Chapter 301

Chapter 301:

Inside Alan’s office, his brows tightened in quiet frustration. “What the hell were you thinking, Ellie? Are you trying to make a fool of yourself in front of the entire company? Do you have any idea who you provoked today? You crossed the Russell family p>

A sickly pallor washed over Ellie’s face as she slowly raised her eyes. “Dad… I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t Gary sign the contract with me?” None of this matched the future she remembered.

A rough exhale left Alan as he pushed up from his leather chair. “How many times do you need the same answer? You had every advantage, and you still managed to ruin all of it p>

Had things followed his plan—had Ellie chosen Brayden back then—Gracie would still be trapped as nothing more than a decorative puppet he could tug by the strings. There would’ve been no talk of Gracie forcing him out of Radiant Technologies, no hint that she might someday challenge the Sullivan Group itself. Her marriage to Brayden had triggered every domino.

Ellie jerked her head up, eyes wild. “No… no. Something had to have gone wrong p>

Before he could respond, she bolted for the door, heels clattering down the hallway.

Left standing in the sudden silence, Alan froze for a beat before collapsing back into his chair, his face burning with fury.

A sharp buzz rattled across the desk. His gaze dropped to the vibrating phone, and his expression tightened the instant he saw the caller ID.

Victor, one of the shareholders, was calling.

Alan stiffened as he hit the answer button, and a low male voice rolled out of the speaker. “Mr. Sullivan, have you even glanced at the group chat today p>

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His brows twitched as he asked, “What group chat p>

“Ah, so you really haven’t looked.” Victor let out an easy chuckle. “I’ll summarize for you. The shareholders have reached a unanimous conclusion—Ellie is no longer fit to stay in the company. For the long run, that seat needs someone far more capable p>

Alan’s expression sank into a hard scowl. “And what’s that supposed to mean? I’m the president. Are you telling me I can’t even choose my vice general manager? Is the board planning to override me now? Don’t you dare forget—I own the biggest stake here p>

Victor’s tone stayed maddeningly relaxed. “You do, but your shares don’t make up half. If we band together, removing you would be completely within our rights. Ellie insulted Gary publicly—surely the board has the authority to address that p>

“How… how did you find out?” A beat of silence followed before Alan’s voice cracked with disbelief. “It’s Gracie p>

He switched on the speaker, his thumb trembling slightly as he opened the shareholders’ chat. A flood of unread messages filled the screen.

He dragged his finger upward in one sharp motion, stopping only when Gracie’s uploaded video came into view.

Ellie’s confrontation with Gary played out on the tiny screen.

A harsh breath slipped from Alan as his jaw locked. “Gracie…” he muttered, fury flashing through his eyes.

“Mr. Sullivan.” Victor’s voice rolled through the line again—measured but carrying a warning. “This isn’t a conversation about firing Ellie. This is a formal notice, whether you like it or not. Offending the Russell family is something none of us can afford. The only way to calm Gary is to make our stance absolutely clear. If you insist on protecting Ellie, the board won’t hesitate to act p>

Alan sagged back into his chair, the leather creaking under him. His gaze drifted, unfocused and bleak, as the reality settled over him like a shroud. “I know what to do,” he murmured, voice low and defeated.

Janet slipped into Gracie’s office that afternoon wearing a strangely conflicted expression. “Ms. Sullivan, HR just pushed out a notice. Ellie’s been dismissed p>

“All right.” Gracie barely paused, her attention still fixed on the documents spread across her desk.

Janet lingered beside her like a dutiful shadow. “Do you… want to say anything about it?” Ellie had been her fiercest competitor, yet Gracie showed no hint of triumph—just quiet, steady focus. The restraint unsettled Janet more than any celebration would have.

Gracie set down her pen after signing the final page. “Send this entire stack to every department. And starting tomorrow, I won’t be in the office every day. Keep watch for me and report anything important right away p>

“You won’t be here? Why?” Janet blinked, thrown off. “Now that the company’s finally acknowledging your position, isn’t this the moment to press harder p>

Gracie let a faint smile lift the edge of her mouth. “Radiant Technologies is my company, and that’s where my energy will be for now p>

“But…” Janet’s face fell.