Chapter 59: Return

The Blakewood estate was a cold, gigantic fortress in the hills, situated at the very top of the city itself.

The ancient oaks lining the drive were sentinels for a history he’d long ignored. The building looked like a monolith of old stones and older money, holding a chill that slowly creeped through one’s skin.

To outsiders, all they would feel upon stepping through a building with such sheer grandeur would be awe.

They would stare up at the skies that seemed closer than it was, at the trees that welcomed them, at the frightening guards at every corner like sentinels of protection, and at the house itself that felt more like a modern castle which might house a king, a queen and it’s descendants, but this great home merely housed a broken family struggling to piece itself together again.

Every step into the Blakewood estate smelled of dry, dormant power.

All the waiting servants at the entrance concealed awe behind their features when he strode past them, their necks craned to look at him only when he’d walked past them.

“Is that…?” A maid whispered to the one next to her.

“It’s him, I never thought I would see the day he ever returns here. Miss Genevieve has been out of the country for three years now, and he hasn’t been here ever since.” The second maid replied.

“I heard a conversation between Old Madame and Old Master this morning, I think something bad is about to happen.”

“What did you hear?”

“They want Master Tristan to be the successor of Blakewood Groups.” The maid sharing the information looked left and right to confirm there was no one around before she whispered this to her colleagues.

“What? But I thought they settled last year and Master Ryan was going to be named successor?” A curious voice asked.

“Old madame refused to accept that. The laws of the Blakewood family remains, only the oldest male in the next generation is eligible for that position. Miss Genevieve has always been passionate about the company but at most she’ll only be given a managerial position just like the other two young misses.”

“It’s true, master Aldrich was the oldest son in the second generation, it’s only right his son became the successor.” The specific maid who’d spoken seemed clueless but her words made a look of shock show on the others faces. They looked at her as if her words carried a taboo.

“Shhh, are you trying to get yourself fired Jenny? No one is allowed to mention that name.”

The maid immediately seemed to realize her mistake and covered her mouth with her palm while looking around once again if there was a possibility that someone overheard. Luckily, none of the family members were around the entrance hall.

“But…if master Tristan is made the successor, I think there’s going to be war in the Blakewood family.”

“I think so too, madame Amanda would never accept the fact that her son is being ignored for the position of successor again for the second time.”

“Madame Amanda isn’t the only person who’ll make a fuss, madame Fiona too.”

“What? But madame Fiona only has a daughter old enough for the role, her only son is just ten years old and only the males are qualified for the roles of successor.”

“I heard madame Fiona always brings up requests to old master about her daughter Miss Sabrina, according to her the world is much more advanced now and females should be given a chance to lead. Old master seemed to be considering her point of view as well.”

“But we all know that old master would never approve of anything as long as the old madame hasn’t approved of it.”

“Miss Sabrina is a very fierce competitor in the company, she doesn’t seem like she would ever back down from it either.”

“But master Tristan just returned, which means he’s here to take his rightful place.”

The whole of Blakewood estate silently blew up at Tristan’s return. His crisp footsteps echoed as he rounded an arched corner into the conservatory. Glass walls met a ceiling of wrought iron, exotic thorny blooms dominated the whole space. Flowers of different species and origins bloomed across the greenhouse and amidst it all, he spotted the older woman bent over a flower quietly chipping away it’s weeds.

Eleanor Blakewood.

Time had not softened her, she spotted him and showed a mysterious yet satisfied smile before moving away to take her seat on a wicker chair. A cashmere shawl sat around her shoulders, her silver hair a flawless low bun behind her head. Her hands, resting on the head of her cane were a map of blue veins and pronounced knuckles, those hands were the very hands that built an empire alongside her husband.

“Tristan,” she called calmly yet her voice was like ice slicing granite open without force. She held a rigidity that almost mirrored Tristan’s own demeanor, such quiet resemblance in nature that made one think the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

“You look troubled, grandson.” Her words carried a quiet cluelessness, a sharp cunning in the depths of her eyes. She knew well why he was here and she knew very well what made him look like he wanted to tear the whole estate down.

Such controlled fury kept under wraps, the boy was just like his father, the man he tried to hard to deny. Those eyes, that firm resolve and strong will, the hard headedness, all of it… seeing Tristan again was like seeing her son brought back to life before her, alas the boy wouldn’t even honor his own father by taking his last name.

“You bought my company.” He said, the words ripped raw from his throat. He didn’t sit, he stood before her, the prodigal grandson returned not in penance but in war.

Eleanor Blakewood smiled softly, knowingly.

It was somewhat funny, the boy had walked right into her trap and he wouldn’t be leaving here today until he gave into her demands.

She knew better than anyone that he was astute, strong and had achieved ten times what she and her husband had worked decades to get in a few years, but the biggest mistake he had made was acquitting 35% shares of his company to his sister, it had been the very ticket she’d used in acquiring his company…

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep