Chapter 235 

“That place looks good,” Irene pointed to a restaurant with fish decorations. “Should we eat there?” 

“Yes,” Adam replied instantly, voice softer than usual. 

Thomas bit back a smile while fixing the wheelchair. He’d never seen his boss agree to anything so quickly. Business proposals that took months of work barely got a nod, yet here he was jumping at Irene’s casual suggestion. 

“They have kids‘ meals!” Alex bounced on his toes. 

Lily spun in a circle. “And ice cream!” 

“Double fries for me!” Lucas patted his growling stomach.. 

The restaurant buzzed with families fresh from the dolphin show. As their food arrived, Irene caught herself watching Adam with the kids. He actually listened when Alex rambled about sharks. He nodded when Lily described tropical fish. He laughed–genuinely laughed–when Lucas did his walrus impression with straws stuck in his mouth. 

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“You’ve got ketchup,” Adam pointed to Lucas’s chin, handing him a napkin before Irene could even reach for one. 

She paused mid–bite. Something about that simple gesture hit her right in the chest. 

The afternoon flew by in a blur of exhibits and shows. By the time they pulled up to Emerald Garden, even Lucas had mellowed out. 

“I’ll get these photos printed for you,” Thomas said, tapping his camera. 

“Thanks.” Irene pushed hair behind her ear, a gesture Adam had started noticing. 

Lucas found one last burst of energy. “Today was epic! Uncle Adam’s shoelace knots are way better than yours, Mom!” 

“Mom,” Lily sidled up with that look that meant trouble, “you and Uncle Adam were super close in that ocean tunnel. I saw you.” 

Heat crawled up Irene’s neck. “We were looking at the same fish.” He weak defense sounded pathetic even to her own ears. 

The kids thundered inside while Irene lingered a moment. The memory of the blue–lit tunnel suddenly played in vivid detail- Adam’s shoulder brushing hers, that intense focus she’d assumed was directed at the rare fish above them. Had he actually been watching her instead? 

“Tomorrow, then,” Adam said, his eyes staying on hers a 

beat too long. 

208 

“Right. Tomorrow.” Irene nodded, suddenly feeling like a teenager with a crush. 

Back at his place, Adam settled in his study while Thomas connected the camera to his laptop 

“Want to see today’s photos?” Thomas asked, already knowing the answer. 

“Yes.” Adam took the camera, leaning forward with unusual interest. 

Thomas pointed to one from the ocean tunnel. “The blue lighting created something special here.” 

Adam stopped on that picture longer than the others. The tunnel’s blue glow transformed an ordinary moment–Irene’s profile as she pointed at something overhead, her smile real and unguarded. What the photo revealed was that Adam wasn’t looking at any fish. His gaze captured her completely. 

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Chapter 235 

He kept scrolling until freezing on the shoelace moment. Thomas had nailed it–Adam bending forward, carefully tying Lucas’s bright blue sneaker. But what made Adam’s breath catch was Irene in the background, watching them with an expression he’d never seen before–something raw and vulnerable that made his chest tight 

“Print all of these,” Adam said, voice rough. “High quality.” 

Thomas blinked. “All of them?” 

“Every single one.” Adam’s finger lingered on the shoelace photo. “Especially this one.” 

“I’ll handle it tonight,” Thomas replied, noting, how his boss was suddenly fascinated by family photos–something that had never happened before. 

The next day, a delivery guy dropped off an envelope at Emerald Garden before lunch. Adam showed up minutes later, sliding into his spot at the table as James served pasta. 

“Ocean World photos Adam said, passing the package to Irene. “Your copies.” 

“Thanks,” she murmured, fingers brushing his as she took it. “Let’s eat first.” 

Joseph cleared his throat as the triplets practically vibrated with impatience. “Kids, easy. Food now, pictures later.” 

The second their plates emptied, the kids pounced. Photos scattered across the table–memories of their perfect day. 

Alex leaned in, studying one particular image with intense focus. “This is perfect–the lighting and expressions are just right. Uncle Adam isn’t looking at the fish in the tunnel, Mom. He’s looking at you.” 

Irene nearly choked on her water. 

“Look! This is when Uncle Adam fixed my shoes!” Lucas thrust the photo up like a trophy. “Going right by my bed!” 

Lily zeroed in on her mother’s reaction like a tiny detective. “Mom, why’s your face all red? Think you guys look good together, 

huh?” 

Irene flipped over a photo where she’d been caught staring at Adam with obvious affection. “Stop it, Lily. We can’t just frame these however we want. Adam might not like that.” 

“I really don’t mind,” Adam replied, his eyes tracking Irene’s every flustered movement. “Frame whatever makes you happy.” 

Brandon, who’d been unusually quiet, suddenly straightened. His eyes narrowed as he watched his sister fumble with the photos. 

“Looks like I missed a fun day,” Brandon said, picking up a photo with a curious smile. “You guys had quite the adventure. 

Irene sighed. They’re making it into a bigger deal than it is.” 

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Adam added at the exact same moment. 

The room went quiet. Brandon looked between them with raised eyebrows, surprised by their perfect sync. Joseph turned to the window, hiding a small smile. 

I think I’ll check on Wesley, Brandon said, getting up from his chair “He wanted to try those exercises again.” 

That evening, Adam sat alone in his study, work spread across his dek untouched. His attention remained fixed on the shoelace photo he’d separated from the others. After staring at it for what fel like hours, he made a decision that surprised even himself. 

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Chapter 235 

“Thomas.” 

His assistant appeared instantly, “Sir?” 

Get a frame for this.” Adam tapped the photo, then pointed to a spot on his desk–space previously reserved exclusively for business awards and strategic notes, “It goes here.” 

Thomas couldn’t hide his shock. “Right away.” 

As Thomas left, he shook his head in amazement. In all his years with Adam, he’d never seen the man display a personal photograph. The study had always been a shrine to business efficiency, completely devoid of sentiment. 

Yet now, a simple moment captured between a man, a woman, and a child’s untied shoelace was about to change that—just as Emerald Garden and the people inside it were clearly changing Adam himself. 

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