Secret Scion

After he had just finished a cigarette, he could hear footsteps approaching him. And then, Carter's voice rang, "Master Sander! Please accept our apologies for not greeting you at the doorstep."

Asher turned and had his eyes set upon Carter. He was leading an ensemble; behind him were the Stewards' elders, as well as a few of the youngsters that were held in high regard.

When he saw them, the images of the day that he was thrown out by the Stewards appeared in his mind again. However, everyone had smiles on their faces instead.

Asher then entered the living room surrounded by the Stewards. Carter then raised his hand and invited him to take a seat as he said, "Master Sander, please."

Two years.

This was the first time Asher was receiving this kind of treatment.

However, Asher simply sat on the sofa. Carter could only manage to let out an empty laugh. He did not sit at the patriarch's seat of power, and instead sat down opposite Asher. None of the remaining Stewards dared to sit down.

"Master Sander, I would like to extend my most sincere apologies on behalf of the Stewards for the treatment that we have rendered to you..."

Before Carter could even finish, Asher simply raised his hand and cut him off. "Let's make this short. I can help the Stewards. However, I have one condition."

Carter quickly said with a smile, "I can agree with that! You can ask for a hundred and I would agree to them all!"

"Don't be so happy just yet. That's because you might not be able to do what I want you to," Asher said as he narrowed his eyes. He then continued, "My condition is that from now on, you're no longer the Stewards' patriarch."

Carter's expression froze just as Asher had expected.

Michael's brows knitted together as he said, "What do you mean, Asher? You cannot simply change the Stewards' patriarch just because you want to!"

Erick also yelled out in anger, "Even if the Stewards need your help, it doesn't mean that you can control us! That's impossible!"

Everyone was wearing a stern expression on their faces. The changing of patriarchs was not something that could be done on a whim as it may even lead their household to extinction. They would not change their patriarch unless absolutely necessary.

Asher gave Michael a glance with an indifferent smirk. He then said in a slow and firm tone, "You can choose to turn me down. Of course, I too can cut off my connections with the Stewards."

"You're crossing the line!" Erick said as he gritted his teeth. He knew very well that Asher would never let him be the Stewards' patriarch because of the relationship between Asher and him. That was why Erick was opposed to it.

Asher gave him an icy smile and said, "Me? Crossing the line? Who was the one who crossed the line when I was married into the Stewards for the past two years?"

Both Erick and Michael could not retort.

"Carter, that's my only condition, and it's not up for discussion. If you cannot agree to that, then there's no need for this conversation to continue."

The reason that Asher needed to switch out the Stewards' patriarch was simple. He needed to place someone that he could trust as the leader of the household. Carter was someone that had

no pride but was particularly cunning. He could not work with someone like that in full confidence.

"Dad, we cannot agree to that. There's no one else in the Stewards that can bear the responsibility of being the patriarch," Michael said instantly.

Carter's frown had not unfurled since. He knew that Asher would not agree to help the Stewards easily, but he never would have thought that the price that he must pay for his help would be to sacrifice his station.

After a brief moment, Carter stared at Asher and asked, "Then, who do you think has the ability to be the new patriarch of the Steward household?"

Asher's eyes landed on Noelle's face. Noelle was taken aback as well. She could not stop herself from thinking if Asher wanted to make her the Stewards' matriarch.

It was at this time, Asher suddenly shifted his eyes toward Livia and said, "Livia can do it."

Noelle was originally quite pleased about it. However, when she realized that Asher was simply toying with her and heard that he was recommending Livia, a tinge of jealousy appeared in her heart. Livia was more important than her in his eyes.

"Me?" Livia pointed at herself in disbelief. "You have to be joking, right? I can't be the Stewards' matriarch!"

"We've never had a matriarch in our household's history!" Erick grunted.

"That's true. It would bring shame to the Steward name if this was leaked to the public!"

"I disagree as well. Even if we have to change the patriarch, it should be Erick that's leading the household."

The Stewards' youngsters were objecting to it, but Livia's parents were remaining silent. If Livia ended up becoming the matriarch of the household, it would be beneficial to them as well. However, Asher ignored them completely and merely said to Livia with a smile, "How can you know that without first giving it a try?"

"But..." Livia still wanted to say something, but Carter cut into the conversation and said, "While Lily is indeed an intelligent girl, she is only around twenty years old. She is still inexperienced. It doesn't seem to be quite appropriate."

