Genius Kids‘ Scheme: Claiming Daddy’s Billionaire Empre
Chapter 133
Nathan stood in the security rom, taking a deep breath as the footage finished playing. The evidence was unmistakable–Anna had staged the whole thing. For the first tinte, he was forced to confront an uncomfortable truth: they’d been playing favorites with Anna for years.
“Look,” Nathan said, stepping forward with his best peacemaker voice “since this was clearly a misunderstanding, why don’t we just drop it? Anna’s still recovering. No need to make this a bigger deal an it is.”
Something in Irene snapped. The careful composure she’d maintain shattered, replaced by a cold fury that transformed her face.
“Drop it?” She let out a harsh laugh. “Why exactly should I drop it? pu all can point fingers at me, create public scenes, accuse me of assault… and then I’m supposed to be the bigger person? Just because precious Anna needs special treatment?”
She locked eyes with Nathan, her voice dropping to a level that seemed to chill the air around them.
“I’m not some sacrificial lamb for your family’s drama. Who exactly do you think you are, telling me to let this slide? Dream on.”
Nathan’s face darkened. His lips pressed into a tight line, clearly out of comebacks.
Richard stood awkwardly to the side, suddenly fascinated by his shoes. Having just jumped on the blame–Irene bandwagon, he didn’t have the guts to look her in the eye now.
Irene’s attention swiveled to Anna, who seemed to physically shrink.
“Anna,” she said, her voice sharp enough to slice paper, “two options. Either apologize right now, or wait for my lawyer to contact `you. Defamation isn’t some playground game.” Her lips curved into a cold smile. “Once this hits court, all your tears and drama
won’t save you. That act doesn’t work on me anymore.”
Playing innocent, twisting facts, spreading rumors behind my back, Irene thought bitterly. Did she really think I’d just take it? Or did stealing my life for twenty years make her think she could step on me forever?
Jenny and Mike’s faces tightened as they watched Irene stand her ground. They hadn’t expected this level of backbone.
“Can’t you just let this go?” Mike asked, his tone carrying that same “I’m the adult here” edge they’d always used with her. “After all
those years we raised you?”
Irene tilted her head, her gaze cutting over them like ice. “Don’t play the ‘we raised you‘ card. My grandfather also raised Anna for years and wrote you plenty of checks. Funny how you never showed any parental gratitude‘ then.” Her lips twisted. “I spent twenty years being the nice one. That well’s run dry. What exactly are you offering? Your empty words? Or that pathetic excuse for family
love?”
Jenny and Mike went pale. They hadn’t realized she knew about Joseph’s payments, and the revelation left them momentarily speechless.
Irene hadn’t meant to be so harsh, but the memories hit her like a tidal wave–how they’d claimed to love her like a daughter while clearly favoring Anna, showering attention and affection on the girl they now knew wasn’t biologically theirs. Twenty years of what she thought was family love now seemed like a cruel joke.
Seeing Irene wouldn’t back down, Anna finally lowered her head, knuckles white as she clasped her hands. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “I was wrong. I apogize.”
Irene stared down at her, unmoved. “Next time you see me, keep walking. Stop playing victim to try and trap me. Your acting might fool these people, but it doesn’t work on me.”
With that, she turned and walked out. She hadn’t wanted an apology she wanted surrender. Anna needed to understand that Irene
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Chapter 133
Sterling wasn’t someone to mess with.
The group remained frozen, the atmosphere thick enough to cut.
Anna couldn’t meet Richard’s eyes! She kept her head down, tears welling. “Richard… please let me explain…” Her voice broke as she reached for his sleeve.
Richard jerked away like he’d been burned. Without a word, he strode from the room.
His mind raced with fury. This woman’s game had gone too far. His relationship with Irene was already hanging by a thread, and now Anna’s stunt had snapped it completely. Twenty percent of Stering shares–gone in an instant! All his careful planning, ruined.
Nathan gave his sister a disappointed glance before turning away. Brandon’s words from the other night suddenly rang true. He averted his gaze and left without a word.
Jenny rushed to embrace Anna. “It’s okay, sweetie. Mom’s here…”
Anna shoved Jenny away, eyes red with humiliation. “You’re not my mother!” she spat, each word dripping with venom.
Wiping angry tears, she stormed back to her hospital room. The door slammed with a bang that echoed down the hall.
The confrontation left Irene with zero desire to hang around. She returned to Brandon’s room, her expression closed.
“We’re leaving,” she said simply.
The triplets had been mid–game with Brandon, but one look at their mother’s face told them everything. They’d been about to whine for a few more minutes, but the hard set of her jaw made them think twice. They nodded and packed up.
Brandon and Henry exchanged glances, sensing the storm clouds. They watched in silence as Irene herded the children out.
The moment they disappeared, Brandon turned to Henry. “Find out what happened,” he ordered, eyes fixed darkly on nothing in particular.
In the car heading home, Alex broke the heavy silence. “Mom, what’s wrong?” All three kids watched her with worried eyes.
“Yeah, did someone mess with you?” Lucas added, his little mouth set in an indignant pout.
Irene took a moment to gather herself. “It’s nothing. Just thinking.” She forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
The triplets weren’t buying it. Their mother’s expression had been thunderous when she’d collected them.
“Did someone give you trouble?” they pressed. “Was it the Sterlings again?”
Since coming back to the country, the Sterlings had repeatedly hurt their mother. In their minds, the family was always suspect number one when mom was upset.
Irene kept her eyes on the road, her silence speaking volumes.
Noting her reluctance, the triplets dropped it, but their hearts burned with righteous anger. A silent agreement passed between them: nobody hurts mom and gets away with it. Especially not the Sterlings.
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Back at Emerald Garden, Alex grabbed his laptop and started typing furiously.
“Uncle Brandon just messaged,” he announced, fingers flying across ys. There was a huge scene at the hospital. Mom totally shut down Anna and the others–left them speechless.”
“That’s how it should be!” Lucas pumped his little fist, face bright with vindication. “That’s what they get for messing with Mom!”
Lily nodded emphatically. “Mom’s the best!”
お
“The Sterlings have gone too far,” Alex whispered as his siblings huddled around his screen. Complex code scrolled by as his fingers danced over the keyboard.
“What are we going to do?” Lucas leaned in, eyes–sparkling with excitement.
Alex looked up, a smile too calculated for his young face spreading across
Mom.”
his lips. “Teach a lesson to anyone who messes with
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