"You don’t have to belittle yourself like this. Matters of the heart are about mutual willingness; there’s no such thing as someone being out of another’s league." Leah’s tone softened a bit as she frowned slightly and sighed softly.

"Let’s go back to the Shaw Mansion first. If you’re really uncomfortable, we can stay at the cabin tonight," Richard Shaw spoke in a deep voice, knowing not to push too hard. Leah’s character was carefree and unrestrained, often not sweating the small stuff. Consequently, he dared to take only small steps forward over the years, enduring it patiently. Nonetheless, just being able to stay by her side every day was a sweet delight to him.

Leah noticed that over the past two years, Richard Shaw had never raised his voice at her and became anxious looking for her whenever she was out of sight. Even while in Switzerland, despite having a housekeeper at home, he prepared all three meals by himself.

She was not oblivious of Richard Shaw’s affection for her; she knew it well in her heart. Yet, inexplicably, a sense of unease lingered. Over the past two years, she had never crossed that final line with him. The man never pressured her, and no one could have imagined that their relationship could be characterized as Platonic. The most intimate moments involved uncontrollable kisses.

"Alright, I lack experience. If I’m not doing it well, please remind me," Leah nodded and spoke softly.

The man curved his lips into a smile, finally putting his suspended heart at ease.

When the car arrived at the Shaw Mansion, Leah saw an elderly lady with snow-white hair standing at the entrance. Her hair was meticulously combed, and she wore a slightly worn cheongsam covered by a thick down jacket. Upon seeing Leah, her eyes welled up with tears.

"Mommy, Grandpa Shaw, you’re finally back." Casimir Shaw darted out from behind the elderly lady, cheerfully grabbed Leah’s hand, lifted his face with a spirited charm, and said with bright eyes, "Mommy, look, I’ve grown taller. I’ve skipped another grade this year. Great-grandma told me to take it easy and not to skip so often, but I can’t help it because I’m just too smart, hahaha."

Casimir Shaw laughed triumphantly as he spoke, but upon seeing Richard Shaw get out of the car, his expression froze, and he discreetly complained, "Mommy, Grandpa Shaw is so bad, I’m still so young, and he had Uncle Cool Wind send me to the Military District."

The young boy, with a dejected face, continued to complain non-stop.

The man alighted, bearing a handsome, cold, and resolute appearance, and squinted slightly, saying, "Casimir Shaw."

"Here," Casimir Shaw stood straight by reflex, his voice loud and clear, causing the elderly lady and the group behind her to laugh.

The elderly lady’s melancholy was dispelled immediately by this commotion. She stepped forward and grasped Leah’s hand, her voice trembling slightly, "Is it Leah? Just call me Grandma. It’s cold outside; let’s go inside and talk."

Held by the warm, dry hand of the elderly lady, Leah inexplicably felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She nodded and spoke softly, "Alright, Grandma Shaw."

"Good child," the elderly lady gazed at Leah’s familiar features, patting her hand. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions. Had she not feared scaring Leah, she would have hugged her and cried. This child had grown up under her watchful eye, and her feelings for Leah were not any less than those for her grandchild.

"Grandma, let’s go inside," Richard Shaw said in a low voice.

The group then entered the Shaw Mansion, heading towards the living room in the main house. The weather in the Imperial City was somewhat cold and dry. There was no snow this New Year, but the Shaw Mansion was meticulously adorned, with lush greenery and two rows of large red lanterns hung on both sides. Everything was cleaned spotlessly, radiating the joy of the new spring.

Though Leah’s heart was initially anxious, after all, she was stepping into the renowned Shaw Family of the Imperial City. Moreover, her identity had always been ambiguous. To her surprise, the elderly lady of the Shaw Family was kind-hearted, the Shaw Family had a small number of people, and Casimir Shaw was lively and adorable, flitting around like a bundle of joy. She finally relieved a breath and smiled.

The elderly lady of the Shaw Family scarcely inquired about her identity and past, paying more attention to her living conditions instead, almost to the extent of sidelining Richard Shaw.

Leah sought help from the man, but he only sat by the windowsill, his handsome face lightly smiling, holding the Buddha Beads on his wrist without uttering a word.

After a short rest and finishing the meal, it was time for ancestor worship by mid-afternoon, followed by a sumptuous dinner for New Year’s Eve. It wasn’t until nighttime, lying in bed, that Leah realized that throughout the day’s busyness, she hadn’t once thought of leaving.

The room Leah stayed in was the master bedroom on the second floor, which was very spacious, featuring a minimalist style. The elegant arrangement of the room subtly revealed the sophisticated taste of its previous owner. Intuition told her that a woman used to live there. Thinking of Richard Shaw’s late wife, her brow furrowed slightly.

Casimir Shaw called her "Mommy" effortlessly, and the man also mentioned she resembled his wife. By now, Leah could no longer ignore this issue.

Unable to sleep, she got up and turned on the light, surveying the room. She opened the closet; the man’s uniforms were neatly folded in one section, but most other spaces were filled with clothing and accessories for a young woman. These items had not been sorted or packed away over the years, as if the former owner might return at any moment.

Leah moved to the balcony, sitting on a soft lounge chair, gazing at the expansive sky. Since entering the Shaw Mansion, an inexplicable sense of melancholy had emerged within her, as if something crucial had been forgotten. If only Griffith Squire were here, mocking her with a few sarcastic remarks, she could have quarreled with him.

She closed her eyes and murmured softly, "Liar, we agreed to rely on each other for life."

Brocade City

Griffith Squire had roamed the black market for several days, gaining a substantial understanding of the situation in Brocade City. Confident, he drove to the airport to pick up Aurora Coldwell and Butler Zhao on the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month.

The man specifically swapped his striking leather jacket for a suave gentleman’s suit, assuming the façade of a supposed double-degree elite. With a wickedly handsome smile, he waited at the airport, drawing shrieks from many young women along the way.

Griffith Squire smiled with satisfaction, pleased with the discerning eyes of the young ladies in Brocade City. Before long, he saw Butler Zhao pushing several luggage carts, arriving with Aurora Coldwell.

The man noticed she was wearing an off-white cashmere coat. Her slender figure highlighted her curves, and her sleek, silk-like straight hair cascaded to her waist. The red beret added an artful contrast to her exquisite and artistic face. Although blessed with beauty, there was a hint of subtle worry in her eyes, and her demeanor was as pure as an orchid.

Griffith Squire couldn’t help squinting his charming eyes. Were the eyes of the eldest young master of the Seymour Family obscured by something?

Butler Zhao was the first to spot him and, unusually, waved cheerfully.

Griffith Squire approached, curling his lips into a mischievous smile, and said in a low, tempting voice, "Little Qing, I’ve waited for you for so many days."