Two Months Gone.

Ava regained consciousness slowly, the faint scent of antiseptic and something softer, foral, filling her senses. Her lashes fluttered open as she saw a white ceiling, and soft beeping sounds.

She was in a hospital.

For a moment, she laid still, trying to gather herself, her body heavy and slightly sore. Then her gaze shifted and she froze.

Flowers, the room was filled with them. Roses, lilies, orchids… arranged neatly, beautifully, like someone had gone out of their way to bring life into the sterile space.

Ava blinked slowly, a small, fragile smile touched her lips.

Adrian…it had to be him. He always knew that flowers had always been her weakness. No matter how bad her mood was, they had a way of softening it, of making things feel… lighter.

Her chest tightened slightly, he still remembered, he still cared. Her gaze lingered on the flowers for a moment longer before she shifted slightly on the bed and that was when she noticed it.

Her hand, her fingers were intertwined with someone else’s.

Ava stilled, her heart skipped. For a brief second, a face flashed through her mind.

Damien.

The memory of his coat around her. The warmth. The way everything had gone dark after that, her breath hitched.

Almost instinctively, she yanked her hand away. The sudden movement drew attention.

The man sitting beside her turned immediately, his phone still pressed to his ear.

“Ava?”

It wasn’t Damien.

It was Adrian.

He ended the call almost instantly, leaning closer, his expression filled with concern. His hand came up to cup her face gently, his thumb brushing against her cheek as if to confirm she was really awake.

“You’re awake,” he said softly, relief evident in his voice. “Are you okay? How do you feel?”

Ava blinked at him, still disoriented.

Why did she think it was Damien?

“I’m… fine,” she managed, though her voice came out slightly strained.

Adrian studied her for a second longer before nodding. “I’ll get the doctor,” he said, standing up. “Just rest, okay?”

She nodded faintly.

He didn’t wait long before stepping out.

The moment the door closed, the room felt different. Ava’s gaze drifted back to the flowers.

They were beautiful, thoughtful, so very Adrian.

He had always been like this…gentle in his own way, attentive to the little things that mattered to her. A small smile formed again, then faded just as quickly. She remembered the message, the picture.

Her fingers curled slightly against the bedsheet as the memory forced its way back in. A tear slipped down her cheek.

How?

How could a man like him do something like that? How could someone so… perfect betray her so completely? It didn’t make sense.

No matter how many times she tried to think about it, she couldn’t understand. Her chest felt tight, the room suddenly felt suffocating. Ava pushed the covers aside slowly and swung her legs over the bed. The floor was cold beneath her feet, but she welcomed it. She needed something to ground her.

Something to clear her head.

She stood carefully and made her way toward the door, she took a few steps forward, her body still weak but steady enough.

And then she saw him, Adrian.

For a moment, relief flickered in her chest. She almost smiled but then she noticed the woman beside him. The smile faded instantly, the woman was close to him and her hand…It rested protectively over her belly.

Ava’s steps slowed, her heart sank.

That must be her, the personal assistant. The one behind the messages.

As if sensing her gaze, the woman turned. Their eyes met and then she smiled.

Mischievously.

Ava’s fingers curled at her sides as she walked toward them. “Adrian.” Her voice was calm.

Adrian turned immediately, surprise flashing across his face. “Ava? Why did you get out of bed? The doctor didn’t say you could leave yet.”

His words came quickly, his attention shifting between her and the woman beside him.

“Who’s she?” Ava asked, ignoring everything else. Adrian let out a small chuckle, as if the question was nothing. “This is Livia,” he said. “My personal assistant.”

Ava’s gaze remained fixed on her.

Adrian continued, “Her boyfriend couldn’t make it, so when I saw her here, I decided to help her.” Livia smiled sweetly.

“Hi, Miss Ava,” she said. “Mr. Adrian is right. My boyfriend is very busy, so he couldn’t come… but he’s very caring. The best boyfriend ever.”

There was something in her tone, something deliberate.

Adrian cleared his throat lightly, shooting her a look that seemed to signal her to stop talking.

But Ava didn’t miss it.

“Why does she need help?” Ava asked, her voice steady. Livia’s smile widened slightly.

“It’s because I’m pregnant,” she said casually. “Two months gone, actually.”

For a second, everything went silent.

Ava felt it, like all the air had been sucked out of her lungs.

Two months.

Her mind struggled to catch up.

Two months? Her fingers went cold and her vision blurred slightly.

Adrian’s voice cut in sharply. “Livia, that’s enough. You can go.” His tone had changed, almost annoyed.

“I need to take my wife back to her ward,” he added.

Livia’s expression faltered for a brief moment, but she quickly masked it with a small smile. “I guess I’ll leave alone then.”she turned and walked away sadly.

Ava watched her go, but more than that, she saw Adrian. The way his eyes followed Livia for a split second longer than necessary. Like he wanted to go after her.

That hurt more than anything.

He turned back to Ava quickly, his expression softening. “Let’s get you back inside,” he said, reaching for her.

Ava stepped back, pushing his hand away. “I can walk,” she said quietly.

Adrian paused, watching her carefully. He could tell something had changed.

But he said nothing. Instead, he followed her back to the room.

A few hours later, the hospital room was quiet again because Adrian left to handle a business meeting. The flowers still filled the space, but they didn’t feel comforting anymore. Ava sat on the bed, a document resting in her hands.

Divorce papers.

Her friend had prepared them quickly, just like she asked, the words stared back at her.

Cold and Final.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the edges. She didn’t know what to do.

Her mind felt scattered, pulled in too many directions at once.

A divorce required financial independence, and Adrian has been covering her father's monthly medical expenses worth millions of dollars, she couldn't afford it.

Ava exhaled slowly and set the papers aside. She needed clarity and there was only one person she could go to.

Not long after, she stood in front of another hospital. Her steps were steady as she walked inside, moving through the corridors without hesitation. She stopped in front of a ward.

For a moment, she hesitated, then she pushed the door open.

Inside, a man sat on the bed, a newspaper spread out in his hands, he looked thinner than before and weaker but the moment he saw her, his face lit up.

A bright, warm smile spread across his lips, his eyes softening with unmistakable affection. “My beautiful Ava!”

Ava’s lips parted, her chest tightening as emotions rushed forward all at once.

“Dad.”