Chapter 173: Gemma, Teach Me
Marcus’s face darkened in an instant.
“Where did you hear that?”
Alijah was only five years old.
Even with all the advanced education he was getting, he was still just a little kid. There was no way he could understand something like “genes.”
Unless, of course, someone had been talking about it around him all the time. That was the only way he’d start to make sense of it.
In other words…
Someone had been planting ideas in Alijah’s head.
As a father, Marcus couldn’t stand it.
Alijah, startled by his sudden outburst, shrank back, immediately retreating to the wall and pressing his hands against it, trying to steady himself.
Marcus’s frown deepened.
It was clear–his son felt unsafe.
He took out his phone and called the butler.
“Get the tutors and nannies over here. I want to talk to each of them, one by one.”
“Yes, sir.”
After hanging up, he slowly walked over and gently patted Alijah on the shoulder, only to realize that the little boy was trembling.
His own hand quivered too.
“It’s okay, Ali. Daddy’s here. No one’s going to hurt you.”
Alijah stayed silent, eyes downcast.
“Want to rest for a bit?”
Marcus could tell the kid was still feeling unsecure.
No point in pushing him right now–better to give him some space to calm down.
Alijah nodded slightly.
As he walked Alijah to his bedroom, something suddenly crossed his mind.
“Your mom’s got great genes, and you’re just as amazing.”
Alijah’s step faltered, but he didn’t say a word as he climbed into bed.
It had been a long time since he’d been home.
The sheets felt damp.
Uncomfortable.
Nothing like when his mom was around. No matter how busy she was, his clothes and the blankets always smelled fresh and clean.
He closed his eyes.
All he could think of was the way Gemma used to comfort him.
He missed her.
Now, he had changed his mind.
Mom didn’t need to apologize to Grandma or Mabel.
He just wanted her back with him.
Just like before–making him nutritious meals, giving him little massages when his tummy hurt.
As he thought about it, it almost felt like she was really back.
And just like that, he drifted off to sleep.
After questioning the tutors and nannies, Marcus finally got to the bottom of things.
It was all Margaret’s idea.
Margaret had always looked down on Gemma’s background.
She thought Gemma was just a country girl–low class, no connections, and a liability to the Wilson family.
So, most of the time, Alijah was raised by her.
Marcus knew the score. Margaret was well–educated, surrounded by high class nannies and bodyguards, all from good schools. The atmosphere was
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Chapter 173: Gemma, Teach Me
refined.
He was the product of Margaret’s upbringing, which made him the head of the family business.
So, he respected Margaret’s methods.
But now…
He rubbed his forehead, still feeling a splitting headache.
“Starting tomorrow, the tutors won’t be needed anymore.”
The tutors exchanged looks, but none of them dared to speak up.
He glanced at the nannies and bodyguards. “You all go back to the old house. If my mom asks…”
The nanny immediately chimed in. “Young Master, you just want to spend a few days with the master Alijah and ask us about him.”
Marcus nodded and waved them off.
Then, he called Hector to warn the staff, making sure that Margaret wouldn’t get suspicious and drive a wedge between mother and son.
By the time he finished, it was already late.
And he wasn’t even tired.
The more he sat still, the emptier he felt, like every cell in his body was hollow.
Maybe it was the colder weather lately.
Even with the heating on, he still felt like he was shivering.
The next day.
Gemma found herself at the center of gossip again.
This time, it was because her ex–husband’s mistress was pregnant.
When’s the end of the whole thing!?
Even at work, patients gave her strange looks.
Her mood was completely soured.
When she was still married to Marcus, she didn’t got any special privileges because of her status as Mrs. Wilson.
Now that they were divorced…
It seemed like she was attracting all sorts of trouble.
Brian had bought milkshakes for everyone in the department and personally brought one to her.
“Don’t worry, these rumors will blow over in a couple of days.”
Gemma couldn’t help but laugh.
“That jerk’s out there messing around, and somehow, I’m the one getting mocked.”
Brian scratched the back of his head. “Maybe they don’t mean any harm. It’s just that hospital life is so boring, you know?”
Gemma sipped her milkshake, waving her hand. “I know what you mean. I’m not really mad at anyone. I just feel like I’ve got the worst luck.”
Finally divorced, and now she was stuck in her ex–husband’s drama.
Maybe she needed to go do some praying to get rid of this bad luck.
མ པ པ
Just then, she remembered something Elizabeth had asked her to do.
Perfect timing!
With the weather nice for hiking, she could clear her mind and kill two birds with one stone.
“Hey, Gemma.”
Brian purposefully changed the subject.
*Remember I mentioned Professor Gresham? Well, he changed his schedule, so he won’t be coming to the hospital anytime soon.”
“But don’t be too disappointed. I’ll figure out a way to arrange another meeting for you.”
Gemma was about to explain that she had already met with Professor Gresham, but she knew that would lead to more questions about why she was staying at the Raven’s estate.
After thinking it over, she decided to tell a little white lie.
“When I was at the museum, I ran into Professor Gresham. I asked him a few things about my teacher.”
“Unfortunately, I didn’t get much out of him. I was going to tell you, but it’s no use arranging another meeting with him.”
Brian didn’t think much of it. After all, Gresham was a brilliant scholar who loved learning. It made sense for him to be at the museum.
“I’ll reach out to Emerson’s old colleagues for you.”
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Chapter 173: Gemma, Teach Me
Gemma smiled. “Thanks, Brian.”
Brian returned the smile warmly. “Don’t mention it. By the way, I’ve managed to secure a spot for you in an overseas lab. It’s a medical AI program.
You might be interested.”
The research direction of this lab was medical intelligence, which was similar to what Cassius had mentioned earlier.
This was taught online and could be studied nightly at a specific software.
Gemma’s eyes lit up.
“Brian, sometimes I feel like you’re a Santa Claus.”
Brian’s smile deepened.
His plan was working.
First, he’d get her to depend on him for professional things.
Then, he’d move on to matters of the heart.
“I’m just happy you like it. I’ll send you the login info so you can start tonight.”
“Brian, aren’t you going to join in?”
“Me?”
He looked at her, eyes full of affection. “I don’t have the talent for this. But once you’ve learned it, maybe you can teach me?”
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