"They didn't invite all the parents."
Mira looped her arm affectionately through Eleanor's. "They only invited the families of the top-performing students to share their educational experiences.
There was one out-of-state student whose parents were flown in early, and the school covered all their travel expenses."
"Oh? Doesn't that mean local families like ours got the short end of the stick?"
"Grandma, it's fine. It's not like we're hurting for the travel money anyway."
Hearing the phrase "top-performing students" immediately filled Eleanor with such immense pride that she completely forgot her earlier doubts.
"True. We can afford to be generous to those out-of-state kids," the older woman declared proudly.
Only then did Mira breathe a sigh of relief and head upstairs to change and wash up.
By the time she came back down, Rachel and the rest of the staff had already laid out dinner on the table.
"Wait, where's Owen?"
Eleanor scanned the room as she asked.
"He got caught up with some extra work at the office."
"That boy. Why does he even bother working for that dreadful company? He'd be much better off working alongside you!" Eleanor grumbled.
"It's fine, Grandma. He's building his leverage there so he can secure his rightful half of the family estate later.
It'd be a total waste if he just walked away."
"You're right about that. If he didn't fight for his place, all that wealth would just fall right into the lap of that illegitimate cur, Lawrence."
Mira knew exactly how to push her grandmother's buttons, and the response was exactly as fiery as she expected.
Meanwhile, in the CEO's office of the Lance Group.
Owen had just finished placating the grieving families. He pinched the bridge of his nose, only to be descended upon by a swarm of angry board members.
"Owen, what on earth is going on?"
"The accident is currently under investigation. We won't have any concrete answers for at least three days."
"Lance Power & Light hasn't had a fatal incident in years. Mr. Lance, you really need to take this role more seriously."
"How about this? You can step in as the Chief Safety Officer. Or maybe someone from your family can do it. Feel free to recommend a candidate."
Owen cast a cold glance at the complaining shareholder.
A catastrophic crisis had struck, and instead of offering solutions, they were here to flex their fragile egos.
"Do you want out? Say the word. I'll wire you the funds and buy out your shares right now."
"What the hell are you saying? The company is in a crisis, and instead of fixing it, you're actively trying to tear the board apart?"
Richard Lance stormed into the office, wearing an expression of profound, theatrical disappointment.
"Since when do you have a say in how this company is run? You know absolutely nothing about business, yet here you are, flapping your mouth."
Anyone with a shred of sense could see who was actually doing the heavy lifting and who was causing the division.
Owen shot a deadly glare at his scum father.
"You—you disgraceful brat!"
Richard looked like he was about to faint from the sheer disrespect.
To be humiliated by his own son in front of the entire board was an unbearable blow to his pride, but he was too stunned to formulate a coherent comeback.
"You know how Owen is, Dad. He's always been this overbearing."
Lawrence materialised by his father's side, holding him up while effortlessly fanning the flames of conflict.

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