Kathryn may not notice when others come over.

After taking the elevator to the first floor, Kathryn told her secretary, “You can return to the company on your own; I will go home to handle things. Mom isn’t available these days.”

Matriarch Farrell was still diligently caring for Holden in the hospital.

People at the company had heard that something had happened to the Farrell family. However, no one knew the details of the incident—only that Matriarch Farrell and her three sons had not returned to the office, leaving Kathryn as the only one in charge.

This situation sparked private discussions among the staff. Despite being Matriarch Farrell’s biological daughter, Kathryn had often faced criticism and was seen as ineffective. If anything were to happen within the Farrell family, it was Kathryn who would ultimately be responsible.

Those who wanted to prevent Kathryn from rising to power were making a fuss, seeking various ways to approach Matriarch Farrell and questioning Kathryn’s actions.

Unlike in the past, when she would suppress her anger and act meekly, Kathryn no longer tolerated such behavior in the company. The individuals causing the commotion held minor positions, and she promptly fired them, expelling them from the Farrell Group. For those in higher positions, she demoted them.

Additionally, she banned the fired employees from the industry, ensuring they could not secure positions in larger companies with better benefits, forcing them to settle for smaller firms. Naturally, their income and benefits would be inferior to those at the Farrell Group. Kathryn preferred to offer minimal severance to these individuals rather than allow their behavior to continue unchallenged.

Seeing what happened to those dismissed from the Farrell Group served as a deterrent to others.

Everyone emerged to seek financial support, with a family behind them that depended on their income. For the sake of their families, they knew they couldn’t afford to lose their jobs.

What relevance did the overt and covert conflicts among the top management of the Farrell Group have for them? Regardless of who held power, they were all part of the Farrell family. Since they were unable to ascend to positions of authority, how much could they truly gain by aligning with any faction?

It was more prudent to perform their jobs honestly. Good employees would continue to receive their pay regardless of who was in charge, and their superiors were unlikely to dismiss them. If they excelled in their roles, they could wait for the new leadership to stabilize. Conversely, those diligent employees would be recognized for their contributions.

“Okay,” Kathryn said.

She instructed the secretary to take a taxi back to the company, which would reimburse the fare.

Kathryn then drove home. The funeral for the bodyguard who had died protecting Liberty was still pending, so she was heading back to address the situation.

Liberty had mentioned that he would come by in the evening to pay his respects to the bodyguard, console the deceased’s family, and provide some financial assistance.

Although the bodyguard’s parents had passed away, he had a younger brother who depended on him for support while in school. The younger brother faced a tragic loss. Despite recounting the details of the car accident, it was something no one wished to happen. This was Liberty’s first encounter with such a tragedy, and she felt a sense of guilt. However, if she were to visit, her conscience would not be at ease.

Hayden stood by the window observing. He hadn’t intended to watch Kathryn leave; he was simply fatigued and needed a moment.

Taking a short break, she stood by the window, admiring the scenery outside while occasionally spotting birds flying by.

Numerous evergreen trees were planted around Queen Enterprise, providing homes for these little birds.

However, Jensburg was colder than Wiltspoon. While there had been no heavy snowfall yet, the chill was still noticeable. As a result, there weren’t many birds in sight. But next spring, when the flowers bloomed, the delightful scene of singing birds among fragrant blossoms would return.

Suddenly, her cell phone rang.

Hayden turned away from the window and walked back to her desk, placing her mobile on the table.

She glanced at the caller ID and saw “cheeky”—it was Kevin calling.

She had labeled Kevin as “cheeky” in her contacts.

A laugh bubbled up inside her, and she considered changing his note after the call ended, so she wouldn’t have to see it one day.