Chapter 1159: Chapter 1159: The Nonchalant Gaze That Stirs the Heart

Upon learning that Ian Coldwell had authenticated the painting’s genuineness early in the morning and was on his way to the Coldwell residence, Griffith Squire showed no urgency, standing by the pebble path beside the artificial lake, squinting slightly as he watched Aurora Coldwell take a pair of flower shears and return with two plum blossoms clipped.

The young girl was dressed in pure white winter attire, her dark hair like a waterfall. As she got closer, the wintersweet flowers in her arms emitted a faint fragrance, a scent completely different from the stench of blood he was accustomed to. Griffith lowered his eyes. As memories resurfaced, those moments of blood and bone blended into his past, enveloping his life in a dark shade, and sometimes being close to such a pure soul pierced him with pain.

The man took a step back, with a half-smile said, "Aurora, have you ever considered becoming the ruler of the Coldwell Clan?"

Aurora’s grip on the plum blossoms tightened slightly. She looked at the man’s handsome yet mischievous face but remained silent.

Griffith reached out to pick the plum blossom that had fallen on her shoulder, and said in a low voice, "Think it over carefully. You have three years."

After Griffith finished speaking, Ian Coldwell could be seen hastily coming over with a brocade box, laughing from afar, "Mr. Elvis, how was last night’s dragon and lion dance?"

"There were too many people; I left before seeing much of it." Griffith squinted his peach-blossom eyes, looking at the brocade box Ian was holding, and smiled nonchalantly, "Mr. Coldwell seems truly fond of this painting."

Ian’s old face blushed, and he laughed awkwardly. Seeing Aurora, he uncharacteristically showed a gentle expression and asked, "Ah Qing, have you gotten used to living back home?"

Aurora lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling lightly, without speaking; in fact, she couldn’t find the words. Over the years, her father had long become only Brooke Coldwell’s father, and all she received was a cold exile.

"Ah Qing sleeps well here, but we won’t be staying in Brocade City for too long. Once things are settled between Ah Qing and me, we’ll head back to Italy." Griffith said with a smile. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

Ian was taken aback; leaving so soon, the cooperation matters hadn’t even been discussed yet.

"Mr. Coldwell, you don’t need to worry about the cooperation matters. I will transfer a tech company under my name to Aurora. This company is valued at five billion, consider it my dowry, and all cooperation-related affairs will be conducted through it with the Coldwell Clan." Griffith finished these words, then seemed a bit impatient.

He still overestimated his patience with the old man. As a warlord accustomed to solving disagreements with actions, conducting formal business negotiations always felt awkward to him.

If Griffith had this attitude earlier, Ian might have been furious on the spot. However, upon realizing the painting was genuine, the more arrogant Griffith appeared, the more Ian appreciated him, convinced of his noble origin.

"Alright, alright." Ian beamed with joy. Seeing Griffith impatiently taking Aurora inside the main house, he pulled over the steward Zhao for more details.

This time, Steward Zhao was working off Griffith’s script, relaying everything to Ian without omission.

After hearing everything, Ian felt a mixture of joy and anxiety.

The anxiety came from their inability to rival the mob, while the joy sprang from their indifference to money. Ian mulled it over and decided they must be treated with great reverence, not to be provoked.

After Ian left, Steward Zhao reported to Griffith all the questions Ian asked. Griffith nodded; in truth, to gain the Coldwell Clan’s trust, he had borrowed someone from the Elvis Family, but it seemed now entirely unnecessary.

The remaining task was to slowly consume Coldwell Clan through cooperation. As for how many shares the Coldwell Clan would yield, it depended on his mood.

Greed is indeed the original sin.

Griffith curled his lips into a smile, then inquired with Steward Zhao about everything Zoe Kingston and Brooke had snatched from Aurora over the years. He made a list, handed it to Ian, then propped his feet up to enjoy celebrating the New Year in Brocade City!

Harmony and happiness reigned at the Coldwell residence, while Zoe Kingston and Brooke nearly trashed their home in anger.

"Mom, why do we have to give up the Coldwell residence and return these things? Does she, a mute, even need them? She must’ve spoken ill of me to Mr. Elvis, or else he wouldn’t treat me this way." Brooke pointed at the list, recalling how Griffith had mercilessly humiliated her at the New Year’s Eve dinner, and she wanted to cry from anger. She blamed it all on Aurora.

"Men, all you know is men. Now that mute girl might want to take everything back from the Coldwell Clan, and you’re a fool." Zoe Kingston was restless, akin to ants in a hot pot.

Now, Ian utterly believed that Elvis Canaan, even going as far as ordering them to return everything they took from Aurora, which felt like an immense humiliation.

In the past few days, she had George Kingston keep an eye on the Coldwell residence, waiting for the man to be alone so they could act. In the end, George got himself beaten into the hospital, losing almost half his life. How could Zoe Kingston not be anxious? After all this hard work, was it really going to be for that mute girl? In hindsight, she regretted not acting on her initial impulse, only rendering her mute instead of dead.

A hint of viciousness flashed through Zoe Kingston’s eyes as she decided to return to the Kingston Family to discuss this matter with her brother.

"Mom, what do you mean? Aurora’s mute, what does she need with the Coldwell Clan?" Brooke had always gotten her way and only ever interested in handsome men. Previously enamored by Michael Seymour, he indeed was the outstanding young man of Brocade City, possessing good family background, looks, and temper. But since seeing Griffith, all she could think of was his mischievous smile and those careless, disdainful eyes that made her heart itch.

"The Coldwell Clan originally had half left by her mother for her. If she doesn’t want it, should it all go to you?" Zoe Kingston poked her daughter’s forehead, almost blowing steam from her anger, and said, "You should hang around the Seymour family these two days, while I quickly arrange your marriage with Benedict."

Reluctantly, Brooke nodded, her mind still revolving around Griffith. Such an extraordinary man, how was Aurora worthy of him? She must find a way to get close to Mr. Elvis.

Aurora, having seen her stepmother and stepsister return many of her mother’s belongings, held onto these items and spent an entire day weeping, releasing all the grievances from these years. When she emerged, there was a subtle change in her demeanor compared to the past.

Four days later, Griffith left Brocade City with Aurora and Steward Zhao, returning early to Italy. Meanwhile, in the Imperial City, Leah had grown quite comfortable living with the Shaw Family. Except for the trial marriage leaving her sore on Chinese New Year’s Eve, Richard Shaw had behaved appropriately in the following days, much to Leah’s relief. Otherwise, the marriage trial would be over.

On the fourth day of the New Year, while discussing her return to Switzerland with Richard Shaw, Leah received an invitation for afternoon tea from Lana Shaw and Calliope Shaw. Recalling the two young women’s watchful gaze on New Year’s Day, Leah, finding the New Year somewhat dull, gladly went to the agreed teahouse.