Chapter 401
Only silence greeted him from the other end.
Adam rose from his wheelchair, moving to the window where moonlight spilled across the floor. The phone pressed to his ear, he spoke anyway, solve low. and raw. “I can feel you there, even with oceans between us,” he said softly. I’ll be here waiting when you’re ready, I understand you need the time, this space… but remember, this is your home now. Always.”
He swallowed hard. “The kids miss you like crazy. I do too.” A small laugh escaped him. ‘Alex checks your notebook every day, making sure he doem’t miss any instructions. Lucas has hidden the blueberry jam, says he’s saving it for when you come back. And Lily–she kisses your photo before bed every night. They love you so much, Irene. We all do.”
The faintest catch of breath whispered through the connection, then the call disconnected.
Adam lowered the phone, resting his forehead against the cool glass. For a man who controlled billion–dollar empires with a single phone call, this helpless waiting was the cruelest torture imaginable. But he would wait–days, weeks, however long it took.
Half a world away, Irene slumped against a hospital corridor wall, clutching her phone like a lifeline. She’d finally worked up the nerve to call Adam, only to find herself mute the moment she heard his voice. His words had traveled across continents to wrap around her heart, making the distance between them feel both vast and insignificant.
“You okay there?” Emily appeared beside her, offering a steaming cup of hospital coffee that smelled like it could strip paint.
Honestly? I have no idea,” Irene attempted a smile, accepting the coffee. “I just knew I needed to be back here… to see where everything began.
Emily bumped shoulders with her. “Six years without a word, and you show up drowning in complications. And here I thought you couldn’t get more dramatic than when you arrived with three newborns and barely enough cash for diapers.”
The memory pulled a genuine laugh from Irene. Emily had been her rock during those early days–the one who’d taught her how to change three diapers in under two minutes, who’d held her during midnight breakdowns, who’d become the triplets‘ honorary aunt before they could even say the word.
“How are those little monsters doing?” Emily asked, eyes bright with affection. “Is Alex still running the household? Has Lucas learned there are foods besides pasta? And Lily–is she still hiding under the piano when she’s upset?”
Irene pulled out her phone, scrolling to recent photos. “They’re amazing. Growing too fast. Lily says you have to come to her next recital–no excuses this time.”
Emily studied the photos, face soft with longing. “They’ve gotten so big… And this Adam–is he really as good as you’ve told me?”
“Yeah, Irene nodded, something catching in her throat. “The way he is with the kids, with me… Sometimes it feels too good to be true.”
‘So what’s the real problem?” Emily squeezed her arm. “Afraid of being hurt again? Or scared of not being completely self–reliant anymore?”
“Both,” Irene admitted, staring into her coffee. “For six years, I’ve carried everything on my shoulders. Now someone wants to help hold the weight, to take care of us… I’m not sure I remember how to let that happen.”
Emily pushed herself off the wall. “Come on. There’s something you need to see. I’m joining you on this little journey of yours.”
Morning sunlight warmed Irene’s face as she stood outside the medical school entrance. Six years ago, she’d arrived at this very spot with nothing but a broken heart and the first signs of pregnancy–empty–handed but stubborn as hell.
The hospital corridors hadn’t changed–same antiseptic smell, same squeaky floor tiles. Doctors and nurses rushed past, none recognizing her. Irene ran her fingers along the wall, memories hitting her in wayes–endless night shifts fueled by desperation and vending machine coffee, performing emergency surgeries alone, working until her scrubs could barely contain her growing belly.
Her feet carried her straight to the maternity ward, to the room where she’d brought three lives into the world. Now, another young woman occupied the bed, fresh tear tracks on her cheeks as she stared out the window.
“Are you a new doctor?” the girl asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Irene hesitated in the doorway. “No, I’m just… passing through. Are you doing okay?”
Chapter 401
The girl’s laugh sounded brittle, “If you consider being dumped by your boyfriend, giving birth alone, and having your family basically disory rede
then sure.
Irene sat in the chair beside the bed, feeling a tug at her heart. Actually, I delivered triplets in this exact room six years ago, My situation wotat al : different from yours.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “For real? And you… made it? After all that?”
“More than made it,” Irene smiled. “I built my own path, created a good life for
my
kids.”
“But were you completely alone?” The girl picked at her blanket. ‘Or did someone… come
The question caught Irene off guard. As a matter of fact, life threw me a curveball. the other was at first.”
back to you?‘
The father of my children reappeared, though neither of us knew who
“Did you forgive him?” The girl’s gaze was direct. “Could you accept him back into your
life?”
Irene took a deep breath, the question touching exactly what she’d flown halfway around the world to figure out. Accept him… that’s what I’ve been struggling with. The truth is, I didn’t know it was him until recently. For months, we built something real together. Her voice softened. “I found myself falling for him, and discovering the truth hasn’t changed those feelings.”
The girl suddenly smiled. “That’s honestly the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. Fate bringing you
just can’t be broken?”
back together–doesn’t that prove some connections
She sat up straighter, something shifting in her expression. “You know what? I’ve been sitting here wondering if I wasn’t good enough, if that’s why he left. But hearing your story… I’m starting to see things differently.”
Her eyes brightened. “Maybe some things aren’t in our control. I get it now–my worth isn’t determined by someone else’s actions. Like you, I can create my own beautiful life.
That comment hit Irene like an electric shock. “You’re absolutely right…”
“My mom always says people who clench their fists can’t catch anything,” the girl said softly. “Sometimes we need to open our hands to receive what’s truly meant for us.”
Irene stared at this young woman, stunned by her insight. “I’ve been so afraid,” she admitted. “Terrified of being hurt again, of being abandoned… so I’ve been building walls, keeping everyone at a safe distance.”
“But those walls also keep love out, don’t they?” The girl’s smile was gentle.
“Thank you,” Irene said sincerely. “You’ve helped me see something important.”
The girl laughed, puzzled. “Me? What could I possibly teach you?”
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