As the doors to the entrance of the company swung open, Ford strode in swiftly, not bothering to spare even a glance to inspect his surroundings. The employees couldn't help but whisper among themselves about why their boss seemed to be frowning.
Everyone maintained a tense silence and bowed respectfully as he passed. Ford ignored them all, walking straight to the elevator.
"Where are they now?" he asked his assistant sharply.
"Sir, they are already seated in the boardroom," the assistant replied.
"What? A board meeting without notifying me?" Ford barked, his anger evident.
"Sir, all I can say for sure is that they are seated, but I'm not certain your father started any board meeting," the man responded hesitantly.
Turning to him with a piercing gaze, Ford snapped, "Daniel, I don't pay you handsomely to give me half-baked information." With those words, Ford exited the elevator, striding purposefully toward the boardroom.
"I'm sorry, sir," Daniel apologized, hurrying after his boss.
Ford pushed the door open, his sharp entrance startling the occupants. He saw everyone seated, but upon sighting him, they immediately stood up, bowing in respect.
Ford paid no attention to their gestures; his gaze was fixed on his father, who was sitting in his seat. By his father's side was Fredrick, his stepbrother, who wore an arrogant smile, and on the other side sat his stepmother, who offered only a smirk of satisfaction.
"What brings you here?" Ford thundered, his voice laced with anger.
"Oh, my son, welcome," Mr. Lugard said with a wide smile from across the table.
"I asked what this sudden visit is about, and why your minions are here," Ford retorted with deadly seriousness, his piercing gaze shifting to his stepmother and stepbrother.
The way Ford referred to his stepmother and her son as "minions" drew a few muffled laughs from some of the board members. However, Mr. Lugard immediately turned to them with a stern glare, silencing their amusement.
"Ford! Don't speak to your mother that way," Mr. Lugard reprimanded, his tone sharp.
Hearing his father's words, Ford couldn't hold back a bitter laugh. "Did you just call her my mother? Are you serious right now?" he asked, folding his arms and tilting his head as though waiting for an explanation.
"Sorry, I meant your stepmom," Mr. Lugard quickly corrected himself, clearly uncomfortable under his son's intense scrutiny.
"You better be," Ford replied, his voice filled with cold disdain. "And let me make this clear—I don't care what kind of relationship you have with her, but don't you ever address her using any word even remotely related to 'mother' when it comes to me," he added angrily.
"You know, you really need to calm down. And you have no right to speak to my mother in such a disrespectful manner," Fredrick suddenly interjected, his voice rising in anger from across the room.
Mr. Lugard placed a firm hand on Ford's shoulder, trying to calm him down. The last thing he wanted was for Ford and Fredrick to exchange heated words in front of the board members. Such a scene would only fuel unnecessary rumors or, worse, attract unwanted attention from the press.
Ford's eyes narrowed as he noticed his father patting Fredrick's shoulder in an effort to comfort him. A flicker of annoyance crossed Ford's face, but he quickly turned his gaze away to avoid showing his irritation. His eyes inadvertently locked with those of Fredrick's mother, Vivian. She was staring at him, her expression cold and full of disdain. Ford could feel the anger and jealousy behind her glare—she had always hated how self-assured and confident he was.
Seeing Ford's reaction to his father's gesture, Vivian's lips curled into a smug smile. She tilted her head slightly, offering him a mocking smirk, as if relishing his discomfort.
"You need to calm down, alright? There's no need for you to get worked up here," Mr. Lugard said in a composed tone, trying to reason with Ford.
Ford's jaw tightened, but before he could respond, his father continued, "Well, I came here to visit you. Then they insisted on joining me. Is there any harm in that? And I also have an announcement to make: I'll soon be stepping down."
This declaration caught Ford off guard, but Mr. Lugard wasn't done. "And," he added, pausing for effect, "one of my sons is engaged and will be getting married soon."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Mr. Lugard turned to face Fredrick, who stood up with a triumphant smile. The board members erupted into applause, clapping and cheering for him.
