The Billionaire's Missing Wife

A woman wrapped in thick layers of bandages and a sore body woke up after weeks in a coma. She heard the cries of a baby on the side and the sound of a man calling on to the medical staff to enter.

"She's awake! My fiancee, she's awake!" He called out.

"Heather!" He cried but the woman lying on the bed couldn't hear his words clearly. "Claire?" He tried once again.

She closed her eyes once more feeling disoriented. She couldn't remember anything, she didn't know who the man was and she couldn't recognize her surroundings.

When she woke up for the second time a team of doctors was in her ward explaining what had happened.

"You were in an accident and experienced a stroke that caused memory loss during labor. We are not sure how long before you can regain your memories." The man in a white coat and thick glasses explained with a CT scan of her brain.

Once they left the woman was puzzled and clueless. She didn't know who the people in her room were but she knew she needed to trust them.

"Don't think too much sweetheart. You'll get your memories back." Marcus said as he pour a glass of warm water for her.

"What's my name?"

"Your name is Claire, 26 and I'm Marcus Smith your fiance." Claire's eyes landed on the baby in an acrylic crib on the side who was quietly speaking.

"That is our baby boy. I wanted to wait for you to wake up before we name him. Do you want to see him?" She paused for a while and only stared blankly at the baby before she nodded a little signaling Marcus to carry the baby in his arms. He then handed her the tiny human who was peacefully awake, his head covered with a baby blue knitted bonnet.

"He's beautiful," Claire whispered. He had the most beautiful set of blue eyes, far from the brown eyes the man who claimed as his father has.

She may not remember the time she was pregnant with him but she already knows she loves him. What brings her doubt is that she doesn't know if she should trust Marcus or not.

**********

Sitting down on her stool, Heather Presley stared at the white canvas waiting for it to paint itself. Her mind swirled around thinking about her loveless marriage with her husband Sebastian Hale. She wasn't like this before as she always focused on doing her commissioned work.

Ever since she was a teenager, her paintings were already selling thousands to millions of dollars, she was a protege. Bright, rich, and beautiful. Women her age envied her lavish life, while bachelor's flew from around the world to ask for her hand in marriage. But she only had her heart for Sebastian who eventually became her husband.

As much as she wished for things to be better and for him to be able to accept her, he was never able to bring himself to.

"Earth to Heather!" A tall handsome man with curly brown hair and a thick Latino accent called onto her snapping her out of her trance.

"Oh, Fabio do you need anything?" Heather said mindlessly. Fabio is a sculptor and instructor in Presley Art Studio and holds sculpting classes there as well. He works closely with Heather, who owns the studio located in Hale Industries headquarters.

He stared into her sickly face worriedly asking, "You look quite pale, are you sure you're good to work today?" Heather moved back a little when he brushed her face with his rough hands.

"It's nothing!" She brushed off, "I haven't been able to sleep well lately. A good night's rest would cure this up." It was the truth as she wasn't able to sleep last night, racking her brains about her impending divorce from Sebastian Hale.

Last night when she got home a little early, she decided to tidy up Sebastian's study where she saw the draft of the divorce papers. Her heart was crushed to pieces but she didn't cry as she had expected it all the while. 'He's never going to love me,' she said to herself and she prepared herself. But no amount of preparation can actually ease the pain and disappointment she was feeling.

Not feeling quite well, she felt the need to throw up and ran straight to the bathroom where she bawled her stomach out. After a few minutes, she settled down on the ground feeling the vibration of her phone in her pockets.

'A new cycle is about to start, don't forget to log your period'

Her brows frowned realizing the possibility but decided to throw it under the rug.

"That's impossible, Sebastian and I only did it once." She said to herself. She stood up rejecting the idea and concluded that her period may be coming soon, but her body has been sending her different signals throughout the day and caused her to topple a little, luckily she quickly caught her footing.

After that, she went back to her seat and started mixing the colors for her painting. Suppressing her dizziness she went about her day normally until it was time to get off.

Driving herself home, though hesitant she dropped by at a nearby pharmacy to buy some testing kits just to ease her anxiety.

'I can't be pregnant' she whispered to herself multiple times over until she reached the mansion she shares with Sebastian and parked her Jeep in the garage.

As expected, Sebastian wasn't home yet. They didn't have any stay-in housekeepers or cooks so she had to make supper for herself. She found a few packs of pasta and picked out a fresh tomato from the garden. There weren't many stocks in the house as the couple merely do the groceries or take their meals together. They mostly see each other when it was time to sleep.

After dinner, she cleaned up and went straight to her room. After doing her skincare, she opened the packet and laid down the contents on the counter.

As it was her first time she read over the directions before doing the test. She paced back and forth waiting for a good 3 minutes before the results popped out.

"Sh*t"

She muttered her heart dropping. She was in the middle of her 20's so it was a perfect time for her to get pregnant. But knowing that the father of her child plans to leave her is what aches her heart.

