Chapter 179 

What just happened? Lucas hissed, eyes darting between his mom and Adam as Thomas wrestled the wheelchair upright. 

Irene brushed sand from her clothes, hoping her face didn’t betray the thundering in her chest. She cleared her throat. 

“Some kid crashed into Adam’s wheelchair,” she said, aiming for casual. “We both went down. No big deal.” 

She skipped the part about her lips against Adam’s throat, his weight pinning her to the sand, and that moment when the rest of the world faded away. 

Alex squinted, unconvinced. “That’s it?” 

“You guys looked pretty tangled up,” Lucas added with zero filter. 

Lily pushed between her brothers, genuine concern replacing their teasing. “Are you hurt? That looked nasty.” 

Thomas got the wheelchair back onto the boardwalk while Adam adjusted himself, both carefully avoiding Irene’s eyes. 

“We’re fine, Adam said, steady despite the weird tension crackling between them. 

Lily gasped. “Uncle Adam, your neck’s bleeding!” 

Adam touched his throat, fingers coming away with a smear of red. He looked surprised, as if noticing it for the first time. 

Irene’s stomach dropped. When she’d crashed against him, her teeth must have nicked his skin. Heat rushed to her face. 

“Let me see,” she said, doctor mode kicking in to mask her embarrassment. 

She stepped closer, tilting his chin up with her fingers. Even this clinical touch felt charged after what had just happened. Under the moonlight, she spotted a tiny cut below his jawline. 

“Not deep,” she said, trying to ignore the strong line of his jaw beneath her fingertips. “Just a scratch. We should head back and 

clean it.” 

Adam shook his head. “It’s nothing. Let the kids enjoy the beach.” 

“No,” Irene insisted, surprising herself. “If it scars, I’ve failed as your doctor.” Not to mention it was my fault, she added silently. 

The triplets huddled behind them, stage–whispering dramatically. 

“If Uncle Adam gets a scar,” Lucas announced, “Mom should marry him to make up for it!” 

“Yeah!” Lily chimed in. “It’s only fair!” 

Irene spun around, fighting a smile. “Knock it off, or it’s extra homework for a week!” 

The kids giggled, clearly pleased with whatever they’d stirred up. 

Thomas cleared his throat. “Home, boss?” 

Adam nodded, face unreadable. “Probably smart.” 

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Chapter 179 

Back at Adam’s place, Irene dug through her first aid kit. The kids had been sent to clean up, leaving the adults in peace. 

Warm lamplight filled the room as she prepped her supplies. She soaked a cotton swab in antiseptic and moved closer to Adam, who sat motionless in his wheelchai 

“Might sting,” she warned softly. 

As she leaned in, Adam caught her scent–something light mixed with sea salt. Her breath whispered across his cheek while she focused on the cut. 

He found himself studying her up close. Her skin caught the warm glow, tiny peach fuzz on her cheeks catching the light. Her lashes cast shadows as she worked. 

The antiseptic tingled, but Adam barely noticed. What struck him was how she handled him–careful, like he might break, despite knowing how strong he actually was. 

His mind flashed back to the beach–how she’d lunged to catch him without hesitation. Most people would’ve jumped away, letting him fall. Irene had done the opposite, putting herself between him and harm instantly. 

How had someone so slim moved that fast? The memory of her beneath him hit him differently than he expected–less about the physical contact and more about what it revealed. People didn’t sacrifice for Adam Haven; they calculated what he could do for them. 

Thomas pretended to check his phone while secretly watching them. The triplets‘ words echoed: “Uncle Adam and Mom look super perfect together.” 

Looking at them now–her tending his wound with such care, him watching her with naked fascination–Thomas had to admit the kids were onto something. The spark between them was obvious. 

Those little matchmakers aré actually getting somewhere, he thought, hiding a smile. 

“There,” Irene said, placing a bandage over the clean cut. Her fingers lingered a beat too long. “Keep this dry for a couple days. No water, or it might get infected.” 

She stepped back, creating some professional distance. “Anything else hurt? We should check thoroughly.” 

Adam shook his head, almost smiling. “I’m good.” 

“Okay,” Irene nodded, packing up. “I’ll be back later for your treatment. If anything bothers you before then, let me know.” 

She snapped the kit closed. “Better check on the kids. Make sure they’re not hatching more plots.” 

Adam watched her go, unaware that his typically sharp gaze had softened to something that made Thomas raise an eyebrow. 

Across town, Samantha stood by the windows, tapping one perfect nail against her glass. A car engine hummed in the distance- right on time. 

She watched a black sedan pull through the gates. A nondescript man emerged with an envelope. 

Minutes later, he stood in her sitting room. 

“What did you find?” she asked coldly. 

The investigator handed her the envelope. “Mr. Haven spends most days with Dr. Sterling. They just went to Silver Beach for dinner 

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Chapter 179 

and fireworks with her family. Here’s everything.” 

Her eyebrows drew together as she took the envelope. Her fingers trembled slightly pulling out the first photo. 

She studied each image carefully. In one, Adam looked at Irene with an expression Samantha had never seen–gentle, almost tender, his typically cold eyes softened in a way that made her stomach twis 

“This isn’t him,” she whispered. “This can’t be him.” 

The Adam Haven she knew never looked at anyone that way–especially not her, despite years of carefully orchestrated interactions. 

Fury bubbled up, making her breathing shallow. Her nails dug into her palm as she flipped to the next photo. 

What she saw made her freeze. 

Irene was draping something over Adam’s legs. The next shot showed them tangled together on the sand, bodies pressed close in what looked like an embrace. 

Samantha’s hand stopped mid–air, shaking visibly. 

“Get out,” she ordered, voice deadly quiet. 

When the door closed, she stared at the photos for one burning second before gritting her teeth and ripping them to shreds. The pieces fluttered onto the carpet. 

“She’s actually becoming a threat,” Samantha hissed. 

She’d dismissed Irene as nothing but a nobody with a messy past–some waitress’s daughter with a fresh coat of paint. These photos told a different story. Adam Haven, who’d rejected every perfect match his family presented, was looking at this… this nobody like she mattered. 

Samantha grabbed her phone, decision made. “Drastic measures it is. 

She dialed quickly. When it connected, she didn’t waste time. 

“Make another copy of those photos,” she snapped. “Send them anonymously to the Haven mansion.” 

She hung up with vicious smile. If she couldn’t have Adam Haven, she’d make damn sure no one else would–especially not some single mom with questionable baggage. 

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