The CEO’S Unplanned Heir novel (Aurelia and Leopold)
Chapter 1007

Kane was always going to be his father's boy. That was a given.

Mira and Nina cdown the stairs. "William, let's go feed the fish in the garden!" "Sure," William nodded and turned to Skyler. "Hey, Skyler, wanna join us?" Skyler had been hoping for an invite and sprang up from the couch with a grin, dashing out the door with them.

Meanwhile, Raines and Lisbeth were enjoying the beauty of the roses in the yard when they caught the subtle scene unfolding in the living room.

Fredric and Sheryl strolled over.

Sheryl offered a warm smile. "Lisbeth, what do you think of the roses in my garden? They're all top-notch varieties." "They're beautiful. I've never seen so many kinds of roses before," Lisbeth smiled and responded.

Raines sighed reflectively. "A beautiful flower always draws a crowd, much like a woman. Arnold and Leopold have been at each other's throats since they were little. Who would've thought they'd have fallen for the slady?" Fredric raised an eyebrow. "You've caught wind of their little ?" Raines shrugged. "I may be overseas, but with the internet, it's easy to keep up with Elysium’s gossip." Sheryl exhaled softly. "Arnold and Leopold must have been enemies in the past life, so they're still competing over the Stirling Group and women. Chad tried to settle Leopold with an arranged marriage, probably worrying they'd both fall for the swoman one day." Raines mused. "Dad always had a soft spot for Arnold. He would back Arnold up if he were still alive, and Leopold might not stand a chance." Fredric’s lips twisted into a sly smile. "If Dad were still around, we might have had a fifth or sixth brother to contend with." They had no idea how many sisters they had out there. Chad was a charmer but also reckless, sowing his wild oats far and wide.

The number of women left with child by Chad was an enigma, but it seemed daughters were a da dozen, while sons were a rarity. Their half-sisters could be found on every continent, while their band of brothers amounted to a mere four.

Fredric considered himself better than Chad, though. He was a ladies’ man but never scattered seeds carelessly. Condoms were non-negotiable.

Raines joked. "Who knows? Dad might have more bastards out there we don’t know about." Fredric shook his head. "Unlikely. Any woman bearing a son would bring him back to claim his heritage. Only a fool would keep that a secret. Dad would only leave bastards out there if they were daughters, not sons." He paused and then sneered. "The Stirling family values legitimate sons highly because they are few and far between. Our grandfather had no concubines. He and Grandma had only one son, our father. The daughters that followed were just daughters. If there had been another son, they would've found a way to disinherit Dad, even as the firstborn." A dark shadow flickered in Raines' eyes. "The Stirling family’s bastards have always been just as good as the legitimate sons, but no matter how capable they are, they must step aside for the legitimate heir. It's just unfair." Fredric clapped him on the shoulder. "The ancestors chose legitimacy over merit for a reason. Every Stirling man, legitimate or not, is a force to reckon with. Who isn’t worthy? If they went by merit, every generation would be a free-for-all, a showdown at the palace gates. No one would accept it. The last thing a great family needs is infighting and weakening from within. They say wealth doesn’t last more than three generations, but that’s often due to sibling rivalry and power struggles that lead to the family's downfall. So, sticking with the legitimate heir is the wisest choice. Being born at the right tis a skill, and we didn’t have that luck, so we deal with it." Raines forced a smile. "Fredric, you always see right through it all." v

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