Free Web NovelChapter 1329: Chapter 1326: Deeply Rooted Affection—Perhaps from the First Glance, or from Countless Glances Thereafter
The itinerary following the wedding proceeded smoothly. The couple arrived at the church with no surprises, exchanged vows under the pastor’s witness, and happily tied the knot.
Perhaps due to some scares, after leaving the church, Griffith Squire took Aurora Coldwell and drove off on their honeymoon, leaving all subsequent matters to Leah, running faster than a rabbit.
A man’s mindset is like this: getting married is a joyous occasion, so why allow others to settle scores or express grievances? Staying behind is just foolish.
With Griffith gone, the task of entertaining the wedding guests fell on Leah, and Richard Shaw silently took over.
The remaining guests, seeing Griffith had left and that the Major General from the Imperial City was hosting, all had rather subtle expressions.
The unique wedding of the century made the newspapers that day. It wasn’t overly lavish, but because the attendees included nearly all the elite from various countries, both black and white sides were present. The fact that politically sensitive figures attended peacefully was enough to cause a stir domestically and internationally.
The foreign media humorously called the wedding, the chapel’s handshake of reconciliation, even publishing a comic-style depiction of the event. Outside the chapel, there was a bloody standoff and a war of words among bigwigs, but entering the wedding, they shook hands with honeyed words. This comic was wildly popular, sparking ongoing discussions.
The guests had significant backgrounds, the latest leaving the Vatican by the next day. Ignatius Leclair and his family of four didn’t hurry back to the South Seas; he and Delphine took their little son and daughter for more European travels.
Nicholas Carter had accompanied Delphine to many places these past years, accustomed to the cultural differences, but Benjamin Leclair was different. Ignatius, a homebody, always stayed with daddy either in the Imperial City or the South Seas, never really traveling. Thus, the little girl was thrilled, taking beautiful photos every day and sharing them with her elder brother, Casimir Shaw.
Casimir Shaw, back in the Imperial City, held onto the elderly woman, too old to travel long distances by plane, managing to hold back his tears.
He really shouldn’t like old Shaw anymore.
Old Shaw secretly went to see mommy for uncle’s wedding, leaving him behind!
At the time, the poor Major General Shaw wasn’t even sure if he’d be kicked out, so he naturally didn’t dare take his son to endure that.
Leah hadn’t expected Richard Shaw could go abroad, so she didn’t think to bring Casimir over, leaving the young man feeling abandoned.
Leah and Richard Shaw returned to the Imperial City the next day, bringing a whole car of gifts to pacify the young man.
Griffith Squire and Aurora Coldwell planned a six-month honeymoon, naturally not returning home for the New Year, so Leah stayed at the Shaw Mansion in the Imperial City. After a month of brief separation, both felt the pangs of longing. As they grew older, they couldn’t handle too much turmoil, so they tacitly agreed to move past the previous scandal stirred up by Ignatius Leclair, and indulged in sweet affection once more.
The New Year was fast approaching.
This year’s snowfall in the Imperial City was heavier than in previous years; the whole city enveloped in snow. The elderly lady woke up early, suddenly remembering the persimmons she had prepared, and upon lifting the soft cloth on the basket, found each persimmon covered in a frosty layer, exuding a unique fragrance, ready to eat long ago, so she hurriedly called Leah downstairs to enjoy the persimmons.
The persimmons were soft and smooth in texture, sweet but not cloying, and tasted excellent.
Seeing the basket of persimmons they made in autumn finally ready to be savored, Leah and the two elders gathered happily around the fireplace to eat the persimmons.
Richard Shaw had returned to his post at the Military District, yet the heat from the previous case reversal lingered. His reinstatement was secret, but almost everyone on the Imperial City leadership was aware. Word spread that not only had Richard Shaw resumed his position, but he might even advance another step; such news pleased many, affirming that the Shaw family’s fortune this year was bountiful, allowing them to celebrate the New Year joyously.
An enduring family of prominence, one cannot simply brush it aside.
Richard Shaw returned home from the Military District at dusk, stepping through the snow, to find Leah and Casimir Shaw nearly motionless on the sofa from overeating, half the basket of persimmons consumed.
He sighed, pressing his forehead, thinking how utterly unchecked they were! If Leah had half the enthusiasm for other things as she did for food, they might have a little daughter by next year.
The man was fixated on having a daughter.
The elderly lady felt her granddaughter-in-law’s persimmons were exceptionally good and couldn’t resist calling her old sister at the Howard Family to boast a little.
The Howard matriarch loved the taste too and listened with envy, saying that despite having so many sons and daughters-in-law, none could make persimmons.
The two old friends chatted about daily affairs, and after dinner, the elderly lady asked Richard Shaw and Leah to select some persimmons from the half-basket left to send over to the Howard matriarch.
Leah carefully selected an exquisite small basket, lined it with layers of dried persimmon skins, picked the biggest and most vividly colored persimmons, and packed them neatly, going out with Richard Shaw to deliver them.
The snow outside hadn’t ceased, continuously falling, illuminating the night as brightly as daylight.
The man held a thick, black umbrella, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, as they shared matching cashmere scarves, stepping through the thick snow outside.
"Grandma and the Howard matriarch have such a wonderful relationship, having been lifelong friends. Even in old age, they never forget to share persimmons," Leah remarked, smiling. The little old lady really was adorable, comparing not wealth and glory, but the simplest of foods, living with such wisdom and openness, which was truly endearing.
Leah shook her head with a laugh, thinking that when she aged, she too might sit with Granny Shaw, chatting idly about family matters. This thought amused her, her pretty eyes curving into crescent moons, as she watched the thick snow falling beyond the black umbrella, reaching out to catch the snowflakes.
The man’s warm, broad hand enveloped hers, placing it against his chest to warm it, he spoke in a low voice, "Don’t be reckless. Have you forgotten that year when you sat on the balcony in the cold and got sick for an entire Spring Festival?"
Leah was momentarily stunned. Her Spring Festival cold had happened just once, during the year their relationship hit rock bottom and eventually led to years of separation. Over the years, Richard Shaw often brought it up, perhaps still haunted by the unresolved grievances of that time.
Many past events and people had long turned to dust, irretrievable, yet Richard Shaw persisted in holding onto remorse over the years.
Leah’s eyes misted slightly as they huddled under the large black umbrella, walking forward together through the vast snowfall.
"Richard Shaw, when did you start liking me?"
"When you were eight, your bangs cut neatly, your eyes filled with stars, chasing after me."
He later recalled during the long years, when Leah was born, his father took him to the Cox Family to visit, pointing at the little soft bundle, laughing heartily, "Richard, do well, this is your future wife. You must cherish her, alright?"
Three years passed, Grandma brought the little girl to the Shaw family. Many years passed, seasons changed, and only she stayed by his side. To him, there was only her, no one else.
When his love took deep root, whether from the first glance or the countless ones since, he couldn’t tell.
*
I won’t update at midnight, need to organize old Ji’s extras~~ Early in the month, please give those monthly tickets, mwah mwah, good night~~
