After Sebastian vanished into the shadows, Mr. Grant stood frozen on the spot. Eleanor could sense the awkwardness hanging in the air, but she waited patiently. She knew he needed a moment to process everything. She had no intention of hiding her power from him. If anything, she needed him to shed his protective instinct toward her and see her for who she had become.
She understood where his protectiveness came from. As one of her mother’s closest friends, he had always held a soft spot for her. She had known Mr. Grant since childhood and remembered how much he cared. But now, she needed him to see her as a capable adult, someone who could protect not only herself but others as well.
Finally, Mr. Grant broke the silence. "Let’s sit down first," he said, walking to his chair and gesturing to the one opposite him.
Eleanor took her seat without hesitation. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novelFirｅ.net
"You’ve grown up, Eleanor," he said, his voice heavy with emotion. "I always knew you as the shy, kind, lively, and adorable girl. I was afraid someone would hurt you again." His voice trailed off at the end.
"Uncle, I know what I used to be. I caused a lot of worry for all of you," Eleanor said softly. "I should’ve grown up earlier."
He looked at her, concern still lingering in his eyes. "Now that you’re here, do you plan to go back to that family?"
Eleanor scoffed. "Whitmore’s? I have no intention of returning to them."
A look of relief washed over Mr. Grant’s face. "That’s good. I was going to suggest you stay far away from the Whitmore family. Although I never had concrete proof, all the evidence I gathered about... that incident of yours... pointed to them. I shouldn’t say this, but I was always suspicious of your mother’s marriage to William. We were her friends, yet she never mentioned her marriage to us. She even called us to the hospital when she wanted to transfer her assets to you."
He paused, then added, "In any case, I think you should keep a low profile and reclaim your mother’s company as soon as possible."
"Uncle, you don’t need to worry," Eleanor said calmly. "I’m no longer Eleanor Whitmore. I’m Eleanor Elizabeth Raynor, adopted into the Raynor Family. They took me in when I had nothing... trained me, supported me, and provided the funds to start my business. Do you remember the first time I called you after leaving the country?"
He nodded. "Yes, you said you were living in the US. But isn’t the Raynor family from Manchester?"
"They are," she confirmed. "But they have businesses all over the world. I was sent to the US to stay out of the spotlight because the police were looking for me at the time. While I was there, I built my own company, and now it’s worth more than EverBuild Solutions Limited. I returned because I’m ready to face William Whitmore head-on. I just need you to continue holding the company board for me for a little longer."
Mr. Grant smiled. "Good. Good. Your mother would be proud of you."
"Uncle, I also came here today to ensure your safety," she said, her tone serious. "If William suspects anyone of helping me survive all these years, it will be you. Just a few hours ago, someone tried to assassinate me. Don’t worry... they’re all dead. But I suspect the Whitmores were behind it. They may come after you next. Would you allow me to leave some of my guards here for protection?"
Mr. Grant waved his hand dismissively. "Don’t worry about me. William doesn’t have the guts to attack me directly. My family’s been in politics for generations. I met your mother during a political gathering. Neither of us liked politics, but our families had close ties. Your maternal grandfather wanted her to follow in his footsteps, but she had her own dreams. When she decided to start a company and her family refused to fund her, I stepped in."
He chuckled, lost in memory. "That’s beside the point. My father was a Member of Parliament, and currently, my sister is the Mayor of Stockport. If William tries anything funny, it’ll cause a political storm. He might scheme behind the scenes, but a direct attack? No."
"Do you have any other family members living here?" Eleanor asked.
"No. It was just my sister and me. Our father’s two sisters live abroad."
"Then it’s settled. I’ll still deploy some of my personal guards here. Even if you don’t need them, it’ll put my mind at ease."
He sighed in resignation. "Do what you must. Your aunt and I hardly leave the house nowadays. We don’t need many guards."
She picked up her phone and called Maya. "I’m sending you an address. Send ten armed guards and a driver from our security company. Also send two off-road vehicles. I want them reporting to Mr. Elliot Grant before sunrise tomorrow."
After ending the call, she sent the address.
She looked at Mr. Grant apologetically. "Sorry for the trouble, Uncle. Please bear with it for now."
He gave a helpless smile. "Alright then. Shall we go see your aunt?"
"Actually, Uncle, I wanted to know more about the past. About my mother. I know so little. Could you please tell me more?"
Seeing the pleading look on Eleanor’s face, Elliot Grant’s expression softened. He leaned back and began recounting the story of Esmeralda Langford, Eleanor’s mother.
"The Langford family received their Earldom during the Victorian era, elevating them to high status with seats in the House of Lords, vast estates, and strong influence in regional governance. Even as the British system modernized and Parliament gained more power, their noble status still carried weight. They had connections with the Royals and were a powerful family in both politics and society."
He continued, "Many Langfords served as Privy Councilors, Royal Advisors, or Lord Chamberlains. They held key roles in the House of Lords until the House of Lords Act of 1999, which removed most hereditary peers. Only 92 were allowed to remain, selected through internal elections. Your grandfather was one of them. He won, keeping the Langford name in politics."
Mr. Grant’s gaze turned reflective. "But your mother... she didn’t want that life. She hated politics. While the family focused on maintaining legacy, she saw the opportunities in the booming economy. She wanted to start her own business. Birmingham was developing fast, and she had the foresight to make something of it. But her father refused to fund her. That’s when she came to me. I believed in her vision. I gave her the initial capital, and together, we started what would become EverBuild Solutions Limited."