Steve was the first to wake up, as he always was. Before his mind could even process the day ahead, his body moved on instinct. His feet carried him down the familiar hallway, stopping just outside Mara’s door.
He pushed it open without hesitation—only to be t with an empty bed, the blankets still neatly in place, the air inside the room still and cold.
A sigh left his lips, heavy with disappointnt but not surprise. He should have expected this.
Footsteps sounded behind him, soft but purposeful. Stefan.
As the youngest of the Shepherd brothers and a doctor, Stefan took it upon himself to watch over Mara—not only as her personal physician but as her favorite sibling, the one she confided in the most. His expression darkened the mont he took in the sight of the vacant room.
His eyes t Steve’s, and in that silent exchange, they both knew exactly where she had gone.
There was no need for words.
With slow, asured steps, they walked back into the hallway, their faces drawn in worry and frustration. The grand house felt eerily quiet, its walls holding secrets and heartaches neither of them wished to voice aloud.
As they reached the main hall, Stanley caught sight of them. His sharp eyes imdiately sensed sothing was wrong.
"What’s with the long faces? Stef isn’t up?"
"She’s not in the house," Steve murmured.
Stanley’s brows shot up. "What? She left? To see that husband of hers?" The way he spat the word ’husband’ made his feelings clear.
"And you guys are this calm?" His voice rose slightly, laced with irritation.
At that mont, Stanford joined them, his presence as steady as ever. "You know how she is," Stefan interjected, running a hand through his already ssy hair. "The more we push, the more she retaliates. We’re her family, not her enemies."
Stanford crossed his arms, his expression cold but his tone firm.
"That doesn’t an we sit back and do nothing. This can’t go on like this."
A heavy silence fell between them. Each of them knew what was left unsaid. They had been watching Mara suffer for far too long, tangled in a marriage that brought her nothing but pain. And yet, she refused to let go completely.
Stanley broke the silence first, his voice clipped with frustration. "Why the hell is this divorce taking so long?"
Steve let out a slow exhale, rubbing his temple. "It’s complicated. Annulnt wasn’t an option, not with her pregnancy. And Ethan won’t sign the divorce papers."
That was the heart of the problem. Ethan wasn’t letting go, and Mara despite everything was still clinging to sothing none of them could understand.
A collective tension settled in their chests as they exchanged glances, each lost in their own thoughts.
"What do we do?" Stanford asked after a beat, his voice softer this ti, laced with concern.
"We wait," Steve decided, though the uncertainty of the decision gnawed at him. "If she doesn’t co back soon, we’ll go get her."
With that unspoken agreent, the four of them moved through the motions of their morning.
Breakfast was eaten in silence. Showers were taken without conversation. And then, they all gathered in the living room, their gazes fixed on the front door as the minutes dragged into hours.
Maybe we should call," Stanley suggested, his fingers tapping impatiently against his knee.
"Maybe we should wait," Stanford countered, his voice steady despite the storm brewing in his eyes.
And so, they waited. Ti moved sluggishly, the clock ticking by, with their hearts heavy with doubts. Each of them dreading the possibility that this ti, Mara might co back without harm.
And just like that, the front door swung open.
Mara stepped inside, stopping mid-step as her eyes landed on her four brothers. She had assud they’d already left for work, that their responsibilities as CEOs would take precedence over their overprotectiveness.
But no, apparently being the boss ant you could decide when to work and when to ignore your billion-dollar companies to stare at the front door all morning.
She forced an awkward smile. "Hey."
The relief on their faces was almost comical.
Steve let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. Stefan’s shoulders finally relaxed. Stanley and Stanford exchanged glances, as if checking to see who would yell at her first.
Mara rubbed the back of her neck. "I, uh... I know I should have told you I was leaving. But I needed to—"
Before she could finish, all four brothers surged forward, wrapping her in a suffocating group hug.
"Hey! What is wrong with you guys? I’m fine!" Mara yelped, squirming.
"Let check," Steve declared, stepping back only for Stefan to grab her wrist, pressing two fingers to her pulse like a proper doctor.
"Oh my God, stop! You guys are so dramatic,"
Mara groaned, though she couldn’t stop the fond smile creeping onto her face.
Steve didn’t listen. With zero effort, he lifted her into his arms like she was made of glass.
"You need to sit down."
"Steve, put down! I can walk, you know."
Stanley was already on his feet, fetching her a glass of water, while Stanford crouched at her feet, slipping off her shoes to massage them.
