Chapter 176
Sunset lit up the living room as Irene pulled out her hair tie, letting her dark hair fall loose. The morning’s anger had cooled to a simmer. She grabbed some water and dropped into a chair by the window, watching shadows stretch across the yard.
Her mind went back to yesterday’s surgery–seven long hours focused like crazy, her hands steady even when she was dead tired. No wonder she crashed at Adam’s place. She took a drink, thinking about their fight that morning.
As his doctor, she was in charge of his treatment–simple as that. Same time, same routine, every night. But Adam decided on his own to let her sleep instead. Nice thought, annoying result.
Irene took a deep breath, finger–combing her loose hair. She couldn’t shake the image of Adam sleeping–his face softened, guard completely down. Still, that didn’t give him license to mess with her precisely planned treatment schedule.
She flicked through his recovery data on her tablet. That beautiful upward curve… One missed night might not trash everything, but why risk it?
“Not his call to make,” she muttered, tapping the screen harder than necessary.
After a quick rinse, Irene threw on her comfiest clothes. The house sat weirdly quiet until–bang!-the front door New open and
three tornadoes blew in.
“School update?” she called out, finger–fluffing her damp hair. “Homework status? And maybe give Adam a break from your constant
invasion.”
My kids, she thought with a stab of jealousy, suddenly Team Adam instead of Team Mom.
The triplets traded looks that screamed “we’re up to something” before slapping on angel faces.
“School was snoresville,” Lucas groaned, belly–flopping onto the couch. “Homework? Please. Knocked it out ages ago.”
Irene curled up with her tablet, still obsessing over Adam’s charts. Within seconds, she found herself ambushed by three suspiciously helpful children. Lily materialized with tea, Lucas appeared with water, and Alex’s tiny fingers started working the knots in her shoulders.
She dropped her tablet, eyebrow shooting up. “Okay, spill it. What’s the angle here?”
Lucas’s face twisted before he cracked. “Mom, you still mad at Uncle Adam? Can you maybe… not be?”
Irene stayed quiet, weighing her response.
“He was totally freaking about you,” Lucas continued. “Last night he put the hammer down about noise because you were zonked.”
Alex jumped in. “He kept checking if you were okay.”
“Dude barely slept,” Lily whispered
Alex went nuclear. “Mom, anger equals wrinkles! Scientific fact! You’re the hottest mom in Silver City–why risk it?”
Irene’s lips finally cracked into a smile. She pinched Alex’s cheek. “Who taught you to talk like that?”
Whatever leftover anger she’d been nursing evaporated under her kids‘ full–court press, though she kept her game face on, secretly loving the attention.
Alex snuck a glance outside and muttered, “Uncle better hurry up. Mom’s smiling–mission possible.”
1/2
Chapter 176
Just as trene hit the kitchen to tackle dinner, the doorbell sang out sparkle nailed the impression from his cage: ‘Ding–dong,
visitor!”
She wiped her hands and shove a hair chunk behind her ear before anking the door open.
There sat Adam, Mr. Ice King himself, looking weirdly… nervous? A massive bunch of blood–red roses filled his lap. Thomas hovered in the background, clearly giving them the stage.
Adam’s fingers drummed against the wrapping–his dead giveaway tell. He thrust the flowers at her, looking nothing like his usual smooth CEO sell.
“For you,” he said simply.
From the shadows, three tiny spies watched their master plan click perfectly into place.
“Kids mentioned you like flowers, Adam continued, voice hitting a lower register. His eyes locked onto hers. “Won’t hijack your medical decisions again. That’s your turf.”
The apology seemed to unwind something in him, though his gaze stayed glued to her, scanning for reactions.
Irene took the roses, her fingers accidentally grazing his. They both froze at the contact, like teenagers touching for the first time.
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