"You're back, Tony."
Spotting Tony, Manny, and Roxy, Susan got up and approached them as if she had found support.
Tony made a beeline for Susan and sat where she was seated.
Manny and Roxy did not have any place to sit. Susan lost her seat, too. No one offered their seat to her.
It was Manny who felt bad for Susan because she could not be on her feet for too long at her age. He asked for a chair and placed it next to Tony. Susan took a seat on the chair while Manny sat on the armrest of Tony's sofa.
Roxy was a young family member. Since no one gave up their seat to Susan or Tony, the chances she could get one were nil.
Manny unleashed hell in his mind.
Laurence had not even assumed power. However, no one offered him a seat when he, the acting head, returned.
These people must think that Manny's reign was over.
Even if Manny were to step down today, he would still be in control of Longbottom Corporation. Surely, Laurence would not oust him from the company right away.
"Laurence, what's the reason you gathered us here?"
Tony asked the obvious question.
"To take my rightful place."
Laurence added, "I've been preparing for the day I'd take over the family since my return to Havenmill. I've been here for years, so I've gotten to know a lot of the city and the family. I have established my own influence and connections and built my own empire.
"The bitter rivalry between our companies gave me everything I needed to know about Longbottom Corporation, the family, and the family numbers. Now that the groundwork is complete, it is time for me to take back what's mine.
"You all know who I am. My father was the family head. Thirty years ago, my family was brutally murdered by enemies.
"I was only a year old then. I didn't know anything, but I was blessed to survive the massacre. Mom told me that I was being hunted, but who would kill a baby?
"My nanny and bodyguards have died. If it weren't for Mom, I would've died too.
"Mom found me, and Master took me in as her apprentice. They dug into my family history. To protect me, they kept the truth from me until I was of age.
"In the meantime, Jane kept the family heirlooms until I was an adult. I have been keeping these things with me for years."
Laurence took out the family seal and token and placed them on the coffee table. "You can examine these items. They are the real deal. You can't fake these items."
The key was the totem.
Holding the items, Tony inspected them carefully. No one was more familiar with the heirlooms than he was.
The late family head would press the seal on the papers to issue assignments, and Tony could not be more envious. He dreamed of the day he would wield the same power.
He had no doubt that the items were genuine. The elites would not mistake a forgery for the real thing.
After minutes of examination, Tony turned to Laurence for a long time before uttering with respect, "What about the totem? Without the totem, we can't acknowledge your authority.
As Laurence rose to his feet, Noelle walked around the couch and pulled his shirt up when he turned around. Now, everyone could see the totem on his back.
Everyone was shocked.
Tony and Manny were stunned.
It never occurred to them that the totem would be branded into Laurence's back. Surely, the process could not have been done in one session.
The late family head must have sensed the imminent danger, so he had the key engraved on his youngest son. Even if the pain was excruciating, he still inked the totem on Laurence's back.
It must have been agonizing for Laurence as a baby.
The late family head sure had a lot of faith that Laurence would make it out alive.
No, the late family head simply got ready for the worst-case scenario. Even if Laurence did not survive, the perpetrator would not be able to take charge because they had no idea where the totem was.
Without the totem, no one could run the family.
That way, the Longbottoms' legacy would still survive. At least, the assets would not be occupied by one person.