I made another one! I promise I'll get back to uploading actual stories soon, but I just finished watching this kdrama and I couldn't resist. Hope y'all like it!!
Sugar gets intimate with the 39th generation of Arkridge City's favourite heritage family to talk societal debuts, growing up under the stead of Reginald Clemonte, and their unshakable bond with each other.
Once upon a time, when you hear the name 'Clemonte', you would think old school philanthropists and the family company Clemonte Corporations formerly lead by the late Reginald Clemonte. Now, the prospering 39th generation of Clemontes are making their debut and growing into themselves outside of the classic elegant image of the family you usually see.
While the rest of the family are on strict schedules, Serafine, Aredhel, Maribelle, and Storm Clemonte carved out a moment from their hectic lives and opened the door to their private family estate to talk about influence, impact, and their different chosen paths.
Serafine is the first to sit down with us in one of the many estate lounges. Academic prodigy and a name on the latest Forbes 30 under 30 list, the Clemonte first-born steadily worked her way from the bottom of Clemonte Corporations and rose to become its current Chief Executive Officer at the mere age of 30. "There is nothing like building my own legacy, I have high hopes for where I can lead the company next," says Serafine, eldest sibling of the nine Clemontes, speaking about her ambitions for the family's enterprise. "Me and Father have a competitive relationship when it comes to the business, there is nothing I miss more than our weekly catch-ups and rounds of chess."
Fresh off the high of her engagement to Marcus Bryce, Aredhel, third of the nine Clemontes, chimes in with her own memories. "Reginald has always been a mentor to me, the father figure I never had. It is a blessing that the Clemontes helped me in my time of need, and I have never been prouder to be a part of the family." Aredhel is one of five adopted siblings in the family, claiming that there is never a dull moment with each other. They are evidence of Reginald Clemonte's lifelong dedication of his love for this city. "As much as there are arguments and fighting, there is just as much love and compassion between the nine of us. I know most of my siblings better than they know themselves."
Maribelle is no different from Aredhel—with a history in the Arkridge adoption system before miraculously encountering Reginald Clemonte at an annual Clemonte charity gala that led to her inauguration to the family—she too, is dedicated to continuing Reginald's works of generosity. Her psychology studies have lead her to an internship at the forensic psychiatric hospital Arkridge Asylum. "For me, this is my way of extending Dad's charity, he has always heavily contributed to Arkridge City's wellbeing. He did it for me, and I want to pay it forward for others too," Maribelle reflects. "I would be nothing without him, and I'm sure the others would agree."
Storm, the second youngest and formidable in her own right, doesn't hesitate despite keeping her personal life close to her chest. "Mari's right. Dad was never keen on my career choices but he was always the first to show his endless support. I wouldn't have come so far without him. I know he would've loved to watch this year's Accademia Christmas shows, I always save him and Mum a box in the theatre." Usually attached to the hip with twin Sage Clemonte, Storm chose a much different path from her siblings away from family businesses to train at Arkridge City's elite dance academy Romano Accademia. The up-and-coming ballerina is a prominent feature in the Romano Accademia's sold out rendition of 'Swan Lake'.
The Clemonte siblings' childhoods were kept mostly private, the family preferring to keep a low public profile to follow their tradition of societal debuts at the age of sixteen. With all four of them in one lounge, lined with childhood photos, the dynamic four spill silly childhood memories as they reminisce their late father. "He used to play hide and seek with us in these halls," Serafine says. "There are rooms and places I wouldn't know existed without those games, and he always managed to find every single one of us. It was nine against one and he still won!"
All eyes are on the next generation of Clemontes, their futures are uncertain but their well-known ambition are sure to stir up the Arkridge City scene.
I'll wait for you
Even though it always feels like I'll be number two
To someone you can't hold anymore
If you let me in, I'm ready to give you what I couldn't before
