Kyra’s POV

I walked into the Foster Enterprises conference room with my head held high. All the shareholders sat around the large table, while my uncle, Connor Foster, took the center chair—my grandmother’s old seat. He was making a point.

I dropped my bag on the table. "What’s this urgent meeting about?"

"Miss Monroe, we’re sorry for calling you after the fire," one shareholder said. He didn’t sound sorry.

"We called because we want to make sure the company won’t suffer, Miss Monroe," Connor said. "We’ve heard about your drama with your adoptive father and stepbrother."

I felt angry. Connor was trying to make me look bad. I stared at him. His fake concern made me sick. He wanted to poison the shareholders against me so he could get his position back.

I took a deep breath and placed my hands on the table, leaning forward.

"Is this meeting really about taking away my rights as the rightful heir? Rights my grandmother herself gave me?"

The shareholders looked away, which told me everything.

"This is for the company’s future, Kyra," Connor said smoothly. "How can you promise us the company is safe when rumors are all over the internet about you and your secret meetings with your legal stepbrother..."

"My personal life is none of your business, Mr. Foster," I cut him off, my voice ice cold. "I have every right to manage this company. I’m also the current CEO of another company that was nearly bankrupt but is now thriving under my leadership."

The room felt tense. Cold air drifted from the vents. The shareholders shifted in their seats. They didn’t want to get involved in this family feud.

Connor adjusted his glasses and stood. "You’re taking this personally, Kyra. I just want the company..."

"Back under your leadership?" I cut him off, raising an eyebrow. I straightened up and crossed my arms. "I know exactly what you want, Mr. Foster. I’m just doing the job your mother gave me. My grandmother."

His jaw clenched. He turned to the shareholders. "I think she’s too young for this, gentlemen. How can a woman, a thirty-year-old single mother, run two companies at once? She’ll be distracted by her child. And her ex-lover, who’s also her stepbrother, is a criminal obsessed with her."

I gritted my teeth. "Does that make me less of a leader?"

"I don’t know. You tell me."

I gave him a cold smile and shook my head. "Honestly, Mr. Foster, my struggles have made me stronger. I learned not to let emotions mess with my decisions. I can handle both my daughter and my companies. I’m confident in my skills, so I don’t see why you keep insisting a woman like me can’t lead the companies that are my family’s legacy."

One of the older shareholders cleared his throat and raised his hand. "Then... I guess it’s settled. We’ll continue with you as executive."

"You can’t be serious," Connor laughed, sounding bitter. "She can’t handle the company."

"I can’t, or you don’t want me to?" I stared right into his eyes.

His gaze hardened. After a few tense seconds, he stormed out of the meeting room and slammed the door.

I took a deep breath and faced the remaining shareholders. Emily was right. Someone was trying to bring me down, and they weren’t even being subtle.

At first, I hadn’t planned to fight for the company. I thought about refusing the inheritance. But after reading the reports about my mother’s death, everything changed. I needed this company. I needed the money. Most importantly, I needed the power to protect myself and Snow from people who wanted to hurt us.

When the meeting ended, I went straight back to the hospital. I pushed open Snow’s door and stopped. There was an unexpected visitor. Nathan and Caleb sat on the couch, talking seriously. I didn’t know what about, but both men stood up when they saw me.

"How was your meeting?" Nathan asked first.

"There was a little problem, but it’s fixed now," I said.

"I heard about the fire, so I came to visit," Caleb said, watching me.

I walked in and went to them. Snow was sleeping peacefully while Ana ate an apple by the window. Emily sat on the edge of the bed, looking at her phone.

I sat across from Nathan and Caleb. They sat back down on the couch, both staring at me.

"Thanks for visiting," I told Caleb with a small smile. He nodded and smiled back.

"I’m leaving now, Kyra," Nathan said suddenly.

I looked at him and felt my chest tighten as I nodded slowly, watching him leave while fighting the urge to run after him and confess everything he should have known from the beginning. But we had already agreed to give ourselves another chance once this mess was over, and by then I hoped I would finally have the courage to tell him the truth about Snow.

"Kyra..." Caleb called.

"Sorry," I said quickly, shifting in my seat.

He opened his mouth to speak, but the door swung open. Two people I never expected walked in. Anger flooded through me as I stood up.

One looked at me with a nasty smile. The other stared at my sleeping daughter.

"What are you doing here, Sara Foster?" I said, my voice low and dangerous.

She raised an eyebrow. "We’re visiting our niece, Kyra. What else?"

Rage burned inside me. Emily was right about everything. My mother’s family wasn’t just after my company. They wanted my daughter, too. Something clicked inside me. I’d been hesitant to fight this battle, but now I had no choice.

If they wanted war, I’d give them war.

I stood straighter. These people might share my blood, but they’d never treated me like family. I had no reason to pretend otherwise. I’d been managing a wolf pack for years. Political battles were nothing new.

"You’re not welcome here," I said calmly.