ryethenovel Chapter 1279 - 1278: All These Years, She’s Been Like a Runaway Child, Afraid to Return Home
Chapter 1279 - 1278: All These Years, She’s Been Like a Runaway Child, Afraid to Return Home
Regarding the Shaw Family’s situation, apart from a few high-ranking insiders in the Imperial City, the rest have been kept in the dark.
The Shaw Mansion has long since closed its doors to visitors. During these sensitive times, it seems unlikely anyone would visit. Even the Shaw Family’s branches have to avoid suspicion for fear of being implicated by those with ill intentions.
Amidst the predicament facing the Shaw Family, Ignatius Leclair brought Delphine to the Shaw Mansion for a visit.
Leah calculated the time and figured they must have flown directly from the United Kingdom without taking a break.
In the past couple of days, the old lady even packed the luggage for Leah and Casimir Shaw, urging Leah to take Casimir back to the South Seas. During such times, how could Leah possibly leave the Shaw Mansion? Upon seeing Delphine, her long-suppressed emotions finally found an outlet.
Delphine held her hand and comfortingly said, "We all know about Major General Shaw’s situation, don’t worry, let’s go inside and talk."
Leah nodded. Her temperament was more resilient than most, but not knowing Richard Shaw’s situation made her fear that everything he did was as she feared, and the psychological burden was immense.
Ignatius Leclair brought a thick stack of documents and the entire think tank, nodded at Leah, and then inquired about the situation at the Shaw Mansion as they talked while walking towards the mansion.
"The few servants left at the Shaw Mansion have been with the family for years and can be trusted. Grandma Shaw has always wanted me to take Casimir back to the South Seas, and this matter is likely more serious than I imagined," Leah said firmly.
Upon entering the living room, the old lady was sitting there polishing a photo frame. Ignatius Leclair approached and said in a low voice, "Grandma Shaw, I’ve brought Delphine to see you."
Ignatius had lived in the Imperial City with his mother when he was young, and over the years had developed a close friendship with Richard Shaw. The old lady adored him as a half-grandson. Seeing him bring someone over during such a situation, she quickly put down the photo frame, stood up, her eyes moist, and said, "Silly child, why did you bring your wife with you? Ah Zhe said you recently had surgery, why are you rushing back and forth?"
"It’s nothing, my health has improved greatly. Yesterday morning, old Shaw called me. I will arrange the matters here in the Imperial City, don’t worry," Ignatius Leclair reassured the old lady, asking Arthur White and others to take the documents to the tea room.
Grandma Shaw was the most courteous. After such an incident, she appeared calm but was genuinely anxious. Upon seeing Delphine, she only remembered to offer a meeting gift for the younger generation but was unsure what to give, just calling out to Leah, "Delphine, it’s your first time at the Shaw Mansion, Leah, go to the storeroom."
Leah quickly stepped forward to support the old lady and said, "Grandma, Delphine is my best friend, not an outsider."
Delphine also stepped forward to support the elderly lady. Having known that the Shaw family was lonely and widowed, seeing the old lady of such age endure such things, yet still maintaining composure to support the family’s reputation, filled her with empathy. She softly said, "Grandma Shaw, there’s no need for such formality."
The old lady tightly held the hands of Leah and Delphine, witnessing Leah’s unwillingness to leave after the Shaw family’s misfortune, and even seeing those from the South Seas come to help in hard times, was a rare blessing in a world so indifferent.
The old lady kept nodding and quickly called for Mrs. Zhao to serve tea.
After sitting down, Ignatius Leclair held the hot tea, and after the servants left, his narrow and deep phoenix eyes slightly squinted as he slowly unveiled the secrets of the matter.
"Though this incident was initiated by the Winton Family uncovering Leah’s identity, and Alessandro Winton rode this wave to prominence, prompting the Landon Family to report the Shaw Family, old Shaw had been preparing. Thus, the Winton Family’s pressure and the Landon’s report were not a threat. The most critical aspect is old Shaw’s plan to take this chance to reopen the Cox Family’s old case."
Ignatius Leclair addressed these words to Leah. Apart from Leah, everyone present knew what Richard Shaw intended to do and how long he’d prepared for it.
Leah’s hands and feet turned cold. Though she suspected some aspects, she had never dared to believe. With no news from the investigation team in the past two days, once Ignatius explained everything, her fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.
That blockhead Shaw was the dumbest person she had ever met, not leaking a single word beforehand.
"Before coming to the Imperial City, I made a trip to Brocade City. Griffith Squire has also reached the Imperial City. Regarding this matter, the Squire Family and Shaw Family share a common goal. Griffith has already made an agreement with me. Here in the Imperial City, the Shaw Family’s foundation remains intact. Although Griffith’s international reputation is not prominent, he has significant influence in both the Imperial City and internationally. Coupled with support from the Howard Family and the South Seas, even in the worst-case scenario, old Shaw would at most lose his current power. Even if the authorities want to convict the Shaw Family, they would have to consider such external pressure."
With concise words, Ignatius Leclair offered reassurance, making it clear he came to the Imperial City primarily to safeguard Grandma Shaw and Leah Squire, those most important to old Shaw, against any threat.
"The report case has shifted from the Shaw Family being an accomplice in the Cox Family’s embezzlement to the Cox Family case having hidden truths. Griffith will directly petition as a descendant of the Cox Family, requesting to reopen the case," Ignatius Leclair’s voice was steady, revealing the unknown insider story.
Since the report case occurred, Richard Shaw had meticulously arranged everything. The crucial step was Ignatius Leclair hurrying back from the United Kingdom to replace him in overseeing matters in the Imperial City and collaborating with Griffith.
The old lady said "good" three times, her eyes moist, finally settling her heart. Since the inc
ident, she had been unable to eat or sleep well, held together only by sheer will. Now, as she exhaled deeply, she seemed to waver unsteadily.
Leah and Delphine quickly supported the old lady into a room to lie down and called for the family doctor.
The elderly doctor took a look, only saying the old lady was mentally exhausted, over-tired, and she should rest well, prescribing some soothing traditional medicine.
Once the old lady had taken the medicine and was asleep, Leah and Delphine left the room.
Ignatius Leclair and key members of the think tank discussed matters in the tea room while Delphine took Leah’s hand, gently saying, "Ignatius mentioned that Major General Shaw had been planning this for at least one or two years, so though the event was sudden, we can face it calmly. Don’t worry, just wait with a calm heart."
Leah nodded, then sat with her by the fireplace, her voice low and hoarse as she said, "Actually, I grew up in the Shaw Family. After everything happened, Griffith Squire told me to go back to the South Seas, but in my heart, I know the Shaw Family is my real home. Though I could deceive anyone else over the years, I couldn’t deceive myself."
After discovering the truth about her parents, she felt like a runaway child, wanting to go home but never daring to return.
"Griffith says, in the embezzlement case, the Shaw Family is the main culprit. These two days, I’ve been wondering how on earth Shaw plans to overturn the case. Delphine, did Ignatius Leclair ever tell you the truth about what happened back then?" Leah asked in a low voice.