Maurice froze, unable to come up with a single answer. The only thing he knew about his son was that he showed up when he needed money.
Upon seeing the evasive look in her father's eyes, Emily felt a cold emptiness settle in her chest. "Don't worry. I'll look for him," she flatly said.
Then, she turned and walked back out into the night.
…
She drove for hours, checking every club and underground gambling den Cole was known to frequent.
But he was nowhere to be found.
As the first light of dawn tinged the sky, Emily rested her head against the steering wheel, exhausted from the sleepless night.
There was still no sign of Cole.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was Mallory.
"Mills, where are you? The morning meeting is about to start."
Emily rubbed her throbbing temples, her voice hoarse as she said, "Please cover for me. Call in sick for me. It's Cole. He's missing."
Silence fell on the other end of the line. Mallory knew exactly what Cole meant to Emily. He wasn't a brother—he was a bottomless pit.
"Okay, don't panic. I'll handle things at the hospital," Mallory calmly said. "Call me the second you have any news."
As soon as she hung up, Mallory stood up to go to the department head's office. However, when she turned, she nearly collided with someone.
It was Roman.
He was holding a takeout breakfast bag, and when he saw Mallory, he looked flustered and instinctively tried to slip away. He didn't dare say that Gabriel had sent him.
Gabriel had woken up that morning acting like he'd lost his mind, insisting Roman check on Emily.
Upon seeing Roman's guilty expression, Mallory inwardly smirked.
Gabriel's presence was everywhere.
But this saved her a trip.
She stepped forward, blocked Roman's path, and shoved her patient chart folder into his arms. "Perfect. You can report this back to Mr. Holton," she coolly said. "Dr. Sterling isn't feeling well today. She won't be in."
Then, without another word, she walked away.
Roman stood there, clutching the folder, stunned.
Outside Emily's apartment building, he shut the engine and looked up at her window—it was dark.
He went upstairs and knocked on the door.
No one answered.
He frowned and knocked again, harder this time too.
Still, only silence greeted him.
As he pulled out his phone, he dialed the building manager directly and said, "Get up here with a key. Now."
The manager didn't dare hesitate and arrived moments later with the master key.
Emily's door swung open, and a wave of cool, still air washed over them.
The apartment was empty, and everything was in perfect order.
Gabriel stood at the doorway, his face dark.
It seemed like he had been played.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Billionaire's Regret: His Secret Wife Turned Medical Genius