Chapter Sixty: The Future is Ours

Theo stood at the head of the grand hall of the Kensington estate, his eyes fixed on the view outside, where the sprawling estate stretched far beyond the horizon. The lush greenery, the vineyards at Earlsfield, and the magnificent gardens—everything around him symbolized the success that he and Eleanor had worked so hard for. Yet, despite all the beauty that surrounded him, a great weight hung in the air. Today, he would address his family. Or rather, what was left of it.

Eleanor was beside him, her hand resting gently on his arm, offering her silent support. She had always been his strength, the one who believed in him when no one else did, the one who pushed him to embrace change, to go beyond the expectations of the world. They had fought for their future together, and now, they had it. But the cost had been steep, and the ties with his family were beyond repair.

“The time has come,” Theo said quietly, his voice calm yet resolute. He turned to Eleanor, his eyes locking with hers. She nodded, understanding his unspoken words. They had discussed this for days, and now it was time to make the final decision.

“The family,” he said, his gaze moving to the Duke and Duchess of Islington, who were seated across from them in the drawing room. Adrian and Nicholas were with them, their faces cold and unsmiling, just as they always were. The tension in the room was thick, but Theo’s resolve remained unshaken. “They’re beyond repair. They cannot accept the changes, cannot see that the world is moving forward.”

Eleanor’s hand tightened around his arm, offering him the comfort he needed to continue.

“I have given them every opportunity, Eleanor. But if they cannot be happy for me, for us—if they cannot see that this is the future I’ve chosen, the future I’ve built with you—then they have no place in my life.” His voice was steady, unwavering.

Eleanor’s heart swelled with pride. She knew how much this decision weighed on him, how much he had tried to make peace with his family. But the time had come to draw the line.

“You’ve always tried to make them see, Theo,” Eleanor said softly, her voice filled with compassion. “But they refuse to change. And now, it’s our time. We’ve worked hard for this. We’ve built something they’ll never understand.”

Theo turned to face his family, his parents, Adrian, and Nicholas, who were sitting stiffly, watching him with an air of disbelief. The Duke’s face was a mask of disappointment, while the Duchess’s eyes flashed with something akin to contempt. Adrian and Nicholas exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of how to react.

Theo met his parents’ eyes, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “I am done trying to fix things,” he declared. “The family I once knew is no longer the family I have. You’ve made your choice, and I’ve made mine. And from this day forward, I will not allow you into my circle. You’ve shown me who you truly are.”

The Duke of Islington opened his mouth to say something, but Theo held up a hand, silencing him.

“You can no longer claim to be part of my life,” Theo continued, his voice strong, cutting through the tension in the room. “If you cannot accept change, if you cannot be happy for your son—if you cannot respect the decisions I’ve made, then I will not waste another moment trying to keep these ties intact. There is no place for you here anymore.”

Eleanor’s heart pounded in her chest, but she stood tall beside him, her presence a steadying force. She had known this day would come. She had always feared that his family would never truly accept them, but now, with everything they had achieved, she knew they were more than capable of standing on their own.

“We’ve built something remarkable, Theo,” she said, her voice full of conviction. “The Kensington estate and the Earlsfield estate are ours now. We’ve merged them, made them one, and with that, we’ve created something greater than we ever imagined. We don’t need anyone who cannot accept us for who we are, who cannot accept the changes we’ve made.”

Theo smiled at her, his heart swelling with love and gratitude. She had always been his partner, his equal in every way. And now, they were more powerful than ever. The Duke and Duchess of Kensington, the new faces of the modern aristocracy.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Theo replied, his hand slipping into hers. “We have everything we need right here. Our future is ours to shape.”

The Duke of Islington finally spoke, his voice tight with barely contained anger. “You cannot simply sever all ties with your family, Theo. You’ll regret this decision one day.”

Theo shook his head, his expression calm but firm. “No, Father. The only regret I’ll have is waiting this long to make this choice.”

His eyes scanned the room, settling on each of his family members. He could feel the weight of their judgment, but he didn’t care anymore. They had their beliefs, their expectations, but he had his own, and those beliefs had nothing to do with the old world they clung to.

Eleanor squeezed his hand gently, offering her silent support. Together, they stood tall, united in their decision.

“The future is ours,” Theo said, his voice unwavering. “And we will not let anyone stand in our way.”

For a moment, there was only silence in the room. The Duke and Duchess of Islington exchanged looks, their faces filled with a mixture of disbelief and anger. Adrian and Nicholas, too, seemed uncertain of how to respond, caught between loyalty to their family and the realization that their younger brother had moved beyond them.

Theo turned his attention to Edmund and Catherine, who had been silent throughout the exchange, watching everything unfold. They had always supported him, and now, with their own family growing, they were more aligned than ever. Theo felt a deep sense of gratitude for their unwavering loyalty.

“I’ll say it again,” Theo continued, his voice softer now, but just as resolute. “The only ones I’ll allow into my circle are you two,” he said, nodding to Edmund and Catherine. “You’ve stood by me when no one else did, and for that, you’ll always have a place by my side. I will never forget that.”

Catherine smiled, her eyes glistening with pride. “We’ve always believed in you, Theo,” she said softly. “And we always will.”

The weight that had hung over Theo’s shoulders for so long seemed to lift, replaced by a sense of peace. He had made the right decision. He had chosen his future, and in doing so, he had chosen the people who mattered most.

The Islington family remained silent, their expressions unreadable, but Theo didn’t care. Their approval no longer mattered. They had refused to change, and that was their loss, not his.

With a final glance at his parents, Theo turned to Eleanor, his heart full of gratitude and love for the woman who had been with him through it all. Together, they had built something that would last, something that would define the future of the modern aristocracy. The title of Duke and Duchess of Kensington was no longer just a title—it was a legacy, a symbol of their power, their resilience, and their commitment to embracing the future.

As they stood side by side, hand in hand, Theo and Eleanor knew that they had created something greater than anyone could have ever expected. They had forged their own path, one that would leave a mark on the world, and nothing—not even the rigid traditions of their families—could take that away.

“The future is ours,” Theo whispered to Eleanor, his voice full of love and determination.

And in that moment, Eleanor knew that no matter what the world threw their way, they would face it together. They had everything they needed. And they were ready for whatever came next.