Chapter 184
Thomas wiped his hands on his pants before hitting the doorbell. His boss’s recovery hung in the balance—and his job right along., with it.
The door opened to reveal Lucas’s face, lighting up despite his attempt to look serious. Thomas uncle!”
“Hey buddy,” Thomas smiled, genuine relief washing over him at the warm reception. “Your mom around?
Lucas’s expression shifted slightly. “This about that lunch?”
Before Thomas could answer, Alex and Lily appeared, faces breaking to smiles even as they tried to match Lucas’s serious tone.
“Mom’s still pretty mad,” Lily said, ‘playing with her hair but unable hide her excitement at seeing him.
Alex stepped forward. “She’s been cleaning the kitchen like crazy. Always does that when she’s upset,”
“Well, I’m here to fix things, Thomas promised. The children exchanged glances, clearly happy to have an ally in their corner.
“Come in,” Lucas grabbed his hand, pulling him inside. “But you better have a good speech ready.”
The kids circled around him like excited puppies, each trying to whisper advice.
“Tell her Adam was sad all day,” Lily suggested.
“Mention how he didn’t eat lunch,” Alex added conspiratorially.
Thomas smiled at their eagerness, grateful for their support. They’d clearly missed the connection between houses as much as his boss had.
Irene walked in from the kitchen, wiping her hands. Her face cooled when she spotted him. “If Adam sent you-*
“Not exactly,” Thomas fumbled. “He kind of suggested–well, hinted that I should maybe…”
One eyebrow shot up.
“The treatment,” Thomas blurted. “You can’t quit now. All your work would be wasted.”
“I’m not quitting,” Irene said, heading back to the kitchen. “Just cutting the extra stuff.”
Thomas lingered in the doorway, unsure. “The extra stuff matters,” he said, watching her chop vegetables. “The dinners, the talks- they’re helping him get better.”
The knife kept moving as Irene stayed quiet.
Taking this as a green light, Thomas edged closer. “That lunch was awful, I know. But it blindsided everyone–even me! Mrs. Haven never pops in like that. And Samantha? Total surprise attack. My boss had no clue.”
The knife paused briefly before continuing.
For almost an hour, Thomas followed Irene around like a lost puppy. She moved from room to room while he trailed behind, sounding more desperate by the minute. The kids watched from their hiding spots, taking mental notes.
“Please don’t pull away,” he finally said, voice low. “This isn’t what Adam wanted. He really values you… your treatment, I mean.”
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Chapter 184
Irene turned, giving him a look that made him step back. “Done?”
Thomas swallowed, suddenly realizing he’d talked non–stop for an hour. The triplets peeked from the stairs, eyes wide.
“Treatment continues, Irene said flatly. “Personal stuff stops. End of story.”
Thomas knew defeat when he saw
- it.
He nodded, backing up. “Got it’ll tell him.”
When the door closed, Irene’s shoulders finally relaxed. The triplets drept in, trading worried glances.
“Mom?” Alex asked. “You okay?”
Irene managed a smile that looked forced. “Just grown–up stuff, sweetie.”
The kids didn’t believe her, but they knew that tone meant “drop it.
Adam sat still as Thomas gave his report, only his fingertips tapping against his wheelchair betraying any reaction.
“She’ll keep treating you,” Thomas finished, “but the personal stuff stops.”
The tapping paused, then picked up again slower.
“That’s it? She didn’t say why?”
Thomas shook his head. “She wasn’t exactly chatty.”
Adam’s jaw tightened. He should have seen this coming the moment his mother showed up unannounced. What looked like a casual lunch had been a calculated move–a reminder to Irene about where she supposedly belonged in their world.
He turned to the window, looking at the garden between their houses.
“Cancel the Wright deal,” he said suddenly.
Thomas’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Cancel it,” Adam repeated, voice harder. “Tell them if our partnership is sending the wrong message to certain people, then we’re
out.”
“Boss, that’s five hundred million dollars! Wright’s been planning this for years!”
Adam looked back, eyes cold. “I don’t like being played. And I hate seeing people get trashed just because they know me. His voice dropped. “Just do it.”
“But-“.
“We’re done.” Adam turned away, ending the conversation.
Thomas knew better than to push. He nodded and left, dreading the call he’d have to make.
Alone, Adam stared into the garden, just able to see Irene’s roof. His thoughts wandered through the past weeks–her rushing in during the storm to break his fever, catching him at the beach without thinking twice, those moments when her guard dropped and her eyes softened.
A half–smile crossed his face. Him, the guy who never bent for anyone, tossing away half a billion dollars over one awkward lunch.
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Chapter 184.
“What the hell are you doing? he muttered. “Killing a deal for a doctor who could bail tomorrow.”
But he didn’t regret it. Not one bit. Irene’s face during lunch–that quick flash of hurt she tried to hide–stuck with him more than any money ever could.
Joseph found Irene by the window that evening, lost in thought. His dane tapped against the floor as he came closer.
“Something on your mind?” he asked, settling beside her.
Irene blinked back to reality. “Just work,” she said with a weak smile
Joseph snorted. “I may be old, but I’m not blind. It’s about Haven, isn’t it?”
Her head jerked up.
“Don’t look so surprised,” he chuckled. “Jonathan and I play chess regularly. We hear things.”
Irene sighed and looked back outside. “Grandpa, we don’t belong in that world. Those people only care about who your family is and what your last name means. A single mom with three kids? I’m their worst nightmare.”
“Is that what everyone thinks,” Joseph asked, “or just a few loud voices?”
Irene went quiet, remembering how Adam looked when she’d walked away.
Joseph squeezed her hand. “Not all walls are real, kiddo. Sometimes we build them ourselves because we’re afraid of getting hurt again.”
Irene sighed. “Maybe you’re right. I’ll think about it.”
Joseph patted her knee with a satisfied nod before slowly rising to his feet.
It was nearly dark when Irene reached Adam’s house. She paused at the door, kit in hand, getting ready to keep things all business.
Before she could ring, Thomas’s voice caught her attention. He stood nearby, phone to his ear, not seeing her.
“Mr. Wright, he’s not budging,” Thomas was saying, sounding stressed. “The five–hundred–million–dollar project is dead. I know it’s your company’s big plan, but Mr. Haven was crystal clear-”
Irene froze mid–reach. Adam canceled a deal worth half a billion? When? Why?
Thomas continued, “He won’t let anyone push him around with his personal choices, and he definitely won’t stand for people he cares about getting disrespected… Sure, you could try talking to him yourself, but I wouldn’t get your hopes up.”
Irene’s heart pounded. A weird feeling hit her–part shock, part something warm she couldn’t quite place. Nobody had ever done anything like that for her. Especially not someone like Adam.
She backed away from the door, needing to think. The cold businessman she’d met months ago wouldn’t have killed a massive deal over some awkward lunch tension. What did this mean? And what was she going to do now?
