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Genius Kids‘ Scheme: Claiming Daddy’s Billionaire Empre
Chapter 86
While Rose gushed over the mysterious Dr. Joy in the hospital hallway, promising elaborate thank you gifts she’d never receive, Irene was already halfway home, completely oblivious to her birth ther’s sudden change of heart.
Irene practically dragged herself through the front door, muscles screaming from standing motionless during Brandon’s marathon surgery. The sight of her three kids sprawled across the living room sofa immediately reminded her it was way past lunchtime.
“Mom’s home!” Alex called out, his face lighting up as he looked up from his tablet.
Lucas and Lily immediately bolted toward her, ready to tackle her with hugs. Irene quickly held up her hands to stop the incoming
ambush.
*Hold up, you two! I just came straight from the hospital still covered in disinfectant smell. No húgs until I’m clean.”
The children screeched to a halt, disappointment flashing across their faces before reality kicked in.
“Then hurry up and shower!” Lucas bounced impatiently. “So we can hug you after!”
“Yeah, go fast!” Lily added, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk storing nuts.
Despite her exhaustion, Irene couldn’t help smiling at their enthusiasm. “Did you guys eat? Are you hungry?”
“Nope!” Lily waved her hands dismissively. “We ate at Uncle Adam’s. The food was amazing!”
Irene paused. “You went to his place again?”
“Actually, he came to get us,” Lucas clarified quickly. “Uncle Adam brought us over!”
“He said you’d be super busy today,” Alex added, watching her reaction carefully.
The information hit Irene unexpectedly. Adam hadn’t just remembered she’d be at the hospital all day–he’d personally made sure her kids were taken care of. Not delegated to Thomas, not arranged from afar, but handled himself. Something warm unfurled in her chest that had nothing to do with her physical fatigue.
“Mom? You okay?” Alex’s voice snapped her back to reality.
“Just tired, sweetie.” She gave them a soft smile. “I need to rest for a bit. You three behave while I’m upstairs, alright? If you get sleepy, grab your blankets and nap.”
“We’ll be quiet as mice!” Lucas promised.
“Go sleep, Mom, Lily said with surprising authority for someone so small. “You look totally wiped out.”
“We got this,” Alex assured her, making shooing motions toward the stairs.
With one last fond look at her children, Irene headed upstairs. She barely managed to rinse off the hospital smell before collapsing onto her bed, unconscious before her head fully settled on the pillow
Evening sunlight slanted through the windows when Joseph returned from the hospital with James at his side. The old man eased into his favorite armchair with a weary sigh.
“Miss Irene is upstairs resting,” James informed him quietly. “She came home a few hours ago and went straight to bed.”
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Chapter 86
Joseph nodded, visibly relieved. “Good. That girl never knows when
slow down.”
Throughout the afternoon, the triplets had managed to entertain themselves without waking their mother–a minor miracle given their usual energy levels. Now they were scattered across the floor, absorbed in their games and books.
Just as James headed toward the kitchen to start dinner, the doorbell rang. Three heads popped up instantly, and the kids raced each other to answer it.
“I got it!” Lucas reached the door first, yanking it open to reveal Adam in his wheelchair with Thomas standing behind him.
“Uncle Adam!” Alex’s face brightened. “We don’t need dinner rescue night! Great–grandfather and Mom are both home!”
Joseph immediately understood why Adam had come. He’d been woted that with Irene still at the hospital and Joseph just returning, the children might not have dinner arrangements.
“Mr. Haven, Joseph called warmly from his chair. “The children tell me you looked after them at lunch. Very thoughtful of you.”
Adam acknowledged this with a slight nod. “It was nothing.”
“Since Irene’s still resting, would you care to join us for dinner instead?” Joseph offered, genuine appreciation in his voice.
‘I should get back,” Adam said, his tone casual but final. “Let her sleep. She’s had a long day.”
After Adam and Thomas left, Joseph sank back in his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his weathered face as he considered the evolving dynamic between his granddaughter and their neighbor.
Irene finally woke at nine, her body having claimed the sleep it desperately needed. She stumbled downstairs, stomach growling loudly enough to announce her presence before she reached the bottom step.
Her children were fighting a losing battle against sleep, eyelids drooping despite their best efforts to stay awake. They perked up momentarily at her appearance.
“Mom! James saved you dinner,” Alex said, looking up from his tablet
Lucas made an exaggerated eating motion. “So much good stuff!”
“We were super good while you slept,” Lily added, hands framing her cherubic face. “Promise!”
Irene’s lips curved into a genuine smile as she ruffled each of their heads. “Never doubted it for a second.”
James appeared immediately. “I’ll heat up your dinner, Miss Irene.”
“Oh!” Lily suddenly remembered something. “Uncle Adam came by earlier! He wanted to make sure we had dinner.”
Irene’s hand paused mid–motion, something fluttering in her chest. Really? Did he… say anything else?” Her voice remained casual, betraying none of the sudden interest she felt.
“Great–grandfather asked him to stay,” Alex reported. “But he said he didn’t want to disturb your rest.”
“I see. Irene said softly, something undefined flickering across her expression.
While James prepared her meal, Irene pulled out her phone to check in with Katherine about Brandon’s condition.
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Chapter 86
How’s he doing? she texted.
Katherine’s response came quickly: Woke up briefly in the evening, but too weak and fell back asleep. No adverse reactions to the surgery so far.
Irene stifled a yawn as her fingers flew across the screen: Keep an ey on him. Call me immediately if anything changes.
As she set her phone aside, Irene suddenly remembered Adam’s treatment session. Despite her body’s protests, the thought of seeing him’sent a small surge of energy through her. She caught herself absently smoothing her hair and stopped, confused by her own reaction.
‘I need to go do Haven’s treatment,” she told James as she finished eating. “The kids are practically asleep already. Could you make sure they get to bed properly?”
“Of course, Miss Irene,” James replied with his usual reliability.
Irene gathered her medical kit and headed for the door, glancing fondly at her children who were now barely keeping their eyes
open.
The short walk to Adam’s house did nothing to explain the strange anticipation building inside her. Knowing he had personally cared for her children today touched something she hadn’t realized was there. As she rang his doorbell, Irene found herself smiling for no logical reason at all–and for once, she didn’t try to analyze why.
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