Chapter 280
“Haven… Mr. Haven… Mrs. Lancaster’s voice dropped to a whisper, or face losing all color as recognition hit. “I had no idea you
were-
Parents whispered behind raised hands as the mood in the room flipped like a switch.
The judges pushed through the crowd, drawn by the noise. Dr. Jonathan led the pack, his friendly face hardening when he spotted the triplets huddled together–Alex standing guard while Lily fonght back tears.
“What’s going on here?” he asked, his gentle voice carrying unexpected weight.
Adam kept his cool, but his knuckles went white on his wheelchair.his lady thinks your students shouldn’t have won,” he said simply.
Dr. Jonathan’s eyebrow’s shot up. “My students?”
“They said we cheated; Lily whispered, clutching her gold medal like someone might grab it away.
The room went quiet as Dr. Jonathan turned to Montgomery and Mrs Lancaster. “You’re questioning these children’s abilities?” His voice went dangerously soft. “And my teaching methods?”
Montgomery’s face turned white. The crowd held their breath, eyes bouncing between the famous art teacher and the now- speechless accusers.
Someone from the Arts Foundation stepped forward. “Mr. Haven has been our biggest supporter. Last year alone, Haven Enterprise gave five million to the Children’s Arts Foundation.”
“I’ll be calling my lawyers about this slander against kids,” Adam said casually, though his eyes cut like glass. “Unless someone wants to apologize right now.”
A worker rushed over, clutching a clipboard. “The judging was completely fair. All winning pieces will be displayed in the special area soon for everyone to see.”
Mrs. Lancaster seemed to shrink, her earlier attitude vanishing into thin air. “I… I’m so sorry. If I’d known they were-
“If you’d known they had connections, you wouldn’t have attacked them?” Irene cut in, keeping her voice level despite the fire in her eyes. “That makes it worse, not better.”
“Please forgive this terrible mix–up,” Montgomery jumped in, words tumbling out. “We meant no offense to Mr. Haven, or to you, or to these obviously talented children.”
Dr. Jonathan wasn’t letting it go. “If you can’t recognize good art without knowing who made it, maybe you shouldn’t be teaching art. We don’t need people misleading students about what really matters in creativity.”
The crowd’s whispers changed completely, turning to admiration. Someone started clapping for the triplets, and within seconds, applause filled the hall.
1002
Later, workers carefully moved the winning pieces to the special display area. Adam rolled along the wall, studying each painting with genuine interest. He spent the most time in front of Lucas’s “The Financial World Through a Child’s Eyes“-a surprisingly complex picture of stock markets shown as colorful rivers and mountains.
Irene stood back, watching Adam lean forward to check out the details in Alex’s geometric design. Something warm spread through her chest seeing him take her children’s work so seriously, giving it the same attention he gave to million–dollar deals.
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Chapter 280
Dr. Jonathan appeared beside her, following her gaze to where Adam was quietly explaining something about perspective to Lily.
Those kids need this kind of support,” he said softly. “You’re doing eat with them, but it helps to have others who believe in them
too.
7
Irene nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.
“Everyone buckled up? Thomas called from the driver’s seat, catching Irene’s eye in the mirror.
With Dr. Jonathan riding shotgun and the triplets squeezed between rene and Adam in the back, the SUV pulled away. Once the doors closed, shutting out the world, Irene finally let her shoulders drop.
“Thank you both,” she said quietly. “If you hadn’t been there today, the kids would’ve been crushed.”
Adam shook his head slightly. “They earned those prizes. Nobody gets to take that away with made–up accusations.”
Surprisingly, the triplets seemed completely over the drama, already chatting about how they’d display their medals at home.
“We should make a special shelf,” Lucas suggested, polishing his bronze medal with his sleeve.
“I think those people were just sad their kids didn’t win,‘ Alex said thoughtfully, pushing up his glasses. “Their opinions don’t really matter though. We know what our art is worth.”
Adam’s eyebrows lifted, genuine approval warming his usually guarded face. “That’s real confidence–knowing your value no matter what others think.”
Lucas bounced in his seat, energy impossible to contain. “Uncle Adam was so cool! Just like a superhero in movies!”
“Yeah,” Lily added shyly, twirling her hair. “It felt like… you know, like a dad protecting his family.”
Irene’s cheeks burned. “Kids, don’t say things like that,” she said gently.
Lucas looked confused. “But it’s true, Mom! He protected us just like a dad would!”
Irene felt her face getting hotter. She glanced at Adam, finding him suddenly very interested in the window, though his finger tapped steadily against his armrest–that nervous tic she’d come to recognize.
“You five look good together,” Dr. Jonathan said with
a mischievous smile. “Like a proper family. The energy just… fits.”
“Dr. Jonathan, please,” Irene said weakly, her heart suddenly racing.
She risked another glance at Adam, only to find him already looking at her. Their eyes met for a loaded moment before both quickly looked away, the air between them suddenly thick with things unsaid.
Thomas caught her eye in the mirror, his poker face cracking just enough to show he was enjoying this.
Lily yawned widely, the excitement catching up with her as she leaned against Adam’s shoulder. “Uncle Adam feels safe,” she murmured sleepily, her small hand patting his arm.
The simple observation brought a thoughtful silence. Adam sat perfectly still, as if afraid the slightest movement might wake the little girl using him as a pillow. His eyes met Irene’s over Lily’s head, something unguarded flashing between them.
Safe. The word echoed in Irene’s mind. After years of fighting battles alone, of being the only shield between her children and the world’s harshness, the idea of sharing that load with someone else felt both scary and incredibly tempting.
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Chapter 280
As Lucas excitedly planned how to spend his prize money and Alex pletly calculated the size of a medal display case, Irene watched Adam’s hand hover hesitantly before gently fixing the jacke he’d draped over Lily’s sleeping form,
The quiet tenderness of that small act shifted something deep inside her–like puzzle pieces finally clicking after years of trying Wrong combinations. Maybe family wasn’t just what you were born to or what you lost. Maybe it was also what you built, one unexpected moment at a time.
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