Chapter 203
Irene had been awake for twenty minutes, sprawled on her bed and mentally replaying last night on repeat.
“God, why am I like this?” she groaned, cheeks burning. One glass of wine and I’m practically diving into people’s laps.”
She rolled over, burying her face in her pillow. The embarrassment felt physical, a tightness in her chest that wouldn’t ease.
“His wheelchair, of all places,” she muttered into the fabric. Her fingers twisted the sheet beneath her. “The garden, the moonlight, the way he looked at me…”
The memory wouldn’t stop–Adam’s steady gaze, the brush of his hand against her wrist, that moment when everything around them seemed to vanish.
She smacked the pillow. “I literally leaned in! What was I thinking?
After fifteen minutes of pillow–smothering torture, Irene dragged herself downstairs. She couldn’t hide forever, though the thought was tempting.
Joseph glanced up from his newspaper, coffee mug halfway to his lips. The moment he caught her eye, his mouth quirked.
‘Look who’s up,” he said, eyes twinkling. “The girl who treats wheelchairs like lounge chairs.”
“Grandpa, please,” Irene begged, her ears turning pink. “That wasn’t
“Wasn’t what? A little midnight date?” He took a smug sip. “Was it the wine you wanted, perhaps-*
“I stumbled!” She rushed to his side, hands fluttering. “Total accident!”
Joseph’s teasing smile faded, replaced by something gentler. “Heard about Rose.”
The abrupt shift caught her off–guard. Irene slumped onto a stool, previous embarrassment pushed aside by a heavier weight.
“Matthew called yesterday,” she confirmed.
Joseph reached across, his weathered hand covering hers. “Whatever you decide, it’s yours to make. No obligations, no guilt.” His voice dropped, warm with certainty. “I’ve got your back either way.”
Irene’s eyes dampened. “Grandpa…”
She didn’t need to say more. Joseph had always been her rock–the one person who supported her no matter what.
Across town, Nathan sat beside Brandon’s hospital bed, his suit showing he’d rushed over between meetings.
Brandon barely acknowledged him, gaze fixed on his phone.
“Why won’t Dr. Joy treat Mom?” Nathan finally asked, cutting to the chase.
Brandon glanced up, face blank. “Not my circus.”
Nathan leaned forward, voice dropping. “Is Dr. Joy actually Irene?”
A muscle twitched in Brandon’s cheek–the tiniest tell–but his expression stayed locked down. The stretching silence confirmed what Nathan had suspected.
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Chapter 203.
Damn, Brandon thought. How this blockhead figure it out? If she finds out I leaked this…
“It really is her, Nathan breathed, realization crossing his face.
He opened his mouth to continue, but Brandon cut him off.
“You’re hoping she’ll save Rose?” he asked, eyebrow raised. “Based on what exactly?”
“She’s her mother,” Nathan replied weakly.
“Mother?” Brandon snorted. “When? When Rose was calling her trash? When she was slapping Irene’s five–year–old? When she called
those kids names to their faces?”
His voice sharpened with each question. “Rose hasn’t apologized once–not for throwing Irene out, not for hitting Alex, not for anything.” He slammed his palm against the bed rail. Why the hell would she help?”
Brandon leaned forward, eyes locked on his brother’s. “If I were her, wouldn’t lift a finger. Even I saw through this family’s act the second I got back.”
His tone softened slightly, but the warning remained. “Don’t try manipulating her, Nathan. She doesn’t owe Sterling a damn thing. If anything, we owe her. The fact she fixed my leg already put me in her debt.”
Nathan stared at his hands, lost in thought. “When she first came back, Mom said she controlled twenty percent of company shares.” He laughed dryly. “I planned to buy her off with a check…”
He shook his head. “What a joke. ‘Dr. Joy‘ makes millions per case. Our money means nothing to her.”
The brothers fell into silence, Nathan eventually rising and leaving without another word, footsteps heavy against tile.
Alone again, Brandon scrolled through social media. His thumb froze over a photo Joseph had posted–the triplets crowded around an outdoor café table, ice cream smeared across their grins.
Brandon zoomed in, a smile spreading as he studied their little faces. He immediately liked the post and fired off a comment.
“Missing my favorite munchkins!” he typed. “And Grandpa and sis too. So cruel leaving me alone in this prison… I mean hospital. Woe is me!”
He stared at the photo longer, something tugging at him. Haven’t seen those little monsters since my last treatment…
After a moment’s hesitation, he sent Irene a direct message: “Any chance I could bust out of here for a bit?”
Her response shot back instantly: “What are you plotting?”
The doorbell rang just as Irene finished her coffee. She glanced at Joseph, who conveniently disappeared into the living room, newspaper tucked under his arm.
When she opened the door, Adam sat in his wheelchair, looking casual in a sweater.
“Morning,” he said, eyes meeting hers briefly before sliding away. “Just wanted to check if you’re okay after last night.”
Irene’s cheeks warmed instantly. “I–yes. Fine. Completely fine.”
An awkward silence stretched between them.
“About that,” she finally managed. “Sorry for… you know.”
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Chapter 203
Adam’s lips quirked. “For drinking my juice or falling in my lap?”
“Both?” She winced, embarrassed all over again.
“The juice part was a joke,” he admitted, a flash of humor crossing his face. “But the wheelchair incident definitely happened.”
He nodded toward the kitchen. ‘Smells good in there.”
“Just coffee and toast,” she said, then found herself adding, “Have you eaten?”
Adam hesitated, then shook his head.
“Come in, Irene stepped back, surprising herself with how much she wanted him to say yes. “Nothing fancy, but plenty to go
around.”
Adam wheeled forward, crossing the threshold. “I could eat.”
Behind them, the triplets thundered down the stairs, immediately spotting their favorite neighbor.
“Uncle Adam! Lily squealed, racing over.
Alex followed more calmly. “You’re just in time. Mom makes the best weekend breakfast.”
Lucas appeared with a checkerboard. “After breakfast, can we play? I’ve been practicing my strategy.”
The house transformed with their energy–the awkwardness between Irene and Adam replaced by children’s chatter and Joseph’s knowing looks.
As they headed toward the kitchen, Irene’s phone buzzed with another message from Brandon: “Is that a yes to the prison break? I’m dying of boredom here!”
Irene smiled, watching Brandon’s messages pile up with increasingly dramatic pleas. For all his tough facade, her brother turned into a five–year–old when he felt left out.
She set her phone down without replying, catching Adam watching her with something unreadable in his eyes.
“I need to stop by the hospital later,” she explained, tucking her phone away. “Brandon’s going stir–crazy in there.”
Adam nodded, his gaze lingering on her face. “Family’s important.”
The simple statement hung in the air between them–saying more than either dared put into words.
Chapter Comments
Joanne Nkrumah
Another chapter of nothing why make it longer why hasn’t he started standing or walking
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