Karina and Melissa watched the drama unfold.
They did not expect this abrupt turn of events, but what they did not expect even more was how Kieran was reacting to it.
"Since when did my twin learn how to wipe tears?" Karina couldn't help but whisper to her mother.
"I myself only know that he is an expert in wiping blood," Melissa replied.
"Things are really changing," Karina shook her head.
Melissa watched the two act together. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pity towards Lilith.
Though if Lilith were to know, she might find it insulting because she is obviously trying hard to stand tall in order to fight back. But Melissa still felt this way.
'How much has this young lady buried her own grief just so she could face all these wolves?' Melissa wondered.
...
"I've been trying my best to keep it together."
I looked at them bitterly, getting more and more absorbed in my act.
Who said Christopher is the only one who could act in the family?
"I came here today despite the desire to just stay at home because I know I have to do it for the company. But why..."
I looked at Samantha, who had turned pale.
"Why bring up family… when none of mine are left?"
"I..." Samantha was lost for words.
"We apologize, Lilith. We really do. We wished we could have informed you as well, but everything was so chaotic that we did not get the chance," Richard finally stepped in.
I took a deep breath after Kieran wiped the last of my tears, "Let's not bring up that word again. Right now, I just wish to interact with people. To let them know that my family's legacy still prevails."
The people started wondering about it when I brought it up.
"Indeed. Usually, the closest kin would be the next temporary chairman."
"That's right. A few days after Riven Kingsley died, I had thought it was Richard who took up the position."
"That's right, because during Riven Kingsley's hospitalization, it was Richard who was doing the job."
"Everyone has forgotten that there was another child."
The surrounding people started talking about the chairman's position.
Richard gritted his teeth, trying his best not to glare at me.
After Riven was hospitalized, he made sure to establish himself as the next chairman. The reason they wanted that welcoming party was to establish Lilith as someone who has no heart, living lavishly when all her family had just died.
But now, she has established herself as someone unaware and is grieving, but trying her best to continue leading the company.
"I am grateful to you, Sir Richard, for taking care of the company when Riven fell ill. But I can't bring myself to get close to you as my relative right now. I'm sorry."
I even lowered my head to show how grief-stricken I was and how difficult it is for me right now.
"It is difficult to accept that no one tried even the slightest to tell me what was going on."
Richard pursed his lips while Samantha looked at her brother before looking back at me.
"I'll respect you as the vice president of the company and my other relatives as the department heads. I'll respect you all as the one leading the company now. Right now, that is all I can give. I'm sorry."
Another round of chatter erupted after my words.
"Then it is not Richard who is leading the Kingsley Conglomerate right now?"
"But I heard that their comeback projects over the last few weeks were all promising ones that many are investing in as well."
"They were indeed a century-old company, but there were rumours that the projects over the past year were mostly flops, barely keeping the company's profits."
"Yes, I also heard about that. There were also rumours about their stocks declining."
"I thought it was Richard Kingsley who took the reins and made a comeback from all Riven Kingsley's wrong decisions."
"Are you saying that these past few weeks the one leading was actually..."
Their whispers were exactly what I needed.
Rumours surrounded the Kingsley Conglomerate over the past year. Especially when Riven was finally hospitalized.
He fell ill because he was not capable enough in carrying the big conglomerate.
I will make use of this time as the first step in showing the world just who it was that caused the Kingsley Conglomerate to fall during this year.
For now, I will establish myself as the savior of the conglomerate.
With the projects I took from Richard, I reviewed them one by one and chose only those guaranteed to profit the company.
Of course, the board members could only follow my lead since they are still trying to figure out how they will take me down.
With that, the year-end projects of Kingsley Conglomerate are being broadcast in different news outlets as the comeback of Kingsley Conglomerate after the tragedy it faced.
"Could you be the new chairwoman of the Kingsley Conglomerate? No longer just a temporary one?" one finally approached me and asked.
I smiled at him.
Jonathan Walker, the chairman of one of the biggest entertainment corporations in the country. Has some projects abroad that were also internationally appreciated.
"It is indeed I, Sir Walker," I replied politely.
People once again erupted into chatters, no longer just whispering, but their voices were louder with my announcement.
But my smile was the smile of a predator finding its prey.
One of the reasons I also decided to attend this gala was to meet most of my prey.
Jonathan Walker is one of them.
His company is not Christopher's company, but it is the one that fueled all the endeavors that involved Christopher.
And he is also the one connected to the ring leader of the whole fiasco involving the deaths of my family.
Every death was connected to big names, except for Amelia, whom they deemed as negligible that she was simply made to suffer in school.
But I also have plans for those who enjoyed it the most, especially my dear relatives who found bullying one young lady fun and showing superiority.