The moment Leo spoke, the previously silent boardroom erupted with voices of agreement.

Over the years, Keira had become a rare presence at Gonzales Holdings; most of the shareholders had long since fallen in line behind Leo.

“Chairman Barrett is right,” one of them declared. “President Gonzales, naming an heir isn't something to be decided lightly. We need to consider this carefully!"

"I have to agree," added another. "Miss Gonzales is just too young-hardly suited to take the reins of Gonzales Holdings!"

"That's right! She may be your granddaughter, but before the family tracked her down, she was just an ordinary farm girl. What does she know about running a corporation?"

A chorus of skeptical murmurs filled the air.

Caitlin, however, remained utterly unruffled. Not a flicker of emotion crossed her face. When she finally spoke, her tone was clear and sharp. "Too young, am I? Do you all really believe age and ability are the same thing?"

Leo shot her a withering look, his eyes filled with contempt. "Aren't they?" he challenged. The thought that a twice-divorced country girl could ever be his company's successor was, to him, nothing short of delusional.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Caitlin's lips. "Chairman Barrett, is it? You and the rest of the board certainly have age on your side, but if that's the case, why has Gonzales Holdings been stagnant for years? It may look impressive from the outside, but it's little more than a tangled mess of bad debts and shady dealings." Her words were delivered softly, almost casually, yet they landed with the force of a hammer.

Caitlin's eyes danced with a glint of mischief as she continued, "Oh, but I'm mistaken. While you've contributed little to the company itself, when it comes to cooking the books, I'd say you all are second to none. Who else could even compete?"

A heavy silence fell over the room. Several of the older board members exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions paling as guilt flickered in their eyes.

Word had spread that Keira had sent Annie to fetch the company's financial reports for Caitlin just yesterday.

Could Caitlin really have found something? But she was just a nobody from the countryside—surely this girl was bluffing, trying to scare them.

Yes, that had to be it.

Leo narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in their depths as he fixed Caitlin with a steely stare. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Leo was a seasoned veteran, a fox in the world of business. His glare was sharp

as a blade, radiating authority that would have cowed anyone else.

But unfortunately for him, today his opponent was Caitlin.

Men like Leo-she'd seen plenty in her time.

"Nonsense?" Caitlin's face turned icy in an instant, her presence suddenly expanding until it seemed to fill the entire room. Even Leo, with all his bravado, faltered for a second beneath her gaze. "Annie, bring me last quarter's financial statements for Gonzales Holdings."

"Yes, Miss Gonzales." Annie answered with impeccable deference, handing over the documents.

Caitlin took them, then tossed them forcefully onto the table.

The heavy reports landed with a slap, scattering across the polished surface—

some even sliding right into the shareholders' faces.

"I've highlighted every problem I

found," Caitlin said, her words slow and deliberate Now, like a reasonable explanation from each of you."

Leo immediately grabbed a report. The rest of the board followed suit, rifling through the pages with frantic hands.

The only sound in the room was the rustling of papers.

Leo's eyes widened in disbelief as cold sweat dripped from his brow, spattering onto the black-and-white print.

How could this be? They'd doctored these numbers so carefully that not even a professional accountant could spot the discrepancies, let alone an outsider!

How had Caitlin managed to see through it all—let alone mark every issue with such precision?

The other directors looked equally shaken. None of them had expected Caitlin to be capable of this.

She stood take a seasoned leader

her posture ramrod

straight, more

than a young newcomer. Each word she spoke rang with unshakeable authority My grandmother is She's spent these past years exhausted by family matters and unable to look after Gonzales Holdings herself. But just because

she's aged doesn't mean the

Gonzales family is finished!"

"I am the rightful heir to Gonzales Holdings. So, whether you accept it or not,

you'll be answering to me from now on."