CEO loves me with all his soul.
Chapter 40. The Sebanil Family

Chapter 40: 40. The Sebanil Family

Adrian stood in the doorway, gazing at the beautiful array of painting tools laid out before him. His heart skipped a beat. He had never seen so many brushes, colors, and canvases, all meticulously arranged. It felt like a dream, and for a moment, he was speechless. The soft evening sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the room, making the colors appear even more vibrant.

Ethan, standing beside him, watched Adrian’s expression with an excited smile. He had planned this surprise for weeks, hoping it would make Adrian feel more at home and give him something to focus on during the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy. He knew how much painting meant to Adrian, and seeing the happiness on his face now was worth every effort.

Adrian turned to Ethan, eyes wide with disbelief. "Did you... Did you do this?" he asked, his voice a little shaky with emotion.

Ethan chuckled softly. "Of course, I did," he replied, stepping closer and wrapping an arm around Adrian’s waist. "Now that I’m your husband, it’s my job to make sure you’re happy—every single day."

Adrian blushed slightly, leaning into Ethan’s embrace. He tilted his head up and gave Ethan a soft, grateful kiss on the lips, surprising him. "This is the best gift I’ve ever received," Adrian whispered against Ethan’s lips. "No one has ever done something like this for me."

Ethan’s eyes softened, and he caressed Adrian’s cheek. "Well, get used to it, my love. I’m going to spoil you every day from now on."

Adrian couldn’t help but laugh, his heart swelling with warmth. He playfully poked Ethan’s chest. "Spoiling me, huh? Is that why you burnt the eggs this morning?"

Ethan groaned dramatically. "Hey, I’m trying! Cooking is hard, okay? I’m better at buying things and... looking pretty."

Adrian giggled, pulling Ethan into a tighter hug. "Well, you definitely succeed at looking pretty."

The two of them laughed together, basking in the lighthearted moment. The heavy burdens of the past few weeks seemed to melt away, replaced by warmth, love, and a little bit of teasing.

Later that evening, the couple sat on the couch, munching on snacks while watching the news. The day had gone perfectly so far, and the tranquility of the evening felt like a balm to their souls. Adrian leaned against Ethan, who absentmindedly played with Adrian’s hair, the soft murmur of the TV in the background.

Suddenly, the news anchor’s voice caught their attention. "Breaking news: A blast has occurred in a laboratory abroad, and several senior researchers are currently missing. Among them is Yuin Sebanil, the son of the Sebanil family, the richest family in the country and the third richest in the world."

Adrian’s body stiffened. He suddenly felt a wave of discomfort wash over him, followed by a sharp nausea. His stomach churned violently, and before he could even react, the unmistakable feeling of pregnancy retching took over. He quickly covered his mouth, his face turning pale.

Ethan, noticing the change in Adrian, panicked. "Adrian?! What’s wrong?" he asked, quickly helping him sit up and grabbing a nearby towel.

Adrian took a deep breath, trying to fight the overwhelming nausea. "I—I don’t know," he muttered, clutching his stomach. "It just... suddenly happened."

Without missing a beat, Ethan grabbed his phone and immediately called Lucas, his best friend and private doctor. "Lucas, it’s happening again! Adrian’s feeling sick—should I take him to the hospital?"

Lucas’s calm voice came through the phone. "Relax, Ethan. It’s just early pregnancy symptoms. This kind of nausea is common, especially when the mother is under stress. But from what you’ve told me, Adrian is doing a lot better than he was a week ago. Just make sure he rests and stays hydrated. I’ll come by tomorrow to check on him."

Ethan let out a relieved breath, though his worry was still evident in his eyes. "Okay... thank you, Lucas. I’ll take care of him."

After hanging up, Ethan turned back to Adrian, who was still looking pale but managed to offer a small smile. "I’m fine," Adrian reassured him, though his voice was weak. "It’s just the baby being... dramatic."

Ethan knelt beside Adrian, brushing a hand over his hair. "You and our little one really like to scare me, don’t you?"

Adrian chuckled softly, leaning into Ethan’s touch. "Sorry. We’ll try to behave from now on."

Far away, in a grand estate known to the world as the seat of power for the Sebanil family, chaos reigned.

Jesper Xain, the male wife of Cain Sebanil, had collapsed upon hearing the news of his son, Yuin, going missing after the blast at the lab. His frail body lay unconscious in a lavish bedroom, surrounded by doctors and nurses rushing to stabilize him.

Cain, the patriarch of the Sebanil family, stood by the bedside, his usually stoic face twisted with panic and grief. "Do something!" he barked at the doctors. "Get him to wake up!"

One of the doctors approached Cain carefully, his expression grim. "Mr. Sebanil, we’re doing everything we can. But the stress of everything that has happened—the loss of your fifth son, the coma of your daughter, and now this... it’s taking a heavy toll on him."

Cain clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. The family had already endured so much. Their fifth son, the most beloved of them all, had disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Their daughter, the fourth child, had been in a coma for three long years. And now, their third son, Yuin, was missing after the explosion.

But there was more—something darker and more hidden. Years ago, Jesper had given birth to five children, but the second son had been exchanged at birth. No one knew where the real second son of the Sebanil family was. And now, the pieces of this twisted puzzle were starting to unravel.

Jesper had been the rock of the family, but now, with his collapse, Cain felt the foundation of their empire crumbling.

One of the doctors moved closer to Jesper’s bedside, placing a cool cloth on his forehead. Jesper stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open for just a moment before closing again. "Cain..." he whispered weakly.

Cain rushed to his side, holding Jesper’s hand. "I’m here. I’m right here."

Jesper’s voice was barely audible, but the words that escaped his lips were chilling. "Our sons... Find them. Before it’s too late."

Cain’s heart dropped, a sinking feeling of dread washing over him. There was something about Jesper’s words that felt like a warning—one that he could not afford to ignore.

Back in Ethan and Adrian’s home, the tension from the news lingered in the air, though Adrian was resting peacefully once again. Ethan couldn’t shake the feeling of unease. He sat beside Adrian on the bed, watching him sleep, his hand resting protectively over Adrian’s growing belly.

In the soft glow of the bedside lamp, Ethan whispered to himself, "I’ll protect you both. No matter what."

Outside the bedroom, Augustin was hard at work on his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he hacked into various networks, searching for clues about the Sebanil family and the mysterious blast. Leclair rolled into the room in his wheelchair, watching his husband with a knowing look.

"Anything?" Leclair asked.

Augustin glanced up briefly, shaking his head. "Not yet. But there’s something... strange. The Sebanil family is far more connected than we thought. And it seems like the blast might have been a cover-up for something bigger."

Leclair sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We need to keep digging. If the Sebanils are involved, we might be looking at a much larger conspiracy than we anticipated."

Augustin nodded, determination in his eyes. "Don’t worry. I’ll find out the truth."