Devil's Prisoner of Love by Prefer

The opportunists who had been wavering immediately sided with Mr. Grant when they heard his words.

"Miss Aurora, you're new here and don't understand the family's dynamics. We'll

pretend we didn't hear anything. Everything stays the same. You're still the head of the family."

"Yes, Miss Aurora, our ancestors followed these traditions. Why can't you continue them?"

Aurora found their accusations laughable. It wasn't tradition they were defending but their own interests.

Their actions weren't for her or the family's benefit. It was all about their profits.

Before this, Aurora hadn't fully grasped their true faces and had hesitated in making a decision. But now, seeing their hypocrisy, she felt more determined than ever.

"Everyone, I think you've misunderstood me," she said calmly. "My mother is right- we're family. How could I ever harm my own relatives?"

The crowd assumed Aurora had come to her senses and cheered up instantly. "Miss Aurora, it's wise of you to think this way. We're all one big family, after all."

But Aurora's next words sent shockwaves through the room.

"Since we're family, we should care for one another. But this is the 21st century- hereditary systems should be abolished.

Effort should be rewarded. I understand that in this family, newborns automatically receive shares from both their parents and the family.

Even though only one child per family can inherit shares, over time, these shares are diluted among more and more people.

If these children contribute to the family business, then, of course, they deserve the shares. But based on my investigation, hardly any of your children are working for the company.

In other words, they do nothing all year yet collect millions in dividends just for carrying the family name. Isn't that ridiculous?

Your children, on the other hand, just sit at home and

rule: whenever someone had a child, 1% of the head of the family's

head of the family held fewer and fewer shares while the extended relatives gained

of the family, after suffering emotional setbacks, had been crushed under

feared that if the family head had a man, the family might gradually shift toward a patriarchal system, and their profits would be

grown accustomed to effortless wealth, they were unwilling to change. Aurora's mere suggestion of reform had already caused an

Aurora, what do you mean by saying we're worse than beggars? We're family! How

were the type that, in any ordinary household, would be the worst kind-

speaking as family," Aurora replied, her tone steady. "Listen to me. I said

45 and men over the age of 50 can continue to hold their shares without

wants to keep receiving annual dividends must work at the company. There will also be performance evaluations-those who fail to meet

"What?!"

too far! You can't just cancel annual dividends like that!" Most of the attendees were elders who doted on their children. Aurora's new policy was a direct attack on their

protecting their chicks, their eyes filled with

however, had anticipated this reaction. She hadn't taken on the family leadership just for herself. If

sit at home counting money. My mother worked herself to exhaustion. There's no such thing as free rewards in this

should be proportional

this family are no longer required to take

surname.

surname, that's fine too. Men can also join the company. From now on, there will be no favoritism

equally at birth, and their income will correspond

words sparked

stunned. These were changes she had dreamed of but never had the courage to enact. Aurora truly

who had grown up in this dysfunctional family, he understood

disadvantaged background, with his parents deceased and being a boy, Mio had

women, while men, even if they joined, were relegated to low-ranking

risen to the position of vice president was a testament to his immense