With a calm expression, Katelyn ended her phone call and faced them.

“I’m not stepping down as CEO of the Wheeler Group. Feel free to involve the police.”

Her resolute defiance exasperated the assembled shareholders. They had always known Katelyn to be refined and polite through countless anecdotes. Yet here she stood, defiant and completely different.

Katelyn then said directly to Liam, “Didn’t you say you were bringing someone else to speak with me? Has he made it here yet?”

Liam leaned back in his chair, smirking slightly, his tone casual.

“Why the rush, Miss Bailey? He’ll be here soon.”

Just as he finished speaking, a voice rang out from the doorway.

“Quite the gathering, isn’t it?”

All heads turned toward the entrance. There stood Neil—alive. The man who had been declared dead by the hospital now stepped into the room with confident strides.

Katelyn’s lips curled into a knowing smile. So, he couldn’t resist showing up. Did he really think his fake death would throw her into disarray and force her to give up her position? If that was Neil’s plan, then he had severely overestimated himself.

Gasps and whispers rippled through the crowd. The shareholders exchanged startled glances, their voices hushed.

“What’s going on? Didn’t the hospital just confirm Mr. Wheeler’s death?”

The slightly chubby man with black-rimmed glasses stammered, “And his legs… Didn’t they say he was injured?”

At the mention of Neil’s legs, all eyes drifted downward. To everyone’s shock, Neil walked without so much as a limp. His steps were steady, his posture firm—no trace of the injuries they’d heard about. The room was a mix of confusion and disbelief, but Katelyn remained seated, her expression calm, as though she had predicted all of this. Neil’s gaze flickered to her, his frown deepening. This wasn’t what he had imagined. Or maybe…

He swallowed his doubts and exhaled softly before addressing her, “Katelyn, I’ve been gravely ill for some time. I’m a lot more open-minded after my life and death experience. Since the company has already been acquired by Esterlyn Consortium, we should hand it over.”

The room fell silent. Liam watched quietly, waiting for Katelyn’s response.

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All eyes were on her, but Katelyn only smiled faintly.

“Alright. I’ll give it to them.”

Neil blinked, caught off guard. He had expected her to resist, to make things difficult. But she agreed so effortlessly, so casually.

Both Neil and Liam let out a small sigh of relief. The matter seemed settled, and with no further complications, everything should proceed smoothly.

Yet, Katelyn’s composure wasn’t born of resignation. She had been waiting for Neil to make his move, and now that he had, there was no need to prolong the charade. She just wondered if they were going to like the little “surprise” she prepared for them.

A faint, cold smile tugged at her lips as her eyes glinted with quiet mockery. Did they really think they could outmaneuver her? How naive.

Cassie stepped forward, her demeanor completely changed. Gone was the respect in her tone. She placed the prepared document in front of Katelyn with a touch of disdain.

“Miss Bailey, sign it,” she said coldly.

Katelyn didn’t mind it. She had no intention of engaging with Cassie, who would no longer be relevant to her life after this.

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