'He'll never learn to love me, what makes me think he'll ever love this child. He'll probably force me to abort the child for Sylvia, on second thought what if he realizes that we may have a chance?'

Racking her brains out she stared aimlessly in the ceiling when suddenly her phone rang, the called ID showed 'Hubby'

She sat up to answer the call.

"Hello? Are you coming home?" She asked. But instead of a deep icy voice, she was answered by the sweet innocent voice of Sylvia.

"Sebastian will be coming home really late tonight. He's just in the shower right now and told me to tell you not to wait for him." She mockingly said with a smirk.

"Oh. Okay. Tell him I don't care if he doesn't come home at all." She said nonchalantly, pretending that none of Sylvia's remarks hurt her. Before the caller could reply she dropped the call and slumped back down her bed.

She couldn't bring herself to cry as she had expected this all this time.

Her marriage to Sebastian Hale was arranged and love was never present in the relationship.

Sebastian has always been in love with Sylvia Sterling but his father forbade him from marrying her after she was involved in a cheating scandal with his secretary. Hence, Simon Hale arranged for him to be married to the young granddaughter of Alaric Presley who had just returned from overseas.

Her presence in his life was unnecessary but was needed in order for him to be appointed as CEO of the company.

Feeling disappointed and heartbroken, she headed to the closet to pack her all clothes. Her plan was to take her kid far away after agreeing to divorce Sebastian. She will not ask for support and would try to live a discreet life; even though that was impossible for the heiress of a mining company.

After almost an hour of sloppily packing her clothes, she fished out her phone and dialed an overseas call.

"Hello," the voice of the receiver sounded hoarse as if he had only woken up.

"Nathaniel, I..." she couldn't form the words and started to cry her eyes out.

"Have you finally given up? When are you coming home?" Nathaniel asked. He was never in favor of this union as he knew that Sebastian had a bad reputation with women.

She paused thinking about what to tell him. "I'll settle things here first. After that, I promise I'll book my tickets back."

"You don't have to take long, I can come there and settle things for you. You see where your stubbornness took you. It's been two years, the time boppy gave you is up and you still haven't managed to get him to fall in love with you!" Nathaniel scolded his little sister a little harshly that she was stunned and couldn't bring to tell him that she was already pregnant for her husband.

"I know. I'm sorry I didn't listen." After a few chats, the sound of an engine going off made her drop the call. She didn't want to meet Sebastian before he left but the sound of consecutive doorbells irritated her hence, she didn't have a choice but to answer and open the door. 'Uh! Has he forgotten the passcode or his fingerprint!'

"Is the house that big? Your husband is very drunk and needs to rest." The complaints of John Clifford, his best friend rang through her ears. She let him in, slumping Sebastian on the white cloud couch.

"Thank you for driving him back. Stay safe on the road." John slightly nodded and seemed to be a little tired and so he quickly left.

Heather then turned to her very drunk and disheveled husband who was dead on the couch. She contemplated whether to let him stay there or carry him up.

'Guess it would be better to part on good terms.'

She then tried to wake Sebastian up.

"Sebastian!" She called out, "You need to get up, it's late." her efforts were in vain as he only cocked his eyebrows and didn't move a muscle.

"5 more minutes." He replied before turning his back away.

"Sebastian, stop acting like a child let's go. Or I'll leave you here in the cold!" Her tone was angrier than she already was.

"Okay. I need to go home now. Heather is all alone at home. She can't sleep when I'm not around."

'Seriously how drunk is he?' Heather was surprised when she heard him say that as he never really regarded her as his wife and has never even shown him he cared for her.

From her point of view, his gentleness was only reserved for Sylvia.

"Sebastian, you're already home. Look at me. I'm Heather." She said cupping both the man's cheeks. He lazily opened his eyes and was stunned to see his wife's face close to him.

"Miss I'm sorry but I'm married!" He took his phone out and showed Heather their wedding photos. "See! This angel here is my wife," he babbled even showing off his wedding ring.

Heather didn't know how to feel. An hour ago she was packing her bags to leave him, and now she's blushing over this man's drunken words. "Okay, okay! I'll take you back to your wife."

He then leaned on to Heather and allowed her to carry him upstairs. She panted as she was carrying a 192cm man with her 174cm pregnant body back to his room.

"Sebastian, you need a change of clothes!" She then helped him change into a new set of pajamas and wiped his body down with a towel.

When she got back from the bathroom, Sebastian was already far into dreamland. Exhausted she decided to go to bed.

She closed the lights and dipped into her side of the bed. She was about to sleep when she felt her husband's strong arms wrapped around her waist and settling his one hand on her tummy.

"Jack take me home. Heather might have not eaten her supper again." He whispered in his sleep. Heather turned her body to face him and watch his sharp features under the moonlight.

"But you're already home." She chuckled looking at him adoringly.

