CEO loves me with all his soul.-Chapter 60. Adrian’s Labour.

Wuner Hudel sat stiffly in his large, dimly lit study, nervously eyeing the figure seated across from him. Cain Sebanil, the most powerful and enigmatic man Wuner had ever known, lounged in his chair with an air of effortless control. The Sebanil patriarch had a reputation for being unreachable and relentlessly busy, so his unexpected visit to the Hudel estate had Wuner on edge.

Wuner cleared his throat, his fingers twitching as he adjusted the papers on his desk. "Lord Sebanil," he began carefully, "it is an honor to have you visit my humble home. What brings you here today?" His tone was polite, but the tension was palpable.

Cain Sebanil, with his piercing eyes and calm demeanor, tilted his head slightly. "What brings me here?" he repeated, his voice dangerously soft. "Do you really need to ask, Wuner?"

Wuner swallowed hard, feeling his heartbeat quicken. He knew why Cain was here, but hearing it would make it all too real. He had been dreading this moment.

Cain leaned forward, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "You’ve caused quite a bit of trouble for the Hudel family, Wuner. So I came to visit and... assess the damage."

Wuner chuckled nervously, trying to maintain composure. "I-I don’t know what you mean, Lord Sebanil. Everything is fine."

"Is it?" Cain’s lips curved into a cold smirk. "Then tell me—why was my youngest son, Adrian, living with your family for 17 years without my knowledge?"

The question hit Wuner like a punch to the gut. His hands clenched on the armrests of his chair, but he forced himself to stay composed. "Lord Sebanil, it’s a complicated situation," Wuner began slowly. "My second wife... she brought Adrian to our doorstep one day, claiming he was my child. My father was ill at the time, and she made quite the spectacle. I—"

"Did you do a paternity test?" Cain interrupted, his eyes narrowing as he leaned back, arms crossed. "Surely, a man like you would verify such a claim before accepting a child into your family."

Wuner shifted uncomfortably. He had expected this question, but there was no easy answer. "My father was dying, Cain," Wuner replied with a strained voice. "There was no time for tests or questions. The woman made such a scene that my father believed her. She convinced him that Adrian was my child, and my father accepted him into the family."

Cain’s smirk widened, but there was no humor in it. "So, you allowed a child you weren’t even sure was yours to live under your roof for years? Without even checking the facts?"

Wuner bit the inside of his cheek, refusing to rise to the bait. "I had my reasons, Lord Sebanil. Family matters can be... complex."

Cain shook his head, his expression cold and mocking. "Complex, indeed. I wonder how much longer the Hudel family can survive your decisions. If you keep making choices based on assumptions and lies, you’ll destroy everything your father built."

Wuner flinched at the accusation but said nothing. Cain was right, and that stung more than anything.

After a moment of tense silence, Cain stood up, his movements slow and deliberate. He walked over to the large window of the study, looking out over the Hudel estate, his hands clasped behind his back. "I want Adrian’s name removed from your family’s registration," Cain said coolly. "He was never yours to begin with."

Wuner remained seated, his expression unreadable. "It’s already been done," he said quietly. "When Adrian married into the Levistis family, I removed his name from our records. He’s no longer part of the Hudel family."

Cain turned back to face him, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "Good. At least you’ve done one thing right."

Wuner’s lips twitched into a tight smile, but his eyes were still clouded with unease. "I did what was necessary," he said carefully.

Cain studied him for a long moment, his gaze heavy with silent judgment. "Necessary or convenient?" he murmured, before shaking his head. "It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done. But know this, Wuner—if anything happens to Adrian, if he suffers because of your neglect or deceit, I will hold you personally responsible."

Wuner’s breath caught in his throat, but he managed a stiff nod. "Understood."

Without another word, Cain turned on his heel and walked toward the door. The tension in the room felt suffocating, and Wuner let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.

--

In the car, Cain sat in the back seat, his thoughts swirling. The visit with Wuner had gone as expected, but it didn’t ease the weight in his chest. His driver, an old man who had been with the Sebanil family for years, glanced at him in the rearview mirror.

