Chapter 278
It was barely daylight when tree’s house came alive with excited footsteps. For once, she didn’t have to drag anyone out of bed.
“Mom! This headband or the bow? Lily twirled her options in front of the mirror, hair flying.
Alex stood nearby, meticulously straightening his collar. His face screamed calm, but his fidgety fingers betrayed him.
“Are we late? Did I miss breakfast? Will there be famous artists? Laigns zoomed into the kitchen, words tumbling out between
breaths.
Irene poured herself coffee, knowing she’d need the caffeine. “Breath, wild thing. Nobody’s getting famous on an empty stomach.
“Oh crap!” Lucas gasped as milk splashed across his shirt, making a huge wet stain. “My lucky shirt!”
“Language,” Irene said automatically, setting down her mug. “Come on, fashion disaster. Let’s find you something less… milky.
Upstairs, helping Lucas change, Irene caught her reflection. The bruises Had faded to yellow smudges, but sometimes she still felt phantom hands grabbing her in that dingy apartment. She shook it off. Today belonged to her kids, not her nightmares.
She ran her fingers over the careful packaging of their artwork. Each piece showed exactly who they were–Lily’s colorful feelings splashed across the page, Alex’s perfectly balanced designs, and Lucas’s wild but brilliant ideas captured on paper.
The doorbell’s chime triggered what sounded like a herd of elephants racing for the door.
“Uncle Adam!” Three voices crashed together in a perfect storm of excitement.
Adam waited at the bottom of the porch steps, wheelchair positioned with military precision. Thomas stood by the car, face professionally blank as always. But Adam–Adam was smiling. Not his boardroom smile that never reached his eyes, but something real that transformed his face.
“Ready to blow everyone’s minds?” he asked, voice lacking its usual edge.
“First place is mine!” Lucas pumped his fist, nearly smacking Alex.
“I just want to see all the other art,” Lily said sweetly, bouncing on her toes like she had springs in her shoes.
Alex, ever the observer, studied Adam. “Are you nervous for us, Uncle Adam?”
Adam’s eyebrow ticked up–caught. “With you three? No chance. His eyes found Irene’s over the kids‘ heads, something warm and electric passing between them.
The exhibition hall was packed and noisy. Kids in fancy private school uniforms and parents in expensive clothes were everywhere. People stopped talking when Irene walked in with her three kids, Adam wheeling in behind them.
“Those triplets are gorgeous,” a woman stage–whispered. “Like little celebrities!”
Lucas, never missing a beat, flashed his million–dollar smile. “Thanks, pretty lady! My mom’s beautiful, right? You’re super pretty too!” He fired off a wink that belonged in a 1950s sitcom.
Irene bit back a laugh, squeezing his shoulder. “Thanks,” she murmured to the woman, feeling Adam’s presence behind her like a
warm shadow.
At the registration desk, they collected name tags with the efficiency of a bank heist.
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Chapter 278
“You’ll rock this,” Irene told The kids as they prepared to set up, Alex squared his shoulders like a tiny businessman, Lucas practically vibrated with excitement, and Lily smoothed her dress for the twentieth time.
“We’ll be right out here,” Irene romised, watching them disappear to the exhibition hall.
She and Adam claimed seats in the waiting area, surrounded by the quiet buzz of parental anxiety.
“Nervous?” Adam asked, studying her face.
Irene leaned back, surprisingly chill. “For what? I’m not here for trophies. Dr. Jonathan was right–this stuff builds character. Way more valuable than some plastic medal.”
Adam nodded, though his eyes never left her face, completely ignoring the stage where the MC was testing the mic.
Private school cliques huddled together, occasionally shooting.curious glances at Irene and Adam. A woman wearing tons of jewelry sat beside them, talking so loudly everyone could hear.
“Oliver’s composition is simply extraordinary,” gushed one of her admirers. “Gold prize has his name all over it.
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