"Asher, I think he's right..." When Livia said that, she didn't dare to look at Asher's eyes. Asher wasn't angry either. Instead, he asked, "Then, who do you think has the ability to succeed as the Stewards' leader?"

"Do I have to choose?"

"Yes. This is the only condition I have if I am to help the Stewards," Asher said firmly.

Livia gave it some thought as her eyes scanned at a few of her peers. In the end, she fixed her eyes on Noelle's face. She then said, "Elle was named as Rollinsford's most prodigious businesswoman. I believe she has the ability to do it."

"Her?" Asher gave Noelle a look again. This time, he did not make any comments immediately. Erick then said grumpily, "Enough, Livia! Noelle doesn't have the capability to lead us! I'll be the first one to oppose if she becomes our matriarch!"

"I don't need you to agree on anything." Asher glared at Erick who was on the verge of an explosion. He then said to Carter, "Livia refuses to be the matriarch, and she believes that Noelle should be the matriarch instead. Of course, you also have the choice to turn down my condition. I'll give you three days to consider this. After three days, I hope you can give me a definite answer."

With that, Asher was already prepared to leave.

Carter frowned, the wrinkles on his face becoming more and more visible.

"Asher, it's not up to you to decide who's going to be the Stewards' patriarch. As long as my grandpa is alive, he'll be this household's patriarch! This is not negotiable. I don't know what you're trying to do, but whatever it is, I won't let it succeed!" Erick stared at Asher viciously. Originally, Erick was the only heir that would become the household's patriarch. He had also made all the necessary preparations. In the end, Asher wanted to make Noelle the matriarch instead. Erick could not accept that.

Not to mention that their relationship had not been tight. In the past, Erick had always been suppressing Noelle to stop her from being too successful. If Noelle were to become the matriarch, Erick could not imagine that he would have a good time in the future. That was why Erick would not agree to have Noelle become the matriarch no matter what. "Well, I did say that you have the right to reject," Asher said and then left without looking back. "Grandpa, Asher is just too arrogant. Even if he is a scion of a household from the Capital City, this is still our internal affairs in the end. An outsider like him shouldn't have any say in something as important as changing the patriarch. You can't agree to this," Eric said as he quickly walked over to Carter.

Michael nodded and said, "Dad, you must reconsider. Changing the patriarch is not an insignificant decision."

Carter was experienced with the ways of the world. He was already able to figure out the reason why Asher wanted to switch him out as the patriarch. On one hand, he wanted to have his revenge against him. On the other hand, he could easily control the head of the household be it Livia or Noelle if one of them were to become the matriarch.

Carter sighed. He stood up and glanced at Erick before saying, "Erick, if you had listened to everything I told you, our household wouldn't have ended up where it is today. The patriarch would have been no one else but you." He then left the living room with his hands behind his back.

Erick was stunned at first. His heart was filled with disappointment and regret.

Noelle then returned home. She simply sat on the sofa in a daze with her boaster in her arms. Many thoughts were filling up her mind.

After a short while, Mason's voice rang in her ears. "See? I was right, Elle. Asher still cares about you."

Noelle could not help but glance at Mason. She saw both her parents walk directly to her. They then sat next to her on the sofa. Both of them had a gentle smile on their face. However, Noelle did not believe a word they were saying. She believed that if Asher really did care, why did he not recommend her to be the matriarch directly? Why would he recommend Livia instead? "Dad, I think you got it wrong. Asher has no choice but to let me be the matriarch," Noelle said with disappointment in her voice.

Meanwhile, Mason simply waved his hand with a smile and said, "No, I believe that Asher wanted you to become the Stewards' matriarch from the very beginning. If he didn't, he would have hesitated when Livia recommended you instead."

He let out a laugh and continued, "Asher is a very smart man. He knew that if he were to recommend you to be the matriarch, everyone would oppose it. That was why he had Livia recommend you instead. He's the scion of a great household from the Capital City alright. He's even more capable when it comes to managing these kinds of conflicts than us old-timers." Teena nodded in agreement as well.

Noelle's heart was filled with joy when she heard that. She then asked, "Dad, you think that's true?"

Noelle did not care much about who would be leading the household. Instead, she cared much more about Asher's attitude toward her. After going through so many things, she began to realize that his feelings for Asher had already been carved deep into her bones. She could never wipe them away.