Chapter 361: The CEO Of Ford Group

After the queen and Caryn had finished their dinner and returned to the drawing room, as Caryn would leave soon, someone arrived there.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Howard is here and seeking to meet you," the assistant informed.

The queen looked at her daughter, who replied, "This is your residence and your decision."

As Caryn didn’t show any aversion to meeting Howard, the queen permitted them.

Soon, Howard entered the drawing room with Charlotte tagging along behind him.

Howard looked at the masked woman. "Ah, so is it really our little princess, Carmen?" He looked all happy and cheerful, then turned to his sister. "I am so happy we got our Carmen back."

Caryn didn’t react at all. Even with the mask on, she could show her coldness toward people.

The queen hummed while offering him a smile. "Why don’t you two take a seat first?"

Howard and Charlotte sat on the sofa.

Charlotte scrutinized Caryn while keeping her fake polite and sweet expressions.

Caryn met Charlotte’s gaze, making the girl feel as if this woman had just heard her thoughts loud and clear. That gaze clearly intimidated Charlotte, and she sank back on the sofa, making sure not to look at Caryn again.

"The moment I got to know our princess is back, I hurried here," Howard said to the queen, then turned to Caryn. "I am so happy to be able to see you again."

Caryn met his gaze. "I can’t say the same. Also, I don’t have any fond memories with you for you to show such affection to me. You can keep it for your granddaughter, who might need it more soon."

Howard laughed it off. "Though you are grown up and old enough now, you will still be that little princess for him — the one I doted on a lot."

"I can’t doubt that," Caryn commented. "Your way of doting was really unique. I believe it was what brought me to this day."

Howard didn’t expect her to be so blatant about things and not hold back anymore.

"Forget about the past. Now, tell me, how have you been?" Howard asked.

"I believe you know it well already," Caryn replied, almost making him bite his tongue due to her frustrating answers.

Helpless, he turned to the queen, who didn’t meddle in at all. He said, "Seems like our princess needs time to adjust here, as she is back after so long."

The queen simply hummed and said, "This — everything — belongs to her, so it won’t take long for her to get familiar with everything. I am sure she will be a better princess and queen than me."

"True," Howard said and turned to Caryn. "This is my granddaughter, Charlotte."

Caryn looked at her and said, "She doesn’t really look like my cousin or his late wife, but she is beautiful."

Howard was taken aback a little and said, "She takes after her maternal grandparents. Indeed, she is beautiful."

He immediately changed the topic and said, "Charlotte, where is the gift we got for your aunt?"

Charlotte handed over a luxury jewelry brand bag to him. Howard pulled a box out of it and opened it to show an expensive diamond necklace.

"Carmen, as your uncle, it’s only right to give my niece something at this beautiful meeting. I hope you like it."

Caryn didn’t react, while the queen looked at her assistant, who stepped forward. "Mr. Everthorn, let me keep it for Her Highness."

Howard passed it to her, while Caryn looked at Charlotte.

"As you are my niece as well, I shall give you something." With that, she removed the chain around her neck, which had an emerald butterfly pendant hanging from it.

Before, it was hidden under the scarf around her neck, but now that it was out, the queen said, "Carmen, you still have it?"

Caryn looked at it as she hummed. "This was given to me as the identity of a princess. But now that I am back, I don’t really need to keep it."

"But it is meant for the princess to wear," the queen said.

"Doesn’t matter," Caryn replied. "Just not wearing this won’t make me any less."

Charlotte’s eyes sparkled.

Caryn handed it over to the assistant, who passed it to Charlotte, who was over the moon to receive it. "Thank you so much, Aunt Carmen. I will make sure to wear it always."

"That’s truly a wonderful gift for my little princess Charlotte," Howard said, though he was surprised as to why Carmen had just given away such a precious thing.

Caryn simply looked at the pendant hanging on the chain as Charlotte wore it.

"We have to leave," Eric arrived then and said, "It’s not recommended for you to be surrounded by many people for long."

"Carmen, can’t you stay here in the palace? I will make every arrangement needed, given your condition," the queen said.

"For now, I would prefer what I have arranged," Caryn replied.

The queen didn’t insist and allowed Caryn to leave.

Once in the car and as they drove away, Eric said, "We can listen to what they talk about. The transmitter in the pendant is working really well."

Caryn hummed, her expression serious.

-----

Next day in the Imperial City.

Natalie was ready to leave for her office, while Justin was, as usual, going to work from his study at home.

"Till how long are you going to work from home? Don’t you need to show up at the corporate office of the Harper Group at least once?" Natalie asked.

"I like the way things are at the moment," Justin replied as he thought, At the same time, trending news caught everyone’s attention. The Ford Group had a board meeting once more to finalize their new CEO now.

Everyone wondered, after what happened during the last board meeting, who would be the CEO?

"Are you going to be present at the board meeting?" Justin asked.

"No need. I have already written a letter revoking my rights," she said. "Now they all can just go to hell."

Justin chuckled at that as he gave her a goodbye kiss before she left for the office.

----

By noon, the result was in front of everyone.

The new CEO of the Ford Group was Briena Ford.

It didn’t come as a surprise to others, but they wondered why Caryn and her daughter didn’t show up or have any objections about it. Was it that easy for them to give up?

Briena was on top of the world at that moment. The Ford Group was flooded with expensive bouquets sent by people, congratulating her on her new journey.

Amelia and Irene showed up at the Ford Group, drooling over what Briena would bring them soon.

The moment the mother and daughter entered Briena’s office — which was filled with bouquets inside and out — Clara acted haughty while Briena smiled at them.

"Congratulations, my dear," Amelia hugged her.

"Thank you, Mom."

"I don’t see Ivan," Clara commented, showing her displeasure. She was trying to find a good opportunity to break Briena and his engagement.

"He is busy with some work, but I’m sure he’ll make it here soon," Amelia answered.

Irene hugged Briena as well and said, "Now that Natalie will know her place. She has that barely successful company in her hand and that so-called title of a princess. She’s nothing but a failure."

Briena always loved hearing such words from Irene — they boosted her ego, which was why she always got along with her.

"There’s a celebration party tonight. You two have to be there," Briena said.

"Of course we will be," Amelia said happily. "After all, you are going to be our daughter-in-law."

Clara and Briena pulled out strained smiles.

As Amelia and Irene left the room, Irene said, "Mom, did you notice Clara Ford’s behavior was rather rude toward us?"

Amelia hummed, "She must be thinking her daughter is of more value now and that she can get someone better for her. That woman is a sly fox."

Irene gasped, "Does that mean Briena will leave Ivan?"

"She won’t. She’s been after him for so long. She won’t leave Ivan."

Inside the office, Clara frowned. "See how they were drooling to see you as CEO."

"Mother, those two bitches have always been greedy. That’s why they couldn’t wait to kick Natalie out of Ivan’s life," Briena commented.

"Briena, you know you can’t be with Ivan now," Clara warned.

"Mom, I can’t just go and break things off just like that. I will need to create some reason so Ivan won’t cling on me and feel it was his fault that I left him."

"Then do it fast. We have to create an opportunities for you to interact with Harper group and James Harper’s son soon."

"Yes, mom."

The two women already started to cook plans in their minds.