Ashley covered her face, staring at her grandfather in disbelief. The once kind- hearted grandfather had shown a side of himself she never imagined—a side that was hard for her to ept.


    "Grandpa, you always told me I was your precious granddaughter, that I didn''t need to worry about running thepany, just to be happy. Is it so wrong to chase after the man I love? Besides, when I was pursuing him, weren''t you the one who said that even though he''s in a wheelchair, he''s more remarkable than any able-bodied man out there?"


    Tears shimmered in Ashley''s eyes. "Grandpa, when I graduated from college, I was bursting with ambition to start my career at thepany. But you and Dad blocked me at every turn, saying you didn''t want me to stress out. But I''m not naive; I see things clearly. You both just didn''t want me to get in the way of your favored grandson."


    Nathalie squinted, trying to process the bombshell revtion between Ashley and her grandfather.


    The man Ashley loved was in a wheelchair? Her mind flickered back to a shadowy memory. When she was delving into her mother''s tragic self-immtion case, she had tracked down a lead to a police officer''s house and stumbled upon a man in a wheelchair there.


    Even though he wore sunsses, his noble aura andmanding presence matched the man Ashley spoke so highly of. Could it be him?


    A suddenugh echoed from the corner.


    Everyone turned to see Michael rising from his seat.


    He took off his name badge, setting it on the conference table, and looked around the room. "I wish thepany all the best, but I''ve decided to resign."


    Dean''s eyes widened in shock. "Michael? You can''t leave."


    Michael was his insider at Stewart Enterprises. Even if the main branch of the Stewart family faltered, with Michael still there, they had hope for aeback.


    Michael chuckled wryly, "Ms. Vivian has pulled off the incredible, generating billions in just a few months. I can''tpete with that. I''m stepping down willingly from the CEO position."


    With that, Michael approached Lincoln. "Please approve my resignation, Chairman."


    Lincoln was lost in thought for a moment.


    Nathalie suddenly spoke up, "Dad, just let him go."


    Being the doting father he was, Lincoln nodded immediately. "Alright, I ept your resignation."


    Michael I gave Nathalie a grateful


    smile,


    hard


    o read, and then confidet


    ough his expression v


    walked out. Content bonfidently


    Regan and Dean were instantly drained of their fighting spirit.


    Michael was their legitimate grandson, and if he was walking


    away from Stewart Enterprise


    were they fighting for?


    who


    Dean helped Regan up. "Dad, let''s just let it go. After a lifetime of


    ats, rxing at home


    sound too bad."


    Regan looked like a defeated rooster, his face downcast as his son helped him out.


    Ashley followed them quietly.


    Nathalie suddenly rushed after Ashley, grabbing her hand. "Ashley, hold on a second."


    Ashley stopped, looking at her with frustration. "Nathalie, you won. There''s no need to rub it in."


    Nathalie spoke gently, "Ashley, I just wanted to ask you about someone."


    The anger on Ashley''s face faded, reced with curiosity. "Who?"


    "The second son of the Rond family," Nathalie replied.


    Ashley''s indifferent mask slipped, reced with excitement. "Why do you want to know about him?"


    "Ashley, he might be someone from my past."