Arnold maintained an air of composure. None of this came as a surprise to him.
“Of course, Jessica would favor Fredric. Did anyone really think she’d pick me, the son of her sworn enemy?”
Hearing it, Magnolia was embarrassed. Her feud with Jessica was as old as the hills, so deep-seated that not even a lifetime could resolve it.
“If Leopold does kick the bucket, it’ll be Jessica’s just desserts,” Magnolia spat, her voice laced with venom.
Arnold had no desire to hear her complaints. He had a strong disdain for the kind of woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted, especially Magnolia, who wouldn’t hesitate to victimize Arnold.
“Jessica’s a damn sight better than you. She’s always had Leopold’s back, never once would she set him up for a fall. Unlike you, plotting against me.”
Magnolia’s face flushed, “Everything I’ve done was for the sake of...”
But Arnold cut her off, “Don’t give me that line about doing it all for me. You’re driven by your own greed and lust for power.”
Magnolia tried to retort, but Marcia grabbed her arm, pulling her aside.
“Look, Arnold,” Marcia said, trying to be the voice of reason, “I know you're mad at us for tricking you into marrying Lisa. If you wanna divorce her, we won’t stand in your way. But you need to fight for the head of the Stirling family. It’s not just for your sake but for Aurelia’s too. If you’re the head, Kane will be safe. I bet my bottom dollar Aurelia feels the same, and she’d want you, not Fredric, in that position.”
Marcia paused, giving his shoulder a reassuring pat, “Go talk to Aurelia, hatch a plan together. She’s probably waiting for you to make the first move.”
Arnold fell silent. For Aurelia, for William, he wanted to be the head. But he felt the timing wasn’t right. Still, hashing it out with Aurelia was a good idea.
“I know what I have to do,” Arnold replied.
The next day, he called Aurelia, and she was quick to drop by.
William was in his room, munching on cookies and playing with Chirpy, while Aurelia checked in on William before joining Arnold on the terrace.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold)