The Billionaire’s Secret Heirs (Celine and Hunter) novel Chapter 221

Chapter 221

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Chapter 221

-CELINE’S POV-

The quietness in the hospital room was deafening.

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I lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the steady beep of the monitor fill the empty space. For days I had pushed everyone away.

Even Caesar. My own son.

The guilt of that alone should’ve drowned me, but I couldn’t bear to let him see me like this…fragile, broken, unable to smile. And Hunter… I hadn’t let him close either.

But tonight, my chest ached with a different kind of need.

I wanted him here.

I needed him here.

“Sally,” I whispered, my voice hoarse from hours of silence. “Can you… can you find Hunter for me?”

The old woman’s eyes softened. She patted my hand gently, then slipped out. And I waited. My fingers curled in the sheets, my body tense with a mixture of dread and anticipation.

The door opened.

Hunter stepped in.

My breath caught at the sight of him. His hair was unruly, his jaw dark with stubble. His shirt sleeve hung were half way unbuttoned, shirt was wrinkled.

He looked nothing like the man who commanded boardrooms, who graced magazine covers, who carried power like a second skin.

This man looked haunted.

For a long moment, neither of us spoke. He just stood there, his gaze locked on me like he wasn’t sure I was

real.

“I asked for you,” I finally said, breaking the silence.

Something flashed in his eyes. Relief, maybe. He crossed the room slowly, as though afraid I’d change my mind. When he reached my bedside, he sat on the edge, close enough that his warmth reached me.

“I’m here,” he murmured. His voice was rough, low. “I’ll always be here.”

My throat tightened. I wanted to believe that, God, I wanted to.

“Hunter,” I whispered, my fingers twitching against the sheets. “I don’t want grief to ruin us.”

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Chapter 221

His head snapped toward me, eyes sharp, almost desperate.

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“But I don’t know…” My voice cracked. “I don’t know if I can ever forget. Or forgive. Not you. Not Mia. Not what happened.”

I saw the way his body stiffened, the pain that carved deeper lines into his face.

He didn’t argue. He didn’t beg. He just nodded once, slowly, like he’d already prepared for this answer.

“I won’t ask you to forgive me,” he said quietly. “Or her. Not now. Maybe not ever. All I ask…” His hand hovered over mine, hesitant, then finally rested against my fingers. Warm, trembling. “…is time. Let us heal together. One step at a time.”

My lips parted, my chest aching with a thousand unsaid words.

“I don’t even recognize myself anymore,” I whispered.

He gave a faint, broken laugh. “You think you don’t recognize yourself? Look at me. Haven’t shaved in days. Barely eaten. I look like hell, don’t I?”

I blinked at him, then let out a weak, watery laugh. “You really do. You look like… like some billionaire who got kicked out of his mansion and decided to sleep on a park bench.”

The sound that left him was almost a laugh. Almost. His hand squeezed mine.

And then the tears came. I tried to hold them back, but the dam broke, and I sobbed–loud, ugly, heartbreaking sobs that shook my entire body.

Hunter leaned forward, gathering me in his arms. His embrace was tight, desperate, like he was afraid I’d vanish if he let go.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered into my hair. “I’m sorry, Celine. For everything.”

I buried my face in his chest, my fists gripping his shirt. “I wanted her so much. Our baby. I wanted her.”

“I know,” he murmured, his own voice breaking. “I wanted her too. More than anything. But you’re here. You’re still here. And I can’t lose you too.”

His lips pressed against my temple, tender, lingering. Then, almost hesitantly, he kissed me. Soft, reverent, full of aching love.

When we pulled apart, both of us were shaking.

“I spoke with the doctor,” Hunter said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “He suggested… couple’s counseling. To help us through this.”

I blinked at him, surprised. The idea of Hunter Reid–the most stubborn man alive–agreeing to therapy almost made me laugh again.

“You?” I asked, arching a brow through my tears. “Couple’s counseling? What, are you going to sit in a circle and talk about your feelings, Mr. Billionaire?”

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Chapter 221

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He gave me a half–smile. “If that’s what it takes to keep you… I’ll do it.”

My heart squeezed. I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. But I let my head rest against his shoulder. For now, that was enough.

He breathed out, his arms tightening around me. Then his lips brushed my ear. “You have guests.”

I frowned, lifting my head. “Guests?”

As if on cue, the door creaked open. Caroline’s voice rang out first, bright and teasing. “Is it safe to enter, or are we interrupting some tragic love scene?”

I laughed a genuine laugh this time, watery but real. “Come in.”

Caroline practically sprinted to my bedside, dropping her handbag and wrapping me in a careful but fierce hug. “Oh my God, I’ve missed you. Are you okay? No, stupid question–you’re not okay. But I’m here. And Frederick too.”

Her husband gave a gentle smile from the doorway, lifting a small gift bag in greeting. “She made me cut our honeymoon short. Said her best friend needed her more than Santorini sunsets.”

I grinned through my tears. “I’m sorry…..”

“Don’t you dare apologize,” Caroline cut in. “You’re worth more than a thousand honeymoons.”

Behind them, Clancey and Vincent appeared, followed by Blake. The room suddenly felt warmer, brighter.

“Look at you,” I said, pointing weakly at Blake. “What are you doing here? What about work?”

“Apparently my boss decided i needed the off and I love being dragged into your circus,” she teased, sliding into a chair.

Vincent smirked. “Circus is accurate. Especially considering Blake and I…”

Hunter groaned. “Don’t.”

“What?” Caroline gasped, eyes widening. “You two?”

Blake crossed her arms, rolling her eyes. “Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

“Too late,” Caroline giggled. “Oh my God, finally! I thought he might die single”

Even Frederick chuckled, shaking his head. Hunter muttered something about his friend being insane. For the first time in what felt like forever, I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

The sound startled me, but it felt good. Healing.

Then I asked, “Where’s Caesar?”

The room quieted slightly. Hunter reached for my hand again. “Sally took him home earlier, but she’s bringing him here soon. He misses you.”

10:05 Fri, Sep 19

Chapter 221

My chest ached. My sweet boy. I nodded, blinking back tears. “I miss him too.”

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And for the first time in days, I felt a fragile spark of hope. Surrounded by love, held by Hunter’s steady presence, I thought maybe….just maybe…..we could survive this.

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