Ford was stunned, unable to mask the surprise on his face. His shock only seemed to delight Fredrick, who basked in the attention, loving the way Ford looked caught off guard. Vivian, standing beside her son, looked equally pleased. She savored the moment, enjoying every second of Ford's visible disbelief.
All Ford could do was stand there, frozen, watching the scene unfold. His father rose from Ford's seat and turned to him with an air of finality. "That's the surprise I came to tell you. You should be happy for your brother," he said before walking out of the room, Fredrick following closely behind, a smug smile plastered on his face. Vivian, Fredrick's mother, trailed after them, her expression filled with satisfaction.
As she passed by Ford, she stopped and leaned in close. "I love to see you shocked. Watch how I take everything from you," she whispered venomously into his ear, her voice dripping with malice. With that, she walked away, leaving Ford rooted to the spot.
Turning toward their retreating figures, Ford's fists clenched, and his anger boiled over. He knew exactly how manipulative Vivian could be, and he was certain this entire spectacle was orchestrated by her.
But as his rage simmered, a smirk crept onto his face. He couldn't help but laugh inwardly at how foolish she truly was. Vivian had no idea that he was always a step ahead of her. While she celebrated what she thought was a victory, Ford already had plans in motion.
The murmurs of the board members pulled him out of his thoughts. They were still whispering amongst themselves, dissecting the shocking news that the CEO had just announced. Unable to take their chatter any longer, Ford snapped.
"Sit down and shut your mouths!" he bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. The room fell silent instantly, the weight of his authority suffocating any further conversation.
Ford strode purposefully to his seat, his movements sharp and controlled. Sitting down, he looked across the room, his gaze steady but filled with an indescribable mix of emotions. For once, he found himself speechless, momentarily at a loss for words.
Taking a deep breath, he composed himself, forcing his rage to the back of his mind. His voice was calm but firm when he finally spoke. "You all should leave. This meeting has come to an end."
Without hesitation, the board members began filing out of the room, their silence reflecting the tension that hung heavy in the air. Ford remained seated, his mind racing, already plotting his next move.
The board members exchanged surprised glances, puzzled by the abrupt end to the meeting. However, none dared to question Ford's authority. Without a word of protest, they rose to their feet and bowed respectfully before exiting the room one by one.
Once the last person had left and the heavy doors clicked shut, Ford could no longer contain the fury surging within him. His emotions boiled over, and with a forceful swing of his fist, he sent the glass cup on the table flying. It shattered into countless pieces, scattering shards across the floor.
Ford's chest heaved as he stood there, his anger palpable. His mind swirled with memories and resentment. He had never had an issue with his father before—at least, not until the death of his mother. But everything changed when Vivian entered their lives. She had entangled herself with his father so deeply that it felt like every decision his dad made had her fingerprints all over it.
He despised everything about her—her cunning ways, her manipulative nature, and her constant interference. And Fredrick, her arrogant, opportunistic son, was no better. Ford seethed at the thought of his father involving Vivian and Fredrick in matters that were his responsibility. It wasn't enough that he had to fight to protect his birthright from outsiders, but now his father had the audacity to bring them into the company—the section he controlled, no less—just to announce Fredrick's engagement to his own board members. It was a blatant insult.
Ford glanced down at his hand, realizing only then that blood was dripping from his knuckles where the shattered glass had cut him. Yet, instead of pain, he felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. Looking at the blood, he smiled grimly, unbothered by the injury. It didn't matter that his hand was bleeding heavily; his focus was elsewhere.
Vivian and her son may have surprised him today, but very soon, he would remind them who truly controlled the game. They thought they were clever, but he was always several steps ahead, and he intended to make that clear soon enough.
Reaching into his pocket, Ford retrieved a handkerchief and carefully wrapped it around his bleeding hand. His movements were slow and deliberate, his mind already working on his next move.
"Vivian you think you are ahead, watch and see how I play you" Ford murmured smiling intensely as he stared at his bleeding hands.