Adrian’s There were very few things in my life that could distract me from work.
A failed experiment.
A missing research file.
A mistake in a laboratory report.
Those things demanded my attention because they could be fixed.
People, on the other hand, had never interested me enough to become distractions.
Until today.
I stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of my office, overlooking the city that never seemed to slow down.
Employees hurried in and out of the Ashford Biotech headquarters while traffic crawled through the streets below, but my thoughts refused to settle.
Instead, they kept returning to one person.
Noah Everhart.
His name echoed in my mind as though I had heard it countless times before.
It was familiar.
Too familiar.
Yet no matter how hard I searched my memories, I couldn’t remember where we had met.
A knock interrupted my thoughts.
“Come in.” The office door opened, and my assistant, Daniel, stepped inside with a tablet tucked beneath his arm.
“You asked for information on Mr.
Noah Everhart.” I turned around.
“What did you find?” Daniel hesitated for a second before handing me a slim folder.
“Not much, sir.
His records are…
unusual.” I flipped it open.
Name: Noah Everhart.
Age: Twenty-four.
Former student.
Ashford University.
Biotechnology Department.
The moment my eyes landed on the university’s name, something stirred deep inside me.
Ashford University.
I had spent years teaching there before taking over the company after my father’s health declined.
I continued reading.
Outstanding academic performance.
Multiple research awards.
Top of his class.
Then…
Status: Withdrawn before graduation.
I frowned.
“He dropped out?” “Yes, sir.” “Reason?” “No official explanation.” I looked back at the file.
A student with those grades wouldn’t abandon everything without a reason.
Something had happened.
“What about after he left?” Daniel shook his head.
“There isn’t much information.
It’s almost as if he disappeared for two years.” Disappeared…
The word settled heavily in my chest.
It wasn’t impossible.
People disappeared all the time.
So why did that fact bother me?
I closed the file.
“Continue looking.” “Yes, sir.” Daniel remained standing instead of leaving.
“There is…
one more thing.” “What is it?” “When you were speaking with him this morning, several employees noticed something.” I raised an eyebrow.
“They said you’ve never looked at an interview candidate for that long.” “…Have they finished today’s reports?” Daniel coughed awkwardly.
“I’ll remind them to focus on their work.” He quickly excused himself, leaving the office silent once again.
I sat behind my desk, but instead of reviewing the contracts waiting for my signature, I found myself staring at Noah’s photograph clipped to the corner of the file.
Soft crimson hair.
Gentle green eyes.
A calm smile.
He looked different today.
Older.
More tired.
As though life had stolen something precious from him.
Without thinking, I reached for my coffee.
The cup stopped halfway to my lips.
A faint scent lingered in my memory.
Sweet.Comforting.
Like fresh apples after rain.
I couldn’t remember where I had smelled it before, but the moment Noah walked into the lobby this morning, that same scent had resurfaced.
Not strongly.
Just enough to leave me unsettled.
Almost as though my instincts recognized someone my memories couldn’t.
A sharp knock sounded at the door before it opened without waiting for permission.
“Still working?” I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
“Mother.” Evelyn Ashford entered gracefully, dressed in an elegant navy suit.
Every movement reflected years of refinement and authority.
She placed a shopping bag on the sofa before sitting down.
“You missed lunch again.” “I was busy.” “You are always busy.” She studied me for a long moment before sighing.
“The Hayworth family has agreed to move the engagement announcement to next month.” I stopped signing the document in front of me.
“I never agreed to an engagement.” “You don’t have to agree.” “I do.” “This isn’t just about you, Adrian.” “It never is.” A brief silence settled between us.
“The Ashford family has responsibilities,” she continued.
“Your marriage will strengthen our partnership with the Hayworth Group.
It’s the best decision for everyone.” “Except me.” “Love has never been a requirement.” I closed the file with a quiet snap.
“I have no intention of marrying someone I don’t love.” Her expression hardened.
“You are thirty-three years old.
How much longer do you intend to wait?” I met her gaze without flinching.
“As long as necessary.” She stood, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her sleeve.
“I’ll give you time to think.
But don’t mistake patience for permission.” The office door closed behind her.
I leaned back in my chair and rubbed the bridge of my nose.
Marriage.
Business alliances.
Board meetings.
None of it interested me.
