Chapter 313

Cynthia's reply stunned everyone. Justin furrowed his brow. "What did you just say?"

"Could it be," he wondered, "that Cynthia, like him, has been buying shares from other board members?" He'd heard nothing of this. Even if Cynthia had acquired some, he could still buy more. He was the chairman, after all. His reputation and high offers usually persuaded the older, more frugal members to sell to him.

"Cynthia, what exactly do you mean? How many shares are you holding?"

Cynthia looked at Shirley. "Forty percent. I'm the company's largest shareholder. I won't sell, and you won't get a single share."

Transferring a significant percentage of shares required the major shareholders' signatures; otherwise, Cynthia could sue, invalidating any agreement.

Justin was stunned. He'd estimated Cynthia held, at most, twenty-five percent. "You how could you have forty percent? No way!"

Shirley was equally incredulous. "Cynthia, don't make things up. There's no way you have forty percent."

Calmly, Cynthia reached into her bag, produced a document, and handed it to Shirley. "Shirley, look at this. Doesn't it look familiar?"

Initially, Shirley suspected a trick. But seeing her own signature, she was stunned. It was the share transfer agreement she'd signed under duress from Luke, secretly selling her shares for only $6 million. She'd sold them to Cynthia.

Stunned, then enraged, Shirley's face flushed. "Cynthia, you set me up! You've been plotting against me!" Her chest heaved with fury. She lunged forward to slap Cynthia. "You bitch! How dare you?"

Shirley had never been so furious. A $300 million stock, sold for $6 million. This incident had brought Justin's scorn and Selena's disappointment. She'd been outmaneuvered. Revenge was paramount.

A sharp slap echoed, but it didn't land on Cynthia. Cynthia had grabbed Shirley's arm and slapped her hard. Cynthia held nothing back. She was strong.

The blow sent Shirley sprawling onto the table. Her ears rang, her vision blurred, and her cheek burned.

Shirley recoiled, afraid to confront Cynthia. She turned to Justin. "Dad, look what she did! She knew I needed money and exploited it, buying my shares for $6 million. I'm innocent! How can I compete with her?"

Justin's dissatisfaction with Cynthia grew. "Whatever Shirley does is my responsibility. You have no right to hit her, Cynthia! Don't you think you're being too brazen?" He felt Cynthia's slap was a direct insult.

Cynthia grabbed Shirley's arm and slapped her repeatedly, then twisted her arms, legs, and wrists. Cracking sounds echoed as Shirley collapsed. Shirley realized Cynthia was trying to dislocate her joints—far more painful than before. She wondered if bones were broken. She rolled on the floor in agony. "It hurts! Dad, help me!"

Justin was shocked. Cynthia wiped her hands with a wet wipe and looked at Justin. "So I hit her. What are you going to do about it?"

Shirley's pain was unbearable. Justin was speechless, his heart aching. He pointed at Cynthia. "You get out of here."

Cynthia said coldly, "I won't sell unless you acquire more shares than I have." She left with Jonathan.

Justin was furious. Cynthia held forty percent; he could never acquire that much. Holding such a large stake without being able to sell would be financial suicide. He collapsed onto his chair, gasping for air. Selena watched, one person rolling on the floor, the other seething with rage.

At home, Cynthia's mood improved. She was more talkative.

Jonathan said, "That was quite a move. Did Shiloh teach you that?" He'd seen her use it against Alex.

Cynthia replied, "It was my senior, Simon. My technique isn't as good as his. He can dislocate bones and sever tendons with one move. But it shouldn't be used carelessly; modern medicine can't reverse it."

"Simon is talented. I want to meet him," said Jonathan.

Cynthia glanced at him. "Better not."

Jonathan asked, "Why?"

"I'm afraid Simon might take a liking to you," she joked, referencing Jonathan's lack of interest in women.

Jonathan chuckled. "Did you come back just to beat Shirley up?"

Cynthia nodded. "Yeah." It was a bone-deep pain, like being crushed by a truck. Only she could relieve it. Even before bringing her down, you can’t let her live so comfortably.

"What's your plan? You're not going to stop with one beating, are you?"

Cynthia looked ahead, her gaze firm. "Of course not. I'm waiting for an opportunity to send her straight to hell."