Following Samuel's sudden passing, his will revealed that Noelle and Grant were the primary beneficiaries of City Ring Corp.Subsequently, Kent, the lawyer entrusted by Samuel before his death, carried out a series of procedures to certify the shares for Noelle and Grant. Once these formalities were completed, the stage was set for City Ring Corp.'s shareholders' meeting.The employees of City Ring Corp. were still unaware of Samuel's decisions. Coincidentally, the day of the regularly scheduled shareholders' meeting arrived. Both Noelle and Grant received the meeting notice the day prior.Kent indicated that both of them needed to attend. Any future decisions regarding the transfer of Grant's shares were left up to Grant and Noelle to handle directly.Charles was preoccupied with company matters, so he could not accompany her. However, he had assigned Ronald to stay by Noelle's side. With Ronald there and Grant attending as well, Charles felt no concern that Noelle would be at a d
By now, Ronald had already been waiting downstairs for an hour. He occasionally glanced at his watch, silently wondering if Noelle was still getting ready.Just as he was about to check again, footsteps echoed from upstairs. Ronald immediately stood up upon hearing this."Mr. Hoffman, Mrs. Hoffman!"Charles nodded. "Ronald, take good care of Nelly. Handle the matters at the company later. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me."While Charles said this, he was fully aware of Ronald's capabilities. His words were more about reassuring Noelle.Indeed, Noelle was feeling a little nervous. However, hearing Charles' words put her somewhat at ease. She then added, "Grant is attending today as well, right?"Charles paused and nodded. "He should be. Grandpa left him shares too. Even though he didn't want them, he's still a shareholder, so it's natural for him to attend.""Exactly," Charles replied. "With him there, you have even less to worry about.""That's true
Noelle smacked her lips thoughtfully. This was not something that could be resolved with just a few words.Nonetheless, since Grant had already addressed it, she decided not to dwell on it."Grant," she said simply.Grant smiled faintly. "You and Kelly are sisters, so calling me just Grant wouldn't be out of line."Noelle pursed her lips, unsure how to respond.Even though Kelly was not a biological Anderson, she had been Grant's sister for so many years. For her, calling him just Grant felt natural. But Noelle did not know where she stood with Grant. Their relationship seemed so messy that it made her head spin."Okay, Grant," she replied."I'll be at City Ring Corp. today too. What about you?""Yes, I'm on my way," Noelle said, glancing at Ronald.Ronald immediately responded, "About half an hour to reach City Ring Corp., Mrs. Hoffman."Noelle nodded, and Ronald added, "We'll be on time for the meeting!""Good!" Noelle nodded again. "Grant, where are you now?""Me? About
Ronald noticed the way Grant looked at Noelle, and every hair on his body seemed to stand on end almost instantly as though he were bracing for a fight. Even Noelle felt the tension.She sighed, feeling a little embarrassed, and glanced awkwardly at Grant, only to find him smiling at her. There was something undeniably provocative in that smile.Noelle smacked her lips. Was Grant doing this on purpose?She looked at Ronald, who indeed looked like a cat with its fur standing on end, ready to pounce. She could not help but find it amusing.Meanwhile, Ronald was thinking to himself that with the boss absent, it was his sole responsibility to protect Noelle."Let's go. It's getting late," Grant finally said, showing no interest in engaging with Ronald, who was merely an assistant. Noelle nodded and fell into step beside Grant."What's your plan?" she asked.Grant understood that Noelle was not only referring to the shareholders' meeting. He turned his gaze to her profile.Perhaps
The conference room was nearly full, with most of City Ring Corp.'s shareholders already present. However, two seats remained conspicuously vacant, prompting quiet speculation among the attendees about who the absent shareholders might be.Those close to Julian seemed to have a good idea, while those less familiar with him were still in the dark.The room was not silent. Conversations buzzed back and forth until the noise gradually tapered off when the doors swung open. Ronald and Kresten entered first, followed closely by Noelle and Grant.The moment Noelle stepped in, murmurs erupted across the room."Isn't that Sir Shaw's granddaughter?" someone whispered."Granddaughter? Nonsense," another retorted sharply."Exactly. She's not Sir Shaw's granddaughter—she's not even part of the Shaws!""Why is she here?""And who's the man with her?""He looks familiar. Isn't that Joshua Shaw?""No, it's not Joshua. That's Mr. Grant Anderson!"As Noelle and Grant drew all eyes in the roo
Kent finished speaking and cast a glance at his assistant, who immediately stepped forward and asked, "Is there a DVD player or projector available here?"Holding a USB drive, the assistant continued, "This contains a video recorded by Sir Shaw before his passing. It documents the entire process of drafting his will, along with Mr. Cook's involvement. If anyone has any doubts, you can watch it for yourself."The assistant located a DVD player and started the video. The room fell into an uneasy silence as everyone focused on the large screen.On the screen, Samuel appeared vibrant and full of life. His demeanor seemed spirited, indicating that the will was drafted some time ago.The video showed that Samuel's mind was clear, and even Kent interrupted him several times during the process to confirm his decisions. Samuel firmly stated his intent to allocate the shares to Noelle and Grant without any hesitation.As for other assets like properties and savings, Samuel casually mentione
