Neil’s face darkened. The other shareholders, now grasping the gravity of the situation, pressed him for answers.

“Mr. Wheeler, care to explain what you mean by an empty shell?” one of them demanded.

The man with black-framed glasses chimed in, “Yes, how exactly did the company end up in this sorry state? We deserve an explanation!” These shareholders had clung to their investments, convinced the Wheeler Group’s steady annual revenue made their shares a solid bet. They had turned their noses up at Esterlyn Consortium’s acquisition offer, confident they were holding onto a golden goose.

But now, with talk of the company being little more than a hollow husk, their so-called treasure was starting to look like fool’s gold. For them, the revelation was like the ground splitting open beneath their feet.

Neil felt a pounding ache in his temples. His voice was cold as ice as he snapped, “Why are you making a scene here? Let me deal with my current issues, and you’ll get your explanation when the time is right!” The room fell into a tense silence as the shareholders, realizing there was no use in antagonizing Neil further, swallowed their anger.

Neil’s glare swept over them.

“All of you, get out! I need to speak with Mr. Norris alone. And you, Cassie—out!”

Cassie’s presence only deepened his fury, a bitter reminder of how Katelyn had outmaneuvered him.

Cassie nodded hastily.

“Understood.”

The shareholders exchanged uneasy glances before following her out. Once the room was cleared of its buzzing chaos, Neil and Liam turned their attention to the pressing matter of corporate crises.

Meanwhile, Katelyn and Vincent had already slipped into the car.

Vincent, his hands resting on the wheel, glanced at her.

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“Well, that’s one fire put out. Neil’s taken a heavy hit. He won’t have the stomach to cause more trouble—at least for a while.”

Neil’s losses were a hard pill to swallow. If he had even a shred of good sense left, he’d step back and regroup.

Katelyn leaned her elbow against the window, her head resting on her hand. She sighed.

“Let’s hope so.”

True, it all depended on whether Neil decided to pick up the pieces or torch the whole house.

Vincent studied her face, his tone softening.

“Is your head bothering you? Want to swing by a hospital?”

Katelyn rubbed her forehead, then sat up straight, offering him a faint smile.

“No, it’s just exhausting—having to deal with this circus day in and day out.”

She still couldn’t wrap her head around Neil’s obsession. Going to such lengths for a single piece of land she owned—was it worth it? He had even dragged his own grandmother into his web of deceit. Was greed really so powerful it could strip a man of his soul?

Vincent was about to reply when her phone buzzed. The caller ID was unfamiliar. After a moment’s hesitation, she picked it up. However, her expression hardened in an instant.

After Katelyn ended the call, Vincent turned to her.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Katelyn’s expression was serious. The coldness in her demeanor was almost palpable, enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine. Without another word, Vincent reached for a bottle of water and handed it to her, his voice soft.

“Here, drink this. It might help you calm down.”

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