Chapter five: The Woman From His Past

For a brief moment, no one moved. The rain continued to fall, soft and steady, dampening the marble steps of St. Matthew's Hospital, but the tension between the three of them was enough to make the air feel heavy. Ava slowly withdrew her hand from Adrian's.

She hadn't even realized they were still holding hands until the woman pointed it out with her eyes. So this was Sophia.

The woman every newspaper had once called the future Mrs. Kingsley.

She was undeniably beautiful. Elegant without trying, poised in a way that suggested she belonged in rooms filled with billionaires and politicians. She carried herself with effortless confidence, and judging from the way she looked at Adrian, she wasn't expecting a warm welcome.

She was expecting answers.

Sophia's gaze lingered on Ava for a few seconds before she smiled politely.

"You must be the famous bride."

The words sounded pleasant enough, yet Ava sensed the hidden edge beneath them.

She straightened her shoulders and returned the smile.

"And you must be Sophia."

"I see you've heard of me."

"A little."

Sophia laughed softly.

"I'd be surprised if you hadn't."

She shifted her attention back to Adrian, her smile fading into something more serious.

"I've been calling you since yesterday."

"My phone was off during the board meeting."

"And afterward?"

"I was busy."

Sophia glanced at Ava again.

"I can see that."

Silence settled between them.

Ava suddenly felt like an intruder in a conversation she had no right to interrupt.

She cleared her throat softly.

"I'll wait inside."

Before either of them could respond, she turned and walked toward the hospital entrance.

She hadn't taken more than a few steps when Adrian's voice stopped her. "Ava." She looked back.

"I won't be long."

She forced a small smile.

"Take your time."

Then she disappeared through the revolving doors.

Adrian watched her leave before turning back to Sophia.

"You shouldn't have come."

Sophia folded her arms.

"I flew fourteen hours because I thought we deserved a conversation."

"We already had one."

"No."

Her eyes searched his face.

"You ended our engagement with a letter."

"I deserved more than that."

Adrian remained silent.

His silence only frustrated her further.

"For two years," she continued, "I convinced myself you needed space. I thought if I gave you enough time, you'd call."

She laughed bitterly.

"Instead, I land this morning and discover you've found yourself a wife."

"It isn't what you think."

Sophia's eyebrows rose.

"Oh?"

"So you're not getting married?"

He hesitated.

"I am."

That single word stole the color from her face.

She stared at him as though waiting for him to admit it was a joke.

When he didn't, she let out a slow breath.

"You've known her for... what?"

"A day?"

Adrian didn't answer.

"You always said marriage wasn't something to rush."

"It isn't."

"So explain this."

"I can't."

Her expression hardened.

"No..."

"You won't."

She took a step closer.

"I know you, Adrian."

"You don't make emotional decisions."

"You calculate everything."

"So tell me..."

She lowered her voice.

"...what is this woman really to you?"

For the first time, Adrian looked away.

He couldn't answer honestly.

Because he didn't know the answer himself.

Inside the hospital, Ava stood near the large windows overlooking the city.

She hugged Adrian's jacket around herself, watching the rain blur the skyline.

She should have felt relieved.

After all, Adrian had never hidden the fact that he'd been engaged before.

So why did seeing Sophia make her chest tighten?

She shook her head.

Don't be ridiculous, Ava.

You've known him for less than two hours.

A nurse approached her with a warm smile.

"Mrs. Kingsley?"

Ava blinked.

"Oh..."

"I'm not—"

The nurse smiled knowingly.

"Mr. Kingsley's grandfather has been asking for you."

Ava hesitated.

"I'm coming."

As she followed the nurse down the hallway, she couldn't ignore the strange feeling growing inside her.

Only this morning, she had imagined becoming Mrs. Daniel Brooks.

Now complete strangers were calling her Mrs. Kingsley.

Life had changed so quickly that she barely recognized it.

The nurse stopped outside a private VIP suite.

"He's inside."

Ava took a deep breath before gently knocking.

"Come in."

The elderly man's voice was weak but cheerful.

She pushed the door open.

The moment he saw her, his tired face lit up with the brightest smile.

"There you are."

"I was beginning to think my grandson had scared you away."

Ava laughed softly.

"He almost did."

The old man chuckled before motioning for her to sit beside him.

"Come."

"I want to talk to you."

She pulled a chair closer to the bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"Old."

She smiled.

"I don't think that's a medical diagnosis."

"No?"

"It feels like one."

They both laughed.

After a moment, his smile faded into something gentler.

"My grandson..."

"...hasn't smiled like he did today in a very long time."

Ava's heart skipped.

"He smiled?"

"Oh, dear."

The old man grinned.

"You didn't notice?"

She hadn't.

Or perhaps she had...

She just hadn't realized how rare it was.

"He carries the weight of this family on his shoulders," the old man continued quietly.

"Ever since his parents died, he's believed it's his responsibility to protect everyone."

"And who protects him?"

The question escaped Ava before she could stop herself.

The old man looked at her with kind eyes.

"That's exactly what I've been praying for."

Before Ava could reply, the hospital room door opened.

Adrian stepped inside.

His expression was calm again, giving no hint of the conversation he'd just had with Sophia.

"Grandfather."

The old man looked between Adrian and Ava.

Then a mischievous smile spread across his face.

"I've decided something."

Adrian sighed.

"Should I be worried?"

"Probably."

He reached beneath his pillow and removed a small velvet box.

Adrian's eyes widened.

"Grandfather..."

The old man ignored him.

Instead, he held the box out to Ava.

"My wife gave this to me on our wedding day."

"I always planned to pass it on to Adrian's bride."

Ava froze.

"I... I can't accept this."

"You can."

"No."

She looked helplessly at Adrian.

"This is a family heirloom."

Before Adrian could answer, his grandfather opened the box himself.

Inside lay an exquisite antique diamond ring, its center stone surrounded by delicate sapphires that caught the afternoon light.

"It has belonged to the Kingsley family for four generations," he said softly.

"And today..."

His eyes rested lovingly on Ava.

"...I'd like it to belong to you."

Ava's breath caught.

She instinctively looked at Adrian, silently asking him what to do.

Their eyes met.

Neither of them noticed the figure standing just outside the slightly open door.

Sophia.

She had heard every single word.

Her fingers curled tightly into her handbag as jealousy flashed across her face.

Under her breath, she whispered,

"No..."

"I won't lose him to a stranger." Never