Adam’s eyes narrowed as he wa hed Samantha, a flash of irritation Bossing his face. 

We’re discussing private matters,” he repeated coolly. As I said. 

Samantha’s smile flickered, but she quickly recovered, her eyes suddenly swimming with just the right amount of hurt. Oh, I just thought- 

“If it’s urgent,” Irene cut in with surprising calm, “you might as well it down and tell us.” 

Something about Samantha’s body language had triggered Irene’s professional radar. Adam shot her a quick look but kept quiet. 

Samantha practically dove for the empty chair next to Adam. She shot Irene a quick “thanks” look before pivoting to Adam, her whole body angling toward him like a sunflower tracking the sun. 

“Actually,” she said, dropping the wounded act and switching to boardroom mode, “I came to talk to Dr. Sterling. The way she emphasized “doctor” carried a hint of something that made Irene’s hackles rise. 

Irene raised an eyebrow, waiting. 

“My family’s been pouring money into–medical research lately,” Samantha continued, fingers playing with her wine glass. My institute is looking for talent like yourself.” She paused meaningfully. “We pay extremely well, and you’d have complete research 

freedom.” 

Adam’s fingers tapped twice on his wheelchair armrest. Irene caught the signal immediately. 

“Curious,” Irene said, setting down her wine, “what exactly do you know about my medical background?” 

A flicker of uncertainty crossed Samantha’s face before she rallied. “I know you’ve got some special techniques. Adam’s progress speaks for itself.” 

Classic move, Irene thought. Downplay my skills, then swoop in with a fat paycheck. 

“I’m just a regular doctor,” Irene shrugged, the corner of her mouth quirking up. “Your institute’s probably expecting too much.” 

Adam let out a dry laugh. “If she wanted to go that route, she’d have better options.” 

The implication hung in the air, sharp and clear: Irene was way out of Samantha’s league. 

Samantha’s smile tightened at the corners. In her world, a single mom with three kids should’ve been falling over herself for this opportunity. 

“Just an invitation,” Samantha recovered smoothly. “Take your time.” 

She pivoted to Adam, launching into chatter about charity galas and mutual friends. Every few sentences, she’d drop a childhood memory or inside joke, painting a picture for anyone watching: she belonged in Adam’s world, while Irene was just the help. 

Irene focused on her meal, but noticed Adam had barely touched his food. His responses had dwindled to single words, but he was enduring it–for her ake, she realized. Because she was still eating. 

Adam slipped out his phone and fired off a quick text. Rescue signal to Thomas, Irene guessed. 

Just as the silence stretched to breaking point, Samantha played her trump card. 

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Chapter 166 

“Oh! Almost forgot,” she said, Voice dripping with fake casualness. She pulled a small bag from her purse. I grabbed that limited edition stuff your mom wanted from Milan. The perfume she mentioned at the charity gala?– 

Irene nearly choked on her win It was a brilliant tactical move–shewing off her connection to Adam’s mother, her knowledge of family preferences, and her access to luxury items in one smooth strike. 

The air went still. 

Irene set down her glass, catching the calculation behind Samantha innocent expression. Clever girl, she thought. Not chasing Adam directly anymore–she’s playing the long game through his family. 

Adam’s grip tightened slightly on his armrest, but his face gave nothing away. 

“Thanks,” he said flatly, taking the bag. “I’ll give it to her,” 

Victory flashed across Samantha’s face before she masked it with a graceful exit, leaving them alone at last. 

When she disappeared through the door, Adam visibly deflated, the tension draining from his shoulders. 

“Sorry, he muttered. “She’s always like that.” 

Irene laughed softly. “I noticed. Girl’s got stamina.” 

Adam shook his head. “This is why I hate these things.” 

Their eyes met, sharing a moment of perfect understanding about the social games neither of them wanted to play. 

Irene barely made it through the door at home before three small bodies swarmed her. 

“Mom! What took so long?” Alex demanded. 

“Is Uncle Adam gonna be okay?” Lucas pressed, eyes wide. 

“Can you fix his legs?” Lily chimed in. 

Irene felt a weird twinge as all three peppered her with questions–about Adam, not her. 

She ruffled their hair and squeezed past them toward the living room. “Uncle’s fine. And yes, his legs are getting better. What, you don’t think your mom can handle it?” 

She put on her best wounded expression. The kids scrambled after her like panicked ducklings. 

“We totally trust you!” Lucas slid behind her, tiny hands working on her shoulders. “We just worry about Uncle.” 

“Mom’s the best doctor ever,” Alex added quickly. “Uncle’s super lucky to have you!” 

Irene bit back a smile. Her little con artists knew exactly which buttons to push. 

Adam stared out his office window, a rare smile playing on his lips. Today’s test results had blown past his expectations. 

Before Irene, he’d tried everything–specialists, experimental treatments, therapies that promised the moon and delivered nothing. 

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Chapter 166 

Yet here he was, feeling actuaksensations in his legs for the first ting in years. 

For the first time in a long time, he allowed himself to imagine stanging again. Walking again. 

The phone buzzed with work matters, but he let it ring. Just for today, he’d allow himself this quiet moment of hope. 

Irene had just herded the kids off for their naps when Katherine showed up clutching a thick folder. Irene raised an eyebrow—they’d just seen each other at the hospital that morning. 

“What’s with the paperwork?” Irene asked, nodding at the folder as they settled in the living room. 

Katherine grinned. “Brought you something interesting. A case that make your brain hurt.” 

She pulled out several scans and spread them across the coffee table Irene leaned forward, forehead creasing as she took in the images. 

“Well, damn,” she murmured, flipping quickly through the file. “This is…complicated.” 

“Yep.” Katherine popped the ‘p‘. “Most doctors won’t touch it. Too risky. One slip and…” She drew a finger across her throat. 

She laid out another set of documents. “Even the top guys are giving it maybe thirty percent. Family’s desperate–they’ll pay anything for someone who can actually pull this off.” 

Irene sat back, studying Katherine’s face. “You didn’t just stumble across this. Who sent it your way?” 

Katherine’s smile turned sly. “Family heard rumors about a miracle doctor. They don’t know it’s you, obviously.” 

“So who reached out?” Irene pressed, already examining the scans more carefully. 

“Matthew Hayes.” Katherine watched Irene’s face carefully as she dropped the name. 

“Matthew,” Irene murmured, her thoughts drifting back to her time in R Country. 

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