Chapter 1068Â
Before returning to the Kalen family, Sharon had quietly looked into her mother’s side of the family.Â
Perhaps the McKinzie family had deliberately kept a low profile, because aside from the names of a few members, she’d found almost nothing of value.Â
When her mother, Shayla, was still alive, she had rarely spoken of her parents or her childhood home.Â
To be honest, Sharon knew very little about her maternal grandparents or the family her mother came from.Â
The Kalen family, by contrast, was much simpler. Her paternal grandparents had passed away many years ago.Â
Now, as she caught the assessing look in her Uncle Clark’s eyes, Sharon suddenly understood why her mother had avoided speaking about her own family all these years.Â
Though Clark’s expression was kind and his manner gentle, his gaze wasn’t that of a relative seeing his niece; it was the calculating scrutiny of a merchant appraising goods.Â
Her cousin Sebastian appeared just as amiable on the surface, yet a trace of disdain flickered in his eyes. 2Â
Sharon had never felt much attachment to the Kalen family; toward these two strangers she was meeting for the first time–her uncle and cousin–she felt even less.Â
She nodded politely to them both, her tone courteous yet distant, without the slightest trace of the joy or warmth one might show when meeting family.Â
Clark and Sebastian exchanged a brief look and said nothing more.Â
After the introductions, Richard spoke+25 BONUSÂ
 again. “Sharon, Victoria–like your three elder brothers, you’ll also need to go through a year of practical training. Now, you may announce the companies you’ve chosen.”Â
For most shareholders and executives, the girls‘ selections were a trivial matter. But the two of them weren’t ordinary heirs–especially Sharon, who not only was Shayla’s biological daughter but also held part of the Kalen Group’s original stock.Â
It was only ten percent, yet that ten percent carried more weight than the same share held by Shayla’s faction of shareholders.Â
The difference was decisive: Sharon’s stake granted her direct voting rights in Kalen Group’s core tech subsidiaries, including the power of veto.Â
While others merely collected dividends, Sharon could shape the company’s direction.Â
Such power, resting in the hands of a young woman barely in her twenties, was enough to make more than a few hearts burn with envy.Â
Even Clark and Sebastian couldn’t completely hide the flicker of greed in their eyes.Â
That ten percent had been Shayla’s last safeguard–a personal reserve of shares entirely her own, untouchable even by Richard himself. If the McKinzie family could somehow reclaim it, they might yet rise again, reclaiming the glory they’d lost. 1Â
Chapter 1068Â
Richard smiled and turned to Victoria. “Victoria, why don’t you announce your choice first?”Â
Silas and Scott both nodded encouragingly at their younger sister.Â
+25 BONUSÂ
The three of them had stayed up all night preparing, determined to help Victoria make a strong impression today —something that would win over the shareholders and pave the way for her official entry into the company.Â
By now, Victoria had fully recovered from her earlier humiliation. With her new wig and freshly restored brows, she looked strikingly beautiful again.Â
Even Sharon, who was often praised for her looks, could at best match Victoria; she could not quite outshine her.Â
1Â
A poised smile graced Victoria’s lips as she connected her laptop to the projector, displaying the presentation she had stayed up crafting the night before with the help of her brothers.Â
On the large conference screen, a neat and detailed business outline appeared.Â
With calm composure, Victoria began to present her ideas.Â
“I’ve chosen Axel Technologies. The company’s decline from its former glory wasn’t due to a loss of innovation, ” she said clearly, her voice steady and confident, “but to internal corruption and an excess of bureaucracy.”Â
The audience followed the slides intently. One after another, heads began to nod.Â
By the time Victoria finished her opening analysis, more than a few approving smiles had appeared around theÂ
table.Â