"It's true that you look remarkably like the late family head who passed away decades ago, but even those unrelated by blood can share a resemblance. How can you prove you're the son of the late family head?"
Laurence said solemnly, "Without the family heirlooms, I wouldn't even show my face around here or call every family member here."
The mention of the bloodline was such a low blow since his immediate family was dead.
Laurence was aware of the family rules. Susan's attempt to use the bloodline against him would not work.
Susan scanned the room before her gaze fell on Laurence's handsome face. Laurence kept his cool, looking like he had everything in the bag.
She knew that a DNA test would not hold Laurence back. Still, she said, "Since you have everything, why don't you show us the totem?"
The totem was the key.
In any case, the totem had always been carefully protected by the successive family heads. The totem would only be shown to everyone when a new head was taking
over.
That was the only time the totem was revealed. Only the older family would have known what the totem looked like.
She became part of the Longbottom family just before the late head of the family took power. She was lucky enough to have seen the totem once, and the image was etched in her memory. She would never forget it.
Tony only knew that the totem was a treasure map when he became the acting head.
If he could get his hands on the totem, his family would be rich even if he did not assume a leadership role. His family would just sell the treasure and break away from the Longbottoms while still living in luxury.
They might even be better off than being the family head.
Laurence smiled pretentiously. "What's the rush? I have everything. I have had these family heirlooms with me since the age of one. I have kept them safe for over thirty years.
"I've shown the seal and token. They are the real deal, am I right?"
He patted his face. "There are portraits of past family heads and their wives along the hall. Aren't I the spitting image of my father? I have some of my mother's features as well.
"Even Tony can't deny the resemblance. All heirlooms are in my possession. What does that tell you?
"We need to wait until Tony and Manny are back before I can show the totem. I want every member of this family to be here before I take over. The last thing I want is to prove myself again and again.
"We can't proceed if one person is missing. Since the acting head isn't here, I can't just rush the takeover."
Susan was lost for words.
She fell silent in embarrassment, but deep down, she hated Laurence's guts.
Her deepest hatred was reserved for the two bodyguards and the nanny who took Laurence away years ago. If they had not saved Laurence, the boy would have perished along with his parents.
Tony and his people had searched high and low for Laurence. They came across clues and possibly suspects, but none pointed to the right person.
Laurence sure had such good luck.
He survived when his immediate family died. Plus, Jane found him.
Meadspring was miles and miles away from Annenburg, so Jane would not normally be there. When she turned out to be an heiress of the Meadspring Lafayettes, she went there to meet the family and stumbled upon Laurence.
It could very well be divine intervention.
Maybe the Longbottoms' late family head had a hand in it from beyond the grave.
The side branch's takeover would ultimately crumble.
The wait was not long as Tony, Manny, and Roxy arrived at the manor shortly. The family residence was packed with people. Even on a hot day, they did not leave or look annoyed. In fact, some were excited while others appeared anxious.
Those around Tony's and Manny's ages had a lot on their mind. They may or may not be aware of the family massacre in the past.