Genius Kids' Scheme: Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire Chapter 123

The Sterling Group headquarters was in meltdown mode. People rushed around like their hair was on fire, panic written all over their faces as the network that ran literally everything—from emails to finances—crashed without warning.

In his corner office, Nathan paced like a caged animal, a vein popping on his forehead. "What the hell am I paying IT for?" he exploded, slamming his fist on the desk hard enough to send his coffee mug skating across the surface. "Fix it! Now!"

His assistant practically sprinted out the door, clearly happy to escape ground zero.

Hours later, the head of IT delivered the bad news, staring at a spot somewhere past Nathan's shoulder: "Someone targeted us specifically. Whoever did this knew what they were doing."

Nathan's face darkened. "So our entire IT department can't fix one hack? Remind me why I keep you on payroll?"

As the IT team scattered, Nathan glared out at the Silver City skyline. This was the last thing they needed with their finances already circling the drain after his father's investment disaster.

Across town, the Vein Corporation was drowning in the same chaos—and the brains behind it all were three five-year-olds with a score to settle.

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That evening, the mood couldn't have been more different at Emerald Garden Estate. Excited voices filled the air as Adam's driver loaded bags into a sleek SUV.

"Hot springs! Hot springs!" The triplets bounced around like they'd eaten pure sugar for breakfast, practically vibrating with excitement.

Just fifteen minutes earlier, they'd huddled in their bedroom, Alex's laptop casting a blue glow on their serious faces.

"Done," Alex had whispered, hitting a final key with a satisfied tap. "Both Sterling and Vein are about to have a really bad day."

Lucas had nodded approvingly. "Serves them right after how they treated Mom."

"But it'll go away tomorrow, right?" Lily had asked, twirling a pigtail around her finger. "We're not breaking their companies forever?"

"Nope," Alex had assured her. "Just enough to make them sweat. Nobody messes with our mom."

Now, mission accomplished, they were free to enjoy their getaway with zero guilt and the warm fuzzy feeling of justice served.

Irene watched her kids with a smile, grateful for a break from the endless drama that had followed her since coming back to Silver City. The hot springs resort had been the triplets' find—they'd spotted it online and insisted it would be perfect, especially for Adam's recovery.

As they pulled away from Emerald Garden, Irene felt the knot between her shoulders loosen. The resort sat in the mountains outside Silver City, where natural hot springs had transformed the area into a luxury retreat.

The triplets smashed their faces against the windows as the car wound up mountain roads, pointing out deer and rock formations like they'd discovered gold. Adam watched them with quiet amusement, while Thomas kept checking his phone, the man who never truly went off-duty.

When they finally arrived, the resort blended perfectly into the mountainside, elegant without trying too hard.

"I'll get us checked in," Irene said, heading to the front desk. Keeping Adam's wheelchair and treatment in mind, she'd arranged adjoining rooms—her family in one, Adam and Thomas next door.

After dropping their stuff off, they hit the restaurant. The food wasn't anything to write home about—the hot springs were clearly the star attraction—but nobody cared. The triplets were too amped about their plans to notice what they were eating, and the adults were just happy to breathe different air for a change.

Alex swiped through his tablet with the confidence of a tiny CEO, laying out their evening plans.

"After dinner, we should check out the observatory for stargazing," he announced, eyes glued to the screen. "It's one of the cool things they have here."

Lucas nodded eagerly. "They've got real telescopes and everything. If we're lucky, we might even see a shooting star!"

Thomas frowned. "Don't shooting stars only happen during meteor showers?"

Lucas gave him the kind of look usually reserved for people who still believe in Santa. "Seriously? Lucky things don't follow a schedule. That's why they're called lucky!"

Alex continued his presentation without missing a beat. "After stars, we'll hit the hot springs. The timing works out perfect."

He swiped again, finalizing their schedule like he'd been planning corporate events for years.

Thomas watched the triplets with growing amazement, then glanced at Irene, who seemed totally cool with her kids running the whole show.

"How do you guys know all this?" he asked. "You've got everything mapped out like pros."

The triplets exchanged looks that screamed *is this guy for real?* before turning back to Thomas.

"We researched everything before coming, obviously!" they answered together, like this was the most basic life skill ever.

"Don't you look stuff up before you go places?" Lucas asked, genuinely baffled.

Lily's eyes suddenly widened with realization. "This is totally why you can't find a girlfriend! You don't plan ahead!"

Thomas's face did a complicated dance between amusement and panic. "Oh god, please stop saying I can't find a girlfriend! What if it comes true?" He turned to Irene with a helpless look. "A little help here? Can you control your tiny terrors?"

Irene couldn't help laughing. As their mom, she naturally took her kids' side, even when they were being little monsters.

She cleared her throat, putting on a serious face that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thomas, I doubt your dating problems have anything to do with jinxes. It's probably just your job."

Anyone who spent practically every waking hour at Adam's side would struggle to maintain a relationship. With zero time to actually meet people, Thomas's single status wasn't exactly rocket science.

Adam raised an eyebrow at her comment, catching the implication that he might be a demanding boss who monopolized his assistant's time.

Irene met his gaze without flinching, a small smile playing at her lips. "Isn't that right, Mr. Haven?"

Adam's lips curved into a hint of a smile. Instead of answering her directly, he turned to Thomas.

"If you're looking to get married, I could help find someone for you," he said casually. "Or if the work's too much, I could always get someone else to share your load."

What sounded like thoughtful concern somehow sent a chill down Thomas's spine.

"No, no, absolutely not!" Thomas backpedaled frantically. "My dream job is working for you! It's not tiring at all!" His survival instincts kicked into overdrive. "Anyone who says otherwise is just jealous. That's it—pure jealousy!"

Irene and the triplets cracked up at his shameless brown-nosing.

Dinner wrapped up amid laughter and easy conversation. As they finished the last bites, the triplets were already on their feet.

"Stars are waiting!" Lucas announced, tugging his mom's sleeve while Alex waved his tablet like a tour guide's flag.

Lily skipped ahead toward the door. "Observatory first, then hot springs!"

The night was just beginning.

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Back in Silver City, Nathan sat alone at his desk long past midnight. Without computers, the pile of folders seemed insurmountable.

His phone rang. Anna. He declined without hesitation and turned back to his paper mountain, wondering how much worse things could possibly get.