KGG finally issued an official statement regarding the leaked contract that had been circulating online.
The company clarified that the matter had nothing to do with KGG's operations and was strictly a private issue between Shin Keir and his fiancée, Yeri Zhi. As such, it would have absolutely no impact on the company's business dealings or relationships with its partners.
Furthermore, the statement announced that Shin Keir would be pursuing severe legal and civil action against Calin Ricci for unlawfully publicizing the contract, spreading misinformation, committing libel, and acting with malicious intent to incite public outrage.
The announcement immediately dissatisfied many netizens, especially those who believed they were somehow entitled to interfere in Shin Keir's personal life.
Many had expected him to apologize, deny the contract, or even void it entirely.
Instead, Shin fired back on his personal account, he publicly declared that he would also pursue legal action against anyone found harassing or threatening Yeri.
--
Meanwhile, inside KGG's conference room, the matter was still being fiercely debated.
"CEO Keir, it's not that we're in a position to judge your personal decisions. This is your private business, and your assets are ultimately your own concern. However, you must understand that this situation has deeply unsettled many of our clients and business partners," one of the board directors said.
As soon as he finished speaking, several others quickly voiced their agreement.
It was much like the situation with the Keir Clan elders.
For a corporate behemoth like KGG, it was only natural that some people would seize any opportunity to drag the CEO down.
Among them, Ellis Keir was by far the most eager.
After his humiliating defeat during the clan meeting, he acted as though this might be his last chance. He was staking everything on it.
"Everyone, this is no longer just a private matter, nor can we claim it has nothing to do with the company," Ellis said, letting out a heavy sigh as if Shin had forced his hand.
Then he pulled out a folder and declared with righteous indignation, "According to that contract, Shin also transferred three percent of the company's shares to Yeri Zhi."
The revelation detonated like a bomb.
Everyone present was visibly stunned.
In the business world, company shares were the bread and butter that sustained a person's status and influence. They were the lifeblood of power. Countless people would commit unethical acts, and some even crimes, just to obtain a larger stake.
Yet Yeri Zhi had acquired three percent just like that.
The conference room instantly erupted into chaos.
Voices overlapped as executives spoke all at once.
Ellis shot Shin a provocative look, as though he had already secured victory.
Unlike the clan elders, who had been more concerned with suppressing the scandal and keeping it behind closed doors, the people in this conference room cared primarily about profits and interests.
To them, giving away three percent of the company's shares felt like carving flesh from their own bodies.
Yet amid the uproar, Shin remained perfectly calm. He simply sat there in silence.
Secretary Yun's gaze darted repeatedly between the arguing executives and his boss.
These past few days, he felt as though he had overdosed on calming pills and he could barely sleep.
Ever since Shin Keir had casually mentioned resigning as CEO, Secretary Yun had been living in a constant state of anxiety.
If his boss really stepped down, wouldn't he lose his job too?
He nervously glanced at Shin Keir.
More than anything, he hoped his boss wouldn't suddenly announce his resignation again.
After all, Tristan Felan had already flatly refused to replace him as CEO.
Shin looked at his uncle.
Just a few days ago, he had practically been foaming at the mouth during the clan meeting.
Should he allow him to make another spectacle of himself?
As the voices gradually died down, Shin swept his gaze across the conference room before speaking calmly.
"Perhaps Uncle should clarify where that three percent came from. The way you're presenting it makes it sound as though I casually handed away scraps of paper."
Ellis frowned, but sneered inwardly. To him, Shin was clearly panicking.
"Shin, no one can deny everything you've done for this company," Ellis said with a sorrowful sigh. "But even as your uncle, there are some things I simply cannot defend."
He shook his head helplessly, looking every bit like a righteous elder forced to choose principles over family.
Several directors immediately echoed his sentiment.
"CEO Keir, three percent of the company's shares is no small matter," one executive said through gritted teeth.
"Exactly. What about the shareholder agreement?"
"What about pre-emption rights?"
"Shouldn't those shares have been offered to existing shareholders before an outsider was given the opportunity to acquire them?"
"You may be the CEO, but you should understand that transferring shares without adhering to corporate governance protocols and constitutional limitations is generally unauthorized and unlawful!"
The room began heating up once more.
Just as another uproar was about to erupt, Shin spoke.
"The three percent shares were not something I randomly transferred from my holdings to my fiancée." His voice was clear, steady, and authoritative.
The conference room immediately fell silent.
Ellis, however, suddenly tensed. Of course, he knew exactly where those shares had come from.