"Lord Sebanil," the driver said hesitantly, breaking the silence. "If I may... why don’t you visit young master Adrian? You could tell him the truth about who he really is."

Cain’s face remained impassive as he looked out the window. "Not yet," he replied softly.

The driver frowned. "But... he’s your son, sir. Surely, he deserves to know the truth."

Cain’s hand tightened into a fist on his lap. "I know. But now isn’t the time."

The driver hesitated, clearly uncomfortable but wanting to speak his mind. "What about your eldest son? And your daughter? Have you found any leads on them?"

Cain’s expression darkened slightly. "No," he admitted quietly. "I’m still looking for my eldest son. And I haven’t found the cure for my daughter’s illness yet."

The driver sighed sympathetically. "It’s a heavy burden, my lord. But don’t you think telling Adrian the truth would give him some peace of mind? He’s pregnant now... maybe he deserves to know who his real father is."

Cain shook his head slowly. "Adrian is under enough stress as it is. He’s about to become a father himself. I won’t burden him with the truth now—not until I can find my other children and ensure their safety."

The driver didn’t say anything more, sensing that Cain had made up his mind. But as they drove through the quiet streets, Cain couldn’t help but feel the weight of his decisions pressing down on him. He had failed as a father, and every day that passed without finding his eldest son or saving his daughter felt like another failure.

And now, Adrian—his youngest son, the one who had been stolen from him—was caught up in this tangled web of lies and deceit.

Cain closed his eyes, leaning back against the seat. One day, he promised himself.

One day, Jesper, His beloved will have the happy home he wanted...

--

Ethan sat at his desk, reviewing a stack of paperwork when his phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and saw Leclair’s name flashing. He hesitated for a moment, wondering what his brother might need, but decided to answer.

"Leclair?" Ethan’s voice was steady, but the moment he heard his brother’s tone, his heart sank.

"Ethan... it’s Adrian," Leclair’s voice was strained, and Ethan could hear the faint sounds of hospital equipment in the background. "He’s gone into labor."

For a split second, the world seemed to stop. Ethan’s heart pounded in his chest, the blood draining from his face. "W-What?" He stood up so fast that his chair almost toppled over. "He’s not due for another few weeks! How—how’s he doing?"

Leclair sighed heavily. "It’s early, but the doctors are with him now. You need to get to the hospital, Ethan. He’s asking for you."

Ethan didn’t wait for another word. He grabbed his coat and rushed out of the office, ignoring the startled looks from his staff. His thoughts were a whirlwind as he raced to the hospital, his stomach twisting into knots. Adrian... their babies... why now? Why so soon?

By the time Ethan reached the hospital, his hands were trembling, his breath coming in short, panicked bursts. He burst through the hospital doors, barely able to focus on anything around him as he asked the receptionist where Adrian was.

"Ward 305," she said calmly, pointing down the hallway. Ethan didn’t even thank her—he was already sprinting in the direction she had indicated.

As he approached the ward, the sound hit him like a tidal wave.

Adrian’s screams.

The guttural, raw sound of pain and exertion coming from the love of his life tore Ethan apart. He stopped dead in his tracks outside the door, his hands instinctively covering his ears, as if that could block out the sound. But it didn’t. It pierced him straight through the heart, filling him with an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

He had never felt so powerless in his entire life.

His hands trembled as he clenched them into fists, trying to keep it together. But the sound of Adrian’s agony—knowing he was inside that room, fighting for their children—made Ethan’s legs weak. His chest heaved as tears welled up in his eyes.

"Adrian..." Ethan’s voice broke, barely a whisper.

Leclair was there, standing by the door. He had a grim, yet understanding look on his face as he placed a comforting hand on Ethan’s back. "You need to stay strong, Ethan," Leclair said quietly, though his voice was firm. "Adrian is fighting through this, and he needs you to hold on."

