Ready to Rule: The Real Heiress Strikes Back novel Chapter 802

“Director Ms. Norwood?”

The room went dead silent. Everyone stared at Lydia with eyes so wide they looked ready to pop out. Her? Did they hear that right? Was she really a director? What kind of director could she be, the snack shop manager?

“Mr. Martin, are you sure you’re not making a mistake?” Ms. Murphy managed to ask, trying to hold on to her composure, though her voice shook. This girl didn’t even look old enough to have finished college yet. Was she some sort of prodigy? How could she be a director?

Martin looked at Ms. Murphy, his expression icy. “Ms. Norwood was appointed as the new Director of the Department of Oversight this March. I know exactly who she is. But you, Murphy… you’ve abused your authority, your private life is a mess, and you’ve treated people with such unfairness. You’re suspended while we investigate.”

The words hit Ms. Murphy like a lightning strike. For a moment, she just stood there, stunned. Lydia… was the new director of the Department of Oversight? The one in charge of national supervision? How could that be possible?

“No way, Martin, isn’t Easton the new Director of the Department of Oversight?” Ms. Murphy insisted. There was no way she could have gotten this wrong. Even if the position had changed hands, they would never let someone so young take over something that important. What was Martin thinking?

Martin let out a sharp little laugh, clearly unimpressed. “Ms. Norwood is a Special Director. She gets the job done based on her own abilities. You really think it’s your place to question her?”

Lydia’s official identity had always been kept under wraps. She worked in tandem with Director Easton, each of them handling their own side of things. Martin only knew Lydia’s secret because he had helped her with a case once.

The person who had just walked in stopped in their tracks, completely floored. Special Director of the Department of Oversight? That department was responsible for overseeing government agencies across the country, handling complaints and accusations, investigating violations, processing appeals, and making sure everything was above board. No one would have guessed that the mysterious new Special Director was actually Lydia. She’d been hiding this well.

Ms. Murphy’s legs nearly gave out as the shock sank in. She’d heard rumors about the new Special Director—how, even before officially starting, she’d exposed several corruption cases, and after her appointment, anyone she called in was basically guaranteed to be caught, with no way to cover it up. Ms. Murphy never thought she’d end up on the wrong side of that.

Lydia gave her a look, one eyebrow raised. “And you really think anyone’s going to buy that?”

Ms. Murphy was taken back to the principal’s office. Nolan and his parents were detained separately. Mr. Bush waited in the office for questioning.

Lydia sat at the desk, her long fingers moving quickly over the keyboard as she typed and gave orders at the same time.

Moments later, Malcolm, the Secretary General of the Department of Oversight, rushed in with his team. When he saw Lydia, he almost called out in shock, “You little troublemaker.”

Then he noticed the person standing protectively beside Lydia and froze. “Mr… Mr. J…”