Single Mother of a Werewolf Baby

Chapter 36: The Langford Castle

Langford Castle was a large, old building that had clearly seen better days. Built during the Victorian era by Alexander Langford, the first Earl of Birmingham from the Langford family, it had once stood as a symbol of grandeur and influence. Over the years, however, the lack of proper care had allowed time to take its toll, and the castle had slowly fallen into disrepair. Still, even in its weathered state, anyone who gazed upon it could feel the lingering power and history it embodied.

The estate spanned more than fifty acres, surrounded by a dense thicket of trees and overgrown patches of land. The front gate opened directly onto the Middleway, while the rear of the castle bordered the Birmingham Canal. On either side, the once-secluded castle now pressed against the rising concrete walls of the city’s commercial district, making it look like a remnant of the past trapped in the heart of modernity.

Within the boundaries of the estate stood several smaller buildings, all showing signs of similar decay. The guard post at the entrance was empty, and no one seemed to be watching over the gate. A wide concrete road stretched from the main gate to the castle, flanked by rows of trees and bushes: Fern-leaved Beech, London Plane, Dove Tree, Rhododendrons, and several others. The road was blanketed in fallen leaves, indicating it hadn’t been cleaned for days.

The once vibrant life of the Langford estate had faded. Few staff members remained... a handful of stable boys, gardeners, and aged guards kept the castle barely functional. The grounds that once bustled with activity were now silent, desolate. Only the wind whispered through the trees, carrying echoes of the past.

Inside, however, the grand hall pulsed with tension. Langford Park... a piece of land owned by the family in the city center, which was once a gift to the people by the first Earl. For generations, it had served as a public park. Its popularity had waned over the years as families moved to the suburbs, but it remained a haven for office workers and pedestrians seeking rest or solitude.

Due to the Langford family’s declining wealth, several local politicians had begun eyeing the estate. They couldn’t confront the family directly... their legacy of philanthropy still commanded public respect... so instead, they conspired to weaken them through subtler means: legal obstacles, zoning issues, and media pressure.

Councillor Louis Turner. Tall and handsome with a scholarly air, he appeared kind and intelligent at first glance. A former scholarship student and academic achiever, his fall from grace began in university, where he became entangled with international smugglers. The illicit trade made him wealthy overnight, and he laundered his gains into real estate investments. When whispers of his sudden fortune grew

due to the Langford family’s high social standing, he couldn’t seize the property by force. The land’s current market value was also far beyond his

commercial city. Louis had made several offers to the Langfords, but they remained unmoved. In a desperate attempt, he brought Brian Morgan, the American businessman, with him today to make one final offer. This

was permitted to bring armed bodyguards into the Kingdom. Louis was well aware that the Langfords relied on elderly, unarmed guards for security. His true intention was to pressure them into signing the contract today... by force,

filled with polite offers and no fruitful results, Louis became irritated.

his voice tight with veiled contempt, "you are the Earl, yes. But do you have the resources to uphold that title anymore? Look around you... no staff, no funds.

councilor said wasn’t entirely untrue, yet Walter couldn’t bring himself to betray his lineage. The park was a gift from his ancestor to the people; selling it would

in London. If they saw this, they’d cause a scene. Since my elder brother’s retirement, these new politicians have become brazen. They forget he was once the Lord

But my ancestor dedicated that land to the people. It was Birmingham’s first formal park and holds deep historical value. We may be struggling, but we won’t abandon our duty to the public. Your offer is generous, but

the word park, deliberately reframing the land

to any offshore account of your choice. This is a goodwill gesture. Think about what you could do with that money...