Chapter 68

"Mr. Strakovski, really, there's no need," I insisted. "Cole is my senior, and he doesn't know where Ava is hospitalized. I promised Ava I would bring Cole."

Lukas's face turned cold, clearly displeased by my refusal.

How could he not know? If I'd wanted a ride, I could have simply told Cole the hospital and ward number. But I didn't want to ride in his car.

Lukas hadn't anticipated this reaction. He'd only wanted to prevent me from having inappropriate thoughts, not to be avoided as if he were a pack of wolves and tigers. He felt extremely uncomfortable.

He glanced at me coldly and snorted, "Suit yourself." He closed the car window and drove away.

I inhaled a couple of lungfuls of exhaust fumes, coughing twice from the discomfort.

Cole glanced at me. "You just rejected Mr. Strakovski. He might get angry."

Shaking my head, I said, "You're thinking too much. What I did aligns perfectly with his intentions." I didn't mention my suspicion that Lukas's offer was a test of my response. Getting in his car likely would have led to another reprimand, and I wasn't prepared for that.

When Cole and I arrived at the hospital, Lukas was just getting out of his car. He saw us but ignored us, heading toward the inpatient department.

Cole was surprised. "Mr. Strakovski is also coming to the hospital?" He'd thought Lukas had come specifically for me.

I nodded. "His friend is hospitalized, right next to Ava."

Cole understood.

Upstairs, we opened the door to the ward. Ava sat typing at a notebook, her brow furrowed. The sight made my heart skip a beat. Even then, she hadn't forgotten work. Operating the computer one-handed seemed incredibly challenging. She didn't notice us until I coughed lightly.

Ava looked up, her eyes widening at the familiar figures. She jumped up from the bed, startling Cole with her sudden movement, even in her weakened state.

However, that wasn't the end of it. Ava's sudden movement sent the laptop flying, causing her arm pain and a gasp. She stared at the fallen laptop, exclaiming, "My baby!"

My face twitched. Ava clearly considered the computer her "baby," and now she was acting this way in front of her love interest. She might go crazy later.

Cole's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Is she referring to the computer as her baby?"

I smiled. "Yes, I'm used to it."

Cole joked, "I had no idea she had this habit."

Ava's face flushed, embarrassed and annoyed. She glared at me, upset I hadn't warned her of Cole's arrival. She felt completely embarrassed.

Looking like a wilted eggplant, she sat in a sulky mood, stealing glances at Cole. I walked over, picked up the laptop, and smiled, "Stop sneaking glances. Cole came to see you."

Ava's face reddened further. "Stop making things up," she scolded.

Cole ignored her, sitting beside the bed and smiling. "How did you manage a broken arm? Be more careful next time you go downstairs."

Blushing, Ava said, "I was lost in thought and accidentally fell."

I held back my laughter, keeping her secret. Cole simply nodded. "Be more careful going downstairs in the future."

Cole had known Ava for six years, excluding their three-year separation. During his sophomore to senior years, he'd been close to both me and Ava. He understood her habits well. He smiled, "Sophia, give her 'baby' back. Otherwise, she'll worry too much."

Ava's face turned red, her voice annoyed and coquettish. "Cole."

Cole chuckled. "Isn't it true? Maybe I misheard."

I helped, "Senior, stop teasing her. She might seem cold, but she's weak against teasing."

Cole nodded. "You're right. I heard she had a cold personality, but every time I talked to her, her face turned red."

Ava suddenly raised her head and looked at him.

Cole smiled. "What's wrong?"

Ava immediately shook her head. "It's nothing."

My expression was complicated. Cole truly knew how to touch Ava's heartstrings.