Chapter 6 – You Owe Her an Apology

Within hours after Sabrina’s release, Adrian and Daniella lay tangled in the sheets of their master suite, resting after the intimacy they had shared. The room carried the faint scent of perfume and sweat.

They were physically exhausted from their earlier intimacy, drifting in and out of sleep, when Adrian’s phone shattered the silence. He groaned and reached for it lazily, squinting at the screen. The caller ID showed the number of the immunology research division at Kane Biomedical, he immediately sat up before answering.

“Yes?” he answered, his voice thick with irritation.

“Sir,” the lab technician began, his voice unsteady, “There’s a problem. We’ve lost all the immunological samples Dr. Vale perfected and cryopreserved.”

Adrian’s brow furrowed as he pushed himself upright against the headboard. “Explain.”

“She destroyed them herself before she was arrested. Every vial, every culture, the entire biorepository.”

For a moment Adrian said nothing. The wind outside rattled the window panes, and the quiet in the room felt heavy.

“That serves her right,” Adrian thought to himself before saying it aloud over the phone. “Now I have more reasons to hold her longer.”

There was a brief silence before the technician spoke again. “Sir… have you not heard? She was released a few hours ago.”

Adrian’s face burned red instantly, he sat upright fully now, the sheets sliding off his torso. “What? Who authorized that? I spoke directly to the Chief of Police,” he said with authority and disbelief.

“Well, that is what they are saying here. Marla confirmed it through one of her friends,” the technician replied.

Adrian ended the call abruptly, refusing to believe what he had just heard. He dialed the Chief of Police without hesitation. The line connected almost at once.

“What is this that I am hearing?” Adrian demanded loudly. “Why was Sabrina Vale released?”

“Mr. Adrian,” the chief of police replied evenly, “I don’t know who you’re in dispute with, but the order came from the President himself. As Commander-in-Chief, I can’t override it.”

“You must be joking,” Adrian snapped. “How much did she pay you?” Adrian fumed. He was convinced that Sabrina or Marla had bribed someone in authority. “Look, whatever it was, I will double it,” he added quickly, his anger rising. “No, I will triple it.”

“Mr. Adrian, you are not listening. The President issued the directives. It’s beyond my jurisdiction,” the Chief said angrily before the line went dead.

Adrian stared at his phone in disbelief. His jaw tightening. He hung up on me?

 His thoughts spiraled quickly, Sabrina had influence, yes, but so did he. He couldn’t believe that Sabrina had slipped out of his grip within hours of her arrest. He knew her connections, and he had always believed that everyone she knew, he also knew. Who could outrank him? Who could pull strings that high without his knowledge?

He called Marla.

When she saw his name on the screen, she showed it to Sabrina, who was seated beside her. Sabrina’s expression changed but she remained calm.

“Answer,” she said quietly. “And put it on speaker.”

Marla complied. Adrian’s voice exploded through the speaker. “Where are you, Marla?”

She frowned. “Excuse you!” Marla said sarcastically. “I do not work for you anymore. Where I am is none of your business.”

Adrian took a breath. “Did you have anything to do with Sabrina’s release?”

Marla laughed but Sabrina maintained her straight face. “The news reached you late. And no, unfortunately for you, I had nothing to do with it. But yes, she’s free. I told you before, Mr. Adrian, the world doesn’t revolve around you.”

“Shut up. I signed your checks” Adrian snapped.

“That was before, Sir–,” Marla began, but Adrian cut her off.

“If I find out that you had anything to do with this, you will regret it.” Sabrina gently took the phone from Marla.

“Hello, Adrian.”

Adrian froze at the sound of her voice.

“Marla had nothing to do with it. She works for me now, and if you have any concerns, take them up with the President.”

She ended the call before he could respond.

Back in the bedroom, Daniella stirred beside him and blinked sleepily. “What’s wrong?” She asked.

“The Chief released her,” Adrian said, swinging his legs off the bed. “He said the order came from the President.”

Daniella laughed in disbelief as she sat up. “That’s impossible. She isn’t that connected.”

