Chapter 6 Zero Percent Shareholding

After the call ended, a hard calm settled over Kathryn's features. She turned to Nathan and said evenly, "Take me to the Galaxy Hotel, please."

Nathan flicked a look at Vince. Without a word, Vince spun the wheel and redirected the car.

At the Galaxy Hotel, the instant Kathryn stepped onto the pavement, she caught sight of a wall of reporters clogging the entrance, cameras lifted like weapons, eyes gleaming with anticipation. She walked straight toward them, unflinching.

The crowd surged at once, microphones shoved inches from her face as questions flew like blades.

"Ms. Pearson, Mr. Lambert alleges you attempted to murder him. Care to respond?"

"Ms. Pearson, the Galaxy Hotel was a joint property of your parents. As a child born out of wedlock, have you been stripped of your inheritance?"

"Ms. Pearson, do you even know who your biological father is?"

Kathryn stood alone at the entrance. Her bodyguards had been forced to the perimeter by the crush of bodies and couldn't reach her.

She showed not a trace of fear. Reaching out, she seized the closest camera and smashed it into the ground. The lens exploded with a sharp crack, fragments skittering across the marble.

The reporter howled, staring at the wreckage. "Kathryn Pearson, are you out of your mind? Trying to silence us because your mother had an affair?"

Without hesitation, Kathryn struck him across the face.

"What the-you actually hit me?" the reporter shouted, lifting his hand to retaliate.

People nearby scattered, shouting warnings as they jumped back.

Kathryn caught the reporter's arm, wrenched it behind his back, and slammed him to the ground. Looking down at his twisted form, she said coldly, "If you don't know how to behave like a journalist, find another job."

Her words set off an uproar. Cameras snapped wildly as reporters yelled over one another.

"Assaulting the press in public? We'll make sure you end up behind bars."

"Raised with no class at all-this explains everything."

Kathryn grabbed a female reporter by the collar and hauled her up. Locking eyes with her, she demanded sharply, "What kind of reporter are you? Is your duty to uncover facts or to sell filth?"

The woman sneered back, "Say whatever you like. We're here because Edwin Lambert gave us evidence of your mother's infidelity. This isn't gossip."

"Evidence you didn't even bother to verify?" Kathryn's voice dropped to a lethal calm. "Anyone who dares smear my mother again can forget about working in this industry ever again."

She let go and turned away, striding toward the elevators.

Cillian kept pace beside her, quietly summarizing developments as they headed for the conference room.

Even with the door shut tight, Edwin's voice drifted out clearly, heavy with practiced grievance.

"Esteemed shareholders, every person here helped Donna build this enterprise from nothing. I ask you to see the predicament I'm in. I cannot, in good conscience, hand over the assets Donna and I shared to someone who attempted to take my life. Someone with such depravity is utterly unfit to inherit the Galaxy Hotel."

Inside the room, murmurs quickly turned into vocal agreement.

"Mr. Lambert is right. A person with no moral bottom line has no place owning the Galaxy Hotel."

"Exactly! The gossip about Donna's infidelity and Kathryn attacking her family has already gone viral. Our stock value is bleeding."

"The second half of the year is peak wedding season. If the Galaxy Hotel collapses now, the penalties alone could ruin us. Cutting ties with both Donna and Kathryn is the safest move."

With a thunderous crash, Kathryn drove her foot into the conference room door, sending it flying open.

The room jolted into silence. All eyes followed her as she strode in without hesitation. Her gaze fixed on Edwin seated in the head chair, a silent order for him to vacate.

Edwin's throat tightened. Pain pulsed through his broken wrist. He started to stand, but Hannah's hand forced him back into the seat.

"Dad, don't panic. All these executives are here. She wouldn't dare lay a finger on you." Hannah lifted her chin at Kathryn, her stare sharp and defiant, as if throwing down a challenge.

Kathryn let out a soft, chilling laugh. "You're quite bold, occupying my mother's seat. Aren't you worried she'll crawl back from the grave to collect what's owed?"

Unease flickered through Edwin, but he crushed it quickly. He scoffed coldly, "Donna is gone. And you broke my wrist over property. Don't think invoking her name will scare me."

"Kathryn, mind your manners. Edwin raised you." An elderly shareholder barked the rebuke, glaring at her in outrage.

Kathryn slowly turned to face everyone present. Without a single wasted word, she connected her device and cast the documents Vicki had prepared onto the massive screen.

"Look carefully. Before Edwin ever married my mother, he signed a comprehensive prenuptial agreement. Edwin Lambert's shareholding in the Galaxy Hotel-zero percent."