Chapter Thirty-Two

Still in the parking lot, Shaun was walking toward his black Nissan, Bella hurrying behind him, trying to keep up in her heels.

"Shaun, wait! I'm in heels, you know!" Bella called, frustration in her voice.

Shaun spun around, annoyance flashing in his eyes. "Bella, I don't need you adding to my stress right now."

She smirked, clearly unfazed. "It's not my fault your plan failed."

Shaun's jaw clenched, his temper flaring. "Really? All that effort... and Mae still didn't lose the baby. She gave birth to triplets. It's like she's mocking me."

"Getting mad isn't going to help," Bella said, her tone more calculating now. "What we need to do is find a way to make sure those babies are gone for good. This time, they can't survive."

Shaun's face twisted with anger. "How do you plan on doing that? Now that the babies are born, Ethan's going to do everything in his power to protect them. We've lost our hold on him. The babies are only going to strengthen his bond with Mae."

Bella's voice was cold, calculating. "We need to talk to your mother before we make our next move."

Shaun turned, irritation written all over his face. "This is getting harder than we thought."

"Don't worry," Bella replied with a sly smile. "We still have a trump card."

Shaun raised an eyebrow. "My mother said not to use it unless absolutely necessary."

Bella's eyes narrowed. "We're not using it yet. But I have a plan... and I need her help to convince someone."

Shaun exhaled, a mixture of doubt and curiosity on his face. "Who?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Bella said, her smirk widening.

Ethan's Room

Ethan had just wrapped up a video call with the board members of Feng Teng when a knock echoed from the door. He looked up, catching the familiar figure of Emily as she entered.

"Good day, Ethan," she greeted, her voice polite, but there was an underlying seriousness to her tone.

"Hi, Mother-in-law," he replied, a light smile playing at his lips.

"I heard what happened... I wanted to see how you're holding up," she said, her gaze softening.

Ethan chuckled dryly. "That's a first."

Emily raised an eyebrow. "First what?"

"First time you've actually seemed to care about me," Ethan said, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

"Until now, I never really had a reason to come here," Emily said, her gaze steady on Ethan.

"Such refreshing honesty," Ethan replied, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"Of course," Emily responded, folding her arms.

"Now, can we get to the real reason you sought me out?" Ethan asked, his voice low and curious.

"I came here to talk to you," Emily declared, her voice firm as she stepped closer.

"If this is about helping Michael with his schemes, know that I won't apologize for my support," Ethan replied, a hint of defiance in his tone.

"I'm not here to discuss Michael," Emily countered, irritation flickering through her calm demeanor.

"Then who is it that you wish to talk about?" Ethan pressed, arching an eyebrow in intrigue.

Emily's expression hardened, and she got straight to the point. "I'm not here to talk about you. I'm here about Mae."

In the dim glow of the late afternoon sun, Mr. Blackwood reclined on his ornate bed, his eyes glued to the screen of his phone. The hushed sound of a video filled the room, punctuated by moments of laughter that echoed off the walls, remnants of a joy he hadn't felt in a long time. Just then, the door creaked open, a familiar figure stepping inside.

"Hey, old friend," the doctor said, his voice warm and inviting.

Mr. Blackwood looked up, a surprising smile breaking through his weathered features. "It's nice to see you've taken the time to check in, Doctor."

"It's nice to see you fully recovered, Mr. Blackwood," the doctor replied, a hint of relief spreading across his face.

"Thanks to you," Mr. Blackwood nodded appreciatively, pride in his tone.

"I'm glad I was able to help," the doctor said, his eyes twinkling with sincerity. 

"So what brings you by? I'm guessing you didn't come here just to admire my radiant self?" Mr. Blackwood quipped, arching an eyebrow, his humor a stark contrast to the gravity of his circumstances.

"No, sir, I came with good news," the doctor announced, his voice steady, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, as if he were about to share a long-awaited secret.

"Good news is a luxury these days. It's either that or just news," Mr. Blackwood replied, leaning forward in anticipation, his heart thumping with cautious hope.

"Well, it turns out that a part of the information I gave you the other day was wrong," the doctor continued, his tone dropping just a fraction, revealing a gravity behind his words.

"What part?" Mr. Blackwood's interest piqued; he leaned in closer, his brow furrowing in curiosity.

"Congratulations, Mr. Blackwood. You're a great-grandfather," the doctor declared, his voice carrying the weight of the revelation.

"What?!" Mr. Blackwood's eyes widened, disbelief mingling with a growing elation. 

"Yeah, turns out Mae actually gave birth to triplets," the doctor responded, gauging the reaction unfolding before him.

"I'm a great-grandfather now?" Mr. Blackwood repeated, almost incredulously, a slow grin spreading across his face, illuminating every line and wrinkle.

