"You can say what you want about others, but don''t talk about my mother like that," Aurora said, taking two sips of tea to calm her anger.


    "Maybe she''s a good mother to you, selfless even. But for the family, she''s a selfish person."


    Aurora frowned slightly, still displeased that he spoke poorly of Tina. "What do you mean by that?"


    "As the head of the family, every decision she makes should prioritize the family''s interests. Yet, she hid the fact that you existed. We only found out recently that when she left all those years ago, she had a child outside the family."


    Aurora struggled to grasp his meaning. "Why would my mother hide my existence from you?"


    "To exin that, we have to go back a long way. Do you have the patience to listen?"


    "I came here to learn the truth," Aurora replied.


    "Even if you hadn''te, we would''ve found you," Mr. Elderstone said with a smile.


    "For what reason?"


    "To inherit the family legacy, of course. The R family and the R Corporation will both be yours," Bramwell Elderstone said boldly.


    Aurora, having spent years navigating the business world, never believed in free gifts falling from the sky. And even if they did, they wouldn''tnd on herp.


    By the old man''s logic, this was clearly a good thing. If it was so great, then why had her mother faked her death and refused to acknowledge her existence?


    Between Bramwell Elderstone and Tina, Aurora''s loyalty was firmly with her mother. However, she also needed Elderstone to reveal the true secrets of the R family.


    "Tell me about the origins of the R family and the family''s secrets, like this so-called curse."


    "Alright, I''ll exin it to you slowly," Bramwell Elderstone began, his voice deliberate and even. "Our family is a lineage of astrologers and fortune-tellers."


    "Astrology?" Aurora asked, unfamiliar with the term.


    "Yes."


    Aurora excelled in many areas, but she was clueless about this one. Thinking about astrology reminded her of Tina''s peculiarities.


    For instance, whenever they attended a funeral for a close rtive, her mother would always look around and say strange things.


    If Aurora ever asked what she meant, Tina would dismiss it, saying she was just talking


    nonsense.


    Looking back now, it seemed like her mother''s professional instincts were at y. Tina must have ced great importance on the feng shui of the burial site and made casual remarks about it.


    Who would have thought that Tina was a master fortune-teller? Yet, she had kept her talents so low-profile that no one ever suspected.


    Bramwell Elderstone paused before continuing, "This knowledge dates back to ancient times, perhaps even earlier. The wisdom of the ancients far surpasses ours today.


    "They mapped the heavens and connected the stars to the mountains and rivers of Earth. Over time, they umted a wealth of knowledge.


    "While modern youth may not ce much importance on feng shui, in ancient times, it


    was crucial, from emperors tomoners. Astrology yed a vital role in many aspects of life, and as the years passed, various schools of thought emerged."


    Aurora had always been exposed to modern ideas. This was the first time she encountered something as profound as astrology.


    "What kind of school or rank does our family belong to?" she asked, still unclear about the subject.


    "Our family is, of course, at the pinnacle of all schools. We served emperors," Bramwell Elderstone dered, his expression lighting up with pride.


    To Aurora, his words sounded like something out of a historical drama or textbook. She never imagined she would be so close to such a story herself.


    "Does that mean our family is incredibly powerful?"


    "Of course. In ancient times, many famous figures worked in the light while we operated in the shadows. There is no historical record of us.


    "Our expertise in astrology was unparalleled. Every head of the family served as an advisor to emperors and generals.


    "Especially during times of dynastic change, the family head would emerge to assist the rightful ruler. Offering guidance and rity to the emperor was always their responsibility."


    Listening to Elderstone, Aurora felt as if she were hearing a myth. "Then our family must have been incredibly prosperous."


    "Not necessarily. Nothing in this worldes without a cost. For everything gained, something is lost.


    "The saying ''to serve a king is to serve a tiger'' is not just a dramatized phrase in TV shows. Reality is far crueler.


    "When assisting a new emperor to ascend the throne, they are naturally grateful and shower you with rewards.


    If you''re loving the book, nel5s is where the adventure continues. Join us for theplete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "But the moment you fail to meet their expectations, their attitudes shift. Even a single wrong word can result in your death.


    "In fact, our family has faced three major cmities throughout history. Each time, we nearly went extinct. Yet we managed to survive.


    "Thest incident urred during World War II. The world was in chaos. The family head at the time foresaw that the family''s fate had reached its end and that nothing could reverse it. To avoid further massacres, she led the family to immigrate to New York.


    "Fortunately, the chaos of that period gave us the opportunity to escape. If we had stayed, we would have facedplete annihtion."


    From Bramwell Elderstone''s brief ount, Aurora heard the rise and fall of her family''s history. She recalled the paintings and calligraphy hanging in the vi when she arrived, likely relics of imperialmendations.


    The family had faced cycles of prosperity and decline, enduring countless changes to reach the present. Their story, akin to a legend, made Aurora realize her family''s extraordinary capabilities.


    "Is the curse real?" Aurora asked. If she had once dismissed curses as mere fantasy, Bramwell Elderstone''s recounting of the past made them seem less imusible.


    "It''s not unreasonable to call it a curse," Bramwell Elderstone nodded. "Every head of our family, throughout history, has been a woman.


    "Each family has its own rules, and in ours, the art of divination has always been passed down to daughters, never sons.


    "What''s strange is that every family head''s firstborn is always a girl. Modern science might exin this through gics or heredity.


    "But to us, it''s something extraordinary. Girls are more adept at mastering the family''s astrological practices, allowing them to carry on the tradition to this day.


    "As I''ve said before, every advantagees with a disadvantage. Nothing is absolutely perfect."