Morning sunshine flooded Irene’s kitchen as Adam watched Irene dolge flying cereal while refilling juice glasses. The triplets buzzed with energy, their chattef filling the room as Adam savored the ordinary chaos of family breakfast. 

“Hey Thomas,” Adam nudged his assistant, eyes bright with anticipation, “that walking system better show up today. I’m taking my first real steps.” 

Thomas perked up. “Got the newest model coming this afternoon. Already gave Dr. Lawrence the heads–up.” 

“Perfect.” 

Adam brushed his lips against Irene’s cheek before heading out. “Later,” he murmured, then winked at the kids. ‘Save some trouble for me tonight, okay?” 

Irene squeezed his hand, catching the nervous excitement flickering across his face. 

At Haven headquarters, Adam’s pen scratched across documents, his eyes flicking to the clock every few minutes. When a medical equipment report surfaced in the stack, his hardened CEO mask slipped. Walking for Iréne… even a few steps… 

Across the floor, Victor slunk between cubicles, shoulders hunched. Employees who once scrambled for his attention now averted their eyes. His once–powerful desk sat nearly empty. 

He paused, watching staff buzz around Adam’s office. His knuckles whitened, jaw clenched. Something dangerous flickered behind his eyes–part hatred, part calculation. 

Adam scrawled his signature on the final page and tossed his pen down. 

“Everything else can wait,” he told Thomas, not bothering to mask the eagerness in his voice. “Car. Now. I’m going home.” 

Thomas bit back a smile, recognizing the look on his boss’s face. Not business. Something far more important. 

Back at the estate, Adam pretended to review documents in his study, but his focus kept drifting. Through the open door, he heard technicians setting up equipment down the hall, each sound making his heart beat faster. 

He wheeled in, inspecting the sleek equipment with hungry eyes. 

“We good to go?” he asked, tapping his finger against the armrest. 

Thomas nodded. “Ready when you are, Boss.” 

For Irene. For the kids. Today I’m walking. 

A gentle knock pulled him from his thoughts. Irene slipped in, white coat over casual clothes. Their eyes met, mirroring the same blend of anticipation and nerves–doctor and patient, woman and man, both terrified and hopeful. 

Inside the rehabilitation room, Irene hovered beside Adam, trying hard to maintain her professional composure. 

“Baby steps,” she said, voice steady though her fingers twisted the hem of her coat. “Feel your balance first.” 

She placed a hand on his shoulder. “Shift weight, then step.” The doctor’s tone was there, but underneath ran something deeper only Adam could detect. 

Adam met her eyes. “Got it. Not afraid of anything with you here.” 

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Chapter 363 

“Hell yeah, Boss!” Thomas grished from across the room. “You’ve bee standing solo for weeks. Walking’s just showing off at this point.” 

Adam gripped the parallel bars. lis casual confidence vanished, replaced by laser focus. Irene forgot to breathe watching him. Doctor, be professional, she scolded herself. It didn’t work. 

The door creaked open. Small heads peeked in before the triplets tipped inside, staying against the wall, eyes wide with anticipation. Irene pressed a finger to her lips, heart melting at their determined faces. 

Irene’s hands shook. Hundreds of patients had recovered under her care, but this–this was different. This mattered too much. 

“Look at me,” Adam said quietly. 

Their eyes locked. No words needed. 

His right leg trembled, barely lifting. Sweat beaded on his forehead, jaw clenched–tight enough to crack teeth. Irene’s body betrayed her, half–stepping forward before she caught herself. 

Come ON, Adam! her mind screamed. 

First try: a twitch, nothing more. The room fell silent. Adam inhaled deeply, reset. 

“You’ve got this,” Irene whispered. “Feel the shift. See yourself walking.” 

Third attempt. His foot inched forward–small but unmistakably a step. Entirely his own. 

Irene’s hand flew to her mouth. Tears welled up, professional detachment be damned. 

The kids vibrated with silent excitement, tiny fists pumping air. 

When Adam tried for a second step, his balance faltered. He tilted, body betraying him. The room gasped as one. 

Irene moved without thinking. One moment she stood watching, the next she was against him, arms locked around his waist. His heart thundered against her, his chest warm and solid. No space separated them–puzzle pieces clicking into place. 

His cologne wrapped around her, familiar now as her own heartbeat. Her arms tightened instinctively, doctor forgotten, only the woman remaining. 

“You’re okay,” she managed, her clinical tone cracking. “God, Adam, what you just did–that’s already huge.” 

She brushed sweat from his forehead, fingertips lingering against his skin. Their eyes met, a whole conversation without sound. 

Thomas stepped in, giving Irene space to compose herself. 

“One more try,” she whispered. “Trust yourself.” 

The children couldn’t contain themselves any longer. “Go Uncle Adam!” “You got this!” “Show ‘em how it’s done!” 

Adam locked his jaw, eyes drilling into the distance. For them. For her. For us. 

This time, one step became two. Then three. Small, but undeniably his own. Irene’s tears fell freely now, not a doctor watching a patient but a woman seeing the impossible. 

“HE DID IT!” The kids exploded, bouncing and twirling and shouting 

2/3 

Chapter 363. 

Thomas blinked rapidly. “Damh, Boss.” 

“That’s it for today,” Adam said, voice ragged but victorious. Sweat soaked his shirt, chest heaving, face transformed with pure joy. 

As Thomas helped him back to the wheelchair, Irene dropped to her knees in front of Adam. She cradled his face in her trembling 

bands. 

“You walked,” she whispered, voice breaking. Not Dr. Sterling now–just Irene, walls completely down. “You actually walked.” 

Adam brushed a tear from her cheek with his thumb. “Only because of you.” The look in his eyes said everything words couldn’t. 

The triplets swarmed them, a tangle of excited limbs and voices. 

“Mommy, why are you crying?” Lily tugged at Irene’s sleeve. “Uncle Adam did good!” 

Irene gathered her daughter close. “Best kind of tears, baby. The happy kind.” 

They huddled together–not doctor and patient, not neighbors, but something far more important. Family. 

“Party time!” the triplets announced in perfect sync. “First steps deserve cake!” 

Adam grinned, unable to say no to those faces. “Can’t argue with that logic.” 

“Operation Celebration it is,” Irene said, seamlessly shifting to commander mode. “Alex, recipe research. Lucas, table duty. Lily, you’re on art detail.” 

She turned to Adam. “Your call on dinner, walking man. Victory meal of your choice.” 

Thomas rocked on his heels like an excited kid. “Oh man, you’re in for a treat. Doc makes a steak that should be illegal.” He leaned toward Adam with a theatrical whisper. “Seriously, Boss, I’d trade quarterly reports for her secret recipe.” 

As they headed toward the kitchen, voices and laughter bounced off the walls. Adam watched Irene herding their little parade–her slim shoulders, gentle hands guiding the kids, that smile she couldn’t quite contain. 

Something shifted in his chest. A decision. A promise. 

Next time, he wouldn’t just take steps. He’d walk to her on his own. Stand beside her. For real. 

Not for Haven. Not for appearances. 

For them. This crazy, beautiful, accidental family that somehow felt more right than anything in his carefully constructed world. 

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