Joseph froze, his face turning stormy. "What exactly are you trying to do, Matthew?"


    "Nothing at all." Matthew set down his ss and shed a calm smile. “I just want to remind everyone that what Ratcliff Global needs most right now is to fix its reputation with the authorities."


    "If that weren''t the case, Sebastian wouldn''t have been ousted just for backing Leslie," he added, almost casually.


    “We all know that. We don''t need you to tell us,” Joseph shot back, ring.


    Matthew raised his brows and looked right at him. "Then why don''t you tell us, Joseph? What''s your n to restore Ratcliff Global''s reputation?”


    "W—well, by delivering results, obviously..." Joseph stammered. He hadn''t really thought about it and couldn''te up with anything convincing. Flustered, he red at Matthew. "What, you think you have a better idea?"


    "Actually, yes.” Matthew nodded. “I can guarantee that Ratcliff Global will keep working on the de project."


    “de is backed by the military, and it''s mainly for military use. With their support, no one''s going to doubt Ratcliff Global''s credibility."


    "That means whatever damage Sebastian did to thepany''s reputation pretty much disappears."


    The room grew restless as the board members exchanged nces and started whispering among themselves. Joseph''s face went sour. He''d forgotten the main reason these old board members nominated Matthew was because he was the lead on the de project.


    He opened his mouth to argue, but Matthew was already speaking again. "Besides, sure, I took my mother''sst name and barely grew up with my grandfather, so I might not be the most experienced at running things..."


    "But isn''t that why you''re all here to help me?"


    At that, the board members perked up, especially Mr. Riles and Mr. Lugo. They looked almost excited.


    "No matter what, that''s still better than handing Ratcliff Global over to someone who''d sell out thepany, right?" Matthew said, giving Joseph a pointed look. Joseph''s expression turned even darker. “What are you implying, Matthew?"


    "It''s not an implication. I mean it exactly as it sounds." Matthew nodded at Noah, who stepped forward and ced a thick folder on the table, sliding it toward the shareholders.


    “Everyone, here''s proof of Joseph embezzlingpany funds, colluding with outsiders, and harming Ratcliff Global''s interests over the years. Take a look."


    The shareholders grabbed the file, flipping through the pages. Their faces grew tense, some even turning red with anger.


    "Joseph, is this real? You usedpany money to y the futures market and lost all of it?" one of them demanded.


    Joseph''s face went pale. He mmed his palm on the table, making the papers jump. “Lies! Matthew, you made all this up to frame me!"


    He lunged for the file, but Noah blocked his hand.


    "Mr. Ratcliff, this evidence is backed by bank statements, transaction records, and sworn testimony. Nothing''s fabricated," Noah said quietly.


    Mr. Riles held up a page, pointing at a transaction. "What about this thirty million? It went from ourpany ount straight to a shell corporation you secretly own. Care to exin?"


    Mr. Lugo chimed in, "And the overseas deal? You leaked our core technology and cost us a huge contractst year. Is that fake too?"


    The shareholders erupted into a storm of conversation, voices ovepping in the tense air. Those who had supported Joseph now dropped their hands, looking uneasy and wary.


    Sweat trickled down Joseph''s forehead as he looked around, desperate. "It''s... it''s all a misunderstanding! The money was for expanding business overseas. And the tech leak. That''s nonsense Matthew is setting me up!


    Matthew gave a coldugh and pulled a recorder from his pocket. He clicked y.


    "Then you might want to listen to this."


    The whole room listened as


    Joseph''s voice yed. He was negotiating with a foreign investor


    clearly tradingpany for


    a fat kickback. He even promised, "Once I''m chairman, I''ll give you even more."


    The room went silent, then exploded in outrage.


    "I can''t believe he''d do this."


    "He never cared about thepany, just himself."


    "How could someone like that be chairman? He''d destroy Ratcliff Global."


    Joseph nearly copsed, his eyes empty. He had never imagined Matthew would have this kind of evidence.


    "No... that''s not real. It''s fake!" he stammered, voice shaking.


    Matthew tucked away the recorder, his tone icy. "The police can sort out what''s real and what''s not. Noah, the evidence has been sent to the economic crimes division, fight?''


    "Yes, sir. It''s already been submitted. The police have opened an investigation and are searching Mr. Ratcliff''s office for more evidence,” Noah replied.


    Joseph''s knees buckled and he almost hit the floor, only saved by his loyal aide. He red at Matthew, eyes burning with hatred. “You''re ruthless, Matthew."


    “Ruthless?” Matthew stood, looking down at him. “After what you did to the Meyer family, you want to talk about ruthless?"


    At that moment, the conference room doors opened. Several police officers stepped in, Roman at the front.


    "Joseph Ratcliff, you''re under investigation for embezzlement, leaking trade secrets, and bribery. Pleasee with us," Roman announced, holding up a warrant.


    Joseph''s cronies tried to stop them, but the police shoved them aside.


    “No! I can''t leave! I''m the heir to Ratcliff Global. I''m supposed to be chairman!" Joseph fought, but the officers held him fast and snapped the cuffs on.


    "Take him away," Roman ordered.


    The police dragged Joseph out. He twisted in their grip, screaming down the hallway.


    "Matthew, I''ll get you for this! Sebastian won''t let you off either!"


    His shouts echoed, fading until all that was left was silence.