Ethan choked on a sob, his body shaking. "I-I can’t... I can’t stand hearing him like this," he admitted, tears now freely running down his face. "He’s in so much pain, Leclair. What if something happens? What if—"

Leclair grabbed his shoulders and gave him a small shake, forcing Ethan to look at him. "Ethan, listen to me. Adrian is strong. He’s going to get through this. You’re going to be a father today, and you need to be there for him. He’s depending on you."

Ethan’s breath came out in ragged gasps, his mind spinning in a hundred directions. He wiped his eyes roughly, trying to pull himself together. "I should be in there with him," he whispered, more to himself than to Leclair.

Leclair gave him a sad, knowing smile. "I know, but right now, he needs to focus. The doctors are doing everything they can. You’ll see him soon. But for now, Ethan, you have to be strong—for him and the babies."

The thought of their children—those tiny lives waiting to come into the world—sent a rush of determination through Ethan. He nodded, clenching his fists tighter to keep himself grounded. "You’re right. You’re right, I need to be strong." He exhaled deeply and straightened his posture, though his heart still felt like it was being squeezed in a vice.

The minutes ticked by painfully slow. Every muffled scream, every sound from the room made Ethan’s heart pound in his chest, each noise an assault on his nerves. He wanted to burst through the doors, to hold Adrian’s hand and tell him it would be okay, that he would never leave his side. But all he could do was stand there, feeling helpless and terrified.

Ethan paced the hallway outside the ward, his hands running through his hair in agitation. "This is taking too long," he muttered under his breath. "Why haven’t they said anything yet?"

Leclair, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, tried to remain calm. "It’s a difficult process, Ethan. They’ll tell us when it’s time."

But patience had never been Ethan’s strong suit, especially when it came to Adrian. He cursed under his breath, his nerves fraying with each passing second.

Another scream. Another wave of anguish washed over Ethan, and his knees almost buckled. He closed his eyes tightly, willing himself to be strong, to stay calm.

Suddenly, the door to the ward opened, and a nurse stepped out, her face flushed but smiling. "Mr. Levistis?"

Ethan turned so fast he nearly stumbled. "Yes—yes, that’s me! Is he... is Adrian okay? Are the babies...?"

The nurse’s smile widened. "The labor’s progressing well. It’s still early, but Adrian is doing great. We’re getting closer."

Ethan exhaled, his heart racing. Relief and anxiety flooded through him all at once. "Can I see him?" he asked, desperation evident in his voice.

The nurse shook her head gently. "Not yet, but we’ll let you know when the time comes."

Ethan nodded, biting his lip to keep from begging. "Okay. Thank you."

As the nurse disappeared back into the ward, Leclair patted Ethan’s shoulder. "See? He’s doing fine."

But Ethan couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling in his gut. He could still hear the faint echoes of Adrian’s cries. "He’s in pain, Leclair," Ethan whispered hoarsely. "I hate this. I should be there with him."

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the door to the ward opened again. This time, it was the doctor. He stepped out, smiling reassuringly at Ethan.

"Mr. Levistis, you can come in now," the doctor said. "Adrian is ready."

Ethan’s breath hitched. His legs felt weak as he took a shaky step forward, Leclair squeezing his shoulder in encouragement.

As he stepped into the ward, the first thing Ethan saw was Adrian—his beautiful, brave Adrian, lying on the hospital bed, looking utterly exhausted but glowing with relief. His hair was damp, his face pale, but his eyes—his eyes were shining as they locked onto Ethan.

Ethan rushed to his side, immediately taking Adrian’s hand in his own. "Adrian..." his voice cracked as he spoke, overwhelmed with emotion.

Adrian smiled weakly, squeezing Ethan’s hand. "We did it, Ethan," he whispered, his voice hoarse but filled with joy. "They’re here... our babies."

Tears blurred Ethan’s vision as he looked down at the two tiny, swaddled figures in the nurse’s arms. Two perfect, beautiful little lives—his children. His heart swelled with love and pride, and in that moment, all the fear, all the anxiety melted away.

He leaned down and kissed Adrian’s forehead. "You’re amazing," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I love you so much."

Adrian smiled up at him, eyes brimming with tears. "I love you too, Ethan. We’re finally a family."

Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om