Chapter 371: Choice is a Type of Freedom
“I’m going to announce something today.”
In the lavish dining hall of the Moreton manor, Jeffree sat before everyone with a grave expression on his face.
Mickey had just surreptitiously picked up his fork, but he silently put it down again upon hearing that. He sat up straight, and looked at Jeffree with awe and veneration in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Cyril sat in his seat, and stared at the plate in front of him with soulless eyes as if he was waiting for judgment to be passed upon him.
The woman sitting beside him was also slightly pale. She aimed a resentful glance at Gloria, and clenched her hands tightly.
In contrast, Herty and Herny both wore gloating smiles on their faces. Usually, when their grandfather delivered an address like this, he was going to scold their uncle’s family. This was a common occurrence during the past few years, and it had become an interesting pre-meal activity. They were wondering if it was their uncle that was going to be scolded, or if it was going to be his daughter, Gloria. After all, she had engaged in an argument with their grandfather last time, and was kicked out of the dining hall.
“Master…” Dennes Marquis sat beside Jeffree with a concerned expression on her face.
“Shush.” Jeffree shot a glance at her; his voice was tinged with an indisputable tone.
Dennes immediately fell silent, and lowered her head, not daring to speak up again.
Lance was sitting nervously in his seat. He didn’t know what Jeffree was going to say, but nothing could change his mind or shake his determination, even if he were to be kicked out of the Moreton manor.
Debra had her eyes downcast, and looked at Gloria with a hint of concern in her eyes. Gloria hadn’t suffered any consequences from her argument with Jeffree last time, so was he finally going to reprimand her for it?
Could it be that grandfather is agreeing to my request? Gloria sat in the last row, and stared at Jeffree from underneath her black veil with anticipation in her purple eyes. She wrung her hands together under the table, also as if she were awaiting judgment to be passed upon her.
Tsk, tsk, what’s going on today? Why do I get the feeling that a major change is about to take place? There was a hint of curiosity on Aurora’s sickly pale face. She looked at the nervous and distraught Cyril, and became even more intrigued.
In the end, Jeffree’s gaze fell on Gloria, and he solemnly announced, “I hereby announce that Gloria will become a candidate for the heir to the Moreton Family, so she now has the same rights as Cyril.”
Deathly silence followed his announcement. It was so quiet that a pin being dropped could be heard.
Cyril’s and his wife’s faces paled even further, and they looked at each other as their lips trembled.
“How… How is that possible?!” Herty and Hernie’s mouths both gaped open in shock, and their eyes were filled with incredulity. They turned to look at Gloria, the cowardly little girl who didn’t even dare to show her face, and struggled to come to terms with the fact that she was now also a candidate to become the heir just like their father.
That meant that Cyril’s status as the sole heir now ceased to exist. There was a chance that Gloria could take control over the Moreton Family some day.
“Yes!” Gloria clenched her fist with joy, and she almost jumped up with excitement.
Mickey and Debra were also staring at Gloria with disbelief in their eyes.
“Father, I object to your decision!” Right at that moment, Lance rose to his feet, and he looked at Jeffree with a serious expression as he said, “Father, no matter how unhappy with us you are, you have to remember that I was the one who made that decision all those years ago. This has nothing to do with Gloria, so I hope you won’t vent your rage against me on her; she’s still just a child.”
“I also object, Father. You said that I don’t have the right to become heir to the Moreton Family as I’m a woman, so why have you made Gloria one of the candidates now? I am your daughter! Why are you picking a little brat over me? What makes her worthy to become the heir to the Moreton Family?” Aurora also rose to her feet. She was very worked up as she looked at Jeffree. A hint of color had returned to her pale cheeks, and she balled her bony hands into tight fists as if she were an enraged but malnourished lioness.
“Do you not know why you’re not worthy?” Jeffree glanced at Aurora, and made no effort to hide the disdain in his eyes.
“I…” Aurora looked into Jeffree’s eyes, and she felt like a maggot that had been exposed to the scorching sun. The courage that she had somehow mustered up had been completely erased, and she lowered her head in fear. She slumped back into her seat before aiming a resentful glance at Gloria.
“Do you really think I’m the type of person that would vent my rage on my granddaughter? Have I done anything like that in the past two decades?” Jeffree turned to Lance with a stern interrogatory expression.
“No.” Lance was silent for a moment before shaking his head. He knew that his father was an extremely proud man. Even after Jeffree stripped him of his right to become heir to the family, Jeffree had done nothing else to him, so there was no way that he would harbor ill will toward a child.
“But Gloria is still only just a child. How would she be able to shoulder such a heavy responsibility? How could she be willing to do something like this? Girls should have their own dreams and pursuits, not be forced to carry such a crushing burden.” Lance shook his head again. He didn’t understand why Jeffree had made such a decision.
“Big Sister?” Mickey looked at Gloria with a hint of concern in his eyes.
“Father, this was my own choice.” Right at that moment, Gloria stood up, and Lance turned toward her with surprise on his face upon hearing her declaration. She looked him in the eyes, and said earnestly, “Father, you told me that everyone, including women, has the right of free choice. I want to become an outstanding businesswoman and the heir to the Moreton Family. This is my own choice.”
Cyril looked up at Gloria with shock and rage burning in his eyes. He had thought that Jeffree had only made that decision in a fit of rage so he could pressure him by taking away his status as the sole heir. However, it appeared that things weren’t that simple. Gloria seemed to have hatched a plot far in advance.
“Gloria, you have to realize that if you want to become a candidate for the heir to such a large family, you’ll be losing a lot of freedom. There will even be many occasions where you will be forced to do things against your will. That’s far too unfair to you.” Lance looked at Gloria. He was quite happy with her courage, but also a little concerned.
“Father, making this choice is a type of freedom in itself, is it not?” Gloria looked at Lance with a smile.
Lance faltered momentarily upon hearing that before a gratified smile appeared on his face, and he nodded as he said, “Indeed it is. I should be respecting your choice, not forcing my ideals upon you.”
“Thank you, Father.” Gloria smiled.
“My apologies, Father, and thank you for your decision, as well as your respect for Gloria.” Lance extended a grateful salute toward Jeffree.
“From this day forth, the Blue Suede Textiles Shop will be under Gloria’s management. Manard will tell you all of the specifics. There is a tall mountain for you to climb if you want to become the heir, and if you can’t climb that mountain, then you will be eliminated.” Jeffree ignored Lance as he turned toward Gloria. He then picked up his knife and fork, and sliced into his steak.