Little Genius, Big Legacy - 0028

Chapter 28: The Call She Shouldn’t Have Answered 

Irene felt herself being gently pulled from sleep by the sensation of being watched. As consciousness slowly returned, she became aware of three small presences hovering near her bed. She blinked open her eyes to find her triplets already dressed and groomed to perfection, their matching eyes sparkling with barely contained excitement as they stood beside her bed. 

“Good morning, sleepyhead!‘ three voices chorused in perfect harmony. 

Irene groaned softly, pushing herself up to a sitting position. “What time is it?” she asked through a yawn, reaching out to pull Alex 

into her arms. 

“Eight o’clock,” Alex replied, allowing himself to be cuddled despite is usual attempts to maintain his grown–up image. “And breakfast is ready!” 

She pulled him closer, planting a big, loving kiss on his adorably chubby cheek. His baby fat was still delightfully soft under her lips, making her heart melt. “My sweet, thoughtful Alex!” she cooed, earning an exaggerated groan of protest. “Mom! You haven’t even brushed your teeth yet!” 

“Oh?” She grinned mischievously, grabbing his face between her hands and peppering it with more kisses. “Is my morning breath 

that bad?” 

“Mom!” Alex squirmed, trying to escape while giggling. “Stop! You’re messing up my hair!” 

Irene laughed, finally releasing him. “Alright, alright. Let me get cleaned up.” She dragged herself out of bed, her heart warm with affection as she watched her little ones scatter out of the room. 

By the time she emerged from her morning routine, a perfect breakfast was laid out on the dining table. Her three little angels had already eaten and settled into their usual morning activities. Lucas sat cross–legged on the plush carpet, his tablet propped against his knees as he studied stock market trends with an intensity that would put Wall Street analysts to shame. Lily had curled up in her favorite corner of the sofa, completely absorbed in her manga collection. Alex, ever the devoted firstborn, carefully climbed onto the chair next to where his mother would sit, ready to keep her company. 

“Coffee?” he offered, gesturing to the steaming cup he’d somehow managed to prepare perfectly. 

“When did my baby get so grown up?” Irene ruffled his hair as she sat down, earning another protest about messing up his carefully styled locks. 

“Mom, what’s the plan for today?” Alex asked, straightening his hair with practiced moves. 

Irene took a sip of her coffee exactly how she liked it. “Well, our stuff from R Country should be arriving soon. We need to get everything unpacked and organized.” She smiled at the thought of their pets joining them soon. “Cookie, Muffin, and Pudding should be here in a few days too. Then we’ll need to stock up on supplies – probably a big grocery run this afternoon.” She paused, her expression softening. “And we need to get Great–grandfather’s room ready. He called last night saying he wants to move in as soon as possible.” 

That got everyone’s attention. Even Lucas looked up from his market analysis. 

“Really?” Alex’s whole face lit up. “Great–grandfather’s coming to live with us?” 

“He says he’s not comfortable at the Sterling house anymore,” Irene explained. “And he misses his great–grandchildren terribly. 

“This is gonna be awesome!” Lily bounced in her seat. “We can play music for him every day!” 

“And I can show him my investment portfolio!” Lucas chimed in. 

“The house will definitely be livelier,” Irene agreed, her heart warming at their enthusiasm. 

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Chapter 28: The Call She Shouldn’t Have Answered 

Their morning routine was interrupted by the arrival of their shipment from R Country. The next few 

Alex coordinated everything like a tiny project manager, directing which boxes went where. Les turned into a whirlwind 

of unpacking and organizing. Irene couldn’t help but smile as she watched her children tackle the task with their usual efficiency, 

of storage space, while Lily made sure everything was arranged aesthetically. 

calculated the most efficient use 

She snapped a few pictures on her phone, wanting to capture these precious moments. Who would believe these perfectly behaved children were only five? Sometimes she couldn’t believe it herself. 

They worked steadily through lunch, making good progress until mid afternoon. Irene was just about to suggest their planned shopping trip when her phone rang. The name on the screen made her stomach clench: John Sterling. 

Her finger hovered over the decline button, but concern for her grandfather made her hesitate. After a moment’s internal debate, 

she answered. 

“What is it?” Her voice came out cold and distant. 

“Come home,” John commanded, as if he still had any right to order her around. “We need to talk.” 

“The engagement dissolution papers are already signed,” Irene replied flatly. “There’s nothing to discuss. I’m busy – if you have something to say, say it now.” 

“What’s this attitude?” John’s voice rose with anger. “Is it so difficult to meet with your own father?” 

Something inside Irene snapped. “My father?” Her laugh was sharp as ice. “Let’s be clear – you disowned me as your daughter five years ago. Not a single call or message since then. Why the sudden interest in playing family now?” 

Without waiting for his response, she ended the call. 

Back at Sterling Manor, John slammed his fist on his desk. “That ungrateful child!” 

Rose, who had been listening nearby, couldn’t contain her own anger. “She’s gotten so arrogant since coming back! All because your father’s backing her up.” She paced the room, her designer heels clicking against the marble floor. “It’s absolutely ridiculous that he gave her so many shares. We wouldn’t have to put up with this attitude otherwise!” 

She paused, her face softening as she thought of their adopted daughter. “Only Anna truly deserves to be our daughter,” she declared, her voice dripping with pride. “She’s everything a Sterling daughter should be – elegant, refined, perfectly poised. My daughter would never be some uncultured girl who grew up serving fast food!” Her lip curled in disgust. “Except for not being my biological child, we’re practically cut from the same cloth. She understands our world, our values… Not like that girl who spent twenty years in those ghastly suburbs.” 

John just stared at the phone, his face dark with fury. The daughter he’d cast aside five years ago had grown teeth – and wasn’t afraid to bite back. 

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