Loving DAD 1122

Sharon’s plan to acquire Silverstone Group was never short–sighted – it was a long game. 

By securing a foothold in the Silverstone Group’s equity now, she would make the path ahead far less 

treacherous. 

Once inside Kalen Group, she wouldn’t have to bend to others‘ whims or read their faces at every turn. Holding shares without the power to execute is meaningless; the last thing she wanted was to be stripped of authority 

after the fact. 

That was why both Carter and Thomas supported her move. Her decision to sell some original shares to raise capital was prudent – even necessary. 

The signing venue was already swarming. A host of Marcentine’s corporate heavyweights had been invited; Silverstone Group’s political connections made today impossible to ignore. 

With ten minutes left before the ceremony, small clusters formed as guests whispered among themselves. 

“The Silverstones are actually willing to sell their shares? Who’s the buyer? I heard Kalen Group tried to buy ten percent but the Silverstones refused.” 

– 

“Do you know who she is? Sharon McKinzie the daughter Richard only recently acknowledged. They say she controls the Kalen Group’s most important original shares and has sway over several of the world’s leading tech firms.” 

— 

“The Kalen family holds three of the top five biotech companies globally. Those firms own countless patents the royalties alone are massive. Even after reinvesting in R&D, the industry landscape for the next decade is set.” “No wonder the Silverstones agreed to sell. They must’ve been eyeing that slice of the pie.” 

“The Silverstones have been declining for years. Maybe this acquisition is their chance to break the slump.” “Still, how did the Kalens end up handing such a crucial ten percent to a daughter they just brought home?” “Rumor says it’s because of Richard’s wild past… Ah–look, the Kalen family has arrived.” 

A murmur of derision and schadenfreude followed the Kalen family as they took their places among the crowd. After all, Sharon was, technically, one of their own. Her firms now sat under the Kalen Group’s umbrella — it would have been unthinkable for the Silverstone family not to invite them. 

Once the Kalen family was seated, Gerard smiled thinly. 

“The Kalen family does hide a few formidable talents. Sharon managed to raise such an amount in just three days; your family must have lent considerable aid?” 

At once, the Kalens‘ faces darkened in unison. 

– 

Gerard’s smile curled inward with contempt. He’d always known other families gave everything to lift their children up 

but the Kalen family, it seemed, did the opposite. They wouldn’t lend money for Sharon’s bid; they’d obstruct it. It was clear they wanted to seize her original shares for themselves. 

Indeed, bringing together such funds so quickly hinted at ability signed today remained an open question. 

– but whether the contract would actually be 

Matching Gerard’s fake politeness with a cold stare, Silas shot back, “So we still don’t know what happened to Miles, and you’re doing business with the one who hurt him? If Miles could see this, he’d be devastated.” T