My Boss's Hidden Heir (Elara and Marcus) novel Chapter 201

hapter 201

Marcus’s POV

The hospital kept Alexander and Catherine for twenty-four hours of observation. Well, technically standard protocol for infants who’d been through trauma, the doctors said. They needed to be monitored for delayed shock, check for injuries that might not be immediately visible, and make sure both babies were eating and sleeping normally.

Marcus didn’t leave their room once.

He sat in the chair between their hospital cribs and watched them sleep, terrified that if he looked away for even a second they’d disappear again. Elara was in the bed beside them, her wrists bandaged and an IV drip rehydrating her after everything she’d been through.

Mimi had shown up within an hour of them arriving at the hospital, still soaking wet from jumping in the river trying to help during the chaos. She’d pulled Elara into a hug so tight that the nurses had to remind her to be gentle with the IV.

“You scared the hell out of me,” Mimi said, crying. “When that boat exploded I thought you were all dead.”

“We’re okay. Somehow we’re all okay.”

Dante arrived shortly after with Richard and Elara’s mother. They crowded into the small hospital room, everyone wanting to see the babies and confirm with their own eyes that the twins had really been found.

Elara’s mother couldn’t stop apologizing. “This is my fault. I should have been more careful, I should have questioned those paramedics—”

“Mom, stop.” Elara reached for her hand. “Julius planned this for months. He would have found another way. This wasn’t your fault.”

But her mother kept crying, kept touching the babies like she couldn’t quite believe they were real.

The doctors ran tests. Blood work, CT scans to check for head injuries, full physical examinations. Marcus stood next to each crib during every procedure, his hand on whichever twin was being examined.

“They’re remarkably resilient,” the pediatrician said after reviewing all the results. “No signs of physical trauma beyond some minor bruising. They’re eating well, their vitals are strong. I’d say you can take them home tomorrow as long as tonight goes smoothly.”

Marcus felt something in his chest unclench slightly. “They’re really okay?”

“They’re really okay, Mr. Thorne. Children are tougher than we give them credit for.”

That night Elara climbed out of her hospital bed and into Marcus’s chair, curling up against him. They sat together watching their babies sleep, neither of them willing to close their eyes.

“I keep seeing her rolling toward the water,” Elara whispered. “Catherine going over that edge. I woke up in a panic thinking I didn’t catch her in time.”

“But you did catch her. You saved both of them.”

Chapta 20

What if I hadn’t What if I’d been one second slower or the boat had turned the wrong way or –

“Stop. We can’t live in what-ifs. They’re here, they’re safe. That’s all that matters.”

Elara was quiet for a long moment. “Julius said something before the boat exploded. About Aurora verding her regards. About bigger branches coming for us.”

“He was trying to scare us. Make us paranoid even after he is gone.”

“What if he wasn’t lying? What if there are other people involved that we don’t know about?”

Marcus had been trying not to think about that. “Detective Rivera is investigating. If there are other conspirators, he’ll find them.”

But even as he said it, Marcus didn’t quite believe it. Julius had been too well-prepared, too confident. Someone with resources had helped him plan this.

The question was who.

Morning came and the doctors cleared both babies for discharge. Nurses brought in car seats and gave Elara instructions for wound care on her wrists. Mimi had gone to the penthouse and brought fresh clothes for everyone.

“The media is camped outside,” Mimi warned. “News vans, reporters, the whole circus. They know about the kidnapping and the explosion.”

“How?” Marcus demanded.

“Someone at the marina must have talked. Or maybe the police. Either way, it’s everywhere. Billionaire’s twins kidnapped by ex’s brother. Boat explosion on the Hudson. It’s all anyone’s talking about.”

Marcus felt rage building again. His children had been through hell and now their trauma was going to be entertainment for strangers.

“We’ll use the back exit,” Dante said. “I already arranged security to clear a path to the car.”

They bundled the twins in blankets and moved quickly through the hospital corridors. Even with security blocking the way, Marcus could see reporters trying to push through, shouting questions.

“Mr. Thorne, how does it feel to have your children back?”

“Mrs. Thorne, were you injured during the rescue?”

“Is it true Julius Wellington is still alive?”

Marcus ignored all of it, focusing only on getting his family to the car safely.

The drive home felt surreal. Manhattan looked exactly the same as it had two days ago but Marcus felt like he’d been gone for years. Every building, every street corner reminded him of searching desperately for his children with no idea if he’d ever see them again.

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