As the elderly man spoke amongst themselves, Jerry Sutton beamed happily, quickly concluding their words would force Kelsie into giving him the shares.
So he glanced at her smugly, but instantly began seething in rage when he saw the amused look in her eyes.
"Kelsie Sutton, is this all a joke to you? Your younger sister has just given you a heartfelt apology in a place like this, but you still won't forgive her?"
"She didn't even do anything wrong to apologize to you for, but she knows the only way to make you let her off is by apologizing to you, but what did you do after she did so!"
"Have you quickly forgotten what led to Bryan Baker breaking off the engagement between you two in the first place?"
Seeing him get angry, Laura pretended to be anxious and quickly stopped him from saying anymore.
Her eyes flickered from Kelsie's face to that of the board members who had stopped talking and were now staring at him.
She pulled the strand of hair blocking her eyes behind her ears and spoke softly, "Don't bring up what happened seven years go. What happened back then wasn't big sister's fault."
"It was just a mistake she made as a 17-year-old. Everyone makes mistake, so it doesn't matter if her mistake was sleeping with a random hobo."
"I've heard a lot of people speculate it was a delivery guy who came over to deliver drinks that day, but I know it isn't true. Big sister isn't that kind of person. She wouldn't stoop so low."
"But even if it is, she's still not to blame. After all, it's only natural for a woman to feel what she felt back then. She must've really wanted to do it."
Laura sounded as though she didn't want Jerry to spread Kelsie's dirty linen in public, but the truth of the matter was that she wanted that to happen.
However, she wanted to be the one doing it. That way, she could paint Kelsie as bad as she could.
Just like she edited, the board members were taken aback.
A random hobo? She slept with a random hobo as a 17-year-old?
Being closely tied with the Sutton family through Lumen Group meant they were naturally informed of what happened at the engagement party seven years ago.
Initially, they all assumed Kelsie probably planned it with someone she knew as the news of her pregnancy was very timely.
Furthermore, it was a trick most women used to get out of the arranged marriage they didn't want to be a part of.
But now they were learning it wasn't even a man she knew. A one night stand with one of the people who were in the club with her would've been better considering who could've been a bigshot at most, but a random delivery guy?
What kind of loose woman was this!
They couldn't afford to have such an improper person joining them as a shareholder. If the public learnt of this, they would have more to lose than they did seven years ago.
At this, majority of the board members immediately canceled Kelsie in their hearts.
They began readjusting on their seats and casting weird glances at her.
Seeing this, Laura couldn't help the smile that tugged the corners of her lips.
She drew her lips into a thin line and decided to be clever.
"I wouldn't be saying this if it wasn't important, but you've already caused so much trouble for the Sutton family in the past."
"If the matter wasn't tackled on time, Lumen Group would've suffered as well. If you really care about this company like you claim you do, then you shouldn't have any problem handing over your shares to father right here."
Deborah sat up straight and hummed in agreement.
"That is the right thing to do. Your scandal is still used as a lesson to turn wayward teenagers into the right path."
"If the public suddenly hears you're back and a shareholder here in Lumen Group, it will definitely affect the company's reputation and if the company's reputation is affected, then we can bid farewell to our plan to work for Jett Adler."
"Most importantly, Lumen Group will suffer greatly." Laura didn't forget to chime in.
Once again. the board members began moving uncomfortably in their seats.
They were greedy old men who only cared about profits. For more than two decades, Lumen Group had brought them a reasonable and stable source of income.
As such, they were strongly against whatever would put an end to that.
"You should listen to your family and transfer your shares to your father. It will not do the company any good if you remain a shareholder."
"If you really care about your mother's company like you claim, you'd know this is the right thing to do."
Jerry returned to smiling smugly as he heard their persuasive words.
Having majority of the shareholders against you was never good. If Kelsie needed their help in the future, it'd be hard to get it.
Hence, the only thing she could do now to remain in their good books was to do as they said.
He sat up and proudly pushed his chest outward then proceeded to speak like it was the only natural thing to do.
"Just transfer the shares to my name for a little bit. If a few months from now news about you don't come up again, then I'll transfer it back to you."
"I'm your father, if there's anyone you should trust with your shares, it should be me. We're family, after all."
Kelsie only glanced at him for a second before she retracted her eyes.
She leaned back on her seat and calmly narrowed her eyes in thought.
It wasn't even a debate anymore. If she said no, these greedy old wolves would forever be against her and on Jerry's side.
In the future, she needed them on her side. If giving away her shares would earn her that, then she would.
"Fine. Bring me the shares transfer agreement."
Jerry immediately called the secretary outside to prepare the paperwork.
While they waited for it in silence, a triumphant smile flashed past Laura's eyes.
Her plan was simple; once Kelsie gave away her shares, they wouldn't hesitate to kick her out.
All this while, Jerry had put up with her because he needed the shares her mother left her.
Otherwise, he would've tossed her out on the street the second her mother died.
The door opened in exactly two minutes and the secretary walked in with the contract.