Adrian did not respond to that. Instead, he added, “She destroyed critical immunological samples before her arrest.”

 “So?” Daniella shrugged. “Have your scientists recreate them.”

“It is not that simple,” he said as he began buttoning his shirt. “She was the principal investigator. The formulations were proprietary. It was her research.”

“Where are you going?”

“To headquarters. I need full damage assessment and to determine whether any data backups are salvageable.”

“Adrian, relax,” Daniella said, watching him move around the room. “You are the CEO. You can delegate this.”

He paused for a second before replying, “The only person who could manage that without oversight resigned.”

He kissed her distractedly, grabbed his keys, and stepped out.

Adrian dialed Sabrina’s number once, she did not answer. He called again but still nothing, on the third attempt, she picked up, but she did not speak.

“Don’t hang up,” he said quickly. “Just listen.”

“I am listening,” she replied calmly, placing the phone on speaker so Marla could hear.

“This isn’t over,” Adrian began smoothly. “I still owe you alimony, if you want it, it is yours, but you must apologize to Daniella for attacking her.”

Sabrina blinked; Marla too was stunned as she was. They both turned slightly towards each other.

The silence made Adrian believe he had cornered her. He smiled to himself; he mistook her silence for submission.

“My dear stupid ex-husband,” Sabrina said calmly, “you think in terms of money, so you assume everyone else does. I am the foundation of Kane Biomedical. I will rise without your alimony.”

“Where will you get funding?” Adrian scoffed.

“Certainly not from you,” she replied.

Adrian laughed. “I’ll hold you accountable to that.”

“You’ll be waiting a long time.” she said. Before she ended the call, Adrian presses further, “Why destroy the samples?”

She smiled faintly. “They belonged to me; they were my intellectual property. What I do with them is none of your concern.”

“You know Noah needs them,” Adrian said.

Her expression hardened immediately. “You should have thought of that before taking my child, before trying to destroy me. I hope Daniella can replicate them. You are fortunate I didn’t destroy the ones stored at the house. Make good use of them while they last.”

“And you claim you loved him,” Adrian said bitterly.

“I did. I still do. But after what you told me, Adrian, I wish you every evil this world has to offer.”

There was a brief silence before she added.

 “Adrian.”

“What?” he barked.

“You are not permitted to call this number again. If you approach, I will file a restraining order.”

The line disconnects and she blocked and deleted his number.

Adrian’s knuckles whitened around the steering wheel as he felt he was slowly losing against Sabrina.

Inside Marla’s car, silence settled after the call.

“Dr. Vale,” Marla began carefully.

“Sabrina,” she corrected gently.

Marla smiled. “I am sorry for my role in everything. I will help find your son.”

Sabrina exhaled slowly and nodded. “It is fine, Marla. I hold nothing against you. The fact that you changed course is what matters.”

Marla smiled and drove back to the facility so Sabrina could retrieve her car. When they arrived, something unexpected awaited them, the parking lot was filled with doctors, physicians, lab technicians, and administrative staff, all standing outside as if they had been waiting.

“Did you arrange this?” Sabrina asked quietly.

Marla shook her head.

After a few seconds, Sabrina stepped forward. She did not cry or smile widely. She simply nodded in acknowledgment, recognizing the team that still believed in her leadership and scientific integrity. She walked to her car and drove away, with Marla following behind.

Her phone vibrated shortly after.

“Dr. Vale, I am Drake Jericho, personal assistant to Mr. Laurent. He requests a meeting with you.”

Sabrina inhaled slowly, her pulse quickening though her voice remained steady. “When?”

“Tomorrow at eight a.m. Is that convenient?”

“Yes,” She replied. “Where?”

“At his office. I’ll text you the address.”

The call ended.

Later, at the hotel where she would be staying temporarily, Sabrina unpacked quietly. Outside her window, the evening sky had cleared completely, and the city lights shimmered against rain- washed pavement.

Over dinner, she told Marla about the meeting with Victor Laurent and what it could mean. They thought about funding, a future among other things.