The Billionaire’s Secret Heirs (Celine and Hunter) novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216

Chapter 216

-CELINE’S POV-

The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room.

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I lay still, my body heavy, my chest tight. Every time I drifted into half–sleep, I woke the same way….my hand on my stomach, reaching, hoping. Every time, I felt nothing. Just emptiness.

My baby was gone.

I turned my face into the pillow, hiding from the bright light above. The air smelled of antiseptic and metal.

I hated it. I hated this place, this bed, these walls. I wanted to run, but my body had no strength.

The door opened.

My heart jumped. I didn’t look right away. I was afraid. Afraid it might be him, afraid it might not. But then I heard his footsteps. Slow. Heavy. Familiar.

Hunter.

He didn’t rush to me. He stopped by the door, standing in silence. I kept my eyes on the window, blinking at the blurred city lights. If I looked at him, I would break.

The bed dipped. His hand hovered close to mine. Not touching. Not yet.

“Celine,” he said softly. His voice was rough, like gravel.

My throat tightened. I didn’t answer.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “For everything.”

The words should have meant something. They didn’t. His hand covered mine at last. Warm. Strong. Once, it used to make me feel safe. Now it burned.

“You don’t understand,” I whispered. My voice cracked, small and broken.

“Then help me,” he said quickly, desperate. “Help me understand.”

I turned my head at last. Our eyes met. His were bloodshot, dark, empty of sleep. He looked ruined. But instead of comfort, all I felt was anger rising through the grief.

“You promised to protect me,” I said, my voice shaking. “You said you would never let her touch me again. And yet….”

“Mia,” he cut in, his jaw tight.

“Yes.” The word was quick on my tongue. “She was in our home. In our bedroom. She should never have been there. If you had kept her away…” My breath hitched, tears burning. “Our baby would still be alive.”

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Chapter 216

Hunter flinched. His grip loosened, but I didn’t let go. I wanted him to feel it.

“Celine….”

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“No.” My head shook, tears sliding down my face. “Don’t say it wasn’t your fault. You let her circle us. You knew what she was capable of. And you still…” My words dissolved into sobs.

Hunter leaned closer, voice rough. “I didn’t know she would….”

“She pushed me!” My cry split the air. My hand ripped from his. I curled into myself, arms around my stomach, as if I could shield what was no longer there. “She took our child from me. And I saw Ana watching. She smiled, Hunter. She smiled.”

Hunter’s face hardened. His fists clenched tight, resting on his knees. He looked like a storm about to break.

But I didn’t stop. The pain spilled out, unstoppable.

“Do you know what it feels like?” My voice trembled, cutting through the room. “To wake up and feel empty? To know the heartbeat inside you is gone–because someone hated you enough to steal it? And the man who swore to protect you wasn’t there?”

His throat moved, but no sound came. His eyes glistened, but no tears fell. He reached for me again, and again I pulled back.

“I failed you,” he said finally, hoarse. “I failed her.”

The silence was heavy, pressing down on both of us. I stared at him, trying to see my husband, the man I trusted, the man I loved. All I saw was guilt. And distance.

“What now?” My voice was bitter. “Do you go after her? Kill her? Will that bring our baby back?”

His eyes darkened. “I want her to pay.”

“Of course you do.” I let out a broken laugh, sharp and hollow. “But while you chase vengeance, I’m here. Alone. Dying inside. Does that matter to you, Hunter? Or do I have to keep breaking for you to notice me?”

The words cut him. I saw it in his face. His chest rose hard and fast, but he said nothing. Slowly, he moved closer. His hand shook as he reached for my cheek.

This time, I didn’t move away.

“I notice you,” he whispered. His voice was rough, torn. “I see you, Celine. You are all I see. And I swear, I will not let her hurt you again.”

Tears stung my eyes. I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to. But the emptiness in me screamed the truth.

“You already did,” I whispered back.

Hunter froze. My words sank into him, sharper than any blade. His head dropped. He pressed his forehead to the edge of my bed, his shoulders shaking with silent rage and grief.

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Chapter 216

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I turned my face up to the ceiling. Tears slipped into my hair. My heart tore itself apart…love, anger, blame, longing… all tangled together.

I didn’t know if I could forgive him. Not now. Maybe not ever.

But in that sterile, silent room, with Hunter’s hand clutching the sheets near mine, we both knew the same thing–Something between us had shattered.

And nothing would ever be the same.

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*******

-MIA’S POV-

The apartment felt too small.

I sat on the couch, knees pulled up to my chest, phone clutched tight in my hands. My heart wouldn’t slow down. Every sound made me jump–the fridge buzzing, the heater groaning, even the pipes in the wall.