"Yes, sir," the doctor confirmed, his own smile infectious.

"That's... good news," Mr. Blackwood said, his voice laced with awe, his mind racing with possibilities.

"Yes, it is, sir," the doctor echoed, the warmth in his voice matching the joy now blooming in Blackwood's chest.

"Can I see them?" he asked, his excitement palpable as he rose from the bed, energy surging through him.

"Yes, they are in the nursery right now," the doctor replied, nodding toward the door, the atmosphere thick with anticipation.

"This means I can finally tell Nicole and Ethan their identities," Mr. Blackwood said, the weight of his words settling over him like a cloak.

"Yes, you can," the doctor agreed, his expression turning serious. 

"I have to do it soon. Sebastian has sent all his men after me," Mr. Blackwood said, his voice dropping an octave, the joy slipping slightly as reality intruded.

"Why haven't they attacked yet?" the doctor asked, concern etching his features.

"They don't want to cause a scene in the hospital. They want me out of here so they can finish the job," Mr. Blackwood answered sharply, his eyes narrowing as a protective instinct surged within him.

"Why does Sebastian want your wealth so badly?" the doctor pressed, his tone steady but filled with the weight of unasked questions.

"He wants to feel supreme and make the world bow at his feet," Mr. Blackwood replied bitterly, his hands clenching into fists.

"Do you think he's going to give up after you hand everything over to Ethan?" the doctor questioned, sharp-eyed.

"Sebastian is not the type to give up easily. He'll fight Ethan until he gets what he wants and will use any means necessary," Mr. Blackwood said, his voice thick with conviction, a grimace crossing his face.

"Aren't you just putting Ethan and his family in unnecessary danger? They just had three babies! If Sebastian's willing to go after you, what do you think he'll do to the children?" the doctor urged, his voice rising with concern.

"You have a point, old friend. What am I going to do about that?" Mr. Blackwood pondered aloud, rubbing his chin contemplatively, the lines of worry deepening on his forehead.

"I think the best course is to keep Nicole and her family away from Sebastian," the doctor suggested, his tone firm yet gentle.

"But I need Ethan to stop Sebastian from whatever he plans," Mr. Blackwood countered, a frown forming as he wrestled with his options.

"Well then, you'll have to talk to Ethan and hear what he has to say," the doctor replied, crossing his arms, his posture conveying both authority and camaraderie.

"Yes, I'll go talk to Ethan. I have complete faith in him. I truly believe he'll find a solution to this situation," Mr. Blackwood said, nodding decisively, his chest swelling with pride.

"You trust your grandson so much," the doctor noted, a smile of admiration gracing his lips.

"Yes, I do. And I'm really proud of him," Mr. Blackwood responded, his voice softening, warmth radiating from him once more.

"He's one lucky kid," the doctor said, a knowing glint in his eye.

"Yes, he is," Mr. Blackwood concluded, with the faintest hint of a smile. The air around them, charged with unsaid sentiments, seemed to lighten, if only for a moment, as hope intertwined with the shadows of their realities.

In a dimly lit VIP room, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. Mark lay on the bed, a bandage encircling his head, plaster secured around his nose, and gauze patches dotting his face like a map of his recent misfortunes. Despite the pain etched onto his features, there was a steely resolve in his blue eyes as he stared at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts.

The door creaked open, and Mae stepped inside, her silhouette framed against the harsh light of the hallway. She hesitated for a moment, her heart racing as she took in the sight of Mark. Steeling herself, she picked up a stool, its legs scraping softly against the tiled floor as she moved closer, setting it down beside the bed with a soft thud.

"Hey, Mark," she said, her voice a mixture of concern and warmth.

"Mae?" His gaze flickered to her, a hint of surprise mixing with weariness.

"How are you feeling now?" She leaned forward slightly, her brows furrowing with worry as she searched his face for signs of discomfort.

"I'm feeling better," he replied, his tone flat but his eyes revealing a flicker of gratitude.

A shadow passed over Mae's features. "I'm really sorry about what Ethan did. I don't know what made him lose his cool."

"It's not your fault, Mae," he replied, his voice steady despite the throbbing pain.

"Why did you go to Ethan's room?" There was an edge to her voice, a mixture of fear and urgency.

"I went to confront him," Mark said, determination rising in his tone.

"You did what?!" Shock washed over Mae's face, her hands gripping the edge of the stool as if for balance.

"When I saw you that day, I felt so angry. What man in his right senses would do something so cruel just to cheat on his wife? I needed to confront him," Mark explained, his voice rising with passion.

"You went there with the intention of beating him up," Mae accused, her eyes wide, disbelief coloring her tone.

