Chapter 249
Adara checked his watch 3:27 M. The night had grown impossibly gulet, with only Irene’s soft breathing breaking the silence. Dr. Lawrence had left hours ago after confirming she was suffering from extreme exhaustion. Thomas had offered to take over three times already, but Adam refused to leave.
‘I’m not leaving until she wakes up,” he’d said with a finality that set Thomas retreating.
Now, as the house settled into pre–dawn stillness, Adam found himself cataloging the small changes in Irene’s face as she slept. Even unconscious, that stubborn crease between her brows remained the mark of someone who carried too many burdens.
He adjusted a blanket that had slipped from her shoulder, careful not to wake her. The movement sent a jolt of pain through his legs–a reminder of his limitations that felt more bitter than usual tonight. If he’d been standing when she collapsed at the welfare place, he could have caught her properly, carried her to safety. Instead, he’d barely managed to break her fall.
His eyes drifted to the window where stars were beginning to fade. Son it would be morning, and he still hadn’t slept. Not that he cared. Sleep seemed trivial compared to making sure she was okay.
The curtains fluttered at the open window as Irene finally stirred. She blinked, confusion clearing as she spotted Adam sleeping awkwardly in his chair. The fact that he’d stayed all night hit her like a wave.
Memory rushed back and she sat up fast. “Your treatment!” Her voice came out scratchy. “We missed it.” Her eyes jumped to the clock, already figuring out how to fix things.
Adam woke fully, his face hardening. “Worry about yourself first. Treatment can wait.”
Irene froze. After years of taking care of others and brushing off concern, Adam’s flash of anger shouldn’t have felt good, but somehow it did–like finding something she’d forgotten she needed.
“Don’t give me that look,” he said, voice getting softer. “You were knocked out for twelve hours. Those kids need you in one piece.”
A knock cut off her answer. The door opened as Joseph walked in with Brandon and the triplets rushing behind, worry all over their
faces.
“Mom!” The kids scrambled over, checking her like tiny doctors.
“Good to see you awake,” Joseph said with a relieved smile, patting her hand.
Brandon leaned against the doorframe, eyes bouncing between Irene and Adam, picking up on the weird vibe between them.
“We can skip today if you’re beat,” Brandon offered. “My leg’s
“Not happening,” Irene shook her head, stubborn as alw. “ot going anywhere.”
“I’ll take it easier, but we’re keeping to schedule.”
Adam’s face darkened even more, and before she knew what she was doing, Irene reached out and tugged at his sleeve.
“Don’t be mad.” The words came out soft, with an actual pout that surprised even her.
The room’s mood changed instantly. Brandon’s eyebrows shot up. Joseph ducked his head, lips twitching as he tried not to laugh. The triplets traded looks like they’d just seen their secret plan work perfectly.
And Adam? The storm clouds on his face just vanished. He didn’t say anything, just looked at her with a warmth that made her feel dizzy.
Irene found herself by the living room window later that day. She’d ignored Joseph and Brandon’s demands to stay in bed.
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Chapter 249
Lying around just makes me feel worse, she’d claimed, though the book in her hands hadn’t moved
page in half an hour,
Her mind kept circling back to that morning moment–tugging Adams sleeve, using that voice. Since when did she care if Adam was mad? Since when did his mood hange hers so completely?
Mom. Lily’s voice pulled her back. “You’re spacing out again.” All three kids stood watching her, looking worried.
“Sorry, guys.” Irene closed the forgotten book.
“We took cookies to Uncle Adam,” Lucas said, bouncing a little. “He said they were good but yours are way better.”
Alex pushed his glasses up. “He actually said ‘nobody makes things like your mom does.””
Irene had to laugh. These kids had totally adopted Adam? When hade changed from just another patient into “Uncle Adam,”
in the family without her even noticing. someone who fit right into their lives? He’d carved out–spac
Her phone lit up with Matthew’s call.
“Kids are doing great,” he said. “Little Bell’s okay now. It’s you I’m worried about.”
“I’m fine,” Irene replied, her eyes drifting to the window where Adams house
soon.”
visible through the trees. “I’ll check on them
After hanging up, she caught all three children watching her with knowing looks.
“Why can’t you take care of yourself like you take care of everybody else?” Alex asked, sounding way older than seven.
“Uncle Adam would be mad if he knew you were thinking about work already,” Lily added, totally serious.
Irene couldn’t deny how Adam’s presence had grown in their home. The kids‘ talks, daily stuff, even her own thoughts–everything seemed to circle back to him like they were being pulled.
