Genius Kids‘ Scheme: Claiming Daddy’s Billionaire Empe
Chapter 88
Irene blinked awake as sunlight spilled across her face. She stretched lazily, savoring the unusual quiet before glancing at her phone. 9:24 AM glared back at her.
“Shoot,” she muttered, throwing back the covers. No alarms, no tiny humans bouncing on her bed demanding breakfast–something was definitely off. Then yesterday’s events rushed back: the grueling surgery, coming home exhausted, and that moment with Adam.
Adam. The memory flooded back – her hand on his thigh, those inter se gray eyes locked with hers, that electric moment between them. She pushed the thought away. Not now.
Tying her robe, she padded downstairs, following the soft sounds driting from the living room. She froze in the doorway, heart squeezing at the sight before her.
Lucas sat cross–legged on the sofa, the tip of his tongue peeking out as he swiped through what appeared to be stock charts on his tablet. Beside him, Lily hunched over a sketchpad, her small fingers carefully guiding colored pencils across the page as she created what looked like an elaborate family portrait.
“Where’s Alex?” she asked, leaning against the doorframe.
Two heads whipped up, eyes widening in identical expressions of delight.
“Mommy!” Lily scrambled off the couch, sketchpad and colored pencils forgotten.
“Mom’s up!” Lucas tossed his tablet aside, not far behind his sister.
They collided with her legs, small arms wrapping around her like enthusiastic octopuses. Irene knelt down, gathering them close as they talked over each other.
“Are you still super tired?” Lily cupped Irene’s face between her tiny palms, eyebrows scrunched in concern. “Katherine told Alex that doing surgery makes doctors tired all the way to their bones.”
“We missed you soooo much.” Lucas nestled against her shoulder. “Alex took Great–grandfather for his walk thing and said we had to be ninja–quiet so you could sleep more.”
Irene kissed both their foreheads, breathing in the familiar scent of children’s shampoo and something, indefinably hers. “You two
are the best kids ever.”
“Alex left breakfast in the kitchen.” Lily pointed importantly toward the hallway. “He said it needs to go in the microwave first.”
“We’ve been super good,” Lucas added, chest puffing with pride. “Not even one tiny fight.”
3
The weariness that had seeped into Irene’s bones yesterday had vanished. Looking at her children’s eager faces, she felt recharged in a way that no amount of sleep could manage.
An hour later, Irene guided Joseph through Silver City Private Medical Center’s gleaming hallways. After finding Alex and Joseph returning from their morning walk, she’d jumped at the chance to accompany her grandfather when he mentioned wanting to visit
Brandon.
“Brandon’s recovery room is this way,” she said, steering them left down a corridor adorned with tasteful artwork and soft lighting that created the perfect illusion of luxury rather than illness.
Joseph’s eyes twinkled with quiet pride. “The nurse says Brandon’s recovery is exceeding expectations. Dr. Joy must be quite the
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Chapter 88
miracle worker.”
Irene’s lips quirked. “I think she just knows what she’s doing.” The shared secret wrapped around them like a warm blanket.
Still, Joseph continued, voice dropping to a murmur, “what you pulled off yesterday was remarkable. Not many surgeons could have handled that complexity.”
“Thanks, Grandfather,” Irene replied softly, squeezing his arm. “That means more than you know.”
They reached Brandon’s room just as a nurse exited. Inside, the Sterling family tableau was arranged like a scene from a society magazine. Rose perched in a visitor’s chair looking fresh despite an overnight hospital stay, her elegant outfit perfectly pressed. John stood by the window, his attention firmly on his phone. Nathan lurked near the corner while Anna floated around Brandon’s bed, playing Florence Nightingale in designer clothes.
Anna noticed them first. Her face brightened at Joseph’s arrival, then soured instantly when she spotted Irene. Her eyes narrowed, lips pressing into a thin line before she caught herself.
That shameless nobody! Anna silently fumed. I finally got everyone focused on me, and now this walking disaster has to show up again. She’s clearly doing this on purpose–always slithering in where she doesn’t belong!
By the time Rose turned, Anna had plastered on a concerned smile, though the transition wasn’t quite seamless.
“Well, well,” Rose muttered, loud enough to carry. “Look who’s decided to grace us with her presence. Again. Coming and going like she owns the place when we all know she’s barely even family.”
Irene helped Joseph to a chair without acknowledging Rose’s comment. She’d come for her grandfather, not to audition for the Sterling family soap opera.
Anna clutched a thermos container, moving to Brandon’s bedside with deliberate steps designed to draw every eye in the room.
“I was so worried about your recovery,” she gushed, voice dripping sweetness as she placed the thermos prominently on the nightstand. “I was up at dawn making this special healing broth. It has all these incredible nutrients to help you recover faster.”
John nodded, paternal approval radiating from his carefully maintained expression. “Very thoughtful, Anna. That’s my girl.”
“Always thinking of others,” Rose beamed, patting Anna’s hand like she was rewarding a prized pet. “That’s what real family does.”
Irene caught Brandon watching her, his gaze sharper and more calculating than she’d expected from someone who’d been under anesthesia less than 24 hours ago. Unlike the others, he seemed to be actually seeing her, not just reacting to her presence,
Checking her watch, Irene realized she needed to transform into Dr. Joy for the post–surgical consultation. She leaned down to her grandfather.
‘I need to handle something,” she murmured. “Give me about an hour, and I’ll be back for you.”
Joseph squeezed her hand. “Take your time,” he replied quietly. “I’m fine here.”
As Irene slipped out, she felt Brandon’s gaze follow her–thoughtful, measuring, curious. Something had shifted in his attitude, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.
Picking up her pace she headed for the staff elevator. Dr. Joy had work to do, and no time to worry about what might be going through Brandon Sterling’s mind.
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Chapter 88
miracle worker
Irene’s lips quirked. “I think she just knows what the’s doing.” The shared secret wrapped around them like a warm blanket.
“Still,” Joseph continued, voice dropping to a murmur, ‘what you pulled off yesterday was remarkable. Not many turgeons could have
handled that complexity.”
Thanks, Grandfather, Irene replied softly, squeezing his arm. That means more than you know,”
They reached Brandon’s room just as a nurse exited. Inside, the Sterling family tableau was arranged like a scene from a society magazine. Rose perched in a visitor’s chair looking fresh despite an overnight hospital stay, her elegant outfit perfectly pressed, John stood by the window, his attention firmly on his phone. Nathan Jurked near the corner while Anna floated around Brandon’s bed, playing Florence Nightingale in designer clothes.
Anna noticed them first. Her face brightened at Joseph’s arrival, then soured instantly when she spotted Irene. Her eyes narrowed, lips pressing into a thin line before she caught herself.
That shameless nobody! Anna silently fumed. I finally got everyone focused on me, and now this walking disaster has to show up again. She’s clearly doing this on purpose–always slithering in where she doesn’t belong!
By the time Rose turned, Anna had plastered on a concerned smile, though the transition wasn’t quite seamless.
“Well, well, Rose muttered, loud enough to carry. “Look who’s decided to grace us with her presence. Again. Coming and going like she owns the place when we all know she’s barely even family.”
Irene helped Joseph to a chair without acknowledging Rose’s comment. She’d come for her grandfather, not to audition for the Sterling family soap opera.
Anna clutched a thermos container, moving to Brandon’s bedside with deliberate steps designed to draw every eye in the room.
“I was so worried about your recovery,” she gushed, voice dripping sweetness as she placed the thermos prominently on the nightstand. “I was up at dawn making this special healing broth. It has all these incredible nutrients to help you recover faster.”
John nodded, paternal approval radiating from his carefully maintained expression. “Very thoughtful, Anna. That’s my girl.”
“Always thinking of others,” Rose beamed, patting Anna’s hand like she was rewarding a prized pet. “That’s what real family does.”
Irene caught Brandon watching her, his gaze sharper and more calculating than she’d expected from someone who’d been under anesthesia less than 24 hours ago. Unlike the others, he seemed to be actually seeing her, not just reacting to her presence,
Checking her watch, Irene realized she needed to transform into Dr. Joy for the post–surgical consultation. She leaned down to her grandfather.
“I need to handle something,” she murmured. “Give me about an hour, and I’ll be back for you.”
Joseph squeezed her hand, “Take your time,” he replied quietly. “I’m fine here.”
As Irene slipped out, she felt Brandon’s gaze follow her–thoughtful, measuring, curious. Something had shifted in his attitude, and she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was,
Picking up her pace, she headed for the staff elevator. Dr. Joy had work to do, and no time to worry about what might be going through Brandon Sterling’s mind.
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Genius Kids Scheme: Claiming Daddy’s Billionaire
