He scoffed, shaking his head. “No. No, that’s impossible. You must be talking about another child.”
But the nurse only lowered her gaze further. “I’m sorry, sir. It’s your son. Elias Calder.”
Before Adrian could say another word, a piercing scream tore through the hallway.
“What do you mean dead?!” Seraphine’s voice was raw and trembling. She pushed past two nurses, her eyes wild. “Where is his body? Where is my son?!”
“Miss, please—” the nurse tried to explain, but Seraphine shoved her away.
“I want to see him!” she cried, her voice breaking. “Where is my son? Where is Elias?”
Another nurse stepped forward cautiously, holding a chart. “Ma’am, there was… there was a directive. The body was already cremated, per instructions from Mrs. Vivienne Calder.”
“What?” Adrian’s voice thundered through the room. “What did you just say?”
The nurse trembled. “Mrs. Calder handled all arrangements personally. She… she stayed with him through the night. The cremation happened at dawn. She said it was his wish to rest quietly.”
Seraphine froze, her face turning white. “No,” she whispered. “No, that’s not true. I’m his mother. She had no right!” Her voice rose into a scream. “She took that from me too! I’ll sue this hospital! I’ll destroy all of you!”
She was trembling violently, her knees buckling. Adrian reached for her, but she collapsed against him, fainting from the shock. Nurses rushed forward to catch her, calling for help.
Adrian just stood there, his ears ringing. He couldn’t think. Couldn’t move. His son — his only son — gone? Just like that? No goodbye. No last look.
Something inside him snapped.
He turned to the doctor, his face red with fury. “Find her. Now.” His voice was a growl. “Find Vivienne Calder and bring her to me. I don’t care what it takes. You hear me?”
The staff hesitated, terrified, but he roared louder. “GO!”
Within minutes, nurses scattered, calling other hospitals, searching files. Adrian pulled out his phone, his hands shaking, dialing Vivienne over and over. Each time, the same response — the number you have dialed cannot be reached.
He slammed his phone against the wall. “Damn it!”
When Seraphine regained consciousness hours later, her face was pale and streaked with tears. “She did this,” she whispered weakly. “She took him from us. She killed him.”
Adrian clenched his fists, his eyes dark. “I know. And she’s going to pay for it.”