This wasn’t what I planned. Yet she couldn’t ignore how safe his presence made her feel.
The clock on the wall showed nearly six when Irene headed toward Adam’s house. Though she felt better physically, that vulnerable moment from morning still threw her off balance.
A breeze caught her hair as she crossed the garden. Her attention landed on a vibrant bloom standing out among the others. Without thinking, she reached out and picked it.
He might still be upset. The thought made her fingers close around the stem.
Her heart beat faster as she walked into his study. Adam looked up from papers spread across his desk, watching her from the moment she appeared.
“I’m late,” she said, walking to his desk. Then, just like that, she held out the flower. “Here.”
The move surprised them both. Adam stared at the flower, then at her, something flickering across his face.
“What’s this for?” His mouth tugged into a half–smile.
Only then did Irene realize how strange this probably seemed. “Nothing really,” she stumbled over the words. “Just so you’ll stop being mad.” She shrugged, trying to seem casual. “Think of it as a bribe.”
Their fingers brushed as he took the flower, a touch that shouldn’t have felt like sparks but somehow did.
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“Lying around just makes me feel worse, she claimed, though the book in her hands badn’t moved a page in half an hour.
Her mind kept circling back to that morning moment–tugging Adams sleeve, using that voice. Since when did she care if Adam was mad? Since when did his mood hange hers so completely?
“Mom.” Lily’s voice pulled her back. You’re spacing out again.” All the kids stood watching her, looking worried.
“Sorry, guys.” Irene closed the forgotten book.
“We took cookies to Uncle Adam,” Lucas said, bouncing a little. “He said they were good but yours are way better.
Alex pushed his glasses up. “He actually said ‘nobody makes things like your mom does.”
Irene had to laugh. These kids had totally adopted Adam: When had be changed from just another patient into ‘Uncle Adam,” someone who fit right into their lives? He’d carved out space in their family without her even noticing.
Her phone lit up with Matthew’s call.
“Kids are doing great,” he said. “Little Bell’s okay now. It’s you I’m worried about.”
“I’m fine,” Irene replied, her eyes drifting to the window where Adams house was visible through the trees. “I’ll check on them
soon.”
After hanging up, she caught all three children watching her with knowing looks.
“Why can’t you take care of yourself like you take care of everybody else?” Alex asked, sounding way older than seven.
“Uncle Adam would be mad if he knew you were thinking about work already,” Lily added, totally serious.
Irene couldn’t deny how Adam’s presence had grown in their home. The kids‘ talks, daily stuff, even her own thoughts–everything seemed to circle back to him like they were being pulled.
This wasn’t what I planned. Yet she couldn’t ignore how safe his presence made her feel.
The clock on the wall showed nearly six when Irene headed toward Adam’s house. Though she felt better physically, that vulnerable moment from morning still threw her off balance.
A breeze caught her hair as she crossed the garden. Her attention landed on a vibrant bloom standing out among the others. Without thinking, she reached out and picked it.
He might still be upset. The thought made her fingers close around the stem.
Her heart beat faster as she walked into his study. Adam looked up from papers spread across his desk, watching her from the moment she appeared.
“I’m late,” she said, walking to his desk. Then, just like that, she held out the flower. “Hére.”
The move surprised them both. Adam stared at the flower, then at her, something flickering across his face.
“What’s this for?” His mouth tugged into a half–smile.
Only then did Irene realize how strange this probably seemed. “Nothing really,” she stumbled over the words. “Just so you’ll stop being mad.” She shrugged, trying to seem casual. “Think of it as a bribe.”
Their fingers brushed as he took the flower, a touch that shouldn’t have felt like sparks but somehow did.
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Chapter 249
Depends what’s worth getting angry about, he said, smile growing, but I’ll take it
He placed the flower on his desk carefully, like it was something precious. When he looked back up, his expression had changed to something she’d never seen befe–something that made her stomach flip.
Time seemed to stop. Irene couldn’t look away, her heartbeat suddenly loud in her ears, heat climbing up her neck. She wasn’t seeing her patient or her neighbor anymore–she was seeing Adam.st Adam, the man. The realization hit her all at once.
What’s happening to me? Her thoughts scattered. Why am I looking at him like this?
Adam clearly caught the change, his eyes darkening with something that looked a lot like hope. But he only asked, “Ready to start?”
Irene nodded, trying to switch back to doctor mode. But something d shifted between them, and there was no going back.
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