Chapter 252
room. Adam’s eyes went cold as winter,
The second Natalie walked through the door, all the oxygen seemed to get sucked out of the ro his knuckles white against the wheelchair armrests.
Natalie caught the hostility but smiled anyway, smooth as silk. “You mom sent me. Lawrence caught something. She tilted her head, professional mask firmly in place. “Look, I get it. You don’t want me here. Not like I can force you to be my patient anyway.”
Adam’s jaw worked silently. Letting this woman into his space felt like inviting a fox into his henhouse. But switching doctors now would only delay Irene’s treatment.
A vein pulsed at his temple, “You’re here for Irene only. When you’re lone, leave.”
With a barely perceptible nod to Thomas, he made sure his assistant would shadow Natalie’s every move.
In the guest room, Natalie’s eyebrows twitched upward at the sight of Irene tucked under expensive sheets. The surprise vanished in a blink, replaced by something calculating before her professional mask slipped back into place.
Adam parked himself in the doorway, arms crossed, watching Natalie like she might pocket the silverware. Every time she touched Irene’s forehead or wrist, his eyes narrowed a fraction more.
With her back to Adam, Natalie let herself frown. The way Adam was hovering wasn’t normal by any standard. Not for a doctor- patient thing, not even close.
When Natalie’s fingers brushed Irene’s neck, Adam’s face softened for a split second – but only when looking at Irene.
“She’ll be fine,” Natalie finally announced, zipping her bag shut. “Pills and rest. That’s it.”
As she headed for the door, Adam shifted slightly – a casual movement that just happened to place him between Natalie and Irene.
“We’re good here.” His tone made it clear she wasn’t welcome to linger.
Natalie eyed his protective stance. “Right. I’ll bill your mother,” she replied, dropping the medication on the table before following
Thomas out.
Safe in her car outside Emerald Garden, Natalie’s perfect smile crumbled. Her fingers drummed an angry rhythm on the steering wheel as she glared at her warped reflection in the glass.
“Seriously? She gets to crash at his place?” she muttered, her calm façade completely gone. “What’s she got that I don’t?”
Her phone screen lit up. After a moment’s hesitation, she typed out a message to Sophia:
“FYI – Just saw Irene sleeping in your son’s guest room. He’s acting super weird around her. Hovering, protective, the whole thing. Thought you’d want the heads up.”
Upstairs, Irene sat propped against pillows, a steaming bowl warming her hands. Adam hadn’t moved from her side, his usual sharp edges nowhere to be found.
She managed a few sips before setting it down. “Hurts,” she mumbled, wincing. “Sorry.”
“Just a little more, he coaxed, nudging the bowl closer.
She swallowed the pills with a face that made him almost smile. His eyes never left her face, like he was memorizing every detail.
Through fever–blurred vision, she felt a hand brush her forehead, checking for heat. “Get some sleep,” she heard him say, quiet
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Chapter 252
enough she almost missed it.
Brandon appeared in the doorway, herding the triplets. Your mom feeds rest, guys. Downstairs, come on.”
His eyes met Adam’s over the kids heads a silent man–to–man exchange that needed no words.
Though they grumbled, the kids followed Brandon out. Lucas turned back just in time to catch Adam fixing Irene’s blanket, his touch weirdly gentle for a guy who ran billion–dollar meetings. Lucas shot his siblings a told–you–so wink.
Downstairs, Adam’s phone buzzed.
“Mom,” he answered, voice instantly cooling several degrees.
“So Irene’s crashed at your place?” Sophia didn’t bother with hello. Cure to explain?”
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