Chapter 413: Chapter 409 The Mistress of the Lewis Family

Translator: 549690339

Just as the old man had made the announcement, someone down below muttered a comment.

“They claim to be the legitimate grandchildren of the Lewis family, yet their last name isn’t Lewis, but Dunn?”

His words seemed to resonate with many others below.

“Yeah, if they’re descendants of the Lewis family, they should have the Lewis surname.”

“Even if they were truly of Lewis blood, their refusal to use the Lewis surname shows a lack of sincerity!”

The old man, though advanced in age, had sharp ears and eyes, and a clear understanding in his heart.

He paused for a moment, allowing the clamor to continue, before speaking up.

“Children are the product of their parents’ love. A mother endures a thousand times more hardship than a father. What’s wrong with using the mother’s surname? Are the children’s veins not coursing with their father’s blood or what?”

“You call me old-fashioned, but it turns out that you youngsters are the ones with conservative and feudal thinking. The Lewis family and Lewis Group have stood strong for over a century, not because of conservatism and feudalism, but because of the courage to innovate, expand, and the ever-increasing new energy.”

With that, the old man silenced the grumblings from those below.

After making a few concluding remarks, he instructed Roy Lewis to take the three children to pay respects to their ancestors.

After speaking with Roy, he beckoned to Richelle Dunn.

“Richelle, you come too!”

Again, someone below began to chatter.

“What’s the matter, not only do the children not have the Lewis surname, but the family head hasn’t even married her. Yet she’s already paying respects to the ancestors!”

The old man assertively silenced the relatives, “I’m making this very clear today, no matter what happens in the future, I have recognized Richelle as my granddaughter-in-law… and only her!”

As the current family head and a party involved, Roy maintained a dignified expression while addressing the family members.

“I, Roy Lewis, hereby declare that I will not marry anyone other than Richelle Dunn in this life. Therefore, there can be no other family matriarch except her.”

Richelle had initially felt a little awkward, unsure of her position in the family.

However, now that the two highest authorities in the Lewis family were backing her up, it would be a slap in their faces if she hesitated at this moment.

Her three darling children also ran over and wrapped their arms around her hand, pulling her to Roy’s side.

And so, the three children, Roy, and Richelle performed their respects to the generations of Lewis ancestors.

Afterward, the elder in charge of the ceremony presented Timothy and Tifanny each with a ring engraved with the Lewis character, and added their names to the family genealogy records.

The ceremony was followed by a banquet.

Several hundred people moved to a large reception hall next to the ancestral hall. Timmy was accustomed to the pomp and circumstance, having returned each year.

Timothy and Tifanny were amazed by the dozens of tables filling the banquet hall, each laden with a variety of delicious dishes.

The room was bustling.

“Wow, it’s so lively!”

Tifanny had always been the most carefree of the three siblings, so while her two brothers protected their mother on either side, she was curiously looking around in Roy’s arms.

Richelle could sense her sons’ vigilance, and felt a mix of amusement and helplessness.

Honor and power always came with danger.

Even their five-year-old son had already deeply grasped this fact.

Initially, Richelle hadn’t believed it necessary for Timothy and Tifanny to make this trip to the Lewis Group’s ancestral hall.

However, now she couldn’t help but admire the old man’s foresight.

She had always wanted to give her children a life of freedom and happiness.

But from the moment she found out that they were Roy’s children, the weight they carried on their shoulders changed completely.

Just as with Timmy’s recent accident, she believed that perhaps another child could have been spared.

However, because Timmy was her and Roy’s child, trouble still found its way to their doorstep.

In such an environment, a naive and innocent persona wouldn’t last long.

Thus, even though she sensed her children’s unease and wariness, she didn’t say anything to comfort them.

For them, a resilient heart and exceptional insight must be developed and nurtured through these everyday experiences.

It was then that she began to understand the old man’s purpose in having her attend this gathering.

She had always been the primary influence on her three children’s education.

Indeed, experience truly was the best teacher.

By exposing her to this environment, she didn’t even have to wait until they returned home to begin changing her mindset and views.

It was also at this time that she understood Roy’s strict teaching approach towards Timmy from the start.

Clearly, it had been a product of the high-pressure, high-responsibility environment he grew up in.

“Mommy, sit down!”

Timmy pulled out Richelle’s chair and placed a hand on her waist as she sat.

As the eldest of the three children, he was the heir apparent in the eyes of the extended family.

His demeanor bore much more weight and importance than his recently recognized younger siblings, Timothy and Tifanny.

Richelle leaned in to kiss him, “Thank you, my precious!”

Timmy nuzzled her face, then pulled the seat next to her open, gesturing at Timothy, “Little brother, you sit here!”