"You again? Didn't I tell you that I'm married! My wife is at home waiting." Sebastian argued but still with his eyes close.

"But I am your wife, I'm Heather." She said playfully getting entertained by him.

"My wife is prettier." Heather was dumbfounded and hit Sebastian on the shoulder.

"Sebastian stop acting like a child okay. It's me!" On a normal day, Sebastian wouldn't even acknowledge her presence in the house and would be busy away in his study. They only had one-liner conversations in the past.

It was new to her since she was used to getting all the attention to herself, however, Sebastian was never smitten by her charms until tonight.

"Hello wifey! Haven't I told you how beautiful you are?" Heather couldn't help but grin. This was the first time Sebastian ever complimented her. As she was pregnant she fell asleep soon enough.

When she woke up, Sebastian had his limbs wrapped around her body. His head resting on the crook of her neck rendering her immobile.

She tried moving but Sebastian's weight pinned her down to the bed. Aside from that pregnancy was making her tired faster than before.

"Sebastian!" She called out, wiggling away from his embrace. Fortunately, he let go easily.

Not wanting to get caught up in an awkward state once he fully wakes up, Heather quickly made her way downstairs to make breakfast.

She was in the middle of making herself some pancakes when the doorbell rang. She peeked at the monitor to check who it is and to her surprise, it was Sylvia all flamboyantly clad in a luxury branded outfit. Her blonde hair was tied up in a neat bun, her baby hairs were gelled perfectly.

"Ms. Sterling, do you need anything?" She asked upon opening the door for her. Sylvia casually barged in and went straight to the kitchen as if it was her own house. She removed her white round glasses and blinked her lash extended blue eyes like a little doe.

"Sebby is probably hangover last night. He did have a lot of fun, so I'm here to help him cure it. You wouldn't mind do you, Heather?" She then unloaded her bags and started whipping up a meal acting like it was her kitchen. Not even giving room for Heather to reply.

"Of course, I mind, Ms. Sterling it's very rude to randomly invite yourself into other people's homes." She said feeling annoyed with her arms crossed around her chest.

"Ms. Presley, I'm only here to help Sebastian. Plus it's his home. He clearly told me that I'm perfectly welcome in his house. Well if it weren't for you all this would probably have been mine," Sylvia joked.

Heather let her be. She was indeed planning to leave the house today and would eventually be replaced by Sylvia anyways.

As she was hungry she took one of the two sets of pancakes she made for her and her husband to the breakfast nook and ate quietly while reading the news.

After a while sounds of footsteps were heard coming down. The haughty well-built physique of Sebastian Hale graced the morning. His black hair was slightly disheveled giving him a reckless youthful look.

"Goodmorning Sebby!" Sylvia greeted loudly as the banging of the pots disrupted the peaceful morning.

Slightly surprised Sebastian jumped back feeling annoyed by the loud noise in the kitchen, "What are you doing here?" He asked with a frown.

"Well, you got yourself drunk last night so I thought I'd make you some breakfast. Here open up!" She then popped a piece of strawberry in his mouth.

Heather acted like she didn't mind and munched on her food silently listening to the two's exchanges. After a while they sat down on the breakfast nook, Sylvia sitting opposite Heather.

"Here try it!" Feeding Sebastian a mouthful. He couldn't do anything so he munched away.

"It's.... fine." He complimented but the look on his face said the opposite and he eyed Heather who was trying to suppress her laughter.

"Ms. Presley! You should really try some. Here I'll give you a slice." She then placed a piece of the french toast she made. Not wanting to offend her on the dining table, Heather took a bite.

Her taste buds fluttered in disapproval and she felt the urge to vomit it out but she suppressed and swallowed. She smiled hiding the fact that it was horrible.

"Sebby, I had so much fun last night, you were really wild." Sylvia shamelessly said as her hands trailed down Sebastian's neck. Heather on the other hand had her grip tightened to her fork. "It was such a shame you weren't around to witness the fun we had last night Ms. Presley. I'll make sure to send you photos and videos next time."

Anger was building up in Heather's body, she started hyperventilating. "Sebastian please ask your woman to leave." She pleaded.

"Heather!" He roared.

"Sebastian, I'm telling you one last time. She's driving me insane and I don't know what I could do to her if she keeps this up." She added.

"I'm not leaving. If there's someone who needs to leave it should be you!" Sylvia said through gritted teeth.

Heather's gaze didn't break off Sebastian's and they both stared at each other not wanting to give up."Mr. Hale, I won't be here tomorrow, the least you can do is give me one last peaceful morning in this house."

Throughout the two years of their marriage, she always kept mum and turned a deaf ear to Sylvia knowing that the latter has got nothing on her.

But today her hormones were raging her up, "Just tell me Ms. Sterling if you want to be my husband's concubine so I can sell my half in this house to you. You can even proceed with your nuptials once we've filed for divorce very very soon."