"Yes, but I was the one who got badly beaten in the end," he muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.

"Mark, I thought I already told you not to interfere in my relationship with Ethan," Mae's tone turned sharp, and she seemed to draw back, her defenses rising.

"Mae, what do you see in him that makes you love him?" Mark asked, his eyes locking onto hers, searching for an answer.

"He's my husband, and I don't need a reason to love him," she said defiantly, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Enough with that crap, Mae. The babies are gone, so stop pretending you actually care about that bastard," he spat, anger simmering beneath the surface.

"What gave you the impression that I'd leave Ethan if the babies died?" Mae replied, hurt flashing across her features.

"The man doesn't love you. He left you to marry Bella even when he knew you were fighting for your life. He maltreats you and beats you; he was never there when you needed him. To be honest, he never really cared about you. You were just a tool for his amusement." Each word was sharper than the last, meant to cut deep.

In an instant, a loud smack echoed in the room—a clear message punctuated by Mae's palm striking Mark's face. "How dare you?"

"He doesn't love you, Mae. He never will. I'm the only one capable of truly loving you. I would've been a father to those children; I was ready to do anything for you, and yet you still choose him over me. What's wrong with you, Mae?" His voice rose, desperation spilling over.

"Wait, you're happy that I lost the babies?" Her voice trembled with disbelief, anger flaring in her eyes.

"Yes, I am," he said, his gaze unwavering, the tension thick between them.

"How could you?" she whispered, the weight of his words crashing over her.

"At first, I was furious he got rid of them, but then I realized they were the only thing holding you and Ethan together. Losing them means you could finally escape that toxic marriage and be with me," he declared, conviction ringing in his voice.

"Ethan was right about you," Mae replied coldly.

"What did he say about me?" Mark asked, a spark of curiosity breaking through his anger.

"That message you sent was just to manipulate me into feeling more love for you. A stranger, willing to father my unborn kids when my husband wasn't? That was the ultimate move to win me over, wasn't it?" Her voice was steady, but inside, turmoil churned.

"I only did that because I'm in love with you, Mae," Mark said, vulnerability piercing through his bravado.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me, but I need you to back off. I love my husband, and I'll never leave him for someone else," her voice softened, yet conviction lined her words.

"How are you able to love someone who's planning on divorcing you?" The question tumbled from his lips, disbelieving and incredulous.

"Ethan and I aren't going to get divorced," she said, conviction lacing her tone.

"And what makes you so sure?" Mark pressed, his heart racing with a mixture of hope and dread.

"Well, we have a family now. We have three kids to love and protect from the likes of you," she declared, her eyes fierce as she locked onto his.

"Wait—are you saying you didn't lose them?" he faltered, his heart sinking.

"No. As a matter of fact, I'm a mother of two cute baby boys and one beautiful baby girl."

"How's that possible? The doctor said you lost them!" His mind reeled, unable to grasp the implications.

"Well, let's just say the doctor underestimated the love of a father and a husband," Mae said, her lips curling into a defiant smile.

"Are you implying that Ethan is the reason they're alive?" he asked incredulously.

"Yes, he went to get help—that's why he left the hospital. He was never going to marry Bella, and he never did." Her voice held the finality of truth.

"That's a lie," Mark said, desperation clawing at his throat.

"Thanks for all the support you've given me and for being there when I needed a friend, but right now, I don't want you coming between me and Ethan." She stood, the stool scraping on the floor as she rose.

"What does that mean?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"The next time you try to break my marriage, you'll see a side of me that's worse than the one Ethan showed you that day," she warned, her resolute gaze never wavering as she marched towards the door.

"He doesn't love you," Mark called after her, voice thick with frustration.

"That's none of your business. That's my personal problem with Ethan, and we can resolve it on our own. I can go to any length to protect my family from harm. I'll let what you did to Ethan slide because of our friendship and because you took more damage, but the next time you try that, I won't be so merciful. So let me say this nicely: stay away from my family," she said, her voice steady as she opened the door, determination radiating from her.

"I'm not giving up on you, Mae. I love you too much to let you go," Mark said, desperation etching his features.

"Well then, get ready to put up a hell of a fight," she shot back, stepping out of the room and into the corridor.

"I'm going to make you mine, one way or another," he murmured to himself, the weight of his words lingering in the air long after she had gone.

Nicole and Alex were eager to meet their grandchildren, and as they arrived at the nursery, Alex's face lit up with excitement upon seeing them. Meanwhile, Emilia, with a newfound resolve, went home to talk to her parents about her engagement to Michael. After her brief exchange with Ethan, Emily quietly slipped out of the hospital, not telling anyone where she was headed, while the rest of the family returned home.

The stage was set. The game was far from over.