The heavy snow had been falling for seven consecutive days, covering the entire city in a silver and white cloak.

The funeral arrangements had been prepared in advance, but had not been scheduled yet. With the year drawing to a close, if they didn’t proceed with the burial soon, the deceased might become a wandering ghost without rest.

Even though Richard Shaw didn’t want to admit it, he knew she would not return. Her life had ended at the tender age of twenty, just as it was beginning. He couldn’t let her be without a place to belong even in death.

The funeral was arranged on the last day of the snowstorm. With no remains, they buried an empty tomb. It was bitterly cold, and the tombstone bore only Crystal Landon’s name.

Very few attended the funeral: the Shaw family, Hawk Howard, Nova Howard, and two young girls from the extended Shaw family who had been close to Crystal.

Hawk Howard had already planned to head to the United States after the new year. Being able to see her once more before leaving was a small comfort.

Nova Howard and Lana Shaw, Calliope Shaw cried until they were drenched in tears. Such is the fickle nature of life.

Looking at their youthful age, Richard Shaw thought of Crystal, who died at twenty. A bitter taste rose in his throat, which he forced down, and he glanced down at the little one clutching his cold collar.

Casimir Shaw reached out his chubby little hand, curiously tugging at the buttons on Richard’s clothes, babbling innocently, "Climb, climb..."

The climbing seemed fierce and indifferent. The little one kicked his short legs vigorously; his small foot landed on the man’s chest as he excitedly reached out to tug at his chin.

The man had a fresh stubble on his chin and, afraid of hurting the little one, sat up straighter and forced a smile worse than a cry, pressing the little one into his arms to shield him from the snow.

After the mourners left, Richard Shaw tightly held the little one, braving the snow, and took him and the old lady back to the Shaw family residence.

*

Leah awoke suddenly from a nightmare, feeling tears all over her face, as if the pillow was wet. The scenes in her dream faded upon waking.

She glanced at Delphine, who was muttering in her sleep on the bed opposite, and arduously got up. She walked to Delphine’s bed, gently nudging her, and called out, "Delphine."

Delphine woke with a start, struggling to sit up, her face pale, and said softly, "Leah, why are you out of bed?"

Leah reached out to touch her forehead and hands, both cold. With her eyes slightly red, she said, "You’ve been unconscious for days."

Delphine looked around and realized they were no longer in the small cabin in the forest. This place was built of bricks and tiles, beautifully decorated, with wooden floors, soft sofas, and incredibly soft beds. The room even had air conditioning. She paused, hoarsely asking, "Were we rescued?"

Her memories before falling unconscious were shattered. She only recalled gunshots in the forest and carrying Leah, running into the depths of the woods. Back then, she hadn’t known why, only that Leah was too beautiful to be captured by bad people.

Leah clasped Delphine’s hand, choking up slightly, "You idiot, why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant?"

At that time, she couldn’t move. Hearing the gunshots and seeing the typically quiet girl carry her away, she lay on her thin back, unsure of how far they had gone until she smelled blood. Suddenly realizing something, she struggled with a pale face.

"Leah, don’t move, I can’t carry you much longer." Delphine said weakly, yet her hand held Leah tightly.

Seeing the bright red blood soaking Delphine’s skirt and running down her fair leg into the ground, Leah suddenly dared not move.

When Griffith Squire found them, Delphine was unconscious, still tightly holding Leah’s hand.

Her tightly wound emotions suddenly collapsed. She cried, "Will little Delphine die?"

Griffith Squire gently held her, soothingly saying, "No one will die. None of us will."

It was the first time Leah had encountered such a woman, who seemed fragile as wildflowers but was more resilient than anyone, never giving up.

She owed Delphine two lives.

Delphine fell silent, her expression calm and slightly sorrowful, softly saying, "It’s fate."

Everything is fate.

"Let’s be good sisters from now on. My name is Leah, and I am two years older than you, so I’ll be the elder sister." Leah lay at Delphine’s bedside, holding her small hand, trying hard to smile.

"My name is Delphine, and I am two years younger than you, so I’ll be the younger sister." Delphine leaned against the bed, her face pale as paper, revealing a smile as faint as a small daisy.

"Where do you come from?"

"Nanyang, the most prosperous place in the south."

"Then let’s go to Nanyang together," Leah squinted her beautiful eyes, smiling, "I’ll have Griffith Squire make lots of money, and we’ll settle in Nanyang."

"Alright," Delphine smiled faintly.

Months later, when Delphine’s health improved, she packed her bags and left the Golden Triangle while Griffith Squire was away, taking a circuitous route to the Middle East, seeking redemption.

During these six months, Griffith Squire gradually took an interest in her. Initially, he intimidated and teased her, but eventually used his allure. Delphine felt panicked. She wanted to stay with Leah a while longer but decided she should leave after all.

Upon his return, Griffith Squire was enraged to learn Leah had let Delphine go. "Leah Squire, you’re something! You even let your sister-in-law go?" he snarled.

Leah had recovered by now. As long as she refrained from strenuous activity, she could eat and walk around. Seeing his anger, she chuckled and said, "Delphine’s legs are her own. I couldn’t stop her. Besides, you don’t have enough charm. You’re always fighting or unpredictable. Which girl would like that?"

"Griffith, women should be pampered gently. Fighting alongside you isn’t suitable," Leah said lazily.

Griffith’s handsome face darkened. Previously, he hadn’t considered settling down, focusing solely on expanding territory, gaining influence, and becoming a ruler feared even by the military. Now that Leah was here and she had forgotten the past, with territory and military power secured, it was time to think about the future. Life couldn’t be about battles forever.

"Then let’s find a place to settle, give me ten years to earn money and power, no, five years will do," Griffith gritted.

"Then let’s go to Nanyang. Delphine came from there; we’ll wait for her," Leah smiled slyly like a fox.

"Alright," Griffith firmly decided; wherever his sister wished to go, he would follow, and maybe he’d even win a wife out of it. It was worth it.