Mara blinked. "Okay, now you guys are scaring . I’m not dying, am I?" she joked.
Stefan shot her a warning look. "Please don’t ever say that."
"We just missed you," Steve added, his voice softer now.
And just like that, Mara found herself in the middle of her four ridiculously overprotective brothers, who had all skipped work just to wait for her return. Her heart ward at the realization.
For a mont, Mara thought of the pendant and everything she had discovered. She wondered if her brothers knew about it as well.
"I went for this," she said with a soft smile, holding up the delicate piece of jewelry.
All four brothers froze.
"That was Mom’s," Steve whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
One by one, they took turns holding the pendant, as if it carried a piece of their mother’s warmth. Finally, Steve gently fastened it around Mara’s neck, where it belonged.
"Where’s Grandpa, by the way?" Mara asked, breaking the heavy silence.
"He went out last night. You’re lucky, or else he would’ve scolded you like crazy," Stanley joked.
Mara grinned. "That’s not true! Grandpa would never scold . He’d scold you guys instead."
A chorus of agreent followed. She was, after all, the princess of the family.
Stanley cleared his throat. "You know, I’m not as thoughtful as Steve and Stefan, but never doubt how much I love you, baby sis. I’d protect you with my life if I had to." His voice wavered slightly.
Mara smiled, squeezing his hand. "I know, brother."
The other brothers imdiately jumped in to tease Stanley, but Stanford took the mont to speak up.
"You know I love you too, right, Stef?" he said, smirking. "Even if I don’t share my snacks with you, your happiness ans the world to ."
Mara giggled. "I know, foodie."
She never doubted their love. Steve and Stefan showed it in the smallest everyday things, while Stanley and Stanford had their own ways of expressing it. But she loved them all the sa.
Just then, Stanley’s phone buzzed, cutting through the heartwarming mont. He ignored it. Then it buzzed again. And again.
Persistent.
"Uh-oh," Mara teased. "Looks like work finally realized they’re missing their CEO."
"Or it’s a lover," Stanford teased.
Stanley chuckled and pulled out his phone.
Stanford who was right next to him stretched his neck to peek at the screen as Stanley quickly cut the call.
"Umm... who’s Rhina?" Stanford asked, his eyes narrowing.
"A lover?" Steve added, smirking. "Tell us, brother, is she beautiful?"
"Does she have an incredible body?" Mara asked curiously, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Stop it, you guys," Stanley groaned.
"Oh, co on! Tell us," Mara pleaded, using her best puppy-dog eyes.
Stanley sighed, unable to resist. "Yes, she’s pretty. And hot as hell," he admitted, grinning.
His brothers imdiately pounced, teasing him rcilessly.
"Is she coming to the party?" Mara asked excitedly.
"No! It’s nothing serious just casual, you know?" Stanley shrugged.
"Brother, you’re getting old," Steve said.
"Enough of the playboy act. Settle down."
"Look who’s talking," Stanley shot back, turning the tables.
Mara, now fully in investigator mode, turned her attention to her other brothers. Steve had broken up with his girlfriend recently. Stanford slept around but had nothing serious. And Stefan—
"Wait... Stefan, have you never dated anyone?" Stanley asked, eyes wide.
The room fell silent.
"Nope," Stefan said, completely unfazed.
"Kiss anyone?" Stanford asked as Stefan shook his head.
The brothers erupted in laughter, teasing him relentlessly. But Mara understood. Stefan was an emotional person and just like her, she believed it was best to wait for the right one, but sotis you could still get it wrong, but she was certain when he found the right one, he would settle down.
Stanley, feeling bolder, went into details about his sex life with Rhina.
"Is this appropriate to discuss with Stef?" Steve asked, looking uncomfortable.
"Guys, I’m a married woman, well I used to be and a mother-to-be," Mara reminded them with a laugh.
As the conversation flowed, Mara shared her own love story—how she used to find n annoying, how she always pushed them away. Until she t Ethan. She recounted how they got married just four days after eting. But she couldn’t continue. Her voice cracked, and tears welled in her eyes.
Without hesitation, her brothers pulled her into another hug.
Just then, the maid entered. "Lunch is ready."
Perfect timing. "Great, I was starving, thank you nanny," With a beaming smile, Stanford eagerly makes his way to the dining table, earning him the title of the ultimate foodie.
It’s hard to believe how he maintains his perfect physique, leaving everyone around him curious about where all that food actually disappears to!
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