Genius Kids' Scheme: Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire Chapter 277: The Calm Her Name Brings

Morning light caught dust motes dancing over Adam's desk. He flicked through reports, yesterday's revelations still burning in his mind. Tommy's confession. Those recordings. Samantha's voice, cold and clear, ordering the hit on Irene.

Thomas appeared in the doorway, knocking once. "Wright's at the gate. Says he's not leaving until you see him."

Adam didn't even look up. "No."

"He's practically begging. Says it's about his daughter and—"

"No." Adam's voice stayed perfectly level while his jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. "Get Tommy's statement and those recordings to the police. Today."

Thomas crossed his arms, hesitating. "You know this will blow up with the Wright family."

Adam finally looked up, eyes sharp as cut glass. "Someone tried to hurt Irene. End of discussion."

A beat of silence stretched between them. Thomas nodded, the message crystal clear.

"On it." He turned, then glanced back. "Security says Wright's been pacing circles around his car for twenty minutes. Looks like he might throw up."

"Sounds like a him problem." Adam went back to his tablet, mind already moving to the next task.

They caught glimpses of Wright on the security feed when the news hit. The color drained from his face like someone had pulled a plug. His phone lit up—Samantha, no doubt—but he just stared at the screen, frozen. When he finally climbed back into his car, he moved like a man who'd aged a decade in minutes.

Across town, Samantha's fingers trembled as she tugged at her blouse collar. Police cruisers parked outside had the staff trading whispers behind cupped hands. She breathed deep, forcing her face into that practiced mask—the one that said Silver City royalty couldn't be bothered with trivial matters.

"Miss Wright," the officer's voice was flat as day-old champagne. "We're investigating threats made against Dr. Sterling. We need you to come answer some questions."

She tipped her chin up, mentally dusting off every lesson from Swiss finishing school. "There's been a mistake, Officer. The doctor and I barely know each other. Why would I possibly—"

"We have evidence." He cut her off, sliding a folder open. "Voice recordings. Payment trails. Text messages."

Her eyes snagged on Tommy's name, bolded on one of the papers. Something inside her brain short-circuited.

"No!" The society mask shattered in an instant. "I didn't—he can't—" She stumbled backward, sending a vase crashing to pieces. "Don't touch me! Get out of my house!"

She made a wild dash for the stairs, but an officer stepped into her path. Reality slapped her hard as they started reading rights. This wasn't a bad dream. This was happening—to her, Samantha Wright.

"Mom!" Her shriek bounced off the walls, mascara rivers flooding her cheeks. "Call Dad NOW! Adam can't DO this to me! He CAN'T!"

Her mother froze in the foyer, hand clamped over her mouth, watching her perfectly groomed daughter morph into something unrecognizable. As the police car disappeared down the driveway, Mrs. Wright's eyes rolled back, her body crumpling to the floor like a marionette with cut strings.

The sun climbed higher over Silver City as Victor burst through Wright's doors without knocking. Staff scattered as he thundered down the hallway, his footsteps like hammer blows.

Wright barely looked up, his eyes bloodshot and sunken. Three hours had carved new lines into his face.

"What the actual hell?" Victor slammed the door. "Everyone from the country club to the coffee shop is talking about Samantha getting hauled off by cops!"

Wright's fingers drummed nervously on his desk. "Samantha did something stupid. Adam found out." His voice broke. "All because she couldn't stand seeing him with that Sterling woman..."

"She hired a thug to go after a doctor?" Victor's lip curled. "That's the daughter you're so proud of? Sending goons because she got rejected?"

Wright deflated. "Victor, please. We're going to be family. Walter and—"

"That engagement is our last hope," Victor cut in, pacing like a caged animal. "Adam's not going to drag his own cousin's fiancée through the mud. At least, I hope not."

"Your funds transfer tomorrow," Wright blurted, desperation making sweat bead on his forehead. "All of it. Just... help us."

Victor stopped pacing. *The money.* The hole in his overseas accounts that Adam had exposed to the entire board. Without Wright's cash infusion, old George would finally see just how bad things had gotten.

"I'll talk to him," he muttered, the words like vinegar in his mouth. "No guarantees."

Wright nearly melted with relief. "Thank you. God, thank you."

Victor turned away, his mind churning. Defending Samantha Wright to Adam was the last thing he wanted—like walking into a lion's den wearing meat perfume. But if George found out about those investments...

The afternoon shadows stretched longer when Adam was deep in security protocols and Victor barged in. His uncle's face wore that fake concerned expression that might have fooled board members but couldn't fool Adam.

"Nephew," Victor started, voice unnaturally smooth. "The Wright girl made a mistake, sure, but with our business connections—"

"Not busy enough with your financial dumpster fire?" Adam cut him off, eyes never leaving his screen. "Now you're playing white knight for the Wrights too?"

Victor's face twitched. "This splashes back on all of us. The doctor wasn't even touched—why drag everyone through the mud?"

Something cold and sharp flashed behind Adam's eyes. "Someone tried to hurt Irene. That's it. That's the line."

"Jesus Christ, Adam!" Victor's voice jumped an octave. "What about the Haven name?"

"Our reputation would've taken a worse hit if Walter actually married that train wreck," Adam replied, voice steady as a surgeon's hand. "Since when does your project funding outrank someone's safety?"

Victor's mask cracked completely. "Don't lecture me on priorities! You've been playing CEO for what, five minutes? I've bled for this company since before you could spell your own name!"

"And we all see how that's working out." Adam's voice stayed frustratingly level. "We're done."

Victor stormed out, nearly bowling over Thomas in the hallway. The assistant flattened against the wall like he'd been glued there, waiting for the human hurricane to pass before slipping into Adam's office.

"Your dad's looking for you," he said.

Adam was already turning his chair toward the door.

Outside, the city lights were just starting to flicker on as Marcus's office captured the sunset perfectly. When Adam rolled in, his father stood against the view, a dark outline against fiery sky.

"Victor's on the warpath," Marcus said without turning. "Stormed in here like his tie was on fire."

"Figured he would."

Marcus turned, eyeing his son. "You've never called the cops before. We handle our own messes."

"This was different." Something hardened in Adam's voice.

Marcus leaned against his desk, studying Adam like he was seeing him for the first time. "You've moved mountains for this doctor. Is there something real there?"

The question hung between them, deceptively simple but loaded with weight. Adam turned to look out at the city, his reflection ghosting over the buildings below.

*Irene.* Just her name in his mind brought something unexpected—not chaos or confusion, but a strange settling calm. Like when puzzle pieces suddenly click into place after hours of frustration.

Marcus watched his son closely. Unlike Victor, he couldn't care less about Wright family drama or business fallout. Samantha Wright wasn't marrying *his* son, after all. What made him stop cold was seeing Adam go nuclear for a woman—something his pragmatic, calculating son had never done in twenty-six years of life.