Genius Kids' Scheme: Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire Chapter 275

Streetlights blinked on one by one as Irene and Matthew pushed through the Medical Center's glass doors into the evening air. Inside, the hallways still buzzed with whispers about the day's showdown. Out here, the cool breeze felt like freedom.

Matthew stuffed his hands in his pockets, looking genuinely sorry. "That whole mess in there? Totally my fault. With your track record, you should've walked straight into this job, no questions asked."

"Please," Irene waved him off, still riding the high of her win. "Office drama comes with the territory." She hitched her bag higher on her shoulder. "Jennifer's good at what she does. Can't really blame her for the attitude. I just need her to play nice now that I'm running things."

A car horn honked in the distance. Matthew's face caught the harsh glow of the parking lot lights, making his concern look almost comical. Irene bit back a smile. This wasn't her first workplace rodeo. She'd clawed her way up before, survived the politics, the sidelong glances, the whispers. Been knocked down plenty. Got back up every time.

"At least let me buy you dinner," Matthew tried, his voice hopeful. "My way of making it up to you."

Irene checked her watch and mentally ran through her evening to-do list. "Thanks, but I've got mountains of research waiting at home." She kept her smile gentle but left no room for argument. "First day as boss tomorrow—gotta come prepared. Rain check?"

"Sure, yeah," he nodded, accepting her answer without pushing. "Next time."

Irene pulled into her driveway and frowned at her darkened house. Weird. Brandon had called earlier, practically blowing out her eardrums celebrating her win, with the kids hollering in the background.

She jiggled her key in the lock, pushing open the front door.

"Hello?" She felt for the light switch in the dark.

"SURPRISE!"

The room exploded with light and noise. Streamers rained down, tangling in her hair and draping over her shoulders like the world's most colorful spiderweb. Brandon sat there with a smoking party popper, looking way too pleased with himself, while the kids bounced around like they'd mainlined sugar.

"Seriously?" Irene picked a streamer from her hair, lips twitching.

"Mom's the champion!" Lucas whooped, pumping both fists.

"You totally destroyed that mean lady!" Lily spun in dizzy circles.

Alex pushed up his glasses, practically glowing. "The science community doesn't stand a chance against you!"

Brandon yanked another popper's string. "BOOM! That's how Sterlings celebrate!"

Irene couldn't hold back her laugh as she brushed paper off her clothes. She gathered a handful and dumped it squarely in Brandon's lap.

"Very touching," she said, trying to look stern and failing. "How old are you again? Twelve?"

Brandon grinned like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Come on! Your big moment deserves big noise!"

"And big messes deserve big cleanup crews," she shot back. "Get to it. All of this gone before anyone eats."

Brandon's face crumpled dramatically. "But my leg—"

"Seems to work fine when you're jumping around with party supplies," she cut him off, turning to the kids. "You three—help your uncle."

"Mom!" All three faces fell at once like synchronized dominoes.

"Clean or starve. Your call." She bit her lip to keep from smiling at their theatrical groans.

From their safe distance on the sofa, Joseph and Wesley traded knowing looks, smartly keeping their mouths shut. Joseph's eyes danced watching the kids reluctantly pick up streamers.

"Smart move staying put," Irene murmured as she passed them.

"Been around long enough to know when to duck," Joseph chuckled. "Some storms you just watch from a distance."

In the kitchen, Irene had barely tied her apron when her phone buzzed. Adam's message glowed on the screen:

*Rain check on dinner. Got stuck with family stuff at the mansion.*

She hesitated, then sent back a thumbs-up. As she tucked the phone away, she ignored the little sink in her stomach. She opened the fridge, then paused, listening to the mingled groans and giggles from the living room.

Adam pocketed his phone, a half-smile playing on his lips at Irene's quick response. Through the dining room doors, his mother's voice carried that special pitch she reserved for performances where she wanted something.

*Here we go again.*

He wheeled himself in to find Sophia holding court like she was born with a scepter. Natalie hovered nearby, pouring tea with picture-perfect attention. His father sat at the head of the table, face carefully blank in that way that meant he was already tired of whatever game was being played.

"There you are!" Sophia exclaimed, like he'd shown up an hour late instead of right on time. "We were just talking about my amazing recovery."

"Mother. Father." Adam nodded coolly. "Dr. Snow."

"Natalie has been an absolute angel," Sophia gushed, patting Natalie's hand. "These awful headaches nearly killed me, but she's been here constantly. Even my own son doesn't check on me this much." She shot him a look. "Only someone who truly cares would be so devoted—practically family already."

*Subtle as a brick through a window.*

Adam kept his face neutral as he reached for his water. "We appreciate your dedication, Dr. Snow. I'll have accounting add a nice bonus to your next check."

The room went dead silent. Natalie's smile stuck to her face like it had been glued there, her eyes widening just enough to show the shock.

"A *bonus*?" Sophia's voice could've shattered glass. "This brilliant young doctor saves me from suffering, and you talk about *paying* her?"

She pressed her fingers to her forehead with all the subtlety of a soap opera actress. "Oh! The pain's coming back. Natalie, help me—I swear my son is trying to put me in an early grave."

Marcus cleared his throat, shooting Adam a *please-don't-make-this-worse* look.

"Adam," his father cut in smoothly, "heard about the Wright development? What do you make of this sudden wedding push?"

Adam silently thanked his father for the lifeline. "Walter and Samantha? Victor's call, not mine."

"Sure, but isn't their timeline strange? They're pushing for an announcement next week."

That actually caught Adam's interest. The Wrights had been circling Haven Enterprise for years like hungry sharks. This rush reeked of desperation.

"Walter can have her with my blessing," Adam shrugged. "They deserve each other."

Sophia, irritated at losing control of the conversation, straightened up. "Such a shame, wasting a girl like that on Walter," she muttered, staring pointedly at Adam. "When there are much better Haven options right here."

Adam met her stare head-on. "The Haven name isn't a quality guarantee, Mother. Walter might be exactly what Samantha deserves."

The dig landed perfectly. Natalie fidgeted with her napkin while Sophia's eyes turned to slits.

"How's Grandfather tonight?" Adam asked his father, changing course. "Need to see him before I go."

As the topic shifted to safer ground, Adam caught Natalie watching him. The disappointment in her eyes had hardened into something more calculating. She hadn't given up—just switched tactics. Everyone knew the Snow family was drowning in debt. Natalie needed a life raft, and she'd picked him.

Adam sipped his water, mind drifting to the chaos happening at Irene's place right now. Kids laughing, Brandon being ridiculous, Irene pretending to be annoyed while secretly enjoying every minute. No schemes, no agendas—just people who actually liked each other.

Duty had dragged him here tonight. But he knew exactly which table he'd rather be sitting at.