Chapter 4

The drive to St. Katherine's Private Hospital took forty minutes through evening traffic, but Adrian barely noticed the time pass. His mind was a reel of broken images — Vivienne's face going white, Sofia's calm, unreadable stillness, the date-stamp on the photograph burning into his memory like a brand.

The date. He'd done the math in the car. That was the week he'd been in Singapore, closing the deal that had made him his first hundred million. He'd been in a boardroom, celebrating with champagne and handshakes, while his wife was being dragged out of their home by a man who worked for the woman he'd soon bring into his bed.

The thought made him sick. He had to pull over once, on the shoulder of the highway, to breathe.

When he finally reached the hospital, the parking garage was nearly empty. He found the maternity wing with the help of a tired-looking nurse who pointed him down a corridor lined with pastel artwork and potted plants. Room 412 was at the end, its door slightly ajar, golden light spilling into the hallway.

Adrian paused at the threshold. Through the gap, he could see Sofia — propped against a pillow, her chestnut hair loose around her shoulders, a hospital gown replacing the slate-blue uniform. Her left cheek was still red, the mark of Vivienne's palm fading but visible. A doctor stood beside her bed, reviewing a tablet, while a woman with curly dark hair and kind, tired eyes sat in the chair beside her.

Elena. Elena Marchetti saw him first. Her expression flickered — surprise, then wariness, then something softer.

"Adrian," she said, rising. "You came."

"Of course I came." He stepped through the door, his eyes fixed on Sofia. "How is she?"

The doctor looked up. "Miss Adler is doing well, all things considered. The baby is healthy — a little small for gestational age, but that's common in cases of—" She paused, choosing her words carefully. "In cases where the mother has been under prolonged stress. We'd like to keep her overnight for observation, and I'd recommend bed rest for the next few weeks."

Adrian nodded, absorbing the words. "Can I—can I talk to her?"

The doctor and Elena exchanged a look. Elena nodded, touching Sofia's shoulder gently.