Chapter 1035
Chapter 1035:
Amidst the shocked gasps in the room, Leonel shot to his feet, his hand knocking the coffee mug from the table by accident.
The black coffee spilled onto the pristine white tablecloth, forming a grotesque pattern. Only then did Leonel realize that the bodyguards stationed in the corners had been replaced with Austin’s own people.
“Voting begins now,” Austin announced in an icy tone.
The blue glow of the electronic voting machines flickered across the room. Leonel’s gaze locked onto the three directors he had strategically planted—the CFO was visibly sweating, the accountant fidgeted with his tie, and the youngest head of the overseas business department cast an apologetic glance at him.
As the screen lit up with a 91% approval rating, a faint buzzing filled Leonel’s ears, drowning out everything else.
“Barton family creed number thirteen,” Austin traced his fingers over the jade seal nestled in the rosewood box, the family heirloom he had retrieved from the family mansion’s secret room the night before. His voice was calm but merciless as he recited, “Those who betray shall kneel in the family shrine for three days to atone for their sins p>
Austin suddenly let out a light chuckle and tossed a blood-stained tie clip onto the floor at Leonel’s feet. “But since our family shrine has been turned into a high-tech data hub, you might as well head to the underground server room and confess your sins to the servers p>
Leonel’s expression darkened. A high-tech data hub? When had that happened? And more importantly, why hadn’t he known about it?
Leonel’s gaze flickered with panic, but he quickly masked it with a facade of calm. He knew that any sign of vulnerability would only embolden his adversary.
Austin’s icy voice broke the silence of the conference room. “Uncle Leonel, it seems your calculations were off. The Barton family remains the same, but the time for new leadership has come p>
Leonel turned sharply, his eyes locking with Austin’s. His gaze was fiery, his voice steady but brimming with defiance. “Do you think you can force my surrender just like that? Barton Group is the result of my years of toil. You won’t pry it from my grasp so easily p>
Austin’s lips curled into a smile, soft and mocking, as he casually twirled his gold-plated lighter between his fingers. The flame danced with the same confidence that reflected in his eyes. “Uncle Leonel, you misunderstand. I have no interest in taking anything from you. I’m simply reclaiming what has always belonged to me. And do you honestly think I wasn’t aware of your little plots p>
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With a dismissive gesture, Austin signaled for the screen to change. Another surveillance clip appeared, this time showing Leonel meeting with a rival in secret.
In the footage, Leonel was caught in the act, speaking in hushed tones. Every word was crisp and clear.
Leonel’s complexion drained, and his heart sank. Despite his meticulous caution, Austin had caught him red-handed. He gritted his teeth in frustration, his voice laced with bitterness. “Austin, you’ve been spying on me p>
Austin’s response was cool, almost clinical. “Uncle Leonel, the business world is a battlefield. Strategy and cunning are the weapons of survival. You taught me all of this, including this particular trick p>
The tension in the room thickened, as if an invisible rope was tightening around everyone present, the slightest movement threatening to shatter the fragile calm.
The board members exchanged uneasy glances. They hadn’t anticipated such a fierce struggle for control. One by one, they began reassessing the situation. Austin’s strength, his resourcefulness, and his ability to outthink his uncle made them reconsider their earlier doubts.
Had they misjudged him? Was Austin really too young to lead, as Leonel had claimed?