Shadows looked like they were moving. Watching me.

‘Him.‘

Hunter.

The thought of his eyes on me made my stomach twist.

The phone buzzed again. I flinched so hard I almost dropped it. My screen lit up. ‘Dad‘

I hesitated, then pressed it to my ear. “Dad?” My voice came out small, shaky.

“MIA!” His roar filled my head. “What the hell did you do?”

My blood went cold. “W–what do you mean?”

“What do I mean?” His fury shook the line. “I just got off the phone with two board members. Investors are pulling out. Overnight. Blackwood Industries is bleeding money. My campaign is collapsing. Donors are calling one after the other to withdraw support. And do you know what they’re all saying?”

I swallowed, my throat dry. “W…what?”

“That Hunter Reid made one phone call.” His words dripped venom. “One call, Mia. And now every partner, every investor, every donor we had is gone. He blacklisted us. Do you understand what that means? Do you understand what kind of power you provoked?”

My hands shook. “Dad, please, it–it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t push her. She slipped….”

“You DID something!” he roared. “He wouldn’t destroy us like this for nothing. Tell me the truth, Mia. What

you do to that woman?”

did

Tears burned my eyes. I shook my head violently, though he couldn’t see me. “I didn’t mean to! She grabbed

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Chapter 216

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me, she wouldn’t let go–she slipped, not me!”

He let out a sound, half laugh, half growl. “Goddamn it, Mia. Do you even hear yourself? Do you what you’ve cost this family?”

In the background, I heard her voice…my mother’s. “Edward, shouting won’t fix it….”

understand

“Shut up, Victoria!” His voice cracked like a whip. “This is your fault too. You spoiled her. You encouraged her games. And now look. Look where it’s gotten us!”

I pressed my palm against my ear, trying to block it, but his fury poured straight into me.

His voice dropped, cold as steel. “Fix this, Mia. Or you’re finished. And you’re dragging us down with you.”

Then the line went dead.

I stared at the black screen, shaking all over. Hours later, the doorbell rang. My heart leapt into my throat. My breath stopped.

‘He’s here. Hunter. He came to finish it.’ But then-“Mia?”

My mother’s voice.

Relief crashed through me so hard my knees went weak. I dragged myself up and opened the door.

My mother Victoria swept in like she owned the place, silk dress brushing the floor, diamonds flashing under the lights. She didn’t even look at me at first. She looked around, lips pressed tight, like the air itself disappointed her.

Finally, her gaze landed on me. Sharp. Cold.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” The sound sliced through me.

“You look pathetic,” she said flatly. “Curled up like a child. Crying over a man who was never yours.”

My lips parted, but no words came.

She stepped closer, heels clicking against the marble floor. Her eyes ran over me like I was dirt. “After all the chances. After all the warnings. And still you couldn’t get him. You wasted years chasing Hunter Reid like a dog after a bone. And now, not only did you fail, you’ve dragged this family into ruin.”

Tears spilled hot down my cheeks. “You don’t understand–I was close, Mom. I was so close. He–he would’ve chosen me if she wasn’t there…..”

Her laugh was sharp, cruel. “Chosen you? He never wanted you. He pitied you. And now he despises you. Can’t you see it?”

I clenched my fists. “No. He loved me. He did. Before she came….”

“Delusions.” Her lip curled. “Your obsession blinded you. I told you to let it go. There were other men- dozens of them. Rich. Powerful. Handsome. But you were too busy crawling after someone who never looked

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Chapter 216

at you the same way.”

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Her words cut, but anger burned hot under the tears. “Don’t talk to me like I’m nothing. I’m a Blackwood. He should’ve been mine.”

“Should have,” she echoed with disdain. “But he isn’t. And because of you, our name is mud, our fortune is bleeding, and your father’s campaign is sinking like a stone.”

My teeth bit into my lip until I tasted blood. “It’s not my fault,” I whispered. “It’s not

my fault.”

Her eyes narrowed, disgust curling her mouth. “Keep telling yourself that, darling. Maybe one day you’ll believe it.”

Then she turned and left, her perfume trailing behind her, leaving me in silence.

I stared at the empty doorway. My chest hurt. My eyes burned. My heart thudded hard and heavy, like it wanted to tear itself out.

Alone. Abandoned. Cornered.

And somewhere out there, Hunter Reid was waiting.

I curled back onto the couch, clutching the necklace I had stolen, the metal digging into my palm. Tears soaked the cushion beneath me.

Over and over, I whispered to myself. “I didn’t push her. She slipped. I didn’t push her…”

But even as the words left my mouth, the walls felt like they were closing in. And for the first time in my life- I knew what it felt like to be hunted.