Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby

Chapter 167: Cracks in the Foundation

Things had been deteriorating steadily for the Whitmore family. They weren’t sure whom they had offended, but it felt as if an invisible hand had been working against them for years. Their company, EverBuild Solutions Limited, had once been the leading supplier of construction materials in Manchester... back when its formidable founder, Esmeralda Langford, was still alive.

After her untimely death, the company’s meteoric rise began to wane slightly. Even so, they managed to retain their hold on valuable government contracts, a testament to the legacy Esmeralda left behind.

When William Whitmore stepped in as acting chairman, he worked relentlessly to maintain the company’s stature. Although newer firms emerged and overtook them in some areas, EverBuild still remained one of the largest players in the region. Many contractors felt at ease granting them projects, relying on the prestige of their name.

The true downfall began nearly five years ago. Since then, both turnover and profits have been steadily shrinking. William suspected sabotage from within. It coincided too precisely with the disappearance of Eleanor Whitmore.

That incident fractured the board. Some members loyal to Eleanor’s mother blamed William outright, attempting to unseat him from his chairmanship. Eleanor’s vanishing remained a mystery to the Whitmores. Early speculation pointed toward Elliot Grant... a close aide to Esmeralda Langford and the second-largest shareholder, with 16% of the company. Eleanor, the sole heiress to her mother’s 35% stake, had vanished without a trace. If Grant had managed to secure custodianship over Eleanor, he could’ve used her voting power to take over the company.

But events didn’t unfold that way.

Grant publicly accused William of orchestrating Eleanor’s disappearance. Fortunately, the police intervened and ruled out any foul play, clearing William of involvement. Despite this, the meddlesome old man continued trying to remove him from power.

William handled the matter decisively... rewarding certain shareholders with increased benefits and removing others from key positions. After that, his position became unassailable. Still, one fact continued to gnaw at his pride: he remained only acting chairman.

That, too, was thanks to Elliot Grant. It was he who invoked the seven-year presumed death rule, keeping William’s authority tethered to a technicality. But William had changed the game. By enriching shareholders and tightening his grip on the board, he had begun consolidating true power. He appointed his daughter, Jennifer Whitmore, to a key role in the company, and quietly began buying back shares on the market.

Now, William held 8% of the company, and Jennifer held 8.5%... stakes they had acquired quietly over time. Even if seven years were to pass and Eleanor remained missing, no one would dare challenge his rule.

written Eleanor off. It was a deliberate narrative, spread

reappearance in the city set off alarms in William’s mind. His first instinct was to eliminate the threat, but his attempt to assassinate her had failed. Worse still, she was now backed

the time being. But EverBuild’s financial troubles had reached a boiling point. Just last month, he’d been forced to take a bank loan just to cover payroll. For a company of EverBuild’s size, that was a damning sign. He doubted any bank would lend in their current state, but somehow, their past

the finance department had already resigned. They’d sensed the storm brewing long before the others. More were following suit. If the trend continued, EverBuild would face not only financial ruin but

at employees, berated those who slacked, and carried himself like a man under siege. The atmosphere in the office was bleak. Some long-time employees... who had given their lives to the company... had begun looking for jobs elsewhere.

the only thing fuelling his

hospital where her brother had once been admitted... he’d been discharged months ago. He

had done something

but never imagined she’d go that far. She had

life in shambles and the company on the brink, Lydia’s absence was a final blow. She had been his only comfort. Now, with her gone, every minor

steadying himself, and called in his new secretary... a loyal, grey-haired man who had worked at EverBuild for more than thirty years. He never imagined he’d be promoted to this position so late in life, but the pay rise

in no mood for pleasantries. The idea of replacing Lydia with another pretty face had crossed his mind, but his financial situation didn’t allow for indulgences. He had

the secretary entered, William issued a string of

request the manager to release the allocated funds this week. And tomorrow, before

instructions, William left the

waiting for him in the drawing room. Despite the brewing tension

and Jennifer’s wedding, which

After all, the Clifford family was considered one of the most prestigious in Manchester. A union with them would elevate the

James’s position was currently solid. His grandfather, the patriarch and de facto power behind the clan... had recently thrown his support behind James. Though James was the fourth son, and his elder brothers had long vied for succession, the old man’s favour carried immense weight in determining the next head of the family. The current leader, James’s first uncle, had been grooming his own son for the position for years, but James’s recent success in forging cooperation with the influential Chen family had drawn the patriarch’s keen interest. His status