Chapter 30: Head of the Sophia Family

In the conference hall.

"What a lively scene!" Sophia clapped as she walked in.

Leo followed behind her, wearing sunglasses.

"Sophia? I was wondering who it was. Turns out it's the trash that got kicked out of the family years ago. What? Twenty years have passed, and you still want to come back for a piece of the pie?"

Carl leaned back in his chair, acting high and mighty. "Where's security? Throw this unwelcome guest out!"

However, not a single security guard dared to move.

Because the black-suited bodyguards behind Sophia each gave off a chilling aura of danger.

Henry and Charles were much calmer, since Sophia's entry was thanks to their help.

The other family members showed little surprise at Sophia's appearance.

Clearly, they already knew Sophia would come.

Sophia walked to the conference table, gracefully pulled out a chair, and sat down, crossing her long legs.

"Carl, what's the rush? I brought a big gift."

She took out a USB drive from her handbag and tossed it casually onto the conference table.

"In here are records of all the benefits you've secretly funneled to the Drake family over the past three years. A total of seventeen secret deals, involving over three hundred million dollars."

"Including how you transferred three plots of land the family owned in New Jersey to a Drake family subsidiary at prices far below market value."

"And how you handed over two important European clients of the Vanderbilt family's investment bank to Drake Group."

With each sentence Sophia spoke, the family members' faces grew darker.

Those were all core family assets!

"Carl, you traitor!"

Several family elders stood up, glaring at Carl.

However, Carl wasn't panicked at all.

He even smiled.

"Funneling benefits? Sophia, your choice of words is too harsh."

Carl straightened his tie, looking completely calm. "That's called strategic cooperation. The Vanderbilt family and the Drake family are joining forces to make the pie bigger--what's wrong with that?"

"Besides, everyone here knows how powerful the Drake family is in New York. Being able to work with them is an honor for the Vanderbilt family!"

As he spoke, Carl jerked his chin toward the door.

Another door to the conference hall was pushed open.

A middle-aged man in a gray suit walked out from the corner--Thomas Webb, a trusted aide sent by the Drake family.

"Carl is right."

Thomas walked to Carl's side, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, a polite yet arrogant smile on his face. "The cooperation between the Drake family and the Vanderbilt family is mutually beneficial. The Drake family fully supports Mr. Vanderbilt becoming the new family head."

"Anyone who dares to oppose this is opposing the Drake family."

Carl's smile grew even more smug.

With the Drake family backing him, he wasn't afraid of Sophia's little tricks.

However.

Sophia just smiled faintly. "The Drake family's support? That's wonderful."

"Then let me formally tell everyone that I have already secured the full support of the Rosenberg family!"

Carl shot to his feet, pointing at Sophia and cursing. "You... you bitch! You actually colluded with outsiders to betray the family?"

"Betray the family?"

Sophia laughed coldly. "Carl, didn't you just say that cooperating with the Drake family is called a strategic alliance? How come when I cooperate with the Rosenberg family, it becomes colluding with outsiders?"

Carl was left speechless.

The other family members in the conference hall began whispering among themselves.

Thomas said in a deep voice, "Sophia, don't think bringing up the Rosenberg family will scare us. The Vanderbilt family's inheritance rights are decided by family council vote. Do you think the people here will choose you?"

"Then let's vote."

Sophia turned to look at all the family members present, her voice clear and strong. "According to family rules, we'll now hold the election for family head. Those who support Carl, please raise your hands."

Carl sneered, looking confidently at everyone present.

He'd spent so many years--he'd bought off those who could be bought, threatened those who could be threatened.

How could these people possibly choose a woman who'd been gone for over twenty years?

However.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Not a single person raised their hand.

Carl's smile froze.

"What's going on? You all..."

"Now, those who support me, Sophia, please raise your hands."

Sophia said calmly.

Except for Carl, every family member present raised their hands in unison.

Including Henry and Charles, whom Carl had just threatened.

Even several elders who usually sided with Carl raised their hands without hesitation.

"Impossible! You all..."

"You... you traitors!"

Carl was shaking with rage. He whipped around to look at Thomas. "Mr. Webb, aren't you going to do something?"

Thomas's expression darkened.

He hadn't expected Sophia to buy off so many people in just a few days.

"Sophia."

Thomas took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and said coldly, "Don't think you've won. Aren't you afraid the Drake family will..."

Before he could finish.

A dull gunshot rang out.

The marble floor at Thomas's feet suddenly exploded into a crater.

Debris flew everywhere.

Thomas's face went pale with fright, and he instinctively stepped back several paces.

"You..."

He jerked his head up, looking toward where the sound came from.

From the shadows of the conference hall, a young man in a black trench coat slowly emerged.

He held a still-smoking pistol in his hand, a playful smile on his face.

It was Leo.

"Mr. Webb, when Ms. Vanderbilt is speaking, please don't interrupt. That's very rude."

Leo exhaled a puff of smoke, the gun barrel casually pointing at Thomas. "The next shot won't be aimed at the floor."

"You... who are you?!"

Thomas was drenched in cold sweat, his voice trembling.

"Leo."

"Leo..."

Thomas's forehead instantly broke out in sweat.

He knew that name all too well.

The madman who destroyed the Romano family and slaughtered the Nightfall assassin squad!

"Rule violation! This is a rule violation!"

Seeing things going badly, Carl immediately jumped out, pointing at Leo and shouting, "Family meetings prohibit outsiders from entering! Sophia, you colluded with an outsider and even used force--this violates family rules!"

"Rule violation?"

Sophia laughed coldly, pointing at Thomas. "Carl, who brought an outsider into the conference hall first? Isn't someone from the Drake family an outsider?"

"And... who first broke family rules by secretly funneling family benefits to outsiders?"

"You're the real traitor!"

After speaking, Sophia turned to look at the family members present.

"According to family rules, traitors... are expelled from the family!"

"I agree!"

"I second that!"

"From today on, Carl is no longer part of the Vanderbilt family!"

The family elders spoke up one after another.

Carl completely panicked.

"No! You can't do this! I have the Drake family behind me! If you dare touch me, the Drake family will never let you go!"

"The Drake family?"

Leo walked up to Carl, looking down at him from above.

"Then go ahead and call them. Let's see if the Drake family dares to go to war with the Rosenberg family over a dog like you."

With that, Leo kicked Carl in the chest.

Carl flew backward and crashed heavily outside the conference hall doors.

"What are you standing around for? Throw him out."

Sophia said coldly.

Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, grabbed Carl, and dragged him out.

"Sophia! You bitch! I won't let you get away with this! The Drake family won't let you get away with this!"

Carl screamed hysterically, his voice gradually fading away.

The conference hall returned to silence.

Sophia turned to look at Thomas. "Mr. Webb, from today on, all cooperation between the Vanderbilt family and the Drake family is terminated."

"You..."

Thomas gritted his teeth, his eyes full of rage, but he didn't dare act on it.

Leo's gun was still pointing at him.

"Fine! Very well!"

Thomas took a deep breath, turned, and walked toward the door. "Sophia, you'll regret this."

"We'll see about that."

Sophia said calmly.

After Thomas left, Sophia turned to look at the family members present.

"From today on, I, Sophia, am officially the new head of the Vanderbilt family."

"Any objections?"

"No!"

Everyone answered in unison.