Chapter 1155: Chapter 1155: Should We Try a Trial Marriage First?

Griffith Squire brought out a few bowls of noodles from the kitchen, noticing Aurora Coldwell chatting with Butler Zhao by the floor-to-ceiling window. He couldn’t help but smile and said, "Come have Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner. It’s a bit simple, but I cooked it myself."

The noodle cooked by the fearsome warlord of the Golden Triangle—few would dare to eat it.

Aurora tucked away her notepad, followed Uncle Zhao over, and saw the tomato beef noodles emitting a rich aroma, suddenly feeling quite hungry, her eyes lit up.

"Mr. Squire, I wouldn’t dare trouble you to cook. I’ll find a chef in a few days." Butler Zhao said with a smile. After returning to the Coldwell Family estate, the servants were sent away for the New Year, which actually meant they wouldn’t be used anymore, considering they were Zoe Kingston’s people and were not trustworthy.

"No need for all that trouble. After the New Year, stay for a few days, then we will return to Italy. Just find someone to tend the Coldwell estate regularly." Griffith Squire said with a smile.

"Back to Italy, not staying in Brocade City?" Butler Zhao blurted out.

Aurora looked at him with a bit of surprise.

Griffith handed her chopsticks and let her eat first, smiling slightly, "Do the Coldwell Family people still want to add to the daily frustrations? Once we retrieve Aurora’s thirty percent shares, naturally it’s back to Italy. I have things to deal with there, leaving you here is worrisome."

Butler Zhao was speechless, stammering, "A, a few days to get the Miss’s shares back?"

Though Griffith pulled some crafty moves to reclaim the Coldwell estate, Ian Coldwell was money-obsessed, taking thirty percent of shares is like ripping out his flesh.

"Leaving early is good, if Mr. Coldwell has the painting authenticated by experts, staying won’t do us any good." Butler Zhao thought of another troublesome matter that Griffith, completely not following any script, couldn’t possibly fix.

"Who said the painting’s fake. It’s authentic." Griffith ate a mouthful of the tangy, spicy, beef noodles, nodding in satisfaction, looking at the stunned master and servant duo, he said with a half-smile, "Unable to part with the cub won’t catch the wolf, once your father verifies the painting’s authenticity, that thirty percent of shares will naturally be released."

"That, that’s a priceless treasure!" Aurora eagerly opened her mouth, trying to speak, suddenly remembering she had been mute for years, anxiously wrote on her notepad, "Forget the shares, I’ll help you get the painting back later."

Griffith laughed, squinting, "Rest assured, I didn’t spend a penny on that painting; it’s just temporarily stored with your father. These things will be taken back eventually."

The Elvis Family had dust accumulating over the painting in their warehouse; when he took it, the Elvis Family even seemed quite joyful. He’s someone who likes to do things thoroughly, repaying favors, naturally, he wanted the Brocade City area entirely under his control.

"Finish eating, we leave Brocade City for Italy on the sixth day of the New Year." Griffith Squire smiled, looking at the somewhat dumbfounded Aurora, gently tapped her head.

Beside him, Butler Zhao coughed several times, silently taking the beef noodles aside to eat while silently wiping tears. After enduring these years, finally the clouds parted and the moon shone through.

"Just who are you?" Aurora’s fingertips clenched tightly, her small face showing signs of tension. Initially rescuing Griffith Squire was just a moment of sympathy, yet everything about Griffith screamed he was no ordinary man—able to buy luxury cars, convince the heads of Brocade City’s noble families, casually gifting priceless authentic artworks, and having business to attend in Italy—this man was a mystery wrapped in enigmas.

Griffith squinted his affectionate eyes, didn’t speak, instead on her notepad wrote a corresponding sentence: "Your man."

Imperial City, Shaw Mansion.

Richard Shaw proposed, leaving Leah stunned for a moment without reacting.

Proposal?

Leah looked at the once gentle, introverted man whose image seemed entirely changed as he spoke non-negotiable words, hesitated a moment, and said, "Richard Shaw, I’m very grateful you helped me find Griffith Squire, but marriage is a serious matter."

"You’re rejecting me?" The man squinted, his handsome face showing a bit of desolation, saying, "I know I am not just divorced with kids, but also disabled in the legs. Disliking me is normal, I’m sorry, it’s my fault for harboring thoughts I shouldn’t have."

Richard Shaw’s handsome, cold features revealed a hint of bitterness. His long, rugged hand gripped the wheelchair arm tightly. More than two years had passed, yet he still hadn’t entered Leah’s heart. Even with amnesia, her aversion to relationships seemed unchanged.

Leah saw this, frustratedly said, "It’s not because of you; you’re great, it’s because of me. Richard Shaw, you know my and Griffith Squire’s identity. The black market’s bounty posts for our siblings are countless. Marrying me would affect your political career. Besides, Griffith and I have long agreed we’re in this together; I can’t leave him uncared for."

Though she lost her past memories, over the years, Griffith Squire’s actions for her were all seen clearly, and if there was only one man left in the world who treated her well, it definitely was Griffith Squire.

Richard Shaw was excellent, but for some reason, over the past years, something invisible seemed to separate them, like it could be touched, yet also felt as far as a chasm.

Richard Shaw lowered his eyes, silently, a trace of deep thought crossed his brown eyes, and after a long time, he said lowly, "No rush, I can wait for you, even a lifetime is fine."

He hadn’t planned to rush things anyway. It was originally taking advantage of Chinese New Year’s Eve to clarify things, letting Leah consider their relationship. Since Griffith might have already appeared, it’s best to secure her now to avoid trouble when Griffith intervenes.

Leah looking at his handsome, lonely face, thought of his care and attentiveness over the past two years, hesitated and said, "Why don’t we try this?"

The moment the words fell, Leah wanted to bite her tongue off. Try what? Richard Shaw, being such a dedicated man once it is a trial marriage, how could she ever shake him off. However, he’s an Imperial City Army Major General. Griffith Squire had always worried about the Military District’s pressure on the Golden Triangle. If she coaxed Richard Shaw to the Golden Triangle, Griffith might not lash out at her, right?

Granted, having Richard Shaw might prevent the Southwest Military Zone from casually suppressing the Golden Triangle in the future. Leah vaguely grew excited; why hadn’t she thought of this before?

"Alright." Richard Shaw’s eyes burst with bright light, tightly held her hand, and said solemnly, "Leah, if there’s anything I did not do well, you must tell me."

Richard Shaw’s inner thoughts were, once married into the Shaw Family, he’d completely clean their sibling’s background, let them stay in the Imperial City under the Military District’s protection, and not allow returning to the Golden Triangle.

Leah feeling his warm, large hand holding her tightly, felt her small face getting slightly hot, casually nodded and stammered, "Just, just a trial; if it doesn’t work, we’ll go our separate ways."