Chapter 275
“What?” she asked softly.
Adam looked at her for a beat too long, something possessive flickering behind his eyes before he released her wrist. “Nothing”
As they continued, Irene shifted topics. ‘Alex taught Lucas some coding trick yesterday. You should’ve seen how proud he was,
“How are those little monsters doing? Adam asked, voice warming.
“Missing you, actually,” Irene smiled. “Lucas keeps asking when you teach him more about investing.”
Adam’s mouth curled up. “I could stop by this weekend.”
“They’d love that,” Irène replied, imagining Adam with her kids–how naturally they’d bonded, how he’d slipped into their lives like he belonged there.
At home, Irene had barely closed the front door when Lily’s excited voice ‘rang out.
“Mom! Is Uncle Adam really coming this weekend?” Lily bounced on the sofa, nearly toppling Lucas’s block tower.
“Watch it!” Lucas grabbed his creation before it collapsed.
Irene hung her coat, smiling at the burst of energy that always greeted her. “Yes, Saturday. But only if homework’s done first.”
The living room erupted in cheers.
Alex adjusted his glasses, watching Irene closely. “You look different tonight, Mom.”
Irene paused. “Different how?”
Alex tilted his head, studying her with that too–perceptive gaze. “Just… different. Happier, maybe?”
“I’m always happy to see you monsters,” she deflected, ruffling his hair. “Now upstairs–it’s late, and you have school tomorrow.”
After tucking them in, Irene collapsed onto the couch, alone with her thoughts. Her fingers traced where Adam had touched her wrist, skin still tingling from the memory.
She couldn’t keep lying to herself. What she felt for Adam wasn’t just thank–you feelings or friendship. Every time he looked at her that way, every little kind thing he did, every private moment they shared–it all felt like something she hadn’t experienced in years.
But problems stood in their way. Her three kids. His judgy family. She was his doctor. And the question that worried her most–what if he only liked her now? Once he could walk again and didn’t need her help anymore, would he still feel the same?
Irene closed her eyes, remembering how Adam stood up for her in M Country even though it hurt him so much, how he held her like she was precious. That wasn’t something a man did unless he really cared.
Maybe I can just let this play out, she thought. Not pushing, not running–just seeing where it goes.
Hours later, Adam sat alone in his study with just one lamp on, his hair still damp from his bath. The jealousy that had bothered him all day was gone after Irene’s simple explanation.
Thomas knocked once before entering, his expression grave. He carried a folder and a small flash drive.
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Chapter 275
Sir, we have something on the M Country Incident.
Adam’s relaxed demeanor vanished instantly. “What’d you find?”
Thomas opened a laptop. ‘Security footage from near the hospital, day before the kidnapping.”
The video showed a tall man in an expensive suit speaking with one of the kidnappers. Though his face remained hidden, his commanding posture screamed money and power.
They were hired just to grab Irene,” Thomas explained, his voice harder now. “This guy gave them her photo, schedule–everything they needed.”
Adam gripped his armrests so light his knuckles turned white. “Find him. I don’t care what it costs or how many people we need. Find him.”
“We’re looking,” Thomas nodded. “But he was careful–didn’t leave much to go on.
Adam kept staring at the screen; his face going cold and deadly. “Whoever hurt her will regret it. Nobody touches someone I care about and just walks away.”
After Thomas left, Adam sat alone in the dark, his anger turning into something dangerous and focused. The man who planned Irene’s kidnapping had made one huge mistake–he’d gone after the one person Adam couldn’t stand to lose.
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