Genius Kids' Scheme: Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire Chapter 290: She Is Connected

Irene sat down next to Joseph, the couch cushion sinking under her weight. The soft light from the lamp caught the edges of an old photo album spread across his lap.

"What's this?" she asked, leaning in to see faded photos behind plastic.

Joseph ran his fingers over a picture of a beautiful young woman standing next to a handsome man. Their smiles shone through despite the photo's age.

"My Elizabeth," he said softly. "We were so young back then."

Irene studied the photo. Young Joseph stood tall and confident, nothing like the frail man beside her now, but his eyes hadn't changed—still sharp and kind.

"You hardly ever talk about her," Irene said.

Joseph smiled, turning to another page. "Some things you just keep close to your heart." His eyes crinkled. "We caused quite a stir back then. My family thought she wasn't good enough—just a teacher's daughter, no fancy background."

He laughed quietly. "I told my father exactly where he could stick his opinions. Almost got kicked out of the family for it."

Irene's eyes widened. "You? Mr. Family-Comes-First?"

"Even old folks were young and stupid once." Joseph winked. "Watching you and Adam together reminds me of us. The way he jumped to protect you tonight—spitting image of me with Elizabeth."

Irene smiled gently. "I'm glad you approve. After everything that's happened, your support means the world to me."

Joseph patted her hand. "You two were inevitable from day one. I knew it before you did."

"Everything's happening so fast," she admitted.

"That's how it goes." Joseph closed the album. "Falling for someone is the easy part. Sticking together when life gets messy—that's the real challenge."

The wind picked up outside, rustling through the trees.

"The Havens won't make things easy," Joseph continued, his voice turning serious. "Old money, old attitudes. They'll see three kids and a complicated past. They'll see you as an outsider."

Irene sat up straighter. "I couldn't care less what they think. As long as the kids are happy and you're in our corner—that's all that matters."

Joseph nodded approvingly. "You're tougher than Elizabeth was. She worried too much about fitting in." He patted Irene's hand. "Adam picked well."

Tiredness suddenly deepened the lines on Joseph's face. Irene helped him up, supporting his weight as they headed toward the stairs.

At the first step, Joseph paused. "Whatever happens, I'm on your side. Always have been."

After getting him settled upstairs, Irene came back to the living room and sank into the couch. Her fingers found the necklace Adam had given her, touching the tiny neuron pendant while replaying the past few days. The kidnapping. The rescue. Adam telling her he loved her.

It felt like someone else's life. Yet the pendant against her skin made it all real.

*My whole life flipped upside down in just a few days,* she thought, smiling to herself. *And somehow, it feels exactly right.*

Morning sunlight cut through the blinds in Adam's office. He scrolled through reports on his computer as Thomas walked in with coffee.

"Victor's out," Thomas said without any greeting. "Got released an hour ago. Some nobody took the blame—said Victor had nothing to do with it, claimed he made the whole thing up for cash."

Adam barely looked surprised, just irritated. "Figured as much. Guys like that never stay locked up long." He shut his laptop. "Get legal on it. I want his accounts frozen by tonight."

Thomas nodded, jotting it down. "Should we tell Irene?"

"Not yet." Adam tapped his desk once. "Let's handle this first. No point making her worry."

He turned to look out the window at the city below. Last night played in his mind—holding Irene, feeling her safe in his arms. That strange warmth in his chest when she'd fallen asleep against his shoulder during treatment.

"Beef up security at Emerald Garden," Adam said. "Keep it low-key though. I don't want to scare her or the kids."

Thomas hesitated. "Your dad called. George wants to see you."

"Already been." Adam's mouth tightened. "He chewed Victor out big time. Told him if he goes anywhere near 'that doctor' again, he'll personally cut him off completely."

A hint of a smile crossed Adam's face. "Grandfather's old-school, but even he has lines nobody crosses. Trying to hurt a doctor's hands? That crossed it."

"Keep your eyes open," Adam told Thomas. "And move my afternoon stuff around. I'm picking up Irene later."

Across town, Irene walked into the medical center lobby and was immediately surrounded by concerned coworkers.

"You're back!" A young researcher rushed up to her. "How are you feeling?"

Irene smiled. "Much better, thanks. Just caught a bug." No need to mention being kidnapped, tied up, and nearly having her hands smashed. Just another day in Silver City.

Walking through the building triggered flashes of that night—being dragged out the back door, rough hands grabbing her, the fear. When she passed the hallway to the rear exit, she sped up without thinking, her muscles tensing.

*Breathe,* she told herself. *Don't let them win by being scared.*

"Irene!" Matthew's voice snapped her back to reality. He hurried over, worry all over his face. "Thank goodness you're okay. I was going crazy when you didn't show up."

He handed her a cup of tea. "Just how you like it."

"Thanks." Irene took the cup gratefully. "Sorry for disappearing on you."

"Well, you never miss work," he said, walking beside her. "So when you didn't show up..." He stopped himself. "Anyway, everything ran pretty smooth while you were out. Jennifer actually stepped up, handled some projects."

Irene raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"She's not that bad," Matthew shrugged. "Just competitive."

When they walked into the lab, Jennifer looked up from her workstation. For a split second, something crossed her face—surprise, then fear, then disappointment—before she pulled herself together.

"You're back," she said flatly. "Thought you'd be gone longer."

Irene noticed how Jennifer wouldn't look her in the eye. Weird, but not shocking given their rivalry.

"Just needed a few days," Irene said, putting down her bag. "Thanks for covering."

Jennifer nodded stiffly and turned back to her microscope. "Barrett samples are ready. Results tomorrow."

Throughout the day, Irene caught up on work, falling back into her routine. Research felt normal, a good distraction from everything else happening in her life.

She never noticed Jennifer watching her.

Behind her professional mask, Jennifer's mind was racing. The night of Irene's kidnapping played on loop in her head—hiding in the shadows, watching those men grab Irene. The frozen moment when she could have called for help but didn't. The fleeting thought: *With her gone, I could run the team AND get Matthew's attention.*

*How is she not dead?* The thought hit Jennifer before she could stop it, shocking her with its darkness. She wasn't a bad person, was she? She hadn't wanted Irene *dead*—just... gone.

As the day wound down, Irene's phone lit up with a message from Adam that made her stomach flip like a teenager's.

"On my way. Thought I'd save you the drive. Already heading your direction."

Irene smiled as she texted back: "My knight in shining armor. See you in the lobby."

She didn't notice Jennifer watching her, or the dread on the younger doctor's face as Irene gathered her things to leave.

*She's connected,* Jennifer realized with growing horror. *Powerful people are protecting her.*

As Irene walked away, Jennifer's hands trembled slightly over her keyboard.

She was in way over her head.