Genius Kids' Scheme: Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire Chapter 224: The Devil's in the Details

Morning clouds hung low as Irene stood outside Adam's house, watching Thomas load their bags. Her mood couldn't have been worse if it tried.

Meanwhile, Natalie bounced on her toes nearby, grinning like she'd just won the jackpot.

"M Country is gorgeous this time of year," Natalie said, fussing with her already perfect blazer. "I packed some special equipment Adam will love."

Irene kept quiet. Why bother coming if Adam was happy with Doctor Perfect tagging along? She'd turned her schedule upside down for this trip, and for what?

Thomas closed the trunk and nodded to them. "Ready to go."

Natalie beamed and stepped toward the lead car where Adam waited. "Great! I have some ideas I'd love to discuss on the—"

"Dr. Snow," Thomas cut in, face blank as a new sheet of paper, "you'll be in the second vehicle." He pointed to the identical car behind. "Mr. Haven doesn't share his ride. You'll come with me."

Natalie's smile stuck to her face like it had been glued there. "Oh."

"He made an exception for Dr. Sterling," Thomas added, twisting the knife without changing expression.

As Thomas walked Natalie to the second car, her eyes burned into Irene's back as she was guided to Adam's vehicle. Natalie clutched her bag so tight her knuckles went white before yanking her car door open.

In Adam's car, Irene pressed herself against the door, suddenly fascinated by trees and houses. The silence grew thick as they pulled away.

"Got a problem with me?" Adam finally asked.

"Nope," she answered, still counting mailboxes.

"Liar."

Her head whipped around. "If you don't trust me as your doctor, you could've saved us both the hassle. I've got patients who actually want my help back home."

Adam's mouth twitched. "After all this time, you think I don't trust you? You're the doctor I picked myself."

Heat crawled up Irene's neck as it clicked. *He heard me talking to Natalie.* Her bold words from the mansion came rushing back, making her stomach do gymnastics. What had gotten into her?

"I had two reasons for bringing Natalie," Adam said, watching her too closely.

Irene met his eyes, curiosity winning the battle with embarrassment.

"One was to shut my mother up," he said, gaze steady as a rock. "The other was making sure Natalie gets the message that I only need you."

"Oh." The word slipped out small and quiet.

The car suddenly felt tiny and too warm. Her heart pounded like it was trying to escape her chest. The air between them sparked with things neither was ready to put into words.

She turned back to the window, trying not to show how those four words had cleared her storm clouds in a heartbeat.

**Later, high above the clouds**

The jet engines hummed as Irene pulled a blanket over herself, fighting to keep her eyes open. The morning drama and gentle vibration soon pulled her into sleep. Her head drifted toward Adam's shoulder.

He glanced over at the weight against him. Her blanket had slipped, and he tucked it back around her with surprising care.

"Adam," Natalie whispered from across the aisle, loud enough to carry. "While it's quiet, I'd love to go over my treatment plan."

He didn't look up from his papers. "Later. Reading."

"Or maybe we could discuss your mother's ideas for—"

"Busy." The word dropped like a brick.

Natalie's smile flickered. After watching Adam fix Irene's blanket a third time, she closed her eyes, pretending sleep was better than watching him fuss over the other doctor.

Sometime later, Irene mumbled something in her sleep. Adam's face softened in a way Thomas had seen maybe twice in years.

When Irene finally woke, she found her seat perfectly angled, blanket snug around her, and water waiting. She glanced at Adam, typing away like nothing had happened. Something warm bloomed in her chest that had nothing to do with the cabin temperature.

**Checking in**

"Your rooms are ready," Thomas announced as they entered the hotel's gleaming lobby.

Irene stretched her neck, taking in the fancy surroundings while Thomas collected key cards. Her stomach knotted as she realized she'd never actually asked where she'd be staying.

"This is yours," Thomas handed a card to Natalie as they entered the elevator. "And Dr. Sterling will be in Mr. Haven's suite."

Natalie's head snapped up like she'd touched a live wire. "What?" She looked at her card—presidential suite—then back up. "And where exactly will Irene sleep?"

"With Mr. Haven," Thomas repeated, voice flat as day-old soda. "Next door to you."

The elevator doors opened to a hallway screaming money and taste. Natalie trailed behind, face darkening with each step.

"Isn't that crossing a line?" she asked, voice tight as a drum.

Adam, quiet until now, turned slightly. His finger tapped once against his armrest—the only crack in his cool.

"The suite has multiple bedrooms," he stated, cold as a frozen lake. "This is my decision. If you don't like it, there are plenty of other hotels in town."

Natalie's face flushed in blotches, like someone flipping her complexion on and off. She stormed to her door, swiped her card like she was stabbing it, and slammed it behind her. The bang echoed down the hall.

Irene stood frozen, embarrassed by the whole scene. When she finally looked at Adam, she found him watching her calmly. His words echoed in her head: *I only need you*. Her heart skipped, and she had to breathe deep to steady herself.

**Behind closed doors**

Inside the massive suite, Irene gulped down water, then automatically poured a glass for Adam. She handed it to him without thinking, now as natural as breathing.

"Aren't you worried she'll run to your mom?" she asked, dropping onto the sofa.

Adam took the glass, fingers brushing against the warm surface. "That's why she's here—to finally get that there's no point."

He sipped his water, eyes never leaving her face. Irene looked away, watching steam rise from her glass in tiny curls.

Her thoughts drifted to Natalie—polished, perfect Natalie with her spotless background. She caught herself stealing a glance at Adam's profile, and something tightened in her chest.

"I should unpack," she said suddenly, needing room to breathe.

In the bedroom, Irene emptied her suitcase piece by piece. Adam's words kept playing on repeat: *I only need you*. Four simple words that shouldn't have dug so deep under her skin. She shook her head, trying to shake them loose, but her lips curved up anyway.

She pulled out a jacket and froze mid-motion. It was Adam's—the one he'd put around her shoulders after the Hayes dinner. She'd meant to return it, but somehow it had snuck into her luggage.

"How did this..." she whispered, running her fingers over it.

Without thinking, she brought it closer, catching a hint of his cologne. Realizing what she was doing, she quickly folded it and set it aside, her face burning. The mirror confirmed the color in her cheeks.

"What are you doing?" she murmured to herself, the question covering everything—the jacket, the feelings, those four words echoing in her head.

**Across town**

Samantha's phone buzzed. She read the message, lips curving into a smile that never reached her eyes.

*They've arrived. Adam, Irene, and Natalie at Royal Grand. Same floor, different rooms.*

She set down her phone, nails tapping a slow beat. Perfect timing—all three targets in a foreign country, away from home turf.

She dialed a number, voice cool when answered: "They're in position. Get our people ready. We move when it's right."

She hung up, touching a photo on her desk—Adam at some business event, face serious as always.

"Soon," she whispered, "we'll solve all our problems at once.