Free Web NovelChapter 1268: Chapter 1267: Richard Shaw Is Clearly the One Clinging to Her Leg
As soon as Constantine Stewart finished speaking, the crowd burst into discussion.
Constantine Stewart had always carried a mysterious aura among the noble circles of the Imperial City, and anyone who caught his attention was definitely significant.
"I’ve heard that the internal strife among the southern noble families has been fierce these past years. When did the Squire Family emerge?"
"Don’t mention it, the south has been soaked in blood and storm, internecine fighting within the Leclair estate, even sons have thrown their fathers into jail, not to mention wiping out other old noble families. It seems the Squire Family only rose to power in recent years."
"I haven’t heard anything about the Squire Family being influential, but Mr. Stewart seems to hold them in high regard."
The crowd whispered to each other, knowing only the Leclair Family ruled as emperors of the south, paying no attention to the Squire Family.
Griffith Squire had multiple identities, publicly seeming like an ordinary wealthy businessman in the south. He held a love-hate relationship with the land of the Imperial City and nearly never set foot here, resulting in few people knowing about the infamous reputation of the Squire siblings. Otherwise, even with courage, no one would dare provoke the legendary doting brother.
Serena Winton, seeing Constantine Stewart speak on Leah’s behalf, turned pale with anger and sneered at Leah’s jealousy-inducing face, "Mr. Stewart must have been deceived. How could this be a young lady from a noble family? I’ve never even heard of the Squire Family. Maybe it’s a scam they orchestrated in the Imperial City."
Constantine Stewart raised an eyebrow upon hearing and, noticing Leah’s lack of anger, was somewhat surprised. Wasn’t her temper supposed to be good?
A few minutes earlier, when the Winton sisters were arguing with Leah, Constantine Stewart was watching indifferently until he received a message from Major General Shaw, saying that his wife had a bad temper, and if anyone bullied Leah, they must prevent them, or Leah’s temper would surely ruin his banquet.
Only then did Constantine Stewart quickly step out. Joking aside, Leah had a brother who was a warlord head and an army major general who would fiercely protect her. If the banquet was smashed, would he go to battle Griffith Squire or argue with Richard Shaw?
Seeing Serena’s persistence, a trace of disgust flashed in Constantine Stewart’s eyes, his elegant and jade-like face growing several degrees of coldness. He spoke solely to Leah Squire, "Miss Squire, please take a seat."
Serena Winton was disgraced on the spot, her nails almost breaking.
Leah, noticing Mr. Stewart seemed eager to defend her, couldn’t help but smile and ask, "Does Mr. Stewart know me?"
It seems she hadn’t introduced herself.
"I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Squire twice and owe him a favor. Moreover, Major General Shaw just said he’d pick you up after the banquet." Constantine Stewart, not wanting to waste more words, threw out two facts, leaving these onlookers to deal with it.
The crowd was astonished, thinking, who could make Constantine Stewart owe a debt? Since his arrival in the Imperial City, he had always risen smoothly, never seen in a predicament, much less Richard Shaw coming to pick someone up. freeweɓnøvel.com
Richard Shaw hadn’t appeared in public for years.
At once, the crowd looked at Leah Squire with mysterious awe; she had such nation-crippling beauty, and her background wasn’t small either. It seemed there was no hope of involvement.
Leah raised an eyebrow at that remark. No wonder such a cold, cunning person would speak well of her; he knew her background and feared she’d ruin his event.
Leah smiled subtly, looking at Serena Winton, whose face turned from green to white in anger, and said gently, "Serena Winton, you know, I don’t provoke unless provoked. You were spreading false rumors yesterday, tying me to Richard Shaw, which made me very unhappy."
Serena Winton, seeing Constantine Stewart support Leah and reveal her strong background, then witnessing Leah confront her, called out incredibly, "Did I say anything wrong? Aren’t you just relying on that face to cling to Richard Shaw’s thigh? You do it, but people can’t talk about it?"
Clearly, it was Richard Shaw who clung to her thigh tightly. Leah sneered, squinting her beautiful peach blossom eyes, contemplating whether to torment her childhood rival slowly or swiftly, when suddenly a commotion arose with someone exclaiming, "Major General Shaw has arrived."
The crowd parted, revealing a man in a suit, standing tall as a clear peak, handsome and stern, exuding a faint aura of severity.
The man approached and stood beside Leah, looked at Serena Winton, who was dumbfounded, and spoke in a deep and cold tone, "Miss Winton, you got something wrong. It’s always been me pursuing Leah, and she hasn’t agreed yet. I hope those untrue rumors won’t appear anymore, or I will hold these against the entire Winton Family."
The man’s words were calm, without harshness or anger, yet everyone shivered, feeling inexplicably cold.
Serena Winton’s face turned frighteningly pale under Richard Shaw’s stern warning, nearly falling to the ground, lips trembling, unable to articulate her final words, bursting into tears, "I’ve liked you since childhood; why would you prefer this woman and not look at me?"
"Liking someone isn’t an excuse to hurt others. If I’m not mistaken, Miss Winton has liked several men, dozens even," Richard Shaw solemnly stated.
The Winton sisters were known socialites among the elite circles, fond of handsome men, not boasting a good reputation. Being exposed by Richard Shaw publicly, Serena Winton felt deeply ashamed, never feeling more humiliated, eyes rolling back as she fainted onto her sister.
Sophia Winton hurriedly called for assistance to carry her away, escaping from this unprecedented embarrassment. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
Everyone present, being experts, chortled, thinking the Winton sisters wouldn’t dare show their faces for a year. Inventing rumors that forced Major General Shaw to personally clarify was indeed a skill.
The crowd noticed the long-absent Major General Shaw, indeed recovered with greater aura than before, now composed and steady, emanating the authority of a superior. Such a person couldn’t be easily fooled, not to mention Constantine Stewart personally confirming Leah Squire’s identity.
Any myths about cosmetic surgery, body doubles, gold-digging, and scheming girls were evidently unfounded, simply rumors born of jealousy.
Yet they indulged in gossip for two days, treating it as idle chatter for amusement.
"Major General Shaw, are you here to pick someone up or attend the banquet?" Constantine Stewart observed how the situation was resolved in a few words, the Winton sisters weren’t utterly foolish, knowing to feign collapse to flee, preventing calamity from befalling the Winton Family.
"I’m passing by to pick someone up." Richard Shaw smiled gently towards Constantine Stewart, saying, "I’ll have someone send the Shaw Family’s donation for the charity banquet."
Although the Shaw Family never participated, their donations were substantial yearly. Being benevolent, Richard Shaw himself also performed charitable deeds.
Leah Squire, having not yet intervened, saw all the small fry cleared by Richard Shaw’s mere presence, remarked with boredom, "Since you’re here, let the Squire Family contribute too, isn’t a million enough?"
After speaking, Leah looked at Richard Shaw, unfamiliar with the Imperial City’s customs.
The crowd gasped, a million donated in one night? With various yearly charities and sudden events, donating like this, several million over a year, which family could handle it?
How profound must their family wealth be?
Richard Shaw, surprised by her words, suddenly realized his wife was wealthier than him, and he never donated a million annually.
Constantine Stewart, the ultimate winner, heard this, revealing his first genuine smile of the evening, warmly yet cunningly responding, "Well then, thank you both."
Thinking about this year’s charity banquet, the funds raised would be record-breaking, given even a Southern Squire Family heiress could donate a million at once. How could the Imperial City’s tight-fisted nobles, ah spit, noble scions, possibly allow themselves to be overshadowed by the south, even going so far as to hock their trousers to donate more?
