Genius Kids' Scheme: Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire Chapter 291

Adam sat at his desk, smiling at his phone. His thumb hovered over the screen, ready to reply to Irene, when heavy footsteps thundered down the hall. The door flew open with a bang that made him look up sharply.

Victor burst in, face twisted with rage. Thomas stepped forward instinctively, putting himself between them.

"You've gone too far!" Victor shouted, not bothering with hello. "I'm your uncle, for crying out loud! You might have the right to take back my overseas management, but you can't touch my VP position!"

Spit flew from his mouth as he ranted, landing on Adam's desk.

"And why push so hard?" Victor's face turned redder by the second. "Without a VP, think your job will be any easier? Who's gonna handle everything while you're wheeling around playing boss?"

Adam leaned back, putting distance between them. The warmth in his eyes from moments ago vanished completely.

"Want me to list all your overseas screw-ups?" His voice dropped dangerously low. "At work, it's just business. Don't drag family into this, and definitely don't mention our family name."

He leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Do you even deserve it? Without our family, would you be standing here questioning me at all?"

Adam's grip tightened on his armrest. "Our family's real bad luck was getting stuck with you. Worried about mockery? You brought it on yourself. If you hadn't messed up so badly, we wouldn't be here. And you're still not sorry, still bullheaded. Getting senile early, I see."

The memory of Irene tied to a chair made his voice turn to ice. "I'll keep this simple. Three days. After that, I'll go after your domestic rights too and tell the shareholders everything."

His hands rested on his thighs, face stone-cold. The message couldn't be clearer: hurt Irene, pay the price – family or not.

Victor stood there panting like a bull. After what felt like forever, he stormed out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the pictures on the wall.

Adam took a breath, tapping his fingers on the desk. His eyes fell back to his phone, and just like that, his expression softened.

"Get the car," he told Thomas. "Let's pick up Irene."

Night had fallen by the time they pulled up to the research center. The earlier blowup with Victor seemed miles away now.

"You look happy," Thomas said, catching Adam's eye in the mirror. "Minute ago you were ready to destroy your uncle, now you're cool as a cucumber."

Adam kept watching the entrance. "Some people just make everything better."

At eight, Irene finally appeared. When she slid into the seat, Adam immediately spotted the tiredness around her eyes and the way she rubbed her wrist.

"Just wrap up?" he asked.

"Yeah," she sighed. "Data's done, but the final processing took forever." Her hair looked slightly messy, like she'd rushed out the door.

"It's eight already," Adam said, voice much gentler than before. "Guessing you skipped dinner? No matter how swamped you get, you've gotta eat. Work's not worth your health."

He noticed her massaging her wrist and frowned. "Hurts?"

Irene paused, a warm feeling spreading through her at his concern. She looked at him for a beat, touched by his worry.

"It's nothing," she smiled. "Just held equipment too long. Not used to the marathon workdays anymore."

"Thomas," Adam called, "take us to that place nearby. You know the one."

"Got it," Thomas nodded. "Just around the corner."

The restaurant hummed with quiet conversation, tables spaced for privacy. Candles flickered between them as Thomas headed out, promising to return in an hour.

"How was your day?" Irene asked, sipping water. "Company okay?"

"The usual," Adam shrugged. "Victor's making waves."

Irene tensed. "He didn't—"

"Don't sweat it," Adam cut in gently. "He's toothless now."

Seeing her worry, he switched topics to the kids' latest adventures. Soon they were laughing together, the earlier tension melting away.

As they finished eating, neither seemed eager to leave their comfortable bubble.

"Feel like stretching your legs?" Adam suggested. "Nice spot nearby. Good for working off dinner."

Irene drained her glass and rested her hand on his wheelchair. "Why not? I've been cooped up all day."

The evening wrapped around them as they rolled along the street. A cool breeze hinted at the coming fall. Irene found herself studying Adam from above—the softness of his hair, the clean line of his profile, those surprisingly long eyelashes catching the streetlight.

*Funny how life throws people together,* she thought, smiling to herself.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Adam asked, catching her expression. "Looking pretty happy up there."

Irene felt her cheeks warm. "Just thinking... this is nice."

Adam reached up to squeeze her hand on the handle. "Yeah. It is."

They turned a corner and suddenly came upon an open plaza. Irene's attention immediately shifted to the scene before them—a fountain surrounded by balloons and lights that turned the ordinary space into something from a movie.

"Let's check it out," she said, curiosity taking over. "Something's happening."

"Your call," Adam said with a hint of a smile. "You're running the show tonight."

Irene pushed closer, stopping at a good distance. Blue and white balloons circled the area, tied to blocks on the ground. Colored lights shot upward, turning the night magical. The white balloons gleamed while the blue ones seemed to glow from within.

"Always like this?" Irene asked, taking in the spectacle.

"Nope," Adam replied. "Someone's got big plans tonight."

Right on cue, people gathered at the center. A man in the middle dropped to one knee, holding up a small box to a woman in purple.

"Three years together," his voice carried across the suddenly hushed plaza, "and every day I'm more sure you're who I want to spend my life with. Marry me? Let's keep our story going forever."

The woman's hands flew to her mouth, tears shining in her eyes. "Yes," she managed through emotion. "I will."

The moment she said it, water shot up from the fountain, reaching crazy heights. Droplets caught the light like falling stars, and everyone around them burst into applause.

With shaky hands, the man slipped the ring on her finger. He jumped up and pulled her close, kissing her while people cheered.

Irene and Adam watched it all unfold, witnesses to this perfect moment. Irene felt something stir inside—warm and excited and a little bit yearning. She thought about everything they'd been through, from first meeting to now.

*Wonder what it would feel like,* she thought, *to be asked that question someday?*

Her mind spinning, she glanced at Adam, trying to read his face. Their eyes locked, and something electric passed between them. Irene looked away quickly, feeling heat rise to her face.

Adam took her hand gently, making her look back. In the glow of the lights and mist from the fountain, they studied each other, both seeing something neither had put into words.

The noise around them seemed to fade, leaving only the sound of Irene's racing heart. *Is he hinting at something? Or am I just seeing what I want to see?* His grip tightened slightly on her hand, like a silent promise.

Adam's expression had changed from happy-for-them to deeply thoughtful. He played with her fingers absently, like he was working through something important. Finally, he looked from the fountain back to her face, his eyes softer and more determined than she'd ever seen them.

"Irene," he said, voice dropping lower, "if I asked you the same question someday, what would you say?"

Her breath caught. Her eyes went wide as she stared at him, mouth opening but no words coming out. Her heart hammered wildly, palms suddenly damp.

But in her mind, an answer formed instantly, crystal clear.