CHAPTER 135: FAMILY AMBUSH

Everyone, turn toward the door.

Joseph slowly looked up, already guessing who it was.

And sure enough...

William Walters, standing there with a thunderous expression, his eyes sharp enough to reveal he’s in a terrible mood.

"What on earth happened here?" William Walters’ voice cracked through the room like thunder.

Every head turned, but no one dared to answer.

His gaze fixed sharply on Joseph, filled with accusation. "Why arrange a shareholder meeting without telling me?"

Silence.

Thick, suffocating silence.

Joseph leaned back in his chair, mentally counting the seconds until someone else spoke.

’This is going to be one of those mornings,’ Joseph thought. ’Great. And I haven’t even had my second coffee yet.’

William’s glare swept across the room like a storm. Waiting for someone to reply to him.

However, no one makes a sound.

The only sound came from the faint hum of the central air conditioner hidden on the ceiling and the quiet shuffle of papers as a few shareholders avoided his eyes.

After what felt like forever, Joseph cleared his throat. "Sir, didn’t you receive the email? We all got one yesterday evening."

"Email? What Email?" William pulled his phone from his suit pocket. He scrolled through his inbox, a frown on his forehead.

Then, his voice rose again as he stared at Joseph.

"No. Email. No call either. Are you all trying to stab me in the back?"

Joseph winced slightly. ’Stab might be a strong word, mister!’ he thought. Still, he ignores him.

William’s temper flared visibly as he finally stepped inside, eyes darting from face to face.

When he saw his father, Samuel Walters, sitting calm and collected near the head of the table, his expression softened.

’At least Dad’s here,’ William thought, relief briefly flashing across his face. ’No one can kick me out of this company while he’s sitting there. I’m safe.’

He exhaled heavily and pulled out the chair at the end of the table, as if ready to lead the meeting, just as he usually does.

"Fine. If no one bothered to inform me, I’ll assume this was all a misunderstanding. But who dared to arrange this meeting in the first place? Who has such audacity?"

Again, silence.

William’s teeth grind silently.

"I know my... personal matter has made things difficult for the company," he admitted, his tone sharp with irritation, "but everything will be cleared up soon. There’s no need for this drama."

Then his gaze slid to the two foreign investors seated near the center. His expression softened as he looked at them.

"Especially since we’ve gathered here for our new guests." He forced a smile before continuing. "Gentlemen, I’m sure you didn’t fly all the way here just to watch a family argument, right?"

The two men exchanged a glance but said nothing. Their polite silence somehow made the room even more awkward.

Before either could respond, Samuel Walters’ voice broke through.

"I’m the one who called this shareholders’ meeting."

Instantly, the air turned cold, as if the room’s central heater had suddenly malfunctioned.

William froze, disbelief flickering across his face.

"What...?" He turned slowly toward his father, his voice trembling with shock. "Dad, you, you, called this meeting?"

Samuel nodded once, calm and composed.

Joseph had seen that expression before; the expression Samuel wore when he was about to make a business move that would change everything.

’Heaven! If I were William,’ Joseph thought, ’I’d start asking for forgiveness now.’

"Father, why?" William asked calmly, but his shaking voice clearly betrayed him. "W-Why would you do that? After everything I’ve..."

The door opened again, interrupting him.

William turned, already agitated, but the sight that met his eyes froze him completely.

Alicia Walters stepped into the room, elegant and cold, followed closely by Stella, whose presence carried a storm of her own.

William stared in disbelief, his face draining of color.

His wife, Alicia Walters, was standing at the door, calm and composed. He clearly remembers that his wife never once attended a shareholder meeting, despite owning stock. She had always stayed out of the company matters.

And right beside her was Stella. His daughter. His personal headache. The girl who caused all this trouble.

"Alice? Stella?" he blurted, his voice cracking with disbelief. "Why are you both here?"

Last night, he’d come home late, exhausted, hoping to talk with them. Instead, he found the house eerily empty; no wife, no daughter.

His calls went unanswered, and his texts were marked as "delivered." He’d assumed Alicia was giving him the silent treatment.

But apparently, she had decided to drag that silence into a ’boardroom’.

Alicia didn’t even look his way. She walked gracefully across the room, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor, and sat beside Samuel Walters. Her movements were deliberate, calm, queen-like.

Stella shot her father with a death glare sharp enough to pierce William’s heart.

William felt the back of his neck grow hot.

"What is this supposed to mean?" he demanded, his voice rising. "A family ambush?"

Alicia’s gaze finally met his. Her tone was frosty, "It’s not an ambush, William. It’s accountability. You’ve made this company go into chaos. The board has every right to discuss what comes next."

"Next?" William barked, incredulous. "You’re talking about my company!"

Suddenly, Samuel Walters cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention.

Then, his voice was deep and calm, but it carried the weight of thunder. "My company," he corrected, "I’m not dead yet, Will. Are you already talking like you buried me?"

William froze. His anger toward Alicia and Stella vanished instantly.

He forced a smile. Nervous, shaky, too wide. "Of course, Father, that’s not what I meant..."

"Oh, it’s exactly what you meant," Samuel muttered, unimpressed.

William opened his mouth again, trying to salvage what little dignity he had left. Unfortunately, the door swung open once more, interrupting him from salvaging his dignity.

Jason Walters strode in first, followed by Norah, both looking equally flustered.

"Sorry if we’re not in time," Jason said, slightly out of breath. "The reporters outside are like a bunch of hungry piranhas. They block my way and wouldn’t move until I gave them something to their barrage of questions."

"This is because of you, brother," Norah snapped, fixing William with a glare. "Why’d you have to get yourself into a shameful scandal? We’re trending for all the wrong reasons! We’re fucking infamous! Now I can’t even go to brunch without someone whispering about you!"