Chapter 119
The harsh lights of Silver City Private Medical Center made everyone look worse than they already felt. Irene walked down the polished hallway with Joseph, her face calm despite the chaos brewing inside her.
When they turned the corner, she felt it immediately–the wall of hostility. The hallway had become Sterling family central. Richard stood against the wall, not a wrinkle in his expensive suit. John and Rose whispered by the nurse’s station while Nathan paced near the emergency doors. In the corner, Jenny and Mike Claire sat looking worried sick.
The second Jenny spotted Irené, she jumped up like she’d been shocked. “You!” she yelled, storming over with her finger pointed right at Irene’s face. “How dare you show up here?”
Everyone turned to stare. The tension in the room shot up as Jenny marched toward them, practically shaking with anger.
“Haven’t you done enough?” Jenny’s voice echoed, making a passing nurse frown.
Irene didn’t back down despite the mixed feelings churning inside her. These people had raised her–but they’d also kicked her out when she needed them most.
She stepped around Jenny. “I have every right to be here. I’m with my grandfather,” she said calmly. “And I’m not taking the blame for what Anna did.”
Jenny’s jaw dropped. This wasn’t the quiet, obedient girl she remembered. This was a woman who knew her worth.
“The nerve of you,” Jenny sputtered. “If you hadn’t come back, Anna would be fine! Everything was perfect until you showed up!”
“Seriously?” Irene wanted to laugh. “How is this my fault? Did I break up with her? Was I the one engaged to her?” She glanced at Richard. “You’re blaming the wrong person.”
Jenny stood there speechless, not expecting Irene to stand up for herself.
Joseph’s cane hit the floor with a crack. “That’s enough,” he said firmly. “My granddaughter spent five years struggling after you threw her out. Now that she’s finally home, you have the nerve to blame her for your daughter’s problems?”
He looked around the hallway, challenging anyone to interrupt. “Anna has been taking what wasn’t hers for twenty years–a family that wasn’t hers, a life she didn’t earn. And now that Irene’s back, she still can’t handle it.” His voice got dangerously low. “If she tried to kill herself, that’s on her. I’m still breathing, and if you want to blame my granddaughter, you’ll have to go through me
first.”
The hallway went completely silent. Even the beeping machines seemed quieter. John and Rose stared at the floor, not making eye
contact.
Mike cleared his throat. “Look,” he started in that fake–reasonable voice Irene knew too well, “even if it’s not directly Irene’s fault, there’s obviously a connection.”
He turned to Irene with a calculated look. “Richard told Anna he’s in love with you. That’s why he ended things–said he’d only marry you.” Mike stepped closer. “Come on, Irene. Anna and Richard grew up together.”
His voice got softer, trying to manipulate her like he used to. “You’ve got everything now–back with the Sterlings, loaded with money, set for life. You’ve got it all.” He pointed toward the emergency doors. “Anna’s lost everything. Can’t you just let her have Richard? After all did for you–can’t you do this one thing?”
The words didn’t hurt–they just made everything clear. Any warm feelings Irene had for her foster parents vanished instantly. They never loved her as a daughter. She was just their ticket to Sterling money.
‘Let me be perfectly clear,” Irene said quietly. “I have zero interest in anything with the Vein family. That engagement is history,
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Chapter 119
Whatever’s going on between Anna and Richard has nothing to do with me.”
Joseph shifted his weight, leaning on his cane as he glared at Mike. You Claires are something else,” he said with disgust. “Yeah, you raised Irene, but I paid you for that. Where was all this family talk when you kicked her out pregnant and alone? Where was your concern then?” He moved in front of Irene protectively. “She was the victim, not Anna!”
Mike and Jenny exchanged guilty looks. When Joseph had discovered Irene’s identity and offered money for raising her, they’d taken it without hesitation. It was theirs, they’d told themselves–payment for years of expenses.
“That’s totally different,” Jenny argued. “The money was for raising her. This situation is completely separate!”
John stepped forward, hands up. “Everyone, please. This isn’t helping Anna. She’s still being treated, and fighting won’t change anything.”
Rose nodded, her face a perfect mask of fake concern. “Let’s all calm down. Fighting won’t solve anything.”
Their peacekeeping attempt just made Jenny cry harder. “Who’s trying to fight?” she sobbed, dabbing her eyes. “If Irene had never shown up, none of this would have happened. If she hadn’t led Richard on—*
“Led him on?” Irene cut in, finally losing her cool. A cold smile spread across her face as she turned to Richard. Let’s clear this up right now, with everyone watching.” She walked up to him. “Tell me, Richard, what ‘signals‘ did I supposedly give you? Wasn’t I super clear when I told you to stay away and that I wasn’t interested?”
Richard tugged at his collar, suddenly uncomfortable. He straightened his tie, trying to buy time.
Irene didn’t wait. “And while we’re being honest, why did you really break up with Anna? You say you want to marry me now? Funny, since you told every reporter we had no engagement.” Her eyes narrowed. “What’s your game this time?”
Richard’s smooth act cracked under her direct attack. He’d expected the shy girl he once knew, not this confident woman calling him
out.
“Irene,” he finally said, forcing a smile, “I made a mistake before. I was confused and scared.” He lowered his voice like they were alone. “But deep down, I know you felt something for me too. Didn’t you?”
The sheer nerve of his response left Irene speechless for a second. He was actually trying to rewrite their history–making himself the misunderstood good guy instead of the jerk who’d abandoned her when she needed him most.
From the hallway entrance came the sound of someone trying not to laugh.
“Pfft-”
The sound cut through the tension like nothing else could. Every head in the hallway whipped around toward the source of the unexpected noise, expressions ranging from startled to annoyed at this interruption of their private drama.
Joseph was the first to react, his weathered face transforming as his eyes locked on whoever stood in the corridor entrance. The ghost of a smile touched his lips.
“Well,” he said dryly, “this just got more interesting.”
Genius Kids‘ Scheme: Claiming Daddy’s Billionaire Empre
Chapter 120