But no matter how bold Shin was, surely he wouldn't be so crazy as to expose the family's scandal in front of the board.
Right?
Then what explanation was he planning to use?
Before Ellis could think any further, the conference room doors suddenly swung open.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the entrance.
The moment the person appeared, the entire room froze.
It was Hadi.
He wore a bright silk red shirt decorated with golden floral patterns, paired with outrageously colorful pants that looked as if every crayon in existence had exploded on the fabric.
The room fell into a strange silence.
Hadi straightened his back and fixed a resentful glare on Shin.
He had spent the entire night drinking at a bar when, early that morning, several men from Hexion suddenly appeared and dragged him out.
They had 'kindly' informed him that if he failed to arrive at KGG within ten minutes, they would beat him first and ask questions later.
After clearing his throat, Hadi marched to the front and greeted everyone politely.
The old directors looked puzzled. It wasn't because they didn't recognize him. Rather, they all knew that he had already been dismissed from the company.
Without wasting time, Hadi immediately explained that he had transferred his 3% shares to Yeri and that all legal procedures had been properly completed.
He further stated that since Yeri would be marrying Shin in the future, the shares would ultimately be managed by Shin as well.
Ellis slammed his fist onto the table in anger.
"Even if you're no longer working for the company, you could have lived comfortably just by holding those shares. What were you thinking? It's not like you're that close to Yeri Zhi."
Hadi dumbly stared at his father, he couldn't understand why he was being put on the spot.
Naturally, Hadi failed to realize that his father was subtly hinting that he should make it appear as though Shin had pressured him into the transfer. Ellis wanted him to look like an unwilling accomplice, perhaps even a victim.
Unfortunately, this was too much for Hadi's brain capacity to understand.
"Dad, what's wrong with giving the shares to Yeri?" Hadi argued. "Anyway, she'll be family soon."
Ellis nearly choked, his eyes practically bulged out of their sockets.
What nonsense is he talking about? Had alcohol completely drowned whatever brain cells this idiot son possessed? What family?
Unfortunately for Ellis, no matter how hard he tried to redirect the blame toward Shin Keir and portray Hadi as an unwilling participant, Hadi stubbornly insisted that he had made the right decision.
In the end, the matter was settled.
The board members and shareholders appeared visibly appeased.
In fact, this explanation was by far the most logical and acceptable one.
It wasn't difficult to believe that Hadi had transferred his shares to Yeri. Considering Hadi's reputation, combined with everyone's memory of Yeri's appearance, many immediately concluded that he had simply fallen victim to a beauty trap.
As for Shin Keir?
If he had known about the transfer beforehand, could he have been the one orchestrating everything behind the scenes?
The remaining old foxes exchanged meaningful glances.
A few even shook their heads in admiration.
What nonsense about Shin Keir losing his mind over a woman?
What nonsense about him no longer being fit to lead KGG?
This was clearly a calculated and carefully executed scheme.
"I heard from an inside source that the Federal Bureau is conducting a surprise audit of the Keir family's assets because of Bryce Gate," one shareholder whispered.
"No wonder. No wonder Shin Keir has been moving assets into his fiancée's name."
"Wasn't that contract only supposed to take effect after marriage?"
"Do you actually believe that?" another scoffed. "The leaked contract only showed the first page. Otherwise, why would he be transferring practically everything to his woman?"
As they left the meeting, the discussions only intensified.
Speculations multiplied and evolved into countless versions of the same story.
However, the narrative had completely changed.
It was no longer about Shin Keir being blinded by love, but rather how frighteningly intelligent and ruthless he was.
Meanwhile, Ellis intercepted Hadi in the hallway and dragged him straight into his office before unleashing a furious barrage of scolding.
He simply could not understand why this idiot who once hated Shin Keir to the bone had suddenly acted like his most loyal sidekick during the meeting.
"You only know how to scold me!" Hadi finally exploded. "Did you help me when I was temporarily disowned by the clan? Should I tell everyone that I gave up my shares because that bastard sent me to the hospital half dead?"
"Just this morning, that bastard sent his dogs to threaten me! They said he'd come looking for me every time he got bored. So tell me, Dad, without Grandma, without any of you helping me, with all my resources frozen and all my connections cut off, what exactly am I supposed to do if he decides to target me?"
The more Hadi spoke, the more aggrieved he became.
Only then did Ellis understand.
Shin had already anticipated that he would raise the issue of the shares, and had gone directly to the source and made sure Hadi would never dare cooperate with him.