the list," Ethan replies, his tone unbothered.

"Make sure you fix this. I don't want to clean up after you," Shaun orders as Ethan begins to leave.

"You can't even handle your own mess, let alone mine," Ethan shoots back. "Get your priorities straight, Shaun. And don't be a fool while I'm gone."

"Honestly, I'm about done with him," Shaun mutters to himself.

"Sir, please try to stay calm," Ella interjects, trying to calm the rising tension.

"Contact Bella. She's coming with me to Mrs. Wilson's birthday event," Shaun commands.

"Understood, sir," Ella replies, swiftly pulling out her phone.

"See to the company. I have an appointment with an old contact," Shaun says, his attention already elsewhere as he heads toward the door.

As Shaun exits the revolving door, Ella follows, her thoughts clear. "I can't believe he treats me like this. Once I'm done with my plans, I'm done with him."

At Ethan's apartment, 

In Mae's bedroom, 

Mae sits on the edge of the bed, her laptop open for a video call with Michael. 

"I can't believe you're not coming," he says, disappointment lacing his voice.

"I'm sorry," Mae answers softly. "Ethan had to travel for work, and I'm managing my anxiety medication right now."

"How are you feeling? It's been two months since your last appointment," Michael asks, his concern palpable.

"I think dad and I need more space," Mae says, her voice firm. "I'm in a delicate phase of my recovery, and I can't risk anything setting me back."

"He really does miss you, Mae," Michael reassures her.

"He's lived without me since the day I was born," Mae responds with a tight laugh, a mix of hurt and defiance in her words. "He'll manage just fine without me now."

"Mae, that's not fair. You know he's just trying to protect you," Michael replies, frustration creeping into his voice.

"You don't get it, Michael," Mae responds, her voice trembling with emotion. "He's not trying to protect me; it feels like he's trying to keep me in a cage. I need this space. I need to breathe."

"Mae..." Michael starts, but she cuts him off.

"Michael!" a voice suddenly exclaims, leaving her shocked.

"Who's that?" she asks, Michael turning toward the door at the faint sound of movement.

"It's Mom. I've got to go now," Michael says quickly, though his voice softens. "We'll talk soon, okay?"

"Alright. Take care, Mike. I love you," Mae replies, her heart heavy as the call disconnects.

Exhaling deeply, Mae sits back, feeling the weight of the conversation settle around her. She had been trying to figure out how to explain her decision to step away for a year. How long could she keep hiding from her family? How long could she hide her pregnancy? Though she loved her family dearly, her priority now was the little lives she carried inside her. She would protect them at all costs, no matter the consequences.

The apartment was quiet in the days following Ethan's departure for Shanghai, the silence stretching out like a thin veil between Mae and the life she once knew. While Ethan was away, Mae's days were filled with a strange combination of anticipation and uncertainty. She waited for his return, but each day felt heavier than the last. Upon not seeing Mae attend, Shaun felt despair. 

At the board meeting, the members were buzzing with questions about Mae's sudden disappearance. Caleb, ever the professional, quickly stepped in, offering a fabricated story that Mae was traveling with Ethan.

The following morning, Mae awoke early, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. A low rumble in her stomach urged her downstairs. She wasn't sure why, but she needed something to fill the quiet, something to occupy her mind. When she reached the living room, her gaze fell on Ethan, sitting cross-legged on the floor amidst a sea of papers, his face drawn with exhaustion. He looked like he hadn't slept at all.

"What on earth are you doing up at this hour?" Mae asked, her voice breaking the silence.

Ethan barely glanced up. "Why are you awake so early?" he replied, his attention still fixed on the documents scattered around him.

Mae frowned, noticing the weariness in his posture. "I felt a bit hungry and came down for a snack. When did you return?"

"About an hour ago," he said shortly, not bothering to elaborate.

She watched him for a moment, puzzled. "Why do you choose to work this early?"

Ethan's eyes finally flickered toward her, but only briefly. "Perhaps due to the demands of my profession," he said dismissively, his voice lacking any real explanation.

"You've just returned and already you're drowning in work?" Mae observed, trying to process his exhaustion.

"Mae," he snapped, the tension in his voice palpable. "If you would be so kind as to tend to your own matters, I would appreciate it. I don't require distractions."

"That's quite rude," Mae replied, taken aback by the harshness of his words.

"Kindly vacate the room," Ethan said, his voice leaving no room for argument. At that moment, his phone began to ring, breaking the tension for a brief second.

"Are you planning to take that call?" Mae asked, standing her ground.

Ethan stood, phone in hand, his eyes cold. "I'd prefer not to see you when I return," he said, brushing past her as he headed out of the room.

Mae stood there for a long moment, feeling the sting of his words. "Is it any wonder he finds himself alone?" she muttered bitterly, her eyes settling on the coffee table, the clutter of papers lying untouched. She wasn't sure why she even bothered, but the frustration within her compelled her to act.

With a sigh, Mae began to organize his papers, straightening the mess on the table. She closed his laptop, her fingers lingering on the keyboard for a moment longer than necessary. Then, without thinking too much about it, she grabbed a pink sticky note and wrote a short message before sticking it to the laptop screen: I assisted in completing your work. You may show your gratitude later by acquiring my favorite ice cream flavor.

Mae stepped back, looking at the now-organized space, feeling a sense of satisfaction mixed with an odd sense of defeat. She knew Ethan would find it. She wasn't sure if he'd appreciate it, but it didn't matter.

About ten minutes later, Ethan returned, his footsteps heavy as he entered the living room. His eyes immediately flicked to the table, now neat and orderly, and then to his laptop. He reached for it, and as he opened the screen, his gaze caught on the sticky note.

"I assisted in completing your work," he read aloud, a hint of surprise in his voice. "You may show your gratitude later by acquiring my favorite ice cream flavor."

Ethan paused, his fingers hovering over the keyboard as he processed what she had done. The worksheet on the screen had been improved far beyond what he had expected—neatly formatted, thorough, and precise. He shook his head in disbelief, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I can't believe she accomplished this in under ten minutes," he murmured to himself, his voice tinged with admiration.

Later that morning, Ethan left for work, his thoughts lingering on the unexpected surprise in the living room. As he headed out, Mae prepared for her own day, a dental appointment with Kate and Camilla. The weight of everything still hung over her, but for a brief moment, she felt a spark of something—maybe it was hope, or maybe just the recognition that even in moments of silence, small gestures could make a difference.