"Exactly. Richard has got a very good point." Nicolas dropped his feelings for Ann instantly as he was reminded of the practical issues and problems which concerned money. "What's more, Frank was the one taking care of most of the cases. Now that he's gone, everything's a mess. We are losing billions every day. You, the Carter, have money to lose, but we don't."

We have money to lose! What the hell are you talking about? Asshole. Both Ann and Evette thought furiously.

​​

The other shareholders totally agreed and grew excited, "True. True. We can't have a leader! The company won't survive without a leader. How can we just watch our money go?!"

"We have to do something. You, the Carters, should give us a solution."

Solution?! You are all asking us to pay for all the losses! You wish! Ann was enraged. "We have Frank's private secretary here..."

All eyes fell on the secretary standing behind Ann. The secretary felt the enormous pressure on him and trembled in fear. Frank had been instructing him with most of the practical work, but the problem was that he was not part of the Carter family, and he had no shares. It was far from convincing to the group of experienced shareholders.

Nicolas smiled contemptuously and said, "He is just a secretary. How can he make the decisions and manage the company in place of Mr. Carter? If he could, why would we need Mr. Carter anyway?"

The secretary's face went pale. He was frightened, thinking If Mr. Carter heard what he said, I would probably lose my job. After working for Frank Carter for over a decade and dealing with so many secretive and unspeakable issues for him, he understood very well that if anyone was a possible threat to Frank, they would have to disappear soon.

The secretary felt the necessity to declare himself, "Yes, Mr. Ford. I am indeed just a secretary, and certainly, I can't replace Mr. Carter and do his job."

Ann glared at him angrily. A useless idiot. Can���t do anything right.

Richard sneered, "Let's have a meeting vote on the suggestion of dismissing Mr. Carter..." Richard had been thinking about replacing Frank and taking his place. However, Frank had been too careful, and he had not yet had a chance. Now the opportunity was presented to him, and he had to take it.

All the shareholders agreed to Richard's suggestion instantly while Ann exclaimed furiously, "No. I disagree!" What a joke! You bunch of stupid assholes. All you think about is short-term money.

Richard had always despised Ann. Sternly, he said to her, "We're just letting you know we are having a meeting. You are not here to agree or disagree. You can't represent Frank Carter."

"I'm his wife, of course, I can decide for him. The meeting should be dismissed. The whole idea of electing a new president is ridiculous." She objected immediately, almost shouting. She had been used to taking yes as an answer from anyone just because she was Mrs. Carter, but she had not realized that without her husband now, she didn't have a say.

Everything that she had was from Frank. Money, fame, power, everything. Her strategy with men did not work in the business field.

"You disagree?" Richard sneered at her, paused for a few seconds, then continued, "Well, how about this? We now have a problem with the Seafront Land. Why don't you fix that?"

The shareholders exchanged looks, and all understood that they were trying to get rid of Ann. However, to their surprise, Ann didn't give in. She looked calm and confident as if she was planning something, or she had already got a solution.

"Well..." Ann knew what the shareholders were trying to do, but she didn't panic. "I need to make a phone call first."

She went out of the meeting room and dialed a number. Everyone listened attentively, but her voice was low, and they couldn't get much out of it.

After a while, she came back to the meeting room, looking self-assured. "Let's sell it. What do you think? It doesn't matter how much, but let's sell it."

She made it sound like money wasn't a problem at all. The shareholders looked at each other, confused. Who and what gave her the confidence? Has she got someone to help?

"But who would want to buy it?"

"And what about the loss? Who's responsible for it?"

That was what really mattered.

Ann lifted her chest up and announced assuredly, "I will take the responsibility. My husband and I will take care of the loss. How does that sound to you?"

Finally, someone's going to cover the loss. The shareholders thought, relieved. "It sounds good to me."

The tension seemed to vanish just before Evette voiced her anger, "Mum, why?! Why do we have to pay for the loss? All the shareholders should share the loss." She felt extremely unfair.

Richard threw a contemptuous glance at her. What's the use of having a pretty face? Is her head empty? Obviously, a spoiled stupid kid. She doesn't even have a brain.

"Miss Evette Carter, you are not a very generous person, are you? Compared to your sister, Miss Nathalia Carter, you still have a lot, a lot, to learn."

Nicolas loved beautiful women, but he loved money more. He supported Richard and said, "Totally different level. No point in comparing them at all." Only money talks. Of course, you, the Carters, should take full responsibility for the loss. To be honest, Nathalia Carter is way much smarter, more mature, and wiser than the other two kids.

Nathalia had to live, to think, to work, to fight for herself while Evette and Zak were spoiled, supported, given anything they asked. It was not difficult to understand that their personality, attitude towards life were very different. That was probably why they said rich families made spoiled kids.

Represented it greatly when someone compared her with Nathalia. She pointed her finger at Nicolas and Richard, yelling, "Shut up! How dare you insult me?!"

The only people she would show some respect to were only her parents and brother. To her, the shareholders were just someone who worked for her father, and they should obey her.

Her behavior had definitely not left a good impression at all. Having a teenage girl pointing her finger and yelling at him, Nicolas was furious. "Evette Carter, look at yourself. Arrogant. Spoiled. No wonder you would set your sister up. It was Carter's misfortune to have you as their daughter."

Evette felt so embarrassed and insulted that tears came running down her cheeks instantly. She ran towards Nicolas, about to throw a few punches at him. Frightened, Ann quickly grabbed her hand, dragged her back, and took her outside the meeting room. It took her awhile to finally calm down. The tension in the meeting room returned.