“I understand all the problems you laid out, and my mom knows it too, but more than half of the wealthy tycoons in the hidden clan were once under Hayley’s influence. It was your mom who gave them the power and control over the gold, silver, and diamond mines. With their wealth, they broke free of your mom’s control and shifted their support to my mom. That led to the internal war that lasted for two decades.”
Eleanor added, “Everyone mistook my mom as being incapable of management. They even accused her of turning a blind eye to the wealth those families amassed. These are all problems from Hayley’s reign. The change would take time.” She was frank. “To be honest, I do not care much for the position of the clan leader. It’s not something I set my eyes on. What I yearn for is world peace, not the illusion we have now.”
Veronica was slightly surprised but still deeply convinced by Eleanor’s words. She had a strong hunch that Eleanor was to be trusted. “What do you plan to do after the coronation?” she questioned.
“My mom’s been thinking of ways to reduce the wealth disparity and rein in the power of a few tycoons, but they work closely with each other and own the mining rights. She’s stuck in at dilemma. Eleanor sighed and leaned back against the chair. She tilted her head, expressing her thought, ‘Thankfully, Hayley signed a thirty-year mining contract with a few tycoons. The contracts will expire on the day of my coronation. I can retrieve a few mines by then, but not without serious internal conflict.”
After that, she elaborated on her plans and strategies to improve livelihoods and the wealth gap. It was then that Veronica developed a greater respect and admiration for this future leader. “Eleanor, let’s strike a deal, Veronica suggested to Eleanor after listening to the grand plans.
“A deal? What deal?” Eleanor’s eyes lit up as she inched closer to Veronica. “Do you want the leader position, by any chance? Not a problem!! You can swap your husband for that position. I’ll gladly give it up!”
Veronia was speechless at Eleanor’s carefree attitude and nonsensical ideas. “People would kill to be the leader of the hidden. clan, but why do you treat it like a playtoy?” asked Veronica..
Eleanor shrugged. “I’m a free spirit by nature who looks forward to life outside the hidden clan. Next, she grinned. “Do you believe in that?” Veronica nodded. “I do.”
“I bet you’re the only one who does.” Eleanor flashed a rueful smile. Those who were in the same boat understood each other the best.
While the two women had a long chat on the second floor, Matthew was busy preparing dinner for Eleanor in the back kitchen. Standing beside him was Liam, whose jaw dropped when he witnessed Matthew’s excellent knife words. “I heard that you’re a wealthy CEO. How did you come to have great knife skills and speak the hidden tongue?”
“It’s always good to have more skills. Matthew, dressed in a white apron, was speedily chopping a block of tofu into uniform pieces. The focused look on his face made him appear like the executive chef for national-level banquets.
“The baked fish you made at Mountainside Gardens was quite tasty. Can you cook that again? Liam enjoyed that dish, and the memory lingered on his tastebuds and mind. He tried to get his chef to recreate it, but they could not get the taste right.
