Chapter 30: False Sincerity
Irene hung up the phone and immediately started gathering supplements for her
efficiency as she selected various vitamins and herbal remedies, arranging the ther. Her hands moved with practiced
in her medical bag. Each item was chosen
with careful consideration of his condition nothing too strong, everything easily digestible.
“Are we going to see Great-grandfather?” Lily bounced excitedly on her toes, dark curls flying.
“Not today, sweetie.” Irene’s voice was gentle but firm. “Mommy needs to handle some family business alone.”
The triplets exchanged worried looks. They’d gotten pretty good at ending their mom’s moods over the years, and right now? She was definitely stressed, even if she was trying to hide it.
“But Mom…” Lucas started, his bottom lip already wobbling.
“No buts.” Irene knelt down to their level, making sure she had all three pairs of eyes focused on her. “I need you three to stay home and be good, okay? No wandering around, no schemes, no trouble, Can you do that for me?”
Three little heads nodded solemnly, though Alex’s eyes had that calculating look that usually meant he was already plotting something.
“Promise you’ll be careful?” he asked, his voice small but serious.
Hene’s heart melted a little. Sometimes she forgot how protective her eldest could be. “I promise, baby. Mommy will be fine.”
Irene followed the hostess through the five-star hotel’s exclusive restaurant, their footsteps muffled by thick carpeting. The VIP section was tucked away from the main dining area, offering the kind of privacy that Silver City’s elite demanded.
The moment Irene stepped through the door, she caught sight of her grandfather… and Nathan.
Her oldest brother sat there looking like he’d just stepped off a magazine cover, his designer suit probably worth more than her entire wardrobe. His expression was perfectly neutral, but something in those eyes of his sent a chill down her spine.
“Grandfather, Brother.” She kept her voice polite but not overly warm as she nodded to each of them.
Nathan’s eyes widened slightly as he took her in. This wasn’t the awkward suburban girl he remembered from five years ago. That Irene had practically screamed “fast-food worker’s daughter” with every move. But this woman? The way she carried herself, how she was dressed… If he hadn’t known better, he might have actually believed she belonged in their world.
“Irene!” Joseph’s whole face lit up. “Come, sit by me. How are my precious great-grandchildren?”
“The kids are fine, Grandfather.” Her smile softened genuinely when she looked at him. “They miss you terribly.”
Nathan sat ramrod straight in his chair, his eyes never leaving Irene’s face. His mother’s frantic phone call kept replaying in his mind: “She’s completely manipulating your grandfather! Using him to get his shares! She’s still that same uncultured girl from the suburbs, just better at hiding it now!”
Watching Irene’s every move with hawk-like intensity, he searched for any sign of the scheming gold-digger his mother had described.
A waiter appeared with menus, and Nathan cleared his throat. “What would you like to eat? Any restrictions?”
“Whatever works for Grandfather,” Irene replied smoothly. “Something light and easily digestible would be best.” She turned to
1/3
Chapter 30: False Sincerity
Joseph, already reaching for The teapot. “Here, let me pour your tea
“How’s your appetite been lately, Grandfather?” she asked, expertly ifting a plate of vegetables closer to him. ‘You’re not eating too many rich foods, are you?”
Joseph chuckled, clearly delighted by her fussing. “I’m not a child, my dear.”
“How are you settling in?” Joseph asked eagerly. “Is the new place comfortable? You know, I have an apartment downtown that might suit you better…”
“We’re very comfortable where we are,” Irene cut in gently. “No need to worry about us, Grandfather.”
Could Mother be wrong? The thought felt almost treasonous, but he couldn’t ignore the evidence before his eyes. The way Irene refused the downtown apartment, how she focused solely on Grandfather’s health instead of business matters… None of it matched the calculating social climber his mother had warned him about.
“I hear you’re doing well in R Country,” he ventured, studying her reaction carefully.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Genius Kids' Scheme Claiming Daddy's Billionaire Empire