Chapter 90
“Madam, as you’ve seen, there’s been a bit of a shake–up in the Langley family. There’s no one left now. Mr. Brendan’s had an accident, and so has Mr. Samuel… The only heirs left to the Langley legacy are Mr. Caleb and the child you’re carrying.” Eric’s voice carried a weight of unspoken implications.
Instinctively, I glanced down at my belly. Indeed, heavy lies the crown.
The waters of the Langley family were deep, and now they seemed to be rising around me.
Stella stood at the door, eyeing the throng of people with a hint of concern. “Need help?”
I shook my head. “This is Langley business. You shouldn’t get involved. I’ll have the driver take you home.”
Stella nodded, understanding her place.
After Stella left, Eric and I made our way to the living room.
It was full of people, with Henry Langley, Brendan’s cousin, taking the lead.
The Langley Group, though a family business, was built from the ground up by Brendan. He brought the Langleys into the company to strengthen family bonds and support everyone, not anticipating that he was nurturing a den of tigers. Now, with the patriarch gone, they were all too eager to pounce on his estate.
“Mrs. Langley, this is Mr. Henry,” Eric introduced.
I nodded respectfully. “Mr. Henry.”
Henry just grunted.
I knew I barely registered in his eyes.
“Mr. Henry, this is the eldest granddaughter–in–law you’ve met at the banquet, Ms. Foebe.” Eric. continued.
Henry said nothing, but a ruffian–looking man beside him spoke up. “Ha… With the old man’s son and grandson gone in a car crash, where does this granddaughter–in–law come from?”
“Brendan’s son Ethan Langley was officially married at twenty to Iris overseas. Caleb is rightfully the eldest grandson,” said Eric, his voice steady.
“Ha… An imbecile hidden away by the old man, the family’s greatest shame. Does a marriage certificate from another country even count? The Langley family has no heir now that the old man and Samuel are gone. The Langley fortune can’t just be taken by outsiders! You think you, some nobody assistant, can bring a girl over and steal what belongs to the Langleys?”
The man slammed his hand on the table, glaring at me.
If this had been before my rebirth, I might have cowered. Too bad for him; I’ve seen more of the
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world than he ever will.
“Whether Caleb is the rightful heir of the Langley family is for the law to decide. He is Brendan’s eldest grandson, Ethan’s eldest son, my lawful husband, and the father of the child I carry!”
I returned his gaze with icy eyes. “If you’re all here out of concern for Brendan’s health, you have my respect. But if it’s for the inheritance you’ve come, I’m sorry to disappoint you! Butler, show these people out!”
I gestured toward the door, my voice resolute.
“Bravo, bravo!” Henry clapped, sneering like a fox. “The old man sure was thorough in his planning.”
His gaze fell on my belly as he rose to his feet. “That child’s just been conceived, hasn’t it? You better take good care of it; make sure it’s born safely.”
Henry was threatening me.
“As for that ‘imbecile“…” He paused, his eyes darkening. “We in the Langley family do not…”
“Mr. Henry, you’re an elder in the Langley family, second only to Brendan. Caleb is a scion of our bloodline, and yet you refer to him as an imbecile. Where is your compassion as an elder? If word gets out, it would disgrace our family,” I cut him off mid–sentence.
Once more, I commanded, “Butler, show these people out!”
I was putting up a front, fully aware it couldn’t last forever.
Henry would surely come after Caleb and the child I was carrying. The sudden accidents. involving Brendan and Samuel were far from simple.
Indeed, the skies of the Langley dynasty had changed.