Chapter 853: 427: Who Rules This Household (First Update)

In a place like Long Island, where every inch of land is as valuable as gold, having such a large estate means just the yearly land tax is an astronomical sum. Spring Spencer marveled at this and walked for a full ten minutes before reaching the front of the mansion.

Looking at the four awe-inspiring Roman-style marble columns in front of her, Spring Spencer let out a long breath.

Okay, comparing her own home to being "middle-class" in front of the Stetford Family was a bit of a stretch.

The group entered the living room, where Richard Stetford was already sitting and chatting with Ruby Sheldon.

"Grandpa, you look younger!" Ruby Sheldon said happily sitting next to Richard Stetford.

Richard Stetford was only less serious when facing his granddaughter Ruby Sheldon.

He smiled and patted her cheek, saying, "Is Betty feeling better? Should we get a doctor to check her again?"

"I’m much better." Ruby Sheldon leaned her head on Richard Stetford’s shoulder and said with a smile, "As long as I don’t get angry, I’m fine."

Autumn Stetford came in with Ava Harlow and Spring Spencer, and laughed as she said to Richard Stetford, "Dad, this is Ava from the Harlow Family, my cousin, do you remember? This is her daughter, now grown up. Her father is Cameron Spencer."

Richard Stetford nodded and politely said, "I’ve met you before. Please sit wherever you like."

Since Evan Stetford’s mother passed away, Richard Stetford hasn’t wanted to remarry.

Anyway, he has many women and houses everywhere. As long as they’re not crowded together to annoy him, it’s fine.

Besides, he’s older now and has taken a liking to handling prayer beads and pays less attention to women.

So the grand mansion of the Stetford Family is home to both him and Evan Stetford.

Autumn Stetford grew up here before she got married, but after her marriage, it’s just a place she occasionally visits.

Autumn Stetford’s mother didn’t live here.

Spring Spencer followed Ava Harlow to sit down, no longer daring to look around.

Richard Stetford asked if they had breakfast. Autumn Stetford said they had, but mentioned they could eat a bit more.

Richard Stetford then ordered the servants to prepare more breakfast.

Evan Stetford and Richard Stetford hadn’t eaten, so everyone moved to the dining room.

While waiting for breakfast, Ruby Sheldon impatiently said, "Grandpa, I want to see the grand competition in the Celestial Path Sect. Can you think of a way for my parents, Aunt Harlow, and cousin to all go and see it? Wouldn’t that be nice, grandpa?"

When she called "grandpa," she elongated the sound sweetly, making it really hard to refuse her request.

Richard Stetford laughed, "You can watch the first and second rounds at ease. But the final, it’s not so easy this year. Your uncle is to represent the Stetford Family; it’s his first time. You have to ask him. If he agrees, you can all go."

With that, Richard Stetford finalized Evan Stetford’s role as the representative of the Stetford Family.

Autumn Stetford’s expression darkened.

Even though she was prepared for this, when the day officially came, she felt discomfort in her heart.

This is natural human behavior.

For over twenty years, the representative of the Stetford Family had always been her, the eldest daughter of the Stetford Family.

Even though she got married and became the young mistress of the Sheldon Family, she had always been the public face of the Stetford Family.

Having once been the decision-maker of the great Stetford and Sheldon dynasties, experiencing that kind of power is hard to lose once tasted.

However, having worked hard for over twenty years, it might be time for her to rest.

The Stetford Family sees Evan Stetford growing into his role, and in the Sheldon Family, Aiden Sheldon has returned to the family, managing the Sheldon Consortium very successfully.

As long as neither the Stetford Family nor the Sheldon Family messes up, she can effortlessly win.

Thinking this, she perked up and said with a smile, "It’s fine. It’s time for Evan to take over the family. But this Celestial Path Sect grand competition, I heard there might be a dark horse? Mr. Grant has been looking for ’great fortune’ people these days. I wonder if he’s looking for our Betty, hahaha!"

Ruby Sheldon also laughed, "Uncle Grant always says I’m a reincarnated koi fish? Shouldn’t I bring good luck?"

Evan Stetford’s lips twitched, "Reincarnated koi fish? Grant guy is really pulling stuff out of thin air. He’s becoming less reliable; yesterday, he invited me to see the ’great fortune’ people, and we lost them after arriving. He’ll have to give way to younger people soon."

Autumn Stetford was quite surprised, "He invited you to look for ’great fortune’ people? And didn’t see them? That’s impossible, right?"

"Hmm, I went, and he admitted it to me himself," Evan Stetford said casually, watching a servant place a plate of bacon, scrambled eggs, and avocado-smeared muffin in front of him.

This was his breakfast.

Richard Stetford was eating a breakfast of Eastern style.

A bowl of century egg and lean meat congee, finely sliced marinated pig’s head meat, a tea egg, and a bowl of savory bean curd.

Autumn Stetford saw it and sighed, "Dad, please don’t eat so much marinated stuff - it’s not good for your health."

"Don’t you worry about it. Anyway, I have a doctor taking care of me." Richard Stetford said, chuckling, then asked Ruby Sheldon, "Betty, do you want a Western breakfast or Eastern one?"

"I want small meat buns, the ones your kitchen makes with dried bean curd skin and dried plums," she replied.

Those were also Richard Stetford’s favorite small meat buns.

He was delighted and immediately ordered, "Did you hear Miss Sheldon? Quickly make them."

The servant in the dining room hurried to the kitchen to convey Richard Stetford’s words.

The breakfast was lively and once over, it was almost ten o’clock.

Evan Stetford had finished long ago and was talking business with Aiden Sheldon nearby.

Autumn Stetford took Ava Harlow and Spring Spencer upstairs to arrange their accommodation.

Ruby Sheldon, meanwhile, dutifully sat at the table chatting with Richard Stetford.

In front of her was a bowl of bird’s nest congee, with more bird’s nest than rice, truly bird’s nest congee.

Evan Stetford’s secretary waited at the door for a long time; seeing Evan Stetford hadn’t come out, he discreetly made a phone call to him.

When Evan Stetford heard his phone ring, he took it out, looked at it, and swiped to answer, asking, "Secretary Liu, what’s up?"

Secretary Liu quickly said, "Master Evan, there’s a problem at the Grant Branch. They’ve caught a shooter in Chinatown who confessed. This shooter said a female wizard from China paid him to kill someone to verify her face reading."

"What?!" Evan Stetford suddenly stood up, his face darkening, "Who’s so audacious? They must be tired of living! Have them wait for me, I’ll come right over!"

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This is the first update, two updates today.

The second update is at 7:30 PM.

Kisses to all!