Free Web NovelChapter 1287: Chapter 1285: These Secrets Will Be Buried Forever, Never to Be Known Again
Richard Shaw returned to the Shaw Mansion, and the first thing he had to do was follow the old lady’s urging to burn some Mugwort, take a bath, and have his discarded clothes burned, symbolizing the expulsion of all bad luck.
The man felt a bit helpless, but seeing everyone’s attitude of embracing rather than rejecting the superstitions, he nodded in agreement.
After half a month’s isolated investigation, no one emerges from such an ordeal unscathed. Richard Shaw had noticeably lost weight, and his features were now more sharply defined. After bathing and shaving off the stubble on his chin, he handed the clothes he had changed out of to Sister Zhao, who burned them in the yard.
With the Shaw Family’s illustrious reputation, encountering such a crisis, added to Richard Shaw’s indefinite suspension of power, the Shaw family was undoubtedly on a downward slope. The old lady’s actions were merely for peace of mind.
Seeing Richard safely home, Ignatius Leclair, who likely had much to discuss with the old lady and Leah Squire, didn’t linger long and took Delphine with him as they left.
Leah returned from the doorway just as she saw Ignatius Leclair holding Delphine’s hand about to leave.
"Delphine, thank you and Ignatius Leclair so much during this time." Leah grasped Delphine’s hand, quietly expressing her gratitude.
When Richard Shaw got into trouble, Ignatius Leclair busied himself on their behalf, staying in the Imperial City for half a month, managing relationships, guiding public opinion, and spending a substantial amount of money. Leah’s opinion of him had improved significantly. At least she no longer held a grudge against him for his previous behavior towards Delphine, because this man had proved reliable when it mattered.
"We didn’t really do anything; Major General Shaw had everything arranged. There’s no need to say such formal things to me." Delphine said with a smile, holding her hand.
Leah’s words were naturally meant for Ignatius Leclair. Although she and Delphine were as close as sisters, it was Ignatius who had spent the money and put in the effort.
"You should go in and talk to Major General Shaw; he was watching you earlier, probably having much to say." Delphine’s gaze was clear, with a hint of amusement.
Leah nodded.
Ignatius Leclair, seeing that the two had finished their conversation, reached out to hold Delphine’s hand, politely and coolly nodded to Leah, then led Delphine away, whispering in his deep, seductive voice, "What does the lady fancy for dinner today? I’ll cook for you, hmm?"
"Anything is fine, I’m not picky." Their voices gradually faded away.
Leah watched them walk away hand in hand, standing under a bare gingko tree stripped of its leaves, smiling slightly. She remembered the first time she saw young Delphine, sitting by the window of a small wooden house, staring blankly at the setting sun, her small face expressionless, like a lifeless porcelain doll.
Over the years, the porcelain doll found another fierce porcelain doll and was then ensconced in the other’s domain, hand in hand, starting a new life. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
During this half month in the Imperial City, Leah finally witnessed Ignatius Leclair’s possessiveness and control over Delphine, reaching an excessive degree. Yet, this man, being remarkably intelligent, did not display the typical chauvinistic behavior of dictating his wife’s actions. Instead, he subtly guided her in silence. Delphine, cool on the outside but warm inside, often considered his feelings, allowing herself to be completely controlled.
Leah clicked her tongue, thinking it was a good thing Richard Shaw, ever the blockhead, was under her thumb. Thinking this way, she concluded that Richard was so much better than Ignatius Leclair.
Her personality was different from Delphine’s, disliking restraints. Had Richard been as twisted as Ignatius Leclair, they would have long parted ways.
Leah entered the courtyard and saw Richard Shaw standing in the spot where she stood earlier, his silhouette as straight as a peak, and his aura becoming more composed and reserved.
When the man saw her, his tea-colored pupils brightened slightly, and he stepped forward, his warm, broad hand clasping hers, softly calling out, "Leah."
"Mm." She responded indifferently, not pulling her hand away. She felt that the man became like a small furnace in winter, his palms radiating heat. frёewebnoѵēl.com
"Leah." Richard Shaw seemed to be addicted to calling her name, calling it again, his voice even deeper and hoarser than before, his eyes full of unsaid words, finally all condensed into the short phrase.
His large, dog-like gaze softened Leah slightly. She reached out to touch his sharp chin, gently saying, "You’ve lost weight, feels a bit harsh to the touch."
His jaw, where she touched, tingled slightly, and he rasped, "Touch it again."
The man leaned forward slightly, his slim but still handsome determined face quite close. Leah hesitated for a moment, then embraced his firm waist and quickly kissed his face, her eyes twinkling as if filled with fallen stars, laughing softly, "Good boy."
Receiving a kiss, Major General Shaw’s body stiffened for a moment, then a smile curled his lips, his eyes becoming incomparably soft. He originally intended to kiss back, but the old lady’s voice rang out.
"Leah, Richard, why are you standing in the doorway and not coming in? It’s windy outside."
"Coming, Grandma." Leah winked her pretty peach-blossom eyes at him, swiftly went inside.
The man chuckled deeply, his mood elated, and his laughter resonating in his chest.
In the Shaw Mansion, only the three generations were left. The old lady dismissed the servants and, sitting in front of the warm fireplace, began asking Richard Shaw about the events of the past half month, inquiring whether he was injured, abused, and other issues.
"No, the special investigative team was not the Military District’s interrogation team; they didn’t use those methods, just applied mental pressure," Richard Shaw said in a low voice. Even if they had used such techniques, it would have been useless against him; over the years, Richard had seen too many interrogation methods, immune physically and psychologically.
He intended to overturn the case, thus cooperated earnestly, suffering little, though the isolation was hard to endure. In such an environment, it’s tough for most to maintain their sanity; even someone as resilient as Richard Shaw found it uncomfortable.
"That’s good, that’s good, but you mustn’t keep silent about what you suffer," the old lady admonished. "It doesn’t matter if your position is gone, we Shaws won’t lack for food or drink. I only wish for you and Leah to be well."
"Mm, I know." Richard Shaw nodded lightly, reacting to the entire issue with his usual calmness, which aligned with his expectations of the punishment.
"Is this matter concluded? Will there be any follow-up complications?" Leah asked softly, as the handling of the case was rather obscure.
"It’s completely over." Richard Shaw’s eyes darkened slightly, his voice becoming very low, "All related archives from back then were destroyed, your father’s cause of death altered to a sudden illness, death by a heart attack, the corruption charges unfounded, and all traces of the huge funds erased. Henceforth, there’s no such thing as a corruption case, nor Military District’s secret research files."
"To cover up the purging operation back then?" Leah asked thoughtfully.
Richard Shaw nodded; now even he didn’t know if his father died because of that secret research, triggering the subsequent upheaval in the Imperial City, or if someone planned such a sweep, spending five years setting an inevitable death trap for the Shaw Family.
These secrets will remain buried underground; no one will ever know.
