Genius Kids' Scheme: Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire Chapter 253: Too Late To Turn Back

The morning after the ice cream shop meetup, Irene headed straight to the Children's Welfare Institute. She needed some perspective after yesterday's whirlwind of emotions with Adam and the triplets' not-so-subtle matchmaking.

"Pretty lady, you finally came!" Little Bell bounced in her hospital bed, skinny arms outstretched.

Irene's exhaustion melted at the sight of that gap-toothed smile. She crossed the room and gave the little girl's hand a gentle squeeze. "Miss me, troublemaker?"

"So much!" Little Bell nodded frantically. "Doctor says if I'm good, I can go outside next week!"

Irene glanced at the chart, her smile staying fixed as she noted the little girl wasn't getting better as quickly as everyone hoped. The tiny fighter still had a long way to go.

"Well then, sounds like someone needs to keep taking their medicine," she winked, ruffling the girl's hair.

"We all are!" a boy with glasses shouted, nearly tripping over his own feet as he rushed forward. "Look what we made you, doctor lady!"

He thrust a crumpled paper into her hands like it contained state secrets. Irene smoothed it out, her expression softening at the crayon masterpiece. Two stick figures stood front and center—her unmistakable black hair next to a tall figure with glasses who could only be Matthew.

"Wow," she managed, her smile flickering just enough for perceptive eyes to notice. "This is... detailed."

The kids beamed up at her, eyes wide with hope for approval.

"You know what would make this even cooler?" Irene knelt to their level. "All the awesome nurses and other doctors deserve spots too. They'd probably feel left out seeing just us, don't you think?"

A chorus of gasps followed as the kids absorbed this grievous oversight.

"We need more paper!" The glasses boy took charge immediately. "And the green crayon—Nurse Sara always wears green!"

"Didn't know you were coming by today."

The voice behind her sent a jolt through Irene's spine. Speaking of the devil. She turned to find Matthew leaning against the doorframe, lab coat pristine as always.

"Just a quick visit," she shrugged. "Bell's been asking for me."

His eyes tracked her movements with unmistakable warmth. "Perfect timing—I just finished rounds. Hungry? That new place on Fifth finally opened."

Irene hesitated, guilt from yesterday's art show bail-out still fresh. She'd ditched him for Adam without even trying to be subtle about it.

"Sure," she found herself saying. "What's on the menu? Nothing with eyeballs or tentacles, right?"

Matthew laughed, a sound that always made his patients feel better but now just tightened something in her chest. "Promise. Just normal food cooked abnormally well."

The street buzzed with early evening energy as they walked, awkward gaps opening in their conversation. Irene's mind kept drifting to the medical charts she'd seen, to Bell's medication schedule, to—if she was honest—whether the triplets had finally gone to bed without their usual rebellion against bedtime.

"Earth to Irene," Matthew waved his hand. "Lost you somewhere back by the bookstore."

"Sorry," she blinked. "It's been a day."

The restaurant had first-date written all over it—soft lighting, cozy tables, and waiters who appeared and disappeared without a sound. Irene played with her napkin, suddenly aware of how this looked to anyone watching them.

Matthew watched her from across the table. "You haven't changed since R Country. Always lost in your thoughts."

"That bad?" She tried to laugh it off.

"Actually, I've always liked it." His voice dropped lower. "Watching you think is fascinating."

Everything between them suddenly changed, the mood turning serious. Irene found herself staring at the painting on the wall like it might show her the way out of this conversation.

"Irene." His tone made her freeze. "I need to say something I've waited too long to tell you."

She lowered her water glass slowly, already knowing, already dreading.

"I like you." The words hung between them, simple but monumental. "I've liked you for years."

The restaurant noise faded to static. Her lungs suddenly forgot how to work properly.

"Back in R Country," he continued, words measured but unstoppable, "watching you rebuild your life from scratch, raising those kids while becoming one of the best doctors around... I fell for everything about you."

Warmth spread through her chest—genuine affection, appreciation, but not the flutter she knew should be there. Not the spark she'd felt on a beach under stars with someone else's hand brushing hers.

The silence stretched until a waiter swooped in with food neither of them remembered ordering.

"Go ahead," Matthew nodded at her plate. "Before it gets cold."

Irene stared at the artfully arranged dish, hunger completely gone. Her throat felt tight, words jamming up behind a wall of indecision.

"Matthew..." she finally managed. "I'm touched, really. But I haven't been thinking about relationships. With anyone."

The lie burned her tongue.

Pain flickered in his eyes before disappearing beneath a careful smile. "No pressure. I just wanted you to know."

He took a deliberate bite, then set his fork down again. "But I hope you'll at least consider what we could be. We already know we work well together."

The unspoken comparison hung heavy in the air—unlike Adam, who'd only recently entered her life but somehow felt like he'd always been there.

"The kids adore you," he added, the hint of pleading making her chest ache.

"Matthew—"

"I know, I know." He raised his hands in surrender. "Let's just eat. But promise you'll think about it?"

The rest of dinner crawled by in stilted small talk and painful pauses. By the time they left, Irene felt completely drained.

Walking home alone, she replayed his words in her mind. Matthew was everything she should want—kind, brilliant, stable. He'd been her rock during the darkest days in R Country, when she was struggling with three babies and a new career.

So why couldn't her heart cooperate?

A sudden image flashed in her mind—Adam's face in the glow of island sunset, the gentle pressure of his fingers against hers, the way his eyes crinkled when her kids made him laugh.

Her steps faltered as realization hit. Somewhere between therapy sessions and stolen moments, something had shifted. Something terrifying had taken root when she wasn't looking.

*Well, shit.*

The triplets had spotted it long before she did. Their relentless matchmaking suddenly made perfect sense.

Her house glowed softly as she approached, the sound of quiet voices drawing her inside. Joseph and Adam sat at the chess table, locked in silent battle.

"Checkmate in three," Joseph murmured, studying the board with narrowed eyes.

Adam looked up as she entered, instantly alert to her presence. "Everything okay?"

"Fine," she answered too quickly, avoiding his gaze.

His eyes flicked to her purse, catching the fancy napkin peeking out—the restaurant's logo clearly visible. Something flashed across his face, there and gone in an instant. His finger tapped once against his armrest, the movement so slight she nearly missed it.

"Long day?" he asked, voice carefully neutral.

"The usual." She dropped her bag, suddenly hyperaware of him watching her.

Joseph glanced between them and closed the chess box with a decisive click. "Think that's enough for tonight."

"You don't have to go," Irene protested weakly.

"It's late," Joseph shrugged, gathering his coat. "And these old bones need rest."

As the door closed behind him, Irene stood frozen, terrified by the clarity of her feelings for Adam. He was her patient. Her kids' "uncle." Silver City's most powerful CEO. Everything she'd sworn to avoid in her already complicated life.

Yet when she finally risked looking at him—really looking—and caught the intensity burning behind his careful expression, she knew it was already too late.

Her heart had made its choice without bothering to consult her first.