For reasons I couldn’t explain…
The only thing occupying my thoughts was a former university student with crimson hair, a scarf that never left his neck, and eyes filled with fear the moment he saw me.
I opened Noah’s file once more.
There, clipped to the back, was a copy of an old university identification photo.
The picture had been taken years ago.
He looked younger.
His smile was brighter.
I stared at it for several seconds before a strange sensation washed over me.
Rain tapping against glass.
A front door opening.
A frightened pair of green eyes.
Then…
Nothing.
The memory vanished before I could grasp it.
I slowly closed the file.
“Who are you, Noah Everhart?” The question lingered in the quiet office long after I had spoken it aloud.
For someone who had supposedly disappeared from my life two years ago, Noah occupied my thoughts far more than he should have.
I disliked unanswered questions, and he had become the biggest one of all.
A soft knock came from the door.
“Come in.” Daniel stepped inside again, carrying another folder.
“I’ve contacted the university, sir.
They sent over the remaining records you requested.” He placed the file on my desk before taking a step back.
“There isn’t much.” I opened it immediately.
Academic transcripts.
Laboratory evaluations.
Research reports.
Every page painted the same picture.
Noah Everhart had been one of the brightest students in the biotechnology department.
His professors praised his discipline.
His classmates described him as hardworking and kind.
Several research projects even carried recommendations for international scholarships.
Someone like him should have graduated with honors.
Instead…
His records simply ended.
The final page contained a single sentence.
Student voluntarily withdrew from Ashford University before completing the final semester.
No explanation.
No forwarding address.
Nothing.
I frowned.
“Who approved his withdrawal?” Daniel adjusted his glasses.
“According to the records…
it was processed very quickly.” “By whom?” He glanced down at his tablet.
“The acting dean at the time.” “And no one questioned it?” “No, sir.” I closed the file.
“It doesn’t make sense.” Daniel remained silent.
I wasn’t speaking to him anymore.
I was speaking to myself.
Students fought to stay at Ashford University.
Very few willingly left.
Especially someone whose future had looked so promising.
Unless…
Something had forced him to leave.
My phone vibrated across the desk.
Mother.
I ignored the call.
A second later, another message arrived.
Dinner tonight.
The Hayworth family will be there.
Don’t be late.
I locked the screen without replying.
Daniel pretended not to notice.
“Cancel my dinner.” “Sir…” “I said cancel it.” “The chairman specifically instructed—” “I’ll explain it myself.” He sighed quietly.
“Understood.” After Daniel left, I stood and walked toward the floor-to-ceiling window.
The daycare building was visible from my office.
Children ran across the playground while teachers laughed nearby.
My gaze searched the crowd without thinking.
He wasn’t there.
Of course he wasn’t.
Noah had already picked up his son.
…
His son.
The little boy’s smile unexpectedly surfaced in my mind.
Bright.
Polite.
Fearless.
He had bowed so seriously just to thank me for helping him.
A faint smile tugged at my lips before disappearing almost immediately.
Strange.
I wasn’t particularly fond of children.
Yet that little boy had felt…
Comfortable.
Familiar.
Almost as though I had known him before.
I shook the thought away.Ridiculous.
The office intercom buzzed.
“President Ashford?” “Yes.” “Human Resources has finalized today’s interview results.” “So soon?” “They were very impressed with one candidate.” I didn’t know why my next question came so naturally.
“…Noah Everhart?” A brief silence followed.
“Yes, sir.” I looked away from the window.
“They unanimously recommended hiring him.” My fingers tapped lightly against the glass.
“When does he start?” “Monday morning, if he accepts the offer.” Monday.
That meant he would be working in this building.
Every day.
The realization should have meant nothing.
Instead, an unfamiliar feeling settled inside my chest.
Relief.
“I’ll approve the recommendation.” “Very well, sir.The call ended.
For several moments, I simply stood there, watching the city below.
Perhaps working together would answer the questions that had haunted me since this morning.
Perhaps I would finally remember why his name felt so familiar.
Or perhaps…
I was only chasing a memory that no longer existed.
Across the city, Noah was completely unaware that the interview panel had already reached its decision.
The reunion has only just begun, and many secrets are still waiting to be uncovered.
What really happened two years ago?
Will Adrian remember Noah before the truth about Ethan comes to light?
My Cold Professor Is the Father of My Baby.
See you in the next chapter!
— Ari1