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Genius Kids‘ Scheme: Claiming Daddy’s Billionaire Empire
Chapter 145
Two patrol officers led the way to Emerald Garden Estate, Mike and Jenny’s car following close behind. Anna had convinced them to fite a missing persons report on than, and now police were escorting them to Irene’s door.
“Remember what Anna said,” Jenny whispered as they approached the gates. ‘Ite’s probably been there the whole time.”
Mike just nodded, jaw clenched tight. The word “kidnapping” hadn’t been spoken aloud, but it hung in the air between them, planted by Anna and now growing in their minds with each passing inute.
The doorbell rang with that sharp, official sound that immediately put Irene on edge. She and Ethan looked up from their late snack.
She opened the door to find two officers with Mike and Jenny right behind them.
“Ms. Sterling? We’re here about Ethan Claire.”
Jenny pushed past before Irene could speak, spotting Ethan and pointing. “There he is! I knew it!”
“You actually kidnapped my son!” Jenny’s voice rose to a near–screech as she stormed in.
Irene’s face went cold as she turned to the officers. “I didn’t kidnap anyone. He showed up on my doorstep.”
Jenny spun toward the police, jabbing a finger at Irene. “Officer, that’s her! She lured my son here! She took him!”
Her voice cracked with what might have been genuine distress, but the performance felt rehearsed. She turned back to Irene with venom in her eyes. “Anna was right about you! She knew you’d take him in just to spite us!”
At Anna’s name, something hard settled in Irene’s chest. This wasn’t spontaneous concern–it was a setup.
“Oh, so you remembered you have a son?” Irene asked, voice dangerously quiet. “Funny, where were you earlier when he needed parents? Where were you when he was being falsely accused? What kind of parents are you?”
The officers exchanged glances, clearly sensing they’d walked into something messier than a simple runaway case.
Ethan rushed forward, panic written across his face. “Officers, this is all wrong! Nobody kidnapped me. I came here myself–she’s my
sister!”
“She is NOT your sister!” Jenny snapped, her mask slipping. “She’s nothing to us anymore!”
“Oh, and Anna is?” Ethan shouted, voice bouncing off the walls. “Anna’s my sister now?!”
The raw emotion in his voice made everyone freeze. Ethan rarely raised his voice to his parents, and the shock registered on their
faces.
Emboldened by their silence, Ethan let loose. “You knew I didn’t forge those recommendation letters! You knew it! But you believed Anna anyway! She called me an uneducated fraud to my face, and you just stood there! Let me tell you something–she will never be my sister. NEVER You can choose her if you want, kick me out, I don’t care. I’d rather sleep on the street than live in that house with her!”
The room went dead silent, Ethan’s harsh breathing the only sound.
Mike’s face twisted with rage. He lunged forward and slapped Ethan hard across the face. “Watch your mouth! Who do you think
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Chapter 145
you’re talking to?
The crack echoed through the room. Ethan stumbled back, hand flying to his reddening cheek
Irene was between them in an instant, shoving Ethan behind her. TROUGH! Her voice sliced through the tension, sharp enough to make even the officers stiffen. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Jenny’s face twisted with rage. What’s wrong with us? What have you done to my son? What garbage have you been filling his head with? This is all your fault! You’ve ruined our family!
Irene stared at Jenny for a long moment, truly, seeing the woman who had raised her for twenty years. There was nothing maternal in those eyes anymore–just bitter entitlement and wounded pride.
“Listen to yourself,” Irene said, voice dropping to a deadly calm. “Your actual biological child that you raised from birth comes to you hurt and wrongly accused. And instead of having his back, you side with the person hurting him. Ethan didn’t run away for kicks. He came to me because he had nowhere else to go.”
She took a step forward, eyes locked on Jenny’s face. “You know what kind of person Ethan is. You raised him, Do you honestly think he’d forge documents? Or is it just easier to swallow Anna’s lies than to stand up for your own son? And now you drag police to my door and throw around accusations instead of facing your own failures as parents?”
The words landed like physical blows. Jenny and Mike seemed to shrink with each sentence, the righteous anger draining from their
faces.
If you won’t fight for Ethan’s reputation, I will,” Irene finished, steel in her voice. “Now get out of my house.”
Nobody spoke for several seconds. Then one officer cleared his throat.
“This is clearly a family dispute,” he said, authority replacing diplomacy. “The minor appears safe and here willingly. Mr. and Mrs.
Claire, you’ll need to come with us to withdraw your report.”
It wasn’t a request. Mike nodded stiffly while Jenny’s mouth opened and closed, no words coming out. The fight had drained from them, replaced by something that might have been shame.
They filed out without another word. Irene closed the door behind them, the lock clicking with satisfying finality.
“Sorry, sis,” Ethan said once they were alone, fingertips touching the red mark on his cheek.
Irene ruffled his hair like she used to years ago. “For what? That’s literally what a big sister is for.”
“Didn’t mean to drag you into my mess.”
“Forget it.” Irene squeezed his shoulder. “Guest room tonight. Tomorrow we’ll move your stuff next to the kids. I’m coming with you to school to fix this scholarship garbage.”
Ethan nodded, tension visibly leaving his shoulders..
A noise from the stairs made them turn. Three small heads peeked over the railing, not even pretending they hadn’t been listening.
“Uncle Ethan gets the room next to mine,” Alex declared with five–year–old authority. “I can guard his door.”
“We’re sharing my games,” Lucas chimed in, bouncing slightly. “After homework, duh.”
“Our rooms have star lights,” Lily added softly. “So it’s never dark.”
“I thought you three were asleep, Irene said, fighting a smile.
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Alex looked genuinely offended, And miss a family emergency? No nyt
Lily scooted closer to Ethan and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear, “Mom’s the strongest. She keeps all the bad people
away‘
Looking at these three kids who’d instantly adopted him, Ethan felt something warm unfurl in his chest. He’d only been here a few hours, but somehow it felt more like home than the place he’d lived his entire life.
After settling Ethan, Irene headed next door with her medical kit, Adam waited alone in his living room.
“No Thomas tonight?” she asked, stepping behind his chair.
“Everything okay over there?” Adam nodded toward her house. “Sourgled intense.”
“Just family drama.” Irene wheeled him toward–the–treatment room.m taking Ethan to school tomorrow to fix this scholarship
mess.”
She worked in silence, placing electrodes with the efficiency that comes from routine. As she finished, Adam spoke.
“About the school situation–don’t worry too much.”
Something in his tone made her look up. Adam’s expression revealed nothing as he glanced at his phone.
Irene was too tired to decode his cryptic comment. She packed her equipment, mind already drifting to tomorrow’s challenges. First thing in the morning, she’d make sure Ethan got the justice he deserved.
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