Involvement.

Adrian had just ended a meeting when his phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen briefly before tossing it back on the table, irritation flickering across his face because it was an unknown number.

It buzzed again.

And again.

“Mr. Cole?” one of the board members called cautiously, noticing his distraction.

Adrian exhaled slowly, leaning back into his chair. “Continue.” But his focus wasn’t there anymore.

The phone buzzed again and this time, something about it felt off so he picked it up.

“Hello?”

“Is this Mr. Adrian Cole?” a calm but urgent voice asked from the other end.

“Yes.”

“This is St. Mary’s Hospital. We’re calling concerning Mr. Sterling”

Adrian sat up instantly, “Ava’s father?” he cut in sharply.

“Yes. He was admitted into the ICU earlier today. His condition was critical, but he has been stabilized for now. We tried reaching you earlier your number was listed as the emergency contact.”

Adrian’s grip on the phone tightened.

“Tried reaching me?”

“Yes, also Miss Ava called multiple times. She said she couldn’t reach you.”

For the first time that day, something unfamiliar crossed Adrian’s face. Not anger or annoyance but something heavier.

“…I see,” he said quietly.

The call ended, but Adrian remained still, the phone pressed against his ear long after the line had gone dead. Then slowly… he lowered it, his expression darkened.

He opened his call log, to see multiple missed calls from Ava.

Ava.

Ava.

Ava.

Missed calls stacked one after the other, his jaw tightened. The staffs took it as their cue to leave and each person stood trying their best not to disturb him but before he could process it further, a soft knock sounded on the door.

It was unanswered but Livia stepped in, heels clicking softly against the polished floor. A subtle smile played on her lips, one that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

“You had a delivery,” she said lightly, placing an envelope on his desk.

Adrian didn’t look at it immediately, his attention was still fixed on his phone.

Then finally, he reached for the envelope, something about Livia’s silence made him pause.

She wasn’t leaving but was watching instead like she knew the content.

Adrian’s fingers slid under the flap as he pulled out the document.

His eyes moved across the page once, then stopped.

[DIVORCE AGREEMENT] was boldly written.

For a brief second, nothing happened. Then Adrian let out a short, hollow laugh.

“…What?”

His eyes scanned it again, slower this time and he noticed her signature was already there.

Neat.

Steady.

Final.

He grabbed his phone immediately, scrolling through his messages. And then he saw it.

A message from Ava.

Unread.

His finger hovered for a split second before opening it;

It seems you have found something good for yourself. I don’t want to ruin it for you. Lauren will send you the divorce papers. I have signed them. Please sign before the end of tomorrow.

Adrian’s vision blurred for a moment, when it cleared, his eyes were no longer calm.

They were red, dangerously red. The phone in his hand trembled slightly before he clenched it tighter.

Slowly… very slowly… he lifted his head and his gaze locked onto Livia.

But she didn’t flinch. Instead, she tilted her head slightly and rolled her eyes, as if his reaction was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Adrian stood up abruptly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor, “Cancel all my appointments,” he said coldly, already grabbing his coat.

Without waiting for her response, he strode out.

The drive home was a blur, he ignored the red lights…broke a lot of traffic rules, horns blared behind him but none of it registered.

Only one thing echoed in his mind.

Divorce.

By the time he arrived, his breathing was uneven. He pushed the door open roughly.

“Ava” But the word died in his throat as he was welcomed with silence.

The house felt wrong, too quiet and too empty.

A slow unease crept in. He moved further inside, his steps quickening.

“Ava?” still nothing.

He walked toward the bedroom, opened the door and froze.

The wardrobe was empty, the dresser, cleared.

Everything that once belonged to her was gone.

For a moment, Adrian just stood there, staring as if his mind refused to process what his eyes were seeing.

Then suddenly, he turned, grabbing his phone. He dialed her number.

Once.

Twice.

Three times and each time the call failed.

His expression darkened. She blocked his number.

A sharp breath escaped him as he ran a hand through his hair roughly.

“What the hell…” he muttered under his breath, his thoughts raced.

Where would she go?

Lauren?

But then, something else followed. The hospital, she had to be there.

Adrian didn’t waste another second.

Few minutes later, he was at the hospital, the corridors smelled of antiseptic and tension. Adrian walked in with long, urgent strides, his presence drawing attention immediately.

“I’m here for Mr. Sterling” he said sharply at the front desk but the nurse hesitated.

“I’m sorry, sir, but visitation is restricted”

“I’m family.” he explained but there was a pause.

Then another nurse stepped forward, her expression more firm.

“You’ve been specifically restricted from access.”

Adrian blinked once.“…What?”

“I’m sorry, sir.”

His jaw clenched. Without another word, he pushed past them, heading straight toward the ICU ward.

“Sir, you can’t!”

He stopped in front of the glass panel as his eyes scanned the room inside there were beeping machines, monitors and a ffrail figure on the bed.

But, no Ava.

His chest tightened.

“Sir, you need to step away” Adrian turned slowly, his patience finally snapping.

“I’m Adrian Cole,” he said, his voice low but dangerous. “Who gave you the authority to deny me access?”

The doctor standing nearby adjusted his glasses slightly before answering. “The order came directly from Damien Cole.”

For a split second, Adrian thought he misheard.

“…What?”

“The instruction was very clear.”the doctor added

Adrian’s brows furrowed deeply, “Damien…” he repeated slowly.

Then his eyes narrowed.

“My uncle?” The word felt strange even as he said it because none of this made sense.

Not the restriction, not the timing and definitely not Damien’s involvement.

Adrian felt something worse than confusion and he didn’t like it.

Not one bit.