Chapter 174
The drive to Emerald Garden took only fifteen minutes, but to frenet felt like crossing the Sahara. Her eyelids drooped with each passing streetlight. By the time she pulled up outside Adam’s house keeping her head up took everything she had left.
She sat in her car, trying to spark life into her dead–tired body. Her muscles screamed bloody murder with every step to the front door.
Thomas opened up, eyes widening at the sight of her. Without a word, he stepped aside.
“Got a spare room?” she asked, not bothering to fully enter. “Need to crash but still handle treatment later.” She wobbled against the doorframe. “If I go home, I’m out cold till morning.”
Adam rolled out from his study, taking her in with one glance. The exhaustion was written all over her–slumped shoulders, dark circles under her eyes, the way she leaned on the wall just to stay upright.
“Come in,” he said simply.
He led her upstairs to a guest room straight out of a magazine–crisp sheets, fluffy pillows, spotless from corner to corner.
Irene managed a weak “Thanks” before her body quit on her. She fell onto the bed and was gone in seconds, finally surrendering to the bone–deep tiredness she’d been fighting all day.
Adam stayed in the doorway, something shifting inside him as he watched her. Her face, always so put–together, looked completely different in sleep–softer somehow, peaceful. The worry line between her brows had smoothed away.
He moved closer, gently pulling the blanket over her. His movements were slow and careful, like handling something precious. For several long moments, he couldn’t look away, caught off guard by an urge to protect what he saw.
“Mom’s sleeping WHERE?” Lucas nearly shouted, eyes popping wide.
The triplets traded looks loaded with meaning before racing toward Adam’s house, minds buzzing with possibilities. Was this really happening?
Thomas caught them bursting through the front door and rushed to cut them off, finger to his lips. “Shh! Over here, you little hurricanes. Your mom needs rest, and the boss says nobody bugs her. Let Uncle Thomas keep you busy instead.”
Alex squinted suspiciously. “So Mom’s upstairs? And Adam’s up there too?”
Thomas blinked, suddenly hearing how that sounded. “Well, yes, they re both upstairs, but that’s exactly why-”
The triplets nodded solemnly–then shot past him the second he took a breath.
“Just peeking at Mom real quick!” Alex called over his shoulder as Thomas scrambled after them.
Their spy mission crashed before takeoff. Just as they neared the guest room, Adam appeared silently, immediately putting a finger to his lips and pointing downstairs with a look that meant business.
Back in the living room, he raised an eyebrow at them. “What’s the rush?”
“Finished homework and heard Mom was here,” Alex explained, the picture of innocence. “Thought we’d wait for her.”
Lucas nodded toward his sister. “Lily just wanted to raid your kitchen again.”
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Lily giggled, unleashing her ultimate weapon–puppy–dog eyes cranked to maximum. “Can we sleep over? Her look could ve melted
ice in winter.
Adam, completely outmatched gainst their triple–threat charm, gave in with a nod, “Fine,”
Lucas jumped right in. “We want to sleep in your room!*
The triplets had been angling for more quality time since their last sleepover. Their mom always worried they were being pests, but in their minds, he wasn’t just “Uncle Adam‘ – he was their father. Their real dad. Only they knew the truth, carrying this treasure while waiting for the grown–ups to catch up to what was crystal clear to them.
“Deal,” Adam agreed, lips twitching upward. “Dinner first/
The kids barely held back their victory dance as Thomas went to break the news to the chef about three extra mouths to feed.
“What’s cooking?” Alex asked, sliding into the seat next to Adam’s wheelchair, casually festing his small hand on the armrest- staking his claim in a way that made Thomas hide a smile.
“Chef’s making pasta,” Thomas answered, noticing how the triplets always seemed to orbit around Adam like little planets. He’d caught on to how they copied Adam’s mannerisms, hung on his every word, how Lucas had even started tilting his head exactly like Adam when thinking hard about something.
“Ice cream after?” Lily asked hopefully, eyes glued to Adam’s face.
“Veggies first, then ice cream,” Adam replied without thinking, then paused, surprised by how dad–like he’d just sounded.
Lucas nodded seriously. “That’s what Mom always says too.”
A small, satisfied smile spread across Alex’s face. Every tiny similarity he spotted between Adam and their mom felt like another puzzle piece clicking into place, backing up what his heart already knew.
During dinner, Sparkle made a grand entrance, swooping down to land right on the table’s edge with perfect timing.
“Handsome guy!” the bird squawked, bobbing toward Adam. “Handsome guy!”
The triplets burst into giggles while Thomas nearly spat out his water.
“Been teaching it new tricks?” Adam asked dryly.
Alex tried looking innocent. “Maybe.”
“What else can it say?” Thomas asked, already dreading whatever was coming.
Lily beamed. We taught it ‘Daddy‘ too, but it keeps mixing it up with
“Who wants dessert?” Lucas cut in loudly, shooting his sister a look that screamed too much information.
Later that night, when treatment time rolled around, Adam wheeled quietly to the guest room. Inside, Irene hadn’t budged an inch, still out cold. Her breathing came slow and steady, face finally relaxed after what must have been hell on earth.
He watched her for a moment, then carefully maneuvered his wheelchair beside the bed. Usually, he’d have woken her–the treatments were too important to skip. But tonight, seeing how completely wiped out she was, he made a different call.
Missing one session won’t kill me, he thought, eyes lingering on her face. She needs this sleep more than I need therapy tonight.
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Chapter 174
He stayed longer than planned, just watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. Something about seeing her this vulnerable stirred feelings he wasn’t ready to name. The fierce, brilliant doctor who commanded operating rooms and stood her ground against him without blinking now looked almost fragile.
Before leaving, he fixed the blanket one last time, his fingers brushing against her arm. That simple touch sent an unexpected warmth through him, strange yet familiar, like remembering something he’d never actually experienced.
What Adam didn’t realize was that this small kindness–putting her needs before his own–would kick off a chain reaction neither of them saw coming.
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