novelbin Chapter 1210: A Man in His Thirties Exudes a Mature and Captivating Aura
Chapter 1210: A Man in His Thirties Exudes a Mature and Captivating Aura
Roy, shaken and apprehensive, stepped forward to untie everyone’s ropes and asked what had happened.
The guards hung their heads in disappointment, and the leader recounted the events.
"Luna disguised herself as a nurse to replace Leah’s IV. We were standing outside when we heard noises and rushed in, only to see Luna trying to stab Miss Leah with a knife. She was restrained, and when we managed to capture Luna to detain her, Cornelius’s men ambushed us. Apologies, Major General, we failed our mission. We are willing to face military charges."
This all transpired in just a matter of minutes. If it weren’t for Luna’s distraction, they wouldn’t have been caught off guard.
"Major General, we are willing to face military charges," the remaining guards echoed.
"When did she leave?" The man’s voice carried a dark, hoarse undertone, his gaze slightly dim.
Richard Shaw had arranged for surveillance the moment Leah stopped answering his calls, but he hadn’t anticipated her voluntarily leaving this time.
The man’s striking yet cold complexion appeared somewhat pale, his stature still tall and upright, yet there was a subtle hint of desolation. He should have expected such a day to come, but when it truly arrived, he was startled to find the pain akin to being slowly tortured, going deep into the heart, leaving nowhere to hide.
In memories past and present, she chose Griffith Squire over him, choosing her brother without even saying goodbye, which meant she didn’t want to see him again. She remembered everything and ultimately despised him, even unwilling to want their child.
"Miss Leah left about half an hour ago."
"Major General, it’s still possible to catch up," Roy swiftly remarked, then cast a harsh glance at Luna, whose mouth was gagged, her face somewhat twisted, and said quietly, "What should we do with Luna?"
"Handle her according to the law. Don’t let me see her again." The man’s eyes flashed deep resentment; since she didn’t wish for a peaceful end, let it be her fate.
Now even speaking to Luna filled him with disgust. It was a momentary lapse in judgment years ago that led to today’s predicament. Not just Luna, he instinctively kept his distance from any woman.
After eight years, Luna met Richard Shaw again, seeing how time had only refined him with maturity. A man in his thirties becoming increasingly steady and charming, like Buddha Beads polished over time. Her heart surged, but he didn’t even want to speak to her, let alone glance at her, turning all her delight into piercing cold.
Luna glared at him, struggling violently, kicking over the chair, falling to the ground, biting through the tape over her mouth, and shrieked, "Richard Shaw, you heartless man. My brother died for you, and this is how you treat me, wanting my life."
The man hesitated as he turned to leave, gave her a cold shoulder with a distant figure, and said indifferently, "Your brother fulfilled his duty as a soldier by protecting the Major General. He has been recognized as a martyr, but being a martyr’s relative is not a gold medal for immunity; for you, it’s more of a death sentence."
Without looking back, the man left.
Luna let out chilling curses but Roy and the others swiftly gagged her again.
Roy looked at Luna, whose face had changed beyond recognition, sighed softly, and by the next memorial day, he would carry wine to pay respects to his past comrades, telling Callix Lawrence everything as it happened. When years ago Callix took that bullet for the Major General, the latter paid a heavy price for more than a decade.
Now that his wife has left, his family shattered, if the Major General knew all that would happen later, perhaps he’d rather have suffered that bullet himself.
A day and night of searching, Leah with Cornelius and others had vanished as if into thin air, leaving no trace.
On the third day, Richard Shaw went to South Asia to see Griffith Squire, hoping to explain the past events and resolve years of misunderstanding between the families, but Griffith was long resentful of the Shaw family and refused to listen, leaving Richard with no choice but to return home with injuries.
Rafael’s case had been handed over to relevant departments, and all associated personnel were isolated one by one. A psychologist was also brought in to conduct tests on everyone. The process was vast, and by the time it was completed, it was already April.
Richard Shaw personally oversaw this case, and thus, all those previously implicated in the Cox family’s corruption case from over twenty years ago were finally arrested.
During Qingming’s drizzle, Richard Shaw’s gunshot wound had healed, and he took Casimir Shaw to visit the graves.
Father and son climbed the winding steps of the Mausoleum Site.
Casimir found the happiest times were during New Year’s, but later, the Leclair siblings returned to South Asia, his mother disappeared, and the uncles and aunts of the Military District became constantly taciturn, including old Richard.
"Old Richard, I want to skip grades and enter high school next semester." Casimir Shaw was growing rapidly and was now at old Richard’s waist height. The young boy thought that once he started high school, he could board, and then he’d disappear for a few days to do what he wanted.
Like going to South Asia to find his uncle and ask where his mother was, and perhaps seeing Benjamin Leclair.
Benjamin often boasted in front of him, saying she found her own mom.
"No need to skip grades, progressing steadily in school is good." The man’s profile was stern yet calm, speaking softly. How young Casimir was to skip grades for high school; genius requires sacrifice. He had matured early in life to support the Shaw family and ease his grandmother’s burdens, so he repeatedly skipped grades, graduating and being trained in the Southwest Military Zone at the tender age of adolescence. He didn’t want to impose this heaviness on his son; he hoped for him to grow up happily like any ordinary child.
The burden of the Shaw family was enough with him.
Casimir’s face fell instantly, speaking crisply, "But the classmates are so childish, nowhere near Benjamin’s fun. Old Richard, I won’t embarrass you; I can keep up with the courses."
The man reached out to touch his head, feeling a hint of comfort, and said no more.
Seeing old Richard silent, Casimir realized skipping grades was impossible, and his mood instantly turned downcast, following old Richard weakly up the stairs, going to visit his grandparents and great-grandfather’s graves.
After paying respects to his parents and grandfather, Richard Shaw didn’t leave the Mausoleum Site immediately, instead taking his son to its quietest corner.
"Old Richard, who else are we paying respects to this time?" Casimir Shaw gazed around in surprise. Every Qingming and winter solstice, he visited the graves, and old Richard said he was carried here when young. Yet, this was his first time hearing about paying respects to strangers.
"They’re your maternal grandparents." Richard Shaw stated blandly. After the Cox family’s incident, no one knew the Shaw family had erected an uninscribed tombstone for the Cox couple in the Mausoleum, and every year he came alone to pay respects. Now that Casimir was grown, it was time to bring him as well.