novelden Chapter 1281 - 1280: Unveiling the Truth of the Past
Chapter 1281 - 1280: Unveiling the Truth of the Past
"What happened later?" Leah asked softly.
The old lady looked lovingly at Leah and sighed. Later, Wade’s child came to tell her that the Cox Family owed its current standing entirely to the Shaw Family, and that the Shaw Family couldn’t fall; he alone had to take on the embezzlement charges.
Zachary entrusted his young daughter to the old lady and allowed himself to be accused of embezzlement, luring out the hidden enemies, giving the Shaw Family a chance to breathe and preserve their vitality until they could uncover the culprit from the past. By then, Zachary had already died in prison, and the old lady, having lost two children in succession, was plunged into inconsolable grief. Although finally, a bloody storm sorted out six or seven prominent families in the Imperial City, lives could not be restored.
The Military District’s research eventually fell apart; those who knew disappeared or died, unable to explain the massive flow of funds. Ultimately, it was either the Shaw Family or the Cox Family who would bear the weight of that account. The Cox Family was already ruined, and the Shaw Family could no longer withstand any suspicions or attacks, so in the end, no one stood forward to reveal the truth.
Unexpectedly, the Cox Family ended up with only a three-year-old girl, whom the old lady then placed in the Landon Family, so that when she came of age, she could marry into the Shaw Family and inherit everything, allowing both families to coexist in the world.
However, the Cox Family also had an illegitimate child unknown to Zachary. Coincidentally, Leah ended up in the outside world, and the siblings recognized each other, leading step by step to today’s situation.
The old lady, trembling, revealed everything. This old case had been a knot in her heart for many years, so when Richard Shaw wanted to overturn the case for the Cox Family, she didn’t stop him.
But after more than twenty years, most of the related documents were destroyed, and new leaders had replaced the former ones; overturning the case was incredibly difficult. To admit that the funds were used by the Shaw Family could be misunderstood as a gigantic embezzlement, potentially drawing multi-faceted suppression.
Both the grandmother and grandchild were actually mentally prepared for the worst-case scenario.
"That matter was our fault to you. Grandma was too weak back then, always thinking that Richard was only eight years old. If we hadn’t agreed to your father’s proposal, perhaps you wouldn’t have suffered so much hardship," the old lady said, looking very sorrowfully at Leah.
Leah’s eyes reddened as she hugged the frail old lady. Actually, she knew that if her father hadn’t stepped forward under those circumstances, the Shaw Family would have perished, and he would have been the next target for purging. The Cox Family ended, but at least the Shaw Family was preserved, and she was preserved. Her parents exchanged two lives for the Shaw Family’s promise; no wonder the old lady wanted Richard Shaw to marry her since childhood and treated her so well, giving her everything from the Shaw Family.
The old lady, overly emotional, spoke about those past events, then, pulling Leah along, said many other things. Finally, she was persuaded by Delphine to rest and fell into a weak slumber. Leah asked Mrs. Zhao to prepare a light nourishing dish in the kitchen for the old lady to serve once she awoke.
Ignatius Leclair had finished his meeting and let his subordinates stay in a hotel. Watching Delphine and Leah come out of the old lady’s room with red-rimmed eyes clearly from crying, he slightly frowned.
"You haven’t eaten much today. I’ll take you out for dinner and then send Leah to Griffith," the man approached and held Delphine’s hand, speaking in a deep voice as his profound gaze fell on her little face, eager to hug her and kiss her puffy eyes. Her outwardly cold nature with a soft heart must have been affected by something the old lady said.
"My brother wants to see me?" Leah asked in a slightly hoarse voice.
Ignatius nodded and said, "Griffith probably has things to remind you of."
"Then let’s go out for dinner, have Leah and Griffith join us too. After so many things happened, nobody’s eaten properly," Delphine extended her hand to grasp the man’s long, warm hand, looking at him with her moist, large eyes.
Ignatius felt her shake his hand, playfully like Benjamin Leclair would, inexplicably cute, and agreed without hesitation. Griffith reportedly had a little companion, so he might not watch over Delphine closely. Dining together wouldn’t be a problem.
Ignatius asked Maximilian to drive over and called Griffith, arranging for dinner together at a hotel known for its privacy.
When the three arrived, Griffith was already present, speaking with Cornelius Turner in the hotel suite, with his typically mischievous and handsome face rarely an expression of seriousness. Seeing their entrance, he first glanced at Leah and Delphine and lastly rested his gaze on Ignatius.
The Crown Prince of Nanyang had lost his power and wealth, even giving his entire fortune to young Delphine, and the two had yet to register their marriage, a move Griffith admired. Despite Ignatius undergoing surgery, he remained cold and proud, his health seemingly intact.
"I didn’t expect us to have a moment to dine together peacefully," Griffith stood up to pull out a seat for the ladies, saying with a faint smile.
Leah and Delphine exchanged a glance; somehow, the heavy emotions from the Shaw Family dissipated a lot upon seeing Griffith. He possessed a kind of charm that made even catastrophic events feel like minor annoyances others could handle.
"I also didn’t expect the former warlord leader to have a gentlemanly day," Ignatius curved his lips, showing a meaningful smile on his handsome face.
Griffith gave a cold laugh; as expected, more words were pointless between them, and he naturally clashed with Ignatius and Richard Shaw.
"Brother, why didn’t you tell me you were here?" Leah shifted topics, asking while sitting beside him.
"Telling you, you’d think I came to harm Richard Shaw. Why scare you?" Griffith scoffed, previously upset with Leah for forgetting past pains, the wounds healed, having given birth to a child for the Shaw Family, and now being charmed by Richard again, not even returning home, which angered Griffith.
But Richard managing to overturn the Cox Family’s case before his actions impressed Griffith, validating Leah’s years of suffering.
Leah was left silent by his words, her expression a touch dim, which Griffith couldn’t tolerate, instantly letting out a sigh and inviting Leah over for a private conversation.
Ignatius watched the siblings whisper in a corner, opening desserts bought midway to fill Delphine’s stomach and said, "I’ve asked Arthur White to bring Benjamin and Nicholas from Nanyang, and to bring Casimir Shaw here too. Let’s have the three children stay at our Imperial City villa for a while, OK?"
"Sounds good," Delphine nodded. After the incident, the old lady sent Casimir Shaw to relatives from a branch family; Shaw Mansion wasn’t suitable for Casimir Shaw, but her place would be.
"Did your grandmother say anything about the Shaw Family’s incident?" Delphine asked.
"Grandmother knows little about the Shaw Family’s matters, but if necessary, she’ll offer assistance. When I came to the Imperial City and called the old lady, she mentioned it," the man said, his gaze deep.