Chapter 240 

“I’ve followed Haven Enterprise for years,‘ she said, leaning just close enough for her perfume to reach him. “Your acquisition strategy is fascinating.” 

Throughout dinner, she hit every mark in the wealthy–wife–applicant playbook–laughing at his driest comments, dropping just enough business knowledge to seem informed without threatening, touching his arm at carefully calculated intervals. 

Adam responded with textbook politeness and ice–cold emotional distance. He discussed quarterly projections like reading a phone. book, answered questions efficiently, and ignored every opening she offered. 

By dessert, even her father looked ready to call it a night, clearly realizing the matchmaking attempt had crashed and burned. 

The second they escaped the restaurant, Adam turned to Thomas. “Cancel anything my father schedules that isn’t explicitly labeled as work. No exceptions.” 

“Already on it,” Thomas replied, fingers flying across his phone screen. 

Adam stared out the window, jaw working. “Is he home?” 

Thomas glanced up. “Yes.” 

“Take me there. Now.” 

Twenty minutes later, Marcus barely glanced up from his newspaper when Adam wheeled into the study, his entrance deliberately forceful enough to announce his mood. 

“How was dinner?” Marcus asked with feigned innocence. 

“Cut the crap,” Adam replied, his voice carrying that quiet intensity that made boardroom opponents sweat. “What game are you and mom playing?” 

Marcus carefully folded his paper, buying time. “It was just a business dinner.” 

“With a daughter who happens to be single, ambitious, and conveniently seated next to me?” Adam’s eyes narrowed. “I’m not stupid, and I’m not a pawn in whatever scheme you two are running.” 

Marcus sighed, mask slipping. “Your mother worries. She only wants 

“What she wants,” Adam cut in. “Not what I need.” 

10 

A heavy silence filled the room before Marcus spoke again. “She found a specialist. Someone she believes could speed up your 

recovery.” 

Adam’s expression hardened. “My medical decisions are mine. Dr. Sterling stays.” 

“Your mother has already arranged for this doctor to meet you tomorrow.” 

“Cancel it.” 

Marcus spread his hands. “She’s quite determined.” 

Something cold settled in Adam’s chest. His mother had always been stubborn, but this level of interference felt different – more desperate, more calculated. 

“This stops now,” he said, voice deadly quiet. Or things will get uncomfortable for everyone.” 

Hours later, Adam’s office hunned with tension as he tried to defuse the crisis Victor’s theft had triggered. The security breach had spooked investors, and now Led–one of their biggest clients–was threatening to walk. 

“Sir,” Thomas pushed through the door, expression tight. “Lee’s demanding an emergency call. Says he’s heard about our missing components and is pulling all contracts unless you explain personally.” 

“Set it up,” Adam replied, pulling out his phone. “Tell Irene I’ll be late.” 

Before Thomas could move, Adam’s phone lit up with a message from Irene: 

“Your mom’s here. With another woman.” 

Those few words hit like a punch to the gut. His mother had moved faster than anticipated, bringing her replacement doctor directly. to his home–to Irene. 

Adam’s grip tightened on his armrest until his knuckles blanched white. The two crises pulled him in opposite directions. Lee’s contracts represented billions in revenue, thousands of jobs, and market–stability. But Irene was facing his mother completely unprepared for Sophia Haven’s particular brand of elegant destruction. 

For the first time in his career, Adam found himself genuinely torn about which fire to extinguish first. His business instincts screamed to handle Lee immediately. But something deeper–something he’d only recently begun to recognize–pulled him toward Emerald Garden with unexpected force. 

Time to choose, Haven. The thought echoed as his phone lit up with another message–this one from Lee’s assistant, confirming the emergency call was connecting in two minutes.