Genius Kids' Scheme Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire novel Chapter 236

Adam stared at the skyline, city buildings glinting in the morning sun. His mind wasn’t on quarterly projections or market shares, but back at Emerald Garden. Lily curled in her bed, still smiling in her sleep. The boys fighting over breakfast’s last pancake. Irene, hair messily tucked back, sleeves pushed up as she’d caught his eye before he’d rushed out.

His lips curved upward without permission.

“Someone’s in a good mood,” Thomas said, eyebrows raised as he walked in with a folder.

Adam’s face reset to CEO–mode so fast it was almost comical. “What’d you find?”

“Bad news wrapped in worse news.” Thomas’s usual perkiness vanished. “That $170 million hole in our accounts? Not just creative bookkeeping. Someone switched out our high–end components with takes and moved the real ones off–site.”

Adam leaned forward, fingers tightening on his armrest. This wasn’t just money–these were parts carrying Haven Enterprise’s edge in the market.

“Location? Suspects?” His words were clipped, each one razor–sharp.

“Abandoned factory outside town.” Thomas grimaced. “And here’s the kicker–last night we caught them trying to sell everything at double price. Three–forty million. They literally stole our stuff to sell it back to the market with a hundred percent markup.”

“Ballsy move.” Adam’s voice dropped to that dangerous quiet that made board members suddenly find their shoelaces fascinating

Thomas winced inwardly. These weren’t just any components–they were specialized tech with limited availability, the kind that gave Haven Enterprise its edge in the market.

“Components secured? Thieves caught?” Each question from Adam landed like ice breaking.

“Got the guys. Police are holding everything as evidence for now,” Thomas rushed to explain. “I’ve got people handling the paperwork. Should have everything back before week’s end.”

He’d jumped on this the minute he’d heard, knowing exactly what was at stake. The company wouldn’t just lose money–they’d lose next–generation product launches, market position, investor confidence. And anyone stupid enough to steal from Adam Haven might as well write their own obituary.

“This came from inside,” Adam said, eyes narrowing. “Someone with clearance, access codes. I want names. Every detail. No stone unturned.”

“Already on it.”

Thomas hesitated, then plunged ahead. “There’s more. The system wipe was professional–like when se investment warnings disappeared before reaching you. Too similar to ignore.” He lowered his voice. “Timothy says Victor’s drowning. Personal investments tanked again–nearly $300 million gone. He’s selling everything–houses, yacht, stocks.”

Thomas met Adam’s gaze squarely. “These parts go missing, suddenly appear on the black market for exactly twice their value… just when Victor needs a fast three hundred million? Can’t be random chance.”

Something lethal flashed in Adam’s eyes, there and gone. “Keep digging. Silent running.”

For just a breath, his thoughts slipped from corporate warfare to the breakfast scene he’d left behind that morning. The chaos of spilled juice, Lucas’s excited chatter about some science project, Irene’s quiet smile as she’d handed him coffee, That kitchen somehow felt more real than this glass–walled office where he’d spent most of his adult life.

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Chapter 236

Thomas nodded and backed out, sensing the storm gathering.

While Adam contemplated his next move, his desk phone lit up. The intercom crackled with his father’s voice, the message characteristically brief: “Come see me. That was it–Marcus’s entire message.

Adam wheeled himself down the hallway to his father’s office. The two men talked like they were paying for each word, a habit from years of late–night strategy meetings.

He pushed through the door without knocking. Marcus didn’t look up from his papers, a half–empty coffee cup cooling at his elbow.

“Components situation. Update,” Marcus said, still scanning documents.

Adam laid out the facts simply. Black market sale. Fake parts swap. Police involvement. Evidence chain. His report. was all meat, no

fat.

“Smart catch.” Marcus finally looked up, that flash of approval Adam had chased since he was a kid. “If this had slipped through, we’d be bleeding a lot more than cash.”

“The puppet master needs finding.”

“Agreed,” Adam said, then added casually, “Interesting–Uncle Victors overseas stuff apparently losing money. Yet at the board meeting, not a peep about it.”

The bait hung in the air between them. No pointing fingers. Just info

Marcus’s eyebrow raised slightly–the Haven version of dramatic shock. “That so?” His voice dropped. “Dinner at your grandfather’s tonight. Perfect chance to… check in.”

The resemblance between them sharpened–same calculating eyes, same controlled expressions. Years of business battles had made them mirror images.

“Done,” Adam replied.

Business finished, Marcus’s gaze lingered, head tilting slightly. “You’re different.”

Adam waited, one eyebrow raised.

“Got more color. Sitting taller.” Marcus leaned back. “Legs improving

“Getting there,” Adam said simply, but something in his expression shifted.

Marcus caught it instantly. “Sterling’s treatment works, then.”

“She’s good at what she does.” Three extra degrees of warmth colored those seven words.

Marcus nodded, filing this reaction away. The change in his son’s voice when mentioning the doctor said more than any therapy progress report.

Twenty minutes later, Adam was back in his own office, the corporate chess match with his father temporarily on hold. He picked up his phone, scrolling to Irene’s number almost without thinking. A different kind of battle plan needed attention now.

Adam found Irene’s name, and stared at the blank tessage field. His thumb hovered, uncommitted.

“Can’t make dinner tonight.”

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