The moment Joshua returned, he had handed Ste a deal of massive proportions, an even grander gesture than Leonard''s had been.


    By appearing publicly in this setting, he not only elevated Ste''s status but also trampled on her siblings, humiliating them in the process.


    Whether he was Joshua the bodyguard or Joshua the family head, he hadn''t changed at all.


    His very first appearance after his departure was calcted to bring Ste the greatest possible benefit and value.


    Aurora lowered her gaze, her long hair concealing her expression. Only her tightly pressed lips and her hands clenched under the table revealed that she was not as calm as she appeared.


    Ste hadn''t been briefed on the specifics of the coboration, so she had to improvise as she led the meeting. Despite this, she remainedposed and navigated the entire session with skill and ease.


    Joshua watched the self-assured woman beside him, an unexpected sense of pride welling up inside him.


    From now on, she could handle anything that came her way. She no longer needed him to teach her.


    Ste felt his gaze on her, and her eyshes fluttered for a second before she quickly returned to her professional demeanor.


    Two hourster, the meeting concluded.


    Jonathan, Coleman Williams, and Aurora left the conference room with grim expressions.


    The shareholders from Skyler''s faction looked like they had swallowed poison. Only the shareholders who supported Nora were smiling.


    Zane Vance gave Ste a meaningful smile before he left. President Crawford and the others also nodded at her in acknowledgement.


    Aurora''s only advantage had been eclipsed by Ste. Even with Jonathan''s help, it was now nearly impossible for Aurora to surpass Ste''s position in The Williams Group.


    At this point, there was virtually no neutral faction left in thepany. It was divided between Skyler''s supporters and Nora''s.


    Ste''s support was now on par with Skyler''s faction.


    ***


    In Skyler''s office.


    Since losing his shares, Israel Williams no longer held any real


    power. He spent most of his days arguing with Violet Yancey and. rarely came to the Williams Group. Now, only Jonathan, Coleman, and Aurora were in the office.


    Skyler''s sharp eyes fell on Jonathan. His voice wasced with undisguised disappointment.


    "Jonathan, why didn''t you tell me?"


    In the conference room, Joshua had made it crystal clear that he had personally met


    with Jonathan, leaving Jonathan no room for denial or excuses.


    Before Jonathan could speak, Aurora interjected, "Father, it was my idea. I told Jonathan not to say anything."


    Skyler turned to look at her.


    Aurora exined, "We''ve actually known Joshua''s identity for a while. The reason we kept it a secret was... because if the shareholders found out, Ste could essentially rece Jonathan''s position in The Williams Group. The shareholders who


    support Nora would use this to


    pressur


    you to name a new


    sessor Furthermore, our family


    the Burton family, and the Lerman


    family all have a terrible rtionship


    with Joshua. It''s reached an


    irreconcble point."


    She looked directly into Skyler''s eyes. "Are we supposed to abandon our


    rtionships with those two families for the sake of one man?"


    Skyler frowned. "If things were truly irreconcble, the Gardner family wouldn''t have


    offered The Williams Group such arge contract."


    Coleman sneered. "Joshua didn''t


    But not


    give it to The Williams Group; he gave it to Ste alone. A month he sent a message saying he wanted to partner with us. he really wanted Ste to lead the project, he could have specified his choice in advance, just like the Quinn family did He didnt Instead, he deliberately created the illusion that anyone could take on this contract."