Chapter 130
Brandon nearly yanked out his V, bolting upright the moment front ppeared in the doorway with the triplets trailing behind her.
“You came!” His face lit up like Christmas morning. I was starting to think those texts vanished into thin air!
He couldn’t believe his eyes. After bombarding her phone for days, he was actually here. He’d almost given up, figuring she was wrapped up in her doctor life or whatever was brewing with Adam.
His attention snapped to the three little heads peeking around their mother.
“My favorite troublemakers!” Brandon’s excitement for Irene instantly took a backseat. If his legs worked, he’d have bounded out of bed to scoop them up. “Get over here! Uncle’s been dying without his weekly dose of chaos!”
He waved them over frantically, his earlier dejection completely forgotten.
The triplets crept toward the bed, shooting quick glances at their mom. The second they came within reach, Brandon’s hands descended, ruffling their hair with wild enthusiasm.
Alex ducked away first. “My hair!” He scrambled to rescue his carefully combed style before disaster struck.
Lucas and Lily weathered the attack better, though Lily giggled while trying to fix her lopsided pigtails.
Once he’d sufficiently destroyed their hairstyles, Brandon turned to frene with puppy eyes.
“Hey doc, level with me,” he whined, gesturing at his encased leg. “When can I ditch this thing? I’ve been stuck here so long I’m growing roots into the mattress!”
Irene approached with a clinical once–over, examining the cast with practiced efficiency. The plaster shell revealed nothing, but the gesture would keep him happy.
“One more month,” she announced flatly. “Minimum. The bones need to heal completely before we tackle the nerve damage.
Brandon’s face crumpled.
“Rush this,” she continued, “and you’re looking at a lifetime of regret Permanent damage. Wheelchair city.” Her voice softened a touch. “So quit whining for the next four weeks, or I might decide you’re not worth the trouble.”
She crossed her arms. “And just so we’re clear–I’m only here because your text barrage drove me crazy. I get that you’re bored senseless, but the digital harassment was a bit much.”
Brandon collapsed against his pillows, the picture of utter despair. Another whole month in this prison? With this useless leg? Kill me
now.
His devastation was so comically complete that even. Alex’s annoyance about his hair evaporated. The triplets exchanged concerned glances and edged closer.
“Don’t be sad,” Lily patted his arm. “We’re here now!”
In perfect sync, the unzipped their backpacks and started pulling out treasures.
“Check this out!” Alex spread their offerings across the blanket. “We brought a gaming console, coloring books, regular books, and—* he brandished several thick volumes with a proud grin, “-medical textbooks! Endless entertainment!”
Brandon eyed the medical tomes with barely masked horror. Those dense blocks of tiny print and terminology screamed migraine.
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Chapter 130
But the hopeful faces around Kim crushed any thought of rejection.
“Amazing,” he managed, reaching for the gaming device instead. “This looks perfect, actually. But I’ve never used one. Mind showing me how?”
Their faces brightened instantly. Without a second thought, they kicked off their shoes and scrambled onto the bed, careful to avoid his injured leg.
“I’ll get it started,” Lucas grabbed the console.
“I know all the best games,” Lily chimed in, previous shyness Torgotten.
Alex positioned himself on Brandon’s other side. “Wait till you see the racing games. They’re sick!”
Irene watched with a knowing smile. Brandon’s transparent ploy to keep the kids around hadn’t escaped her notice. Sneaky, she thought, watching them huddle together over the glowing screen. Bu they’re having fun, so I’ll let it slide.
Seeing them thoroughly engrossed, she decided to slip out and find Katherine.
“Back in a bit,” she called, already halfway through the door. “Try not to break anything–that includes you, Brandon.”
Their gaming tutorial continued uninterrupted as she stepped into the hallway.
The corridor buzzed with typical hospital energy–nurses pushing carts, visitors clutching gift bags, doctors speed–walking between rooms. Irene had barely gone five steps when a figure blocked her path.
Anna.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Every muscle in Irene’s body tensed.
For a split second, naked hatred flashed across Anna’s face before dissolving into practiced remorse. Irene wasn’t fooled. She’d known for years that Anna was no innocent victim–the sweet facade only made her seem more fake.
Anna positioned herself directly in Irene’s path, making it impossible to pass without acknowledgment. Though the pallor of her overdose had faded, shadows of fatigue still haunted her eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Anna said softly, voice dripping artificial sincerity. “There’s been a terrible misunderstanding.”
Irene barely suppressed an eye roll. Seriously? This woman had done nothing but cause trouble since Irene’s return–manipulating the family, playing victim, and apparently staging a suicide attempt when her engagement collapsed. This hollow apology was just another performance.
“Tsk. Irene clicked her tongue dismissively, not bothering to hide her contempt. She had zero interest in Anna’s latest drama. Without a word, she moved to step around her.
Anna bit her lip, perfectly mimicking wounded feelings, but Irene caught the calculating gleam behind the act. Beneath the fragile facade, fury simmered.
She thinks I’ll fall for this? Irene thought coldly. After everything she’s done? After turning my foster parents against me? I don’t have time for her games.
As Irene tried to pass, Anna subtly shifted, blocking her path again. The hallway had plenty of space, but Anna had positioned herself.strategically–forcing Irene to either engage or physically brush past her.
I hate this woman, Anna seethed behind her trembling smile. She took everything–Richard, my Sterling heiress status, even my brother’s attention. She doesn’t get to ignore me like I’m nothing!
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Chapter 130
Anna had planned every detail of this encounter. The mid–morning shift change meant maximum foot traffic plenty of potential witnesses. The corridor junction offered multiple angles of visibility
Perfect conditions for what she had in mind..
She thinks she can just walk away? Anna’s rage built as Irene tried to move past. I’ll make her pay attention. Everyone will see what she really is.
With practiced skill, Anna suddenly swayed on her feet, angling her ody to fall directly in Irene’s path. The movement seemed natural to casual observers but was deliberately engineered to make appear as though Irene had pushed her.
With all these people around, Anna calculated as she began her controlled fall, someone will surely swear they saw little miss perfect assault a woman who just survived a suicide attempt. Let’s see her explan that one away!
In that split second as Anna tilted toward the floor, the stairwell dod opposite them swung open. Mike and Jenny emerged, stopping short at the scene unfolding before them.
Anna’s body was already halfway to the ground, her face a mask of shocked innocence, eyes wide with fabricated fear as she fell.
“Irene, why?” she gasped, loud enough for everyone in the hallway to hear.
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