Brandon stared at the ceiling, counting dots in the tiles to kill time. Another day stuck in this bed, his leg hurting less than yesterday but still enough to remind him he was trapped. The kids faces kept flashing through his mind–especially Alex’s shocked look when Rose had hit him.
The door pushed open without warning. His gaze snapped over, and his stomach dropped.
Irene.
“Sis…” The word slipped out, hanging awkwardly between them. His mind raced through a dozen apologies he’d rehearsed during sleepless nights.
She stepped inside, closing the door with a quiet click. Her face gave away nothing.
Brandon’s pulse quickened. Would she tear into him? Give him the cold shoulder? Tell him he’d failed as an uncle?
“How’s the leg doing?” she asked instead, her tone casual, almost detached.
He blinked twice, thrown completely off–script. “Uh.,, better?”
Where was the anger? The accusations? The disappointment?
Trene glanced at the monitors beside his bed. “Swelling gone down? Any weird sensations in your toes?”
“No, actually feeling pretty good. Doc says I’m healing faster than they expected.” He waited for her to drop the act and get to the real reason for her visit.
She nodded, asked a few more medical questions, then glanced at her watch.
“That’s it?” The words burst out before he could stop them. “You’re just… leaving?”
Irene paused at the door. “Got a lunch thing, just wanted to check on you.”
“Wait-” He pushed himself up against the pillows. “What about what happened with Mom and Alex? Aren’t you gonna say anything?”
She turned back, her mask slipping just enough to show a flicker of something softer. “What’s there to say? Not like you could leap out of bed with that leg. I saw the bruise. I know what went down.”
The door clicked shut behind her before he could respond.
Brandon sank back, staring at the empty doorway. “So… is she not mad? Or so mad she won’t even talk about it?” He rubbed his face, more confused than before she’d arrived.
In the hallway, Irene quickly traded her white coat for a light sweater Adam was right where she’d left him, scrolling through his phone.
“Ready?” she asked, singing her bag over her shoulder.
He pocketed his phone with a nod Thomas texted. Cars downstairs
They rode the elevator down, chatting about his scan results. When the doors opened to the parking garagy, cool air rushed in–and
1/3
Chapter 164
Irene froze mid–step.
Rose stood there, designer purse clutched like a weapon, her face hardening the moment she spotted them.
“Stop right there! The command bounced off concrete walls.
Irene bit back a groan. Seriously? in a parking garage?
“Irene,” Rose spat, stalking closer, “how dare you live your life while the Sterling family falls apart because of you! You’ve ruined everything!”
Hospital staff slowed their pace nearby, not even pretending not to listen.
Rose’s gaze flicked to Adam, and her entire demeanor flipped like a switch. The snarl melted into something sickeningly sweet.
“Mr. Haven,” she practically cooed, “I don’t know what this girl’s told you, but don’t let her fool you.”
Irene’s jaw clenched as Rose leaned in, voice dripping with fake concern.
“Her life was a complete trainwreck! Why do you think we cut her off? Three kids, no father–just trash from the wrong side of town. She doesn’t belong anywhere near someone like you. Whatever she’s told you is a lie!”
Each word stung like hell. Irene’s nails bit into her palms as nosy eyes locked onto her. Whispers spread through the garage
Not again. Not here.
A chill ran up her back despite the mild air. Five years hadn’t erased that awful trapped feeling, with mud being thrown by the very person who should’ve protected her from it.
She peeked at Adam, steeling herself. Would she see doubt? Disgust? The “why am I even with her” look?
Instead, he watched her with rock–steady eyes. He gave her a quick nod–a silent “I got you“-before turning back to Rose.
“I don’t need your input,” he said, voice quiet but reaching every corner. “I know exactly who Dr. Sterling is.”
The title hit like a mic drop.
“As for you,” Adam went on, “maybe fix your own mess first. Trash–talking your daughter in public? Hitting a five–year–old kid? And you’re giving others life advice?”
The garage went eerily quiet. Onlookers suddenly found urgent reasons to be elsewhere.
Something warm lit up inside Irene, pushing back the cold. Nobody outside her family had ever stood up for her like this–out in the open, no shame, no second thoughts. She’d figured Adam, with his fancy connections and big–shot_status, would care more about looking good. His rock–solid backup blindsided her completely.
Thomas appeared beside them, taking in the scene with one glance. His expression hardened when he spotted Rose.
“Boss, Doc, car’s ready,” he said, pointedly ignoring Rose. “Reservation’s in twenty.”
Rose stood frozen, humiliation battling with fury. She clearly hadn’t anticipated Adam’s response and wasn’t stupid enough to further antagonize someone with his influence.
Something shifted inside Irene–a quiet click like a puzzle piece finally finding its place. She stepped forward, gripping Adam’s wheelchair.
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Chapter 164
Don’t worry,” she told Rose, voice light but cutting as they headed t. Sterling Group’s toast because of what you did–hitting a kid, running your mouth. You ust blew your last chance to apologize to my son. You did this yourself.
They left Rose standing alone, face twisted as Irene’s words sank in
In the car, silence fell. Thomas focused on driving, sneaking glances in the mirror.
Irene stared out the window, withdrawn. The brief strength she’d found in the garage seemed to have drained away, leaving her hollow.
“You good?” Adam asked simply.
She shook her head, then caught herself. “Yeah. Used to it by now.” After a moment, she added quietly, “Thanks for having my back.
Adam studied her face, his eyes staying on hers a beat longer than normal. He didn’t say a word, but his look spoke volumes-“I see you, I respect you, and you’re not in this alone.”
Irene aned back, shocked to find Rose’s words already losing their bite, pushed aside by something new–the weird, warm feeling that someone had picked her side when it actually counted.
As the car moved through traffic, Irene closed her eyes. Behind her lids, she didn’t see Rose’s angry face or strangers‘ judgy looks. She saw Adam’s steady gaze. That look had felt like a shield–solid and real. For the first time in forever, someone outside her family had actually seen her and stayed anyway.
She opened her eyes, surprised by how much that simple moment had changed everything.
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