Chapter 178 

Sunset glinted off the water as they settled into their seats at an upscale waterfront restaurant. The triplets pressed their faces to the window, gawking at the panoramic view. 

“Whoa, this place is insane!” Lucas whispered, eyeing the crystal glasses. 

Thomas smirked. “Prime real estate. Fireworks without beach sand in uncomfortable places.” 

Adam wheeled to the table with a nod. Irene sank into her chair, relieved to avoid pushing a wheelchair through beach crowds. 

“Remember those sad fireworks in R Country?” Alex snorted. “Like, three tiny pops and everyone went home.” 

“Trust me, these are next level,” Thomas promised. 

Lily kicked her feet. “I want sparkly ones! And the ones that look like flowers!” 

The server swung by with menus. Irene noticed how effortlessly Adam commanded the room without trying. 

Her phone buzzed with a text from Matthew about their patient. As she typed back, she felt eyes on her. 

“Problem?” Adam asked, voice low. 

“Patient’s fine. Just follow–up.” 

Something flickered across his face before their appetizers arrived. 

They’d just finished dinner when a sharp whistle cut through the air. A heartbeat later–BOOM!-the sky erupted in blue and gold. 

“It’s starting!” Lily abandoned her dessert and bolted for the windows. 

Her brothers followed instantly, hands pressed against the glass. 

The restaurant lights dimmed as the swoosh–bang of fireworks picked up tempo. Cheers floated up from the beach below. 

Adam wheeled closer. “Better view from here.” 

Irene moved beside him, their shoulders almost touching. Something electric zipped through her. 

Adam reached for a colorful mocktail and handed it to her. “Try this. Chef claims everything tastes better during fireworks.” 

Their fingers brushed during the handoff. Both froze for a split second, 

Gold and red exploded overhead, showering the bay with light. 

“Wow, Irene breathed, losing her doctor poker face. 

Adam’s eyes shifted from the sky to her face. The wonder in her expression grabbed him more than any firework could. 

He caught Lily flashing Lucas a thumbs–up. Subtle as a sledgehammer, these kids, but he couldn’t bring 

If to mind. 

Another burst lit up the night as Adam’s thoughts drifted. His entire life had been programmed like software–advanced courses, business degrees, straight into Haven Enterprises. Success had come right on schedule. 

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Chapter 178 

Yet watching fireworks with Irene and these kids hit differently than anything his corner office or investment portfolio ever could. 

The colored lights played across their faces. Irene’s usual guard–up expression softened. The kids bounced with each explosion. Even Thomas looked human for once Adam realized how rarely he saw genuine happiness in his day–to–day world. Everyone wore masks -business partners, employees, family. 

His eyes found Irene again. Fireworks reflected in her eyes like tiny universes. Her smile–the real one he rarely saw–made his chest 

tighten. 

This moment–this accidental family unit enjoying something so basic as fireworks–felt more like home than anywhere he’d lived. 

The finale lit up the sky thirty minutes later. As the last boom faded, Lily deployed her ultimate weapon–puppy eyes cranked to 

maximum. 

“Mom, beach time. Please?” 

Alex and Lucas immediately flanked her, tripling the attack power. 

Irene checked her watch. “Fine. Crowd’s thinning anyway.” 

Thomas jumped up. “I’ll handle the mini–mob.” He shot Adam a wink before herding the kids toward the elevator. 

Outside, salt air whipped their faces. Adam’s wheelchair rolled fine on the boardwalk but stopped dead where wood met sand. He parked at the boundary, watching the kids chase waves while Thomas kept watch. 

Irene stood beside him, throwing occasional glances his way. When the sea breeze picked up, she silently unfolded her wrap and laid it across his legs. 

“Gets cold when the sun’s gone,” she said simply. 

Adam stared at the fabric. Something caught in his throat. His legs felt next to nothing, but the gesture hit somewhere deeper. 

After a beat, he looked up. “Thanks.” 

Irene nodded. She stayed beside his chair, close enough that their arms brushed when she shifted. 

A sudden commotion broke their bubble–kids chasing each other across the sand. Irene had just checked on the triplets when she heard a sharp thurk behind her. 

She spun to see a boy colliding with Adam’s wheelchair, the impact tipping it forward. The kid bounced off and bolted as Adam pitched forward, his body following the chair’s momentum. 

“Adam!” She lunged forward on instinct. 

She caught him, but his weight and the angle were all wrong. Her feet slipped in the sand as she tried to brace herself. For one suspended second, she thought she might save them both–then gravity took over. 

They crashed down together, Irene twisting to take the brunt. Her back hit sand with a soft thud, Adam’s weight driving her deeper. 

The world narrowed to just them, tangled on the beach. 

Irene’s lips somehow landed directly against his throat, right at his Adam’s apple. She felt it bob as he showed hard, his skin warm against her mouth. 

Adam’s breathing stopped cold. The feeling of her lips against his most vulnerable spot sent a jolt straight through him. 

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Chapter 178 

Their faces hovered inches apart, eyes locked in the moonlight. His weight pressed her into the sand, bodies fitted together in ways that sent heat flooding through her despite the cool air. 

Irene couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. All she registered was his scent cologne mixed with sea salt–and the solid warmth of him. Her heart hammered so hard she knew he must feel it where their chests met. 

Adam’s hand had landed in her hair, fingers tangled in silky strands that had come loose. The softness between his fingers contrasted with the grit of sand under his other palm. 

Everything around them disappeared–just waves and breathing. Time stretched, neither willing to break the spell. 

Irene couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this close to anyone. The contact sent unfamiliar waves through her body–not unpleasant, but overwhelming. Like electricity humming just under her skin. 

Adam’s eyes dropped to her parted lips, then back up, a question burning that he didn’t voice. 

The moment broke when Adam tried pushing himself up, arm muscles straining. 

“Don’t move,” Irene said, voice rough as her hand steadied his shoulder. “Are you hurt?” 

He shook his head, still braced above her. “You okay?” he asked, voice dropping low. 

Irene’s lips trembled. Something like disappointment flashed in her eyes before vanishing. 

Across the beach, the triplets huddled together. 

“Total accident, but better than we planned!” Alex whispered, flashing a victory sign to his siblings. 

Thomas swung by with deliberate slowness. “Need a hand, boss?” 

As Thomas helped Adam back into his chair, Irene brushed sand from her clothes, struggling to collect herself. Though now apart, something still sparked between them–a current neither would name but both could feel. 

The sea breeze suddenly felt way too hot against their skin. 

Neither of them noticed the telephoto lens aimed their way from a parked car down the boardwalk, or the rapid click of a camera capturing their intimate moment–frame by perfect frame. 

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