Chapter 400 

Brandon pulled him indide. “We’re working in that. Did she drop any hints about where she was headed? 

Ethan shook his heail. She came by, set up this college fund thing… Said something about needing to answer to find herself again. Didst fo so I came straight here.” 

Adam wheeled closer. “Think, than. Anything else? Any little detall 

Fiban’s forehead creased in concentration. She kept looking at something on her phone. A picture… His face suddenly brightened. “Wait–1 think ( browr He scrambled with his phone, scrolling antically. She sent me this a while back.” 

He handed Adam the phone. On screen was a photo of hene standing in front ‘a modern fempital building, her smile genuinely happy in a way that made Adam’s chest tighten. 

“Ting” Adam said softly, something clicking into plaće. 

“R Country?” Brandon’s face senched in disbelie “She flew to the other side of the globe? 

Joseph’s quiet voice carried decades of wisdom. That’s where s 

she put herself back together after everything fell apart. Where she stopped being a girl who lost everything and became a woman who could survive anything” 

Adam made a series of rapid calls, his expression growing grimmer with each one. “Airline confirms it. She’s on a flight to R Country that left two hours ago.” 

The room went quiet except for the soft, hitching breaths of three children trying not to cry. Brandon slammed his fist into the wall hard enough to leave a dent, cursing under his breath. 

Adam turned to the triplets, his voice gentler than anyone had ever heard it. “Hey, now. Mom promised she’d be back, right? Your mom never breaks her promises.” 

Alex nodded, rubbing his sleeve across his eyes. “But how long will she be pane?” 

“Not long,” Adam said, wishing he believed it as much as he needed them to. 

The triplets traded meaningful looks before heading upstairs. The moment their bedroom dose clicked that, they huddled in a tight circle like they were planning a secret mission. 

“We gotta do something,” Alex whispered, all childishness gone from his face. 

Lucas nodded solemnly. “But Mom’s on a plane. What can we even do? 

Alex glanced down at his smartwatch, frowning. “That’s weird. Grandma’s been blowing up my watch. Five missed calls.” 

Lily checked her own. “Mine too! Why’s she calling so much?” 

Lucas scratched his head. “Does Grandma know Mom disappeared?” 

Downstairs, Adam’s phone lit up. He checked the caller ID and did a visible double take 

“Adam” Sophia’s voice carried an edge he rarely heard–genuine worry. “Something’s wrong. I’ve had this awful feeling all day, and the children aren’t answering their watches” 

Adam hesitated for just a heartbeat before choosing truth. “It’s Irene…she’s gone 

The silence stretched forever. Then Sophia’s voice returned, crackling with determination. 

“We’re on our way. Don’t move.” 

1/3 

Chapter 400 

Adam stared at his phone like it had just spoken in tingues. “My mothert in her way over. Right now,” 

“Come again?” Brandon’s eyehemu 

toward his hairline, “Your mother? War’s she want?” 

Adam shook his head, equally bewdblered. “Your guess is good as mir 

Less than thirty minutes later, the put of a luxury sedan announced the Havens‘ arrival, Sophia swept through the front door with Marrus right behind Gone was the ine queen demennnk–in its place, something almost Iraman. Her sharp eyes scanned the room, landing on her son. 

“What happened exactly?” she demanded, no preamble. “Where did free go?” 

Adam gave her the Cliff Notes version–the note, their search, Ethan’s visit, the flight to Il Country. 

What happened next stunned everyone in the town. Instead of some culling remark about fene’s instability or lack of sophistication, Sophia fell quiet, her expression thoughtful. “She’ll be back,” she finally said with unexpected certainty. 

Brandon anorted, crowing his ass. And you’d know this… how exactly? 

Sophia met his skepticism head–on, unflinching. “Because she loves everyone in this room, especially those three children and my son.” She paused, smoothing invisible wrinkles from her designer slacks. “A mother who would sacrifice everything for her children doesn’t simply walk away from her family.” 

Marcus stepped forward, his voice steady and practical. “What can we do to help? 

ds to work through herself.” 

Adam’s fingers brushed d across the arm of his wheelchair. “Maybe nothing. This is something she needs to 

Sophia’s attention suddenly shifted to 

the staircase. “Where are the children?” 

As if summoned by her question, three small figures appeared at the top of the stairs. Their faces registered surprise mixed with a touch of guilt when they spotted their grandparents. 

at a time. “We saw your missed calls…” 

“Grandma,” Alex said softly, descending one step at a 

A smile softened Sophias features–something the Sterling family had never, witnessed before. “So it was you three making my heart race,” the said gently. “Haven blood runs strong. I felt your distress even from across town.” 

She approached the triplets and crouched down, designer heels and all, to meet them at eye level. “You 

your mother terribly, don’t you? 

Three little heads bobbed in unison, fresh tears welling up. 

“Listen to me,” Sophia’s voice had a tenderness that seemed to surprise oven her. “Your mother is the strangest woman I’ve ever met. Shell come back to you. That’s a promise.” 

From across the room, Marcus watched his wife with the children, absently twisting his wedding band. Sophia caught the gesture and their eyes met, exchanging decades of unspoken history in a single glance. 

“Remember how nervous 

was?” Marcus said quietly. 

“Like a schoolboy with his first crush, Sophia chuckled, “You had my mother’s ring box upside down.” 

Adam caught this small exchange between 

parents, filling 

git away with newfound curiosity. 

Night fell over the house, but sleep eluded everyone. Adam retreated to his study, sifting through Irene’s things for any overlooked clues. A photo album caught his attention–snapshots of her life in R Country Irene cradling newborn triplets, her exhausted smile. Trene in hospital scrubs, stethoscope around her neck. The children playing in a park, their faces sticky with ice cream. 

A folded map slipped from between the pages, several locations circled in red ink–the hospital where she worked and a small park nearby stood out. 

Shortly after midnight, Adam’s phone lit up with andinternational n 

aber. His heart jumped into his throat as he answered. “Irene?”