After watching the video Samuel had recorded before his passing, the crowd began to piece things together in their minds. Their gazes toward Noelle and Grant shifted subtly, reflecting new perceptions.Meanwhile, a glance at Julian revealed a different story. Many could not help but wonder—why had Samuel specifically asked Noelle to safeguard City Ring Corp.? What did he mean by that?Julian was clearly frustrated by the situation, and he was fuming. He glanced at Noelle and Grant, his displeasure intensifying. He slammed his hand on the table."You claim this video is authentic, but how do we know it's not something Noelle and Grant came up with together to steal the Shaws' assets? I'm Samuel's son. Why would the Shaws' shares be given entirely to two outsiders? Doesn't that strike anyone as suspicious?"Julian had initially thought Noelle might hand over the shares if she had any sense of propriety. But seeing her resolve to keep them only made him angrier.He could not fathom w
Ronald's statement immediately confirmed everyone's speculation about Noelle."Mr. Wells, so Noelle is…" someone asked, hesitating."Mr. Hoffman's wife," Ronald replied with a faint smile. "She's the future matriarch of the Hoffman family."The room immediately shifted. The shareholders exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of astonishment and the beginnings of flattery.She was Charles' wife—Charles Hoffman, the renowned figure of Brookville, future leader of Collosus Group, and head of the Hoffmans family. Forming ties with Charles could mean limitless opportunities.They turned their attention to Julian, bewildered. How could Julian possess such valuable connections yet oppose Noelle? Even Julian's close associates began to find his decisions questionable.They initially assumed Noelle was just an orphan, but now, realizing her true identity—and that Joshua was actually Grant Anderson—they wondered how Julian managed to squander such an advantageous position.While some
"Gosh!"Julian was stunned, completely unprepared for the revelation that Winter was involved.Noelle, too, was unaware of the footage, and her fists clenched tightly as she watched. "It was Winter? She caused Grandpa to be hospitalized, and now, she's the reason he's dead?""Mrs. Hoffman, please keep watching," Ronald urged, signaling Noelle to stay calm. But her whole body was trembling with anger—she was livid.Even Grant, seated beside Noelle, could sense her fury. He reached out, gently holding her hand, and shook his head slightly.Feeling the warmth of his hand, Noelle glanced up at Grant. Her expression was conflicted, and her eyes were red and teary."Uncle Joshua…" she blurted out.In her heart, Grant was Joshua at that moment—the one she had clung to as a child. She was at her most vulnerable, and all decorum fell away.Grant sighed. "The dead can't come back to life.""But Grandpa didn't die naturally. This was murder!" Noelle could not suppress her anguish, and he
When Noelle said this, the room fell silent. Though her words carried a tone of warning, they also carried undeniable truth.Handing City Ring Corp. back to Julian would likely result in the same mismanagement—or worse.City Ring Corp. had already been drained to the point of near collapse. For the shareholders, most of whom had merely been holding their titles, it seemed almost inevitable that the company would soon face bankruptcy.However, with Noelle at the helm, the prospects were entirely different. Behind Noelle stood the Hoffmans, the Smith family, and the Anderson family. Any single one of these entities stepping in would be enough to pull City Ring Corp. out of its dire straits.While it might not guarantee the company would surpass its former glory, it would certainly ensure survival and safeguard its investments.Smart individuals knew how to choose wisely. Moreover, it was clear that Samuel had long foreseen this outcome. His decision to allocate shares in his will no
Everyone was handed a copy, including Julian. As soon as he glanced at the first page, his face underwent a subtle but noticeable change.His fingers trembled as he turned the pages, and the further he read, the more his heart raced with fear.Suddenly, Julian slammed the documents onto the table, his face pale as he struggled to maintain composure. "What's this? You expect us to believe this nonsense? Did you fabricate all this to mislead everyone?""Fabricated?" Ronald countered, calm and unflustered in contrast to Julian's agitation. His cold gaze was fixed on Julian."Mr. Shaw, this data is solid and verifiable. Take the Foyer Project from three years ago, for instance. City Ring Corp. invested a hundred million dollars. So, where's the return?""You're lying! This is confidential internal data. How did you even get your hands on it? You've stolen proprietary information!""Stolen?" Ronald scoffed at the accusation, his confidence unshaken."Mr. Cook, would you say that Ms.
Noelle clenched her fists tightly. She had initially thought Jade simply disliked her, transferring her resentment toward Madison onto her. She also thought Jade was merely sharp-tongued and would take petty jabs from time to time.However, she never imagined Jade would escalate matters by accusing her of framing and even murdering someone. If she did not take a stand now, Jade might escalate further in the future."Jade Jones, I've been speaking to you respectfully because you're my grandfather's adopted daughter and my so-called aunt. But if you insist on rejecting a kind gesture and demanding a harsh response, don't blame me for being impolite.""Do you all hear this? Listen to her!" Jade screamed, her voice shrill as she pointed an accusatory finger at Noelle."This Noelle is completely unbridled now, relying on her backers to destroy me and my daughter, to ruin the Shaws! The old man—she killed him! She really killed him!"Jade's behavior in the conference room bordered on hy
Jade no longer cared about the consequences. All she could think about was how something that should have belonged to them was now being taken by an outsider like Noelle.Jade had never liked Noelle, and given the current situation, she was determined to oppose her.When she heard Noelle suggest she should leave, Jade refused. Pointing her finger at Noelle, she unleashed a tirade. "You ungrateful wretch! City Ring Corp. belongs to the Shaws. Who do you think you are? You think you can make me leave? I'm Jule's wife, I am—"Noelle's cold glare cut her off. She turned to Julian, her icy eyes devoid of any warmth.Caught in her piercing gaze, Julian felt an unexpected jolt of intimidation.Noelle narrowed her eyes, and said, "Mr. Shaw, is this how the Shaws handle things? Or has City Ring Corp become a place where anyone can walk in freely?"Noelle had originally harbored no ill will toward Julian. Out of respect for her grandfather, she had planned to approach things amicably. Ho
As Ronald's questioning continued, the shareholders grew increasingly suspicious. It became apparent that Julian had withheld much of this information from them.Hearing the escalating accusations, Julian started to fidget uneasily. His mind swirled with thoughts of the projects earlier in the year and the... complications that followed.Ronald's sharp and calculating gaze seemed to pierce through Julian, creating an overwhelming sense of pressure. Though Ronald was merely an assistant, his demeanor exuded an authority that left Julian struggling to breathe."Yes, Mr. Shaw," one of the shareholders spoke up, addressing Julian directly."What Mr. Wells just mentioned has raised questions for all of us. We should have been receiving regular reports—weren't we supposed to?""That's right!" another shareholder chimed in. "And wasn't it recently mentioned that our dividends this year were lower than expected?""Yes!" someone else agreed. "Mr. Shaw explained it was because the company
Ronald's statement immediately confirmed everyone's speculation about Noelle."Mr. Wells, so Noelle is…" someone asked, hesitating."Mr. Hoffman's wife," Ronald replied with a faint smile. "She's the future matriarch of the Hoffman family."The room immediately shifted. The shareholders exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of astonishment and the beginnings of flattery.She was Charles' wife—Charles Hoffman, the renowned figure of Brookville, future leader of Collosus Group, and head of the Hoffmans family. Forming ties with Charles could mean limitless opportunities.They turned their attention to Julian, bewildered. How could Julian possess such valuable connections yet oppose Noelle? Even Julian's close associates began to find his decisions questionable.They initially assumed Noelle was just an orphan, but now, realizing her true identity—and that Joshua was actually Grant Anderson—they wondered how Julian managed to squander such an advantageous position.While some
After watching the video Samuel had recorded before his passing, the crowd began to piece things together in their minds. Their gazes toward Noelle and Grant shifted subtly, reflecting new perceptions.Meanwhile, a glance at Julian revealed a different story. Many could not help but wonder—why had Samuel specifically asked Noelle to safeguard City Ring Corp.? What did he mean by that?Julian was clearly frustrated by the situation, and he was fuming. He glanced at Noelle and Grant, his displeasure intensifying. He slammed his hand on the table."You claim this video is authentic, but how do we know it's not something Noelle and Grant came up with together to steal the Shaws' assets? I'm Samuel's son. Why would the Shaws' shares be given entirely to two outsiders? Doesn't that strike anyone as suspicious?"Julian had initially thought Noelle might hand over the shares if she had any sense of propriety. But seeing her resolve to keep them only made him angrier.He could not fathom w
Kent finished speaking and cast a glance at his assistant, who immediately stepped forward and asked, "Is there a DVD player or projector available here?"Holding a USB drive, the assistant continued, "This contains a video recorded by Sir Shaw before his passing. It documents the entire process of drafting his will, along with Mr. Cook's involvement. If anyone has any doubts, you can watch it for yourself."The assistant located a DVD player and started the video. The room fell into an uneasy silence as everyone focused on the large screen.On the screen, Samuel appeared vibrant and full of life. His demeanor seemed spirited, indicating that the will was drafted some time ago.The video showed that Samuel's mind was clear, and even Kent interrupted him several times during the process to confirm his decisions. Samuel firmly stated his intent to allocate the shares to Noelle and Grant without any hesitation.As for other assets like properties and savings, Samuel casually mentione