Chapter 223 

Irene tapped her coffee mug, st half full and already cold, as she pped through patient files. The quiet ticking of her desk clock was the only sound in the room, but her mind buzzed with thoughts of last night’s treatments, mentally sizing up her two very different patients. 

Adam was crushing every milestone she set, while Brandon… 

A smile tugged at her lips remembering the racing champion’s theatcs. The guy who’d survived a 180 mph crash had screamed like a kid getting a splinter removed. 

She tapped her pen against Adam’s chart, impressed by his quiet determination. Where most people sought sympathy, he simply pushed through, never complaining even when she knew it hurt like hell. She jotted down notes–time to step things up since he kept outpacing her expectations. 

Her peaceful planning ended when Brandon hobbled into the dining room, already dressed despite the early hour. 

“Off to see Wesley,” he announced, pouring coffee with his free hand while balancing on his crutch. 

Joseph looked up from his newspaper. “Where exactly?” 

“Just catching up.” Brandon’s answer came too quick, too vague. “No big deal.” 

Joseph’s eyebrows shot up, but he let it slide, returning to his paper with a skeptical grunt. 

Irene followed Brandon to the door. “He hasn’t taken the pills, has he?” 

Brandon’s grimace was answer enough. 

“Take Henry with you,” she said, keeping her voice low. “If he won’t listen to you, he definitely won’t listen to me. The longer he ignores this, the worse it gets.” 

Brandon nodded, his usual carefree mask slipping. “I’ll try.” 

The house fell quiet after he left. Irene had just settled back into her work when her phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number. 

“Hello?” 

“Irene, it’s Mike.” His voice sounded fake–casual with an edge that instantly put her on guard. 

Claire. Her grip tightened. 

“We need to talk,” he continued when she didn’t respond. “Face to face.” 

“I don’t think we have anything to discuss.” 

“Like it or not, we raised you,” Mike’s voice took on a sweet tone that made her skin crawl. “That’s not something money can just 

erase. 

Irene’s jaw clenched so this was about Anna’s arrest. Of course. 

“Irene, Mike pressed, “twenty–plus years as family, and you can’t spare us one meeting?” 

She almost hung up, finger hovering over the button. But something–maybe a need for final closure–made her agree. 

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Chapter 223 

“Fine. River Café downtown. Noon today.” 

“We’ll be there,” Mike replied, sounding way too happy about it. 

The moment Irene stepped inside the café a few hours later, she spotted them, Mike and Jenny sat in a corner booth, Jenny wearing her church outfit like dressing up might somehow win Irene over. 

*Irene, Jenny stood, arms outstretched for a hug that was never coming. 

Irene slid into the booth across from them, keeping her face blank. let’s cut to it. What do you want?” 

The waiter approached, but she waved him off with a quick smile. 

Jenny’s fake warmth vanished instantly. “Just one thing–get Anna out of jail. Now.” 

Irene nearly laughed at how different Jenny seemed from her previous groveling when trying to bring Ethan home. Where’s that kiss- up act now? 

“I didn’t put Anna in jail,” she stated flatly. “Bella Montgomery did the girl whose work Anna stole, whose life she nearly destroyed.” 

Mike leaned forward. “That girl didn’t actually off herself, did she? Just help Anna this once.” 

The casual dismissal of attempted suicide left Irene momentarily speechless. How had she lived with these people for twenty years? 

“We’re done here,” she said, reaching for her purse. 

Mike’s hand shot out, blocking her exit. “I heard you’re tight with the Haven heir,” he said, desperation seeping through. “Nobody in this city can say no to a Haven.” 

The naked greed in their eyes made her stomach turn. They didn’t see her–just a potential connection to power. 

Jenny grabbed Irene’s sleeve, fingers digging in. “You walk out now, and I’ll make damn sure everyone knows how you repaid our years of raising you! That how you show gratitude?” 

Irene tried to pull away, a flash of anger replacing her shock. People at nearby tables were starting to stare, some whispering behind their hands. Twenty years of keeping quiet, of swallowing her feelings–all of it threatened to explode in this tacky restaurant with witnesses all around. 

“Let go of her.” The voice cut through the tension like ice–quiet but deadly. “Unless you want Anna’s charges to mysteriously multiply.” 

Adam sat at the edge of their table, his normally controlled expression replaced by something sharper. His wheelchair had moved so quickly she hadn’t even noticed him arrive. 

Jenny’s hand dropped from Irene’s arm as if burned. 

“Adam? Irene blinked. “What are you doing here?” 

“Thomas mentioned where you were heading.” His eyes scanned her face. “You okay?” 

Before she could answer, Adam turned to the Claires. “She’s not your daughter anymore. The Sterlings raised Anna for years–maybe you should repay their kindness instead.” 

Irene caught the tiny crease between his eyebrows–the only visible crack in his composure. 

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Chapter 223 

“You cashed my grandfather’s Checks fast enough,” Irene added, finding her voice. “So drop the raising me act like it was some charity case.” 

Mike’s face darkened, mouth opening then closing without sound. 

‘Let’s go,” Adam said quietly. 

“Gladly,” Irene replied without hesitation. 

Outside, sunlight hit Irene’s face, but did nothing to warm the chill inside her. Thomas had gone for the car while Adam remained beside her, his gaze seeing everything. 

“Your hand’s shaking,” he said. 

Before she could hide it, Adam’s fingers wrapped lightly around her wrist, his thumb resting against her pulse. “Heart’s racing. You alright?” 

The simple concern in his voice caught her off guard. She shook her head slightly. 

“Thanks for stepping in,” she managed. 

“Don’t mention it.” His eyes stayed on her face, reading every tiny expression. “You went easy on them.” 

This time, Irene didn’t deny it. “Twenty years leaves marks,” she admitted. “Funny thing is, they never actually saw me as family 

Adam caught the shadow crossing her eyes. “Walking away doesn’t make you the bad guy. They just don’t deserve your kindness.” 

His words settled something inside her. “You’re right. I’m done with their mess.” 

“Back to Emerald Garden?” Adam offered, his voice gentler than usual. “We could start today’s session early, if you need the 

distraction.” 

Irene’s phone cut through the moment, vibrating against her hand. She glanced apologetically at Adam before answering. 

“Brandon? What’s-” 

“Where are you?” Brandon’s voice crackled with urgency over background noise. “Get to Luxury Vista Hotel now! Bring your kit!” 

Something shattered nearby, followed by a muffled groan of pain. 

Irene’s expression transformed–worry and doctor–mode battling for control. “On my way. What happened?” 

“It’s Wesley,” Brandon’s voice broke. “He’s-” The line went dead. 

Adam’s hand was already on his controls, ready to move. “I’ll take you.” 

“Hurry,” she told Thomas as they rushed to the car, her doctor’s instincts screaming danger. “Call Brandon back.” 

Thomas tried three times. No answer. 

The silence on the other end of the line felt like a countdown to disaster. Whatever demons Wesley had been battling alone in the dark had finally won–and now they were racing against invisible wounds that had been bleeding him dry for years while everyone 

looked the other way.