Chapter 190 059
ADRIAN sighed deeply as the line went dead in his ear. For a few seconds he remained still, the phone pressed against his temple as though willing the call to reconnect. Amelia had hung up on him. Just like that. Calm, decisive and unmoved. The decision had been made. Hazel would be moving to the boarding section of her school, and there was nothing he could do about it.
He lowered the phone slowly and placed it on his desk.
‘Hazel, I’m sorry,’ he thought.
He leaned back in his leather chair, exhaling through his nose before straightening up again. Work. He needed to drown himself in work. It was the only thing that did not argue back.
He pulled a document closer and began scribbling on it, his pen moving faster than usual, almost aggressively. Figures, corrections, side notes. He barely blinked as he switched between the printed sheets and his open laptop. Emails blinked in the corner of the screen, reminders popped up, but he ignored them all. His jaw was tight, his brows furrowed.
For thirty solid minutes, he worked without pause.
Then his phone rang.
He didn’t need to look at the screen to know who it was.
Hazel.
The ringtone continued, shrill and persistent. He inhaled sharply but kept writing. There was no new answer he could give her. He had already promised to “talk to her mother.” And he knew exactly how that conversation would end— with Amelia’s final word slicing through him like it always did.
The call stopped.
A second later, it came in again.
Adrian shut his eyes briefly. The ringing drilled into his skull. He picked up the phone, stared at it for two seconds as Hazel’s name flashed boldly across the screen, then dropped it back down.
Not now.
The ringing continued. When it refused to stop, he reached over, switched the phone to silent, and turned it face down.
There was time for everything.
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” he called, his voice already composed.
Peter stepped in, holding a blue file against his chest.
“Sir, the revised projections you requested.”
Adrian gestured to the desk.
“Leave it there.”
Peter placed the file down carefully.
“The investors’ meeting has been shifted to Thursday. They sent an email about twenty minutes ago.”
Adrian nodded.
“Fine. Adjust my schedule accordingly.”
Peter hesitated.
“Sir… everything okay?”
Adrian’s pen paused for a fraction of a second before continuing.
“Perfectly.”
Peter nodded, sensing the dismissal.
“Alright, sir.”
He walked out quietly, shutting the door behind him.
The office fell into silence again, except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the soft tapping of keys under Adrian’s fingers.
Then his second phone rang.
This time, he didn’t even glance at it. He assumed Hazel had switched tactics and was calling the other line.
Without checking the screen, he picked it up, irritation edging his voice.
“Hazel please, I’m very busy right now. I will call you back once I’m done.”
There was a pause.
“Mr. Cole? It’s me… it’s George.”
Adrian froze mid-sentence.
The irritation drained instantly from his face. He pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at the screen.
George.
His butler.
“Oh my goodness,” Adrian muttered under his breath.
He quickly placed the phone back to his ear.
“George?”
“Yes, sir. It is me. I’m sorry for the intrusion.”
“No, no, it is fine. I thought it was my daughter calling,” he said, running a hand over his face. “How are you? It’s been a while.”
“I’m well, sir. Thank you for asking.”
Adrian leaned back slowly in his chair, tension easing just a little.
“So, what’s up with you?”
A slight crackle came from the other end before George spoke again.
“Okay. I was calling to let you know we will be returning in a few days, sir.”
Adrian straightened in his seat.
Vivian tucked her legs beneath her as she sat on the couch, the soft throw pillow resting against her stomach. Fiona had wisely disappeared into her room the moment Vale arrived, claiming she had “assignments” to complete, though Vivian knew her friend was simply giving them privacy.
Vale sat close, close enough that their knees brushed occasionally. He had one arm stretched lazily across the back of the couch, his body angled toward her in a way that made her feel both seen and chosen.
“So,” Vivian smiled, twisting a strand of her hair around her finger, “how does it feel being back home officially?”
Vale exhaled softly.
“Honestly? It feels good. Different, but good. Being abroad for years changes you. But there’ is something about home that settles you.” He paused briefly before adding, almost automatically, “My sister says that all the time too. She used to tell me that no matter how far I go, I will always crave home.”
Vivian smiled politely.
“She sounds wise.”
“She is,” Vale said immediately, his eyes lighting up. “You would love her. She is strong, decisive… the kind of woman who walks into a room and everyone just—” he snapped his fingers lightly, “—notices.”
Vivian chuckled.
“Wow. That is a serious introduction.”
“I’m not even exaggerating,” he insisted, leaning forward. “Everything I am? I owe a lot of it to her. When our mom was busy building her businesses, she practically raised me.”
“That is sweet,” Vivian said softly.
And she meant it. It was sweet. Admirable, even.
But she couldn’t ignore the faint tightening in her chest.
Every conversation. Somehow. Some way. It circled back to his sister.
He had mentioned her on their first date too— how she had encouraged him to come back home and “build something real.” He had mentioned her while texting the night before— how she would tease him for smiling at his phone. And now again.
Vale shifted slightly closer.
“She is going to interrogate me when she finds out I’m dating.”
Vivian laughed. “Interrogate?”
“Oh, absolutely. She is protective. Especially about women in my life.” He grinned. “Not in a weird way. Just… she wants to make sure whoever I’m with is genuine.”
Vivian tilted her head playfully.
“And am I?”
Vale’s expression softened instantly. He reached for her hand and squeezed it gently.
“More than genuine.”
The sincerity in his tone melted a part of her discomfort.
“You don’t have to worry,” he continued. “She will love you.”
Vivian raised an eyebrow.
“You are very confident about that.”
“I am.” He nodded firmly. “Because I know her. And I know you.”
She studied his face for a moment. He wasn’t comparing them. He wasn’t measuring her. He just seemed… proud. Like a younger brother eager to show off something precious.
Still.
“You talk about her a lot,” Vivian said lightly, choosing her words carefully.
Vale blinked. “Do I?”
“A little,” she teased, smiling so he wouldn’t take offense. “Sometimes I feel like I’m in a relationship with both of you.”
He burst into laughter.
“Hey! That is not fair.”
“I’m joking,” she said quickly, though the joke carried truth.
He sobered slightly.
“I guess I do mention her a lot. It is just… she has been my anchor for so long. Big decisions, small decisions, I run them by her.”
Vivian nodded slowly.
“That is understandable.”
“But,” he added quickly, his thumb brushing across her knuckles, “this? Us? This is mine. I chose you. Not because of her. Not because of anyone.”
Her gaze softened.
“You make it sound like I’m some grand decision,” she teased.
“That is because you are,” he replied without hesitation. “You are not just some girl I met online. You are intentional.”
The word hung between them.
Intentional.
Vivian felt her cheeks warm slightly.
Vale leaned back against the couch, still holding her hand.
“I can’t wait to show you to her.”
There it was again.
He said it this time with excitement, not pressure.
“Show me?” Vivian echoed.
“Yes,” he said eagerly. “She is going to be thrilled. I haven't really told her a thing about you though… not really.”
Vivian blinked. That somehow suited her nerves.
“You intend to?”
“Of course. Why not?” he added quickly with a grin.
She laughed nervously.
“That would be… fast.”
Vale shook his head.
“It’s not fast. It’s clarity. When you know something feels right, you don’t pretend otherwise.”
Vivian searched his face again.
There was no deceit there. No hesitation. Just pure, almost boyish admiration.
“And what exactly do you intend to spill about me?” she asked, curiosity creeping in, a smile at the edge of her lips.
He snapped his fingers. Bingo!
“That you are ambitious. That you are funny. That you are different.” He smiled softly. “And that I haven’t stopped smiling since I met you.”
Her breath caught faintly.
“That is a lot of pressure,” she whispered playfully.
“It’s not pressure,” he said gently. “It’s pride.”
Vivian leaned back into the couch cushions, her head tilting slightly as she studied him.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “When do I meet this powerful, room-commanding sister of yours?”
Vale’s grin widened.
“Soon. Very soon.”
There was excitement in his eyes.
Vivian forced a small smile.
Because while she liked the idea of meeting someone important to him… she couldn’t ignore the tiny, persistent thought whispering at the back of her mind:
Would she ever just be Vivian?
Or someone else?
Vale squeezed her hand again, unaware of the quiet storm flickering behind her eyes.
“I promise,” he said softly, “she is going to adore you.”
Vivian smiled back.
“I hope so."