Gonzalez's sudden return to the corporation sent ripples throughout the company. Some rejoiced, while others panicked. Naturally, the ones most furious about this development were the Franco family, the step-relatives.
In private, Yvonne complained to Hannah Hanson. "You never should have introduced Carol to him. That's what pushed him to return."
Hannah remained remarkably calm, as if she had expected this all along. "Gonzalez was bound to return eventually. With or without Carol, this day was coming."
Yvonne frowned. "But Oliver and the others haven't taken full control of the company yet."
Hannah scoffed while applying powder to her face. "Do you not know your father? Why do you think he let Oliver's faction run wild? He was forcing Gonzalez's hand!"
"Simon played it perfectly. He gave your uncle's side all the lucrative, flashy positions and covered for them when they made mistakes. They looked untouchable and highly favored, but they were never allowed anywhere near the core decision-making of the corporation."
"Everything Simon did was to pave the way for his son. He refused to even let himself die before Gonzalez came back!"
"I've been waiting for this moment, too. Simon will only lower his guard now that his precious heir is home."
As far as Hannah was concerned, Simon was a sly, calculating fox. As long as he was around, the Franco family could only skim a bit of wealth off the top. They would never be able to touch the true power of the Hanson empire.
But Gonzalez was a different story. He had been rebellious and untamed since childhood. After spending years drifting on the outside, he was uneducated, idle, and completely reluctant to take over. He lacked even an ounce of ambition.
Putting him in charge was essentially handing the corporation over to an incompetent playboy.
Once things spiraled out of control, the Franco family could step in and logically take over.
Yvonne slowly grasped Hannah's scheme, though a bitter resentment still simmered within her. "No matter how hard I work or how capable I am," she sneered, "to Dad, I'll never be as important as his useless son."
"He's been on guard against us from the very beginning," Hannah said coldly. "Everyone in this house treats us like outsiders. Our only real backing is the Franco family."
Yvonne's eyes darkened. "I can't wait to watch him turn the company into a total mess. In the end, they'll have to beg us to clean it up."
When that time came, perhaps her father would finally admit that Gonzalez was a lost cause and that she was the true heir.
Hannah put down her powder puff and stood up. "I need to get to the hospital to take care of him. If you don't have any filming scheduled, you should spend more time at the office to prepare for our future."
Yvonne nodded. "Got it."

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