“What’s the conflict?”
“The men want to seize power. I’ve said this before-money breeds ambition and desire. Back in the feudal era, the head of the family worked in secret to assist the emperor, and back then, the men in the family had to rely on women to survive.
But times have changed. This society’s elites in most fields are men now, and some men within the family have gradually developed ideas of taking over. Over the past century, this phenomenon has grown worse. By your mother’s generation, it became even more difficult. First, your mother fled the family, giving others an opportunity to act.
During the years your mother was gone, your grandmother struggled greatly. She had to fight against the rumors and opposition within the family all on her own. Later, when your mother returned, she shattered the ambitions of those male chauvinists. Your mother’s methods were ruthless, leaving them no room to act.
But we all know that a centipede doesn’t die easily. They never gave up and eventually found another opportunity.
For years, we didn’t know the family head had married and had a child outside the family. So, we repeatedly urged her to have a child, only to be refused with various excuses.
Because of the family curse, the head of the family can only live to be forty. Mio and the forces behind him were waiting for this moment to take over R Corporation.
Not long ago, the family head suddenly fainted at the company, possibly due to some unknown stress. Mr. Grant and Mio used her ill health as an excuse to have her admitted to a sanatorium, taking full control of the company in the process.
During this time, the company’s business has repeatedly been stolen. I found it suspicious and had someone investigate. Following the clues, I discovered you. Mira also confessed everything about you to me.
That’s when I realized the family head wasn’t unwilling to have a child-she already had you. To keep your existence a secret, she has endured immense pressure all these years.
It’s a good thing you’re here. You are the key to breaking Mr. Grant and Mio’s plans. I’ve already discovered that they’ve been secretly buying up scattered shares of the company recently.
After all, your mother is still the largest shareholder. Mio only has temporary control. To truly take power, he needs real strength.
Now that you’ve appeared, you’re the one who can disrupt their plans. Mira has no ulterior motives-she just wants you to understand everything.”
Aurora finally grasped the entanglements within the family, but her expression grew heavier. “So, what are you suggesting?”
“I hope you’ll step forward to take over R Corporation. It’s not just for the family-it’s for your mother. Her health is deteriorating. Can you really bear to see her continue to suffer?”
Aurora knew he was playing the family card, but what choice did she have? Bramwell Elderstone wasn’t wrong.
Maybe, over the past twenty-two years, she had been hurt by many people in her life, but the one person who had never harmed her was her mother, who gave birth to and raised her.
Aurora also now had a rough idea of the current state of the R family. To her, it was nothing but bad news.
No matter how wealthy the R family might be, it had nothing to do with her. She didn’t care about material things, and besides, she wasn’t lacking money.
“What if I refuse?” she asked bluntly, lifting her gaze.
“Miss Aurora, you didn’t grow up in the family and are unfamiliar with everything about it. You don’t understand the family’s honor and responsibilities.
Our family has reached this point thanks to the efforts of our predecessors. Without them, there would be no you today.
Being born into this family isn’t something you can choose. It’s a responsibility we all share, including your mother. No one can escape this fate.”
Aurora frowned slightly. “And if I don’t take over, what will you do?”
“The family head might be in poor health, but that doesn’t mean she’s incapable of action. Until the day she dies, she’ll continue to carry the burden.
But the situation is different now. Mio and Mr. Grant, those male power factions, will undoubtedly seize this opportunity to attack the family head.
Besides managing the company, the family head has to outwit and confront these wolves.
This is a mistake she made, and she must bear the consequences herself. You can continue living as a member of the Montgomery family and pretend you never heard any of this today.
But when the family head’s life ends, to prevent chaos within the family, Mio will fully take control. When that happens, the first person he’ll target is you because you’ll always be a threat to him.”
Bramwell Elderstone wasn’t in a hurry. He sipped his tea slowly, carefully explaining the stakes. Before coming here, he had thoroughly investigated Aurora’s personality.
Aurora was a highly responsible person, so whether it was for the family or for Tina, she wouldn’t easily turn a blind eye.
“My situation is different from theirs. I didn’t grow up in the R family, nor did I receive any training.
And I… I have genuine feelings for someone. I’m deeply in love with him, and we plan to marry this year. I’m also carrying his child.
If you ask me to give him up, I absolutely won’t. Grandpa Bramwell, I have no right to evaluate the family’s rules, but personally, I can’t do it.”
Bramwell Elderstone, of course, knew about her and Julian, but he hadn’t expected her to already have a child. For the family, this was actually good news-there was no need to find someone to carry on the lineage.
“Miss Aurora, although your situation is unprecedented, there was a similar case before. A family head once fell in love with a man and couldn’t bear to leave him after five years. That person was your grandmother.
Hunters fear falling in love with their prey the most. When the time comes to leave, it’s almost impossible.
In the past, family heads avoided falling in love by leaving as soon as conception succeeded, limiting contact with the man.
Five years was the longest anyone stayed. Your grandmother truly loved that man, and by the final year, she couldn’t bear to leave.”
“And then? Did you force them apart?”
“You could say that. To prevent this from happening again, we sought out an expert to develop a drug called FT2.”
“What’s that?”
“A drug that makes you forget love. The family head chose to inject it herself. She forgot the man and returned to the family, raising your mother alone.”
Hearing this, Aurora stood up abruptly. “So you want me to forget too? Impossible. He’s the most important person in my life, more important than my own life.
I’m carrying his child. I will never choose to forget him. As for R Corporation, as for the R family-I don’t care at all. Sorry, I’m going home.”
“Miss Aurora, why rush off? I’ve prepared something for you to see.” Bramwell Elderstone activated a projector.
On the wall behind Aurora, an image appeared. It was Tina. The slideshow began